Tag Archives: business

Santa Monica

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After spending a bunch of time around LAX, it was time for something different.  Paul asked whether I had ever been to Santa Monica airport.  I hadn’t so we took a look online to see what others might have seen there.  It seemed pretty promising and there also appeared to be a viewing deck!

The trip to Santa Monica from LAX is a short one and we got there in no time.  The field is on top of a hill and you come under the approach end of the runway as you drive up the hill.  Sure enough, there was a viewing deck and a very nice one.  It had a long balcony along the side of the apron, there were plenty of picnic benches, some good vending machines and there was a restaurant as well.

This makes the spot a popular one for visitors.  A number of families were there at various times during our visit.  They brought the kids and some food to show them the planes.  They got visits from the airport police a few times – not to hassle them but to give them stickers of planes and to encourage their interest.  Now that is a pleasant change!

There was a good mix of operations.  They are plenty of corporate jets in and out.  Netjets and FlexJets had a few movements and a very nice gold Gulfstream showed up.  Some rotary wing action was also on display with a three ship of aircraft heading out at one point together, possibly for a photo shoot.  There are also plenty of lighter aircraft operating including a nice Stearman and a SIAI Marchetti SF-260.

The traffic was very intensive but it was steady and the weather was steadily improving so with access to refreshments and places to sit, it proved to be a great spot to visit.

The Chase Yields Results

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A few weeks ago during one of my many trips out of Midway, we were taxiing to the departure runway when we passed one of the FBOs on the field. Parked up ready to board was a Lockheed Jetstar. Not endangered perhaps but certainly a rarity. A mental note of the registration and I checked up on it when I got back on the ground.

Turns out this aircraft makes a regular appearance at Midway. Now to find a chance when we can both be in the same place. It doesn’t fly a huge amount so finding the chance would be the tricky thing. Not only must it be flying in to Midway, it must do it when I am in town, not tied up with other work and preferably when the weather is good.

An email alert told me that she was coming in today so all things were aligned.  I headed down to Midway and looked to find a spot to shoot from.  Midway allows you to get very close to the approaching aircraft but it is well developed and has an abundance of power lines so getting a clear shot is not that easy.

I arrived just in time to miss a very attractive Global Express that was landing.  Had I not originally gone to a bad spot, that would probably have been added to my shot list but never mind.  It did seem to be a busy time for corporate aircraft though.  In about 10 minutes, a Hawker 800 and a Cessna Soverign arrived, bracketing the arrival of my target.  Not too bad when you think about it.  Considering Midway is usually wall to wall Southwest 737s, this should be counted as a bit of a result.

The Hawker gave me an opportunity to check whether my lens choice was right.  The 70-200 was okay but perhaps a little short so, keeping an eye out for the imminent arrival, I swapped to the 100-400.  No drama this time and I was ready when the Jetstar came across the roof tops.

She is an interesting looking aircraft.  Certainly dated in her appearance, big fuel tanks on the wings and four engines mounted at the rear.  Not, perhaps, as graveful as some more modern aircraft but more interesting for being such a classic.

It is a brief moment as an aircraft passes by on approach so a rapid series of shots and then she was gone.  Originally, she had a flight plan filed for a departure half an hour later so I was ready to run to the other end to catch her again but this was cancelled.  Even so, a worthwhile expedition to catch a great looking aircraft.