The last 747 to be built was conducting test flights from Everett in advance of being delivered to Atlas.  It was due to get back from a test flight one evening and the timing looked good for a landing just before sunset.  Along with plenty of other photographers, I headed up to Paine Field to await its return.  As we tracked the flight, it was looking more and more like they would not get back before sunset.  A few people decided that this wasn’t worth the wait and headed off.  I figured I had made the effort so I was going to get a shot, even if the conditions weren’t any good.  I was there, after all.

Sure enough, the sun went down while we waited and a little while later, the familiar shape of the 747 appeared in the distance.  However, luck was going to be on my side this time around.  While the sun had now set, the higher-level clouds off to the west were now being illuminated from below turning them a warm red color.  The light from these clouds was now what was landing where we were and, as the 747 came down the approach, it had a warm and soft glow to it from the remnants of the day’s light.  Far from being a disappointment, this was actually really attractive.  What a lucky break for me and those that remained.