Tag Archives: 747-400lcf

Dreamlifters Are Still Here Occasionally

The end of production of Boeing 787s at Everett meant that there was no longer a need for the Dreamlifter operations to support Dreamliner production.  However, while the Dreamlifter base has closed, there are still some production activities at Everett on the 767/KC-46 line that require large structures to be delivered and the Dreamlifters are used for this sometimes.  I understand at least one of them is currently stored, but the others are active.

I only rarely find myself at Everett when the Dreamlifter is there, but it has happened a few times over the last few months.  Here are a few of the shots I have got since these things became a little bit rarer up this way.

Dreamlifter Cheats Me

Dreamlifter operations at Paine Field are heavily curtailed these days.  No more 787s are being built there so no parts deliveries are required.  However, the jet is being used to deliver the occasional 767 cockpit section which means there are still occasions when they show up.  One morning, the light was great, and one was due in.  Moreover, the wind was from the north and the airport was on northerly flow, so it meant getting an approach shot was achievable.  I was ready and waiting.  However, despite the other ops being northerly, the Dreamlifter was sent to the north to make a southerly approach – maybe for the ILS?  I was at the wrong end.  It didn’t even taxi all the way to the end, so I only got it as it turned off a bit north of me.  These chances are not frequent, so I was pretty annoyed!

Sunset Dreamlifter

Scrolling through some shots for something else, I saw these two shots of a Dreamlifter departing Paine Field one evening.  I think I actually posted about that flight on another day but I guess I ignored the view of the jet as it headed in to the distance.  The sky was beginning to develop a nice color and the air was very clear giving a good view of the Cascades mountains in the distance so why not share them now – particularly as it is a time when I am not getting much aviation photography done!

747s Over Kenmore

A sunny but cool Sunday afternoon with a bit of spare time on my hands meant I headed over to Kenmore to see whether there was any floatplane activity.  The answer was not much.  However, I did get something a little larger overhead.  Traffic in to Paine Field was running on a northerly flow.  A Dreamlifter made an approach and was followed a little later by a 747-8F destined for UPS once test flying is complete.  They both turned on to approach overhead the north end of Lake Washington so I got shots of them both.

Sunset Dreamlifter Failure Number 2

A while back, I made a trek out to Paine Field around sunset to try and get a Dreamlifter in beautiful light.  They decided to burn some fuel down to get to their preferred weight and the sun had gone before they took off.  You would think I would learn from this but, oh no, I am still a sucker.  Departure was scheduled for 8:50 and sunset was 9:03.  The day was crystal clear so why not have a go.  This time they would be departing to the north so the light angle would be better too.

I turned up at Paine Field and there were two Dreamlifters on that ramp.  One had beacons on so that was a good thing.  However, no noise yet from the ground cart – they don’t have an APU so need ground power to start.  Time was ticking close to departure hour and I was getting nervous but the sound of the cart started so I relaxed a little.  However, the start process for all four engines took forever.  They were now after the planned time and hadn’t pushed.  Eventually they pushed but did so at a glacial pace.  Not sure how many minutes passed but we were now perilously close to sunset hour.  I was disappointed but still knew that, once airborne, there would be sun for longer up there.

Finally they taxied but by now, the timing was looking worse.  Moreover, this must have been the slowest taxi speed I have ever seen for a commercial jet.  I wasn’t expecting Southwest taxi speeds but still.  They had to get to the other end of the field and boy did they take their time.  Then they held at the threshold for a while.  The light was definitely past its prime by now.

Finally they did line up and roll.  They were only going to Charleston so I expected a relatively spritely take off but they were obviously at a derated setting and rotated further up the field than I would have liked.  The best rotation shots had the ILS framework directly in front of the jet.  Crap!  As it climbed out, the light was a bit better but not what I had really planned for.  Oh well, third time lucky?

Dreamlifter Reflections

The idea for this was spotted by my friend, Paul, during a visit of his but we missed it at the time.  It was early in the morning and the water was calm as a millpond.  However, the jet was beyond the water before he spotted it.  I have missed the chance since or there was not water.  However, while the conditions weren’t ideal, when I saw the Dreamlifter taxiing back to the ramp, I realized the opportunity was going to be there this time.

The water wasn’t quite still and I had the long lens on the camera but a phone is a good second best these days.  The jet taxied in with Mt Rainier in the background before reaching the north end of the field and crossing over.  Then it was time to be ready.  The phone has the added advantage of being able to shoot through the fence with no interference.

Dreamlifter Before Sunset

This is my first shoot of a moving plane that wasn’t taken from my yard since the virus shelter at home started.  With a slight relaxation of the state rules, I saw that a Dreamlifter was due in to Paine Field from Charleston.  It was due to arrive some time after 8pm.  With the sundown not long before 9 and the weather looking lovely (unlike the forecast for the rest of the week), it seemed like the light would be very good.  I have got a lot of Dreamlifter shots at this point so, if it had been anything other than shortly before sunset, I wouldn’t have thought of going.  With this light, though, why not.

I was tracking it on two services and they showed rather different arrival times.  I got there with some margin just in case but, even so, the jet was already getting ready to turn downwind when I pulled up.  The arrival procedure takes a while so it wasn’t a rush, but I should probably have added a little time.  The sky was so clear you could see the jet flying the approach from miles out.  As it turned to final, the low light angle even picked out the texture on the side of the jet!  The air was still so you could hear it from a long way out too.  After all that, it was suddenly so close and touched down just a little away from my spot.  Time to pack up and head home.

Dreamlifter in the Early Mist

My buddy Paul was visiting so we had a day out looking for some interesting shot opportunities.  We started off the day at Paine Field before the sun was really up.  A Dreamlifter was due in and we figured we would give it a try.  However, as we drove towards Everett, the fog was pretty thick.  The field is on the top of the hill so we thought it might be clear, but things did not look promising as we got closer.  The low cloud was also blocking off the sun that was just above the horizon which, given that it would have been backlighting the jet, might have been a bonus.

The Dreamlifter came out of the cloud very late on the approach and I was able to grab a few shots of it as it emerged.  It was a rather ethereal look as it came into view.  The dampness of the air meant that the plane was pulling vortices as it floated across the threshold and in to the touchdown zone.  Conditions might not have been the sort of thing that sounded good, but the result was a really cool shot opportunity.  As the plane taxied in to park, we got more shots of it although there was one that would have been fantastic, but Paul only spotted it when it was too late and I didn’t see it at all.  I won’t say what it was but maybe there will be another chance in which case you will see it here!

Dreamlifter Video

Here is a bit of video I shot of a Dreamlifter heading out of Paine Field.  I was there with a visitor who wanted to see the large beast and, rather than shoot more stills, I figured I would go with just video.  If I had planned for it, things would have been a little better but hopefully it shares a little of the experience.

Random Dreamlifter Action

I have been gathering various shots of Boeing Dreamlifters over recent months and so figured I would just combine a bunch of them into a single post.  No overriding theme here and some conditions were way nice than others.  It is just a selection of shots of one of the more unusual looking aircraft around.  Hopefully, one day, I shall get to shoot the Airbus Belugas too.