Tag Archives: aircraft

Anyone Have Any Engines?

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Engine supply is a bit of a problem for the big two airliner manufacturers at the moment.  Rolls powered 787s are going through a drawn out program of rework and A320neos are sitting around awaiting both Pratt and CFM engines.  Boeing is also short of CFM Leaps and the result is a lot of parked 737 Max jets at Renton and Boeing Field.  Apparently, they are flying jets to Boeing Field and then trucking the engines back to Renton.  As I flew over Boeing Field earlier in the week, the flightline did look full!

I wanted to see all of these parked jets so took a trip to Renton one weekend to see how things were.  There were certainly plenty of jets around and quite a few had ballast weights attached to the pylons.  Supposedly the backlog will not be sorted out until the fourth quarter (although some think that is a bit optimistic)!

Hyakuri Pano

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Any visit to a base includes time when nothing much is going on.  This can be time to take a break, have a snack, text someone an update on how things are going or even nap.  Or, you can take panoramas.  In the morning the light on the ramp was not ideal.  It improved later in the day.  Even so, you never know how much stuff is going to be out at any one time so shoot while you can.  You can always delete later.  Here is a zoomable and pannable pano from Hyakuri.

Narita Lounge Provides Some New Airlines

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It was time to head home, so I checked in for my flight and headed to Delta’s lounge to await boarding.  What I did not realize is that the lounge overlooks the flightline and mirrors the view from the viewing terrace.  It was a crummy day with a typhoon approaching so not ideal for shooting and certainly not ideal for shooting through glass but, despite the occasional reflection, it was actually surprisingly good.  The battery on the camera was on its last legs but why not get whatever you can.

The fun of a different city in a different country is the new airlines.  Airlines I have heard of but not seen and airlines I have never heard of at all.  They kindly would rotate quite close to where we were which was appreciated.  The rainy conditions also meant that, while the lighting was pretty flat, there were vortices, spluff over the wings and inlet fogging to add some interest.

Now It Is Raining Avantis – Well, Not Quite

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Having made the effort one lunchtime to go and see an Avanti, I was quite surprised to see another one taxi out at Paine Field during Skyfair.  It was a different airframe and it looked rather special.  A bit of the distinctive Avanti whine and it was on its way.

Accidentally Getting Lufthansa’s New Livery

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Lufthansa changed their livery recently.  It was not universally appreciated and I can’t say I disagree.  It really is rather dull.  I hadn’t even bothered to keep an eye on whether it was on a jet coming to Seattle.  Instead, while out in Federal Way, I saw a 747 heading my way so decided to take a couple of shots.  Turns out it was the new colors (or lack thereof).  Soon it will be a common sight as they repaint the fleet but this was my first encounter.

F-4 Bi-Plane

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These Phantoms were taxiing towards me from the ramp and they headed out to depart.  As the came along the taxiway, I got a moment as they started to merge from my position and, briefly, there was a moment when one was hidden behind the other with the exception of the wings.  For that second I had a Phantom bi-plane in front of me before the effect was gone.  I consider this the rare Phantom II/IV!

The Wrong Vietnam Jet

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While at Haneda, I saw a Vietnam Airbus A350 on approach.  I think their livery is a great change from the bland look of most airlines.  Unfortunately, it was a long way off so not something I could get a good shot of.  When I was waiting to head home at Narita, the Vietnam A350parked at the gate right in front of me.  Hurrah?  Nope.  It was a Skyteam special so was a rather less interesting silver scheme.  Still better than average but disappointing compared to what it could have been.

Air Do

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Haneda introduced me to a new airline.  Air Do.  They had a lot of traffic coming through Haneda, both narrowbody and widebody.  In fact, one of their 767s took off in great light as I was walking to the viewing terrace which was a touch frustrating.  It was a long time before another one took off but at least the evening light improved so the wait was worthwhile.  Meanwhile, the 737s were busy and some 767s taxied past after landing so I got to see a few of them in action.

Two Seat Scooter

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The A-4 Skyhawk is a great little jet and I really miss seeing the Warbird Heritage Foundation’s Scooter on a regular basis.  I haven’t seen others fly for quite a while, despite one being based on Boeing Field.  I had intended to go to a show at Tacoma Narrows to see it but the weather was bad so I didn’t bother.  This one had taxied out at Olympia last year and then scrubbed.  However, it was scheduled for Skyfair this year so I was hoping to finally have some success.

Indeed I did.  Not only did I see it fly at Skyfair but I was lucky enough to be at Paine Field the evening before when it came in from Boeing Field.  It was fashionably late but this only improved the light so I wasn’t complaining.  The two-seater might not look quite as slick as the single but it is still a pretty neat jet.  The passes it gave at Skyfair were nice and close and, despite the harsh heat haze, I was pleased to see it up and about.

T-4s A’plenty

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Hyakuri might be a base for Phantoms but it also comes with a ton of Kawasaki T-4s.  The JASDF allocate T-4s to the squadrons to provide utility and training so you see a few of them on each of the ramps in squadron markings.  I think this was the first time I had seen a T-4 for real.  Having seen so many images of them over the years, I felt like I must have seen them but I don’t think I have.  It is an interesting looking jet.  A lot of similarity to the configuration of the Alpha Jet with a high wing and twin engines.  It seemed to have a reasonable level of performance.  Interestingly, they taxied with the canopy open which is something I don’t think I have ever seen done with the Hawk.  Maybe the air conditioning isn’t great on the ground or maybe they just like it!