Tag Archives: approach

Bones Are Cool But Better in Pairs

Paul and my second full day at Red Flag was also the one where we both had to fly home.  We knew that the timing would mean leaving before the last of the big aircraft came home but we should get most of the recovery.  We set a time and started packing up.  We had done well so no complaints.  We hopped in the car and drove towards the turn to take us out to the freeway.  Just as we got there, a pair of B-1s came running in to the break in formation.  Surely we couldn’t let them go.  A rapid stop at the side of the road, grab cameras from the trunk and start shooting.

They flew by in formation and broke downwind.  Each of them turned in reasonably tight for their approach and it was possible to get some nice topside views as the curved around to final.  We could have been a bit closer and probably would have chosen different lenses if we had been able to choose but we got the shots.  Then it was time to repack the bags and get going.  We only lost about five minutes and everything worked out fin getting back so it was totally worth it.  There was no waiting for whatever followed them though.

The Unusual Oakland Approach

Over the last few years I have flown in and out of Oakland more times than I can recall.  It has been my transit point for the majority of my travels.  A recent return brought me a new experience there though.  The airport is in two halves.  There is a main runway alongside the bay which is used by the airliners and is often the departure runway for the bizjets.  Then there are two further runways that are over near the old airport infrastructure.  These are used by light aircraft and for the arrival of bizjets.  (There is another intersecting runway but that doesn’t factor in this story.)

The normal approach brings you across the shoreline and over the water on the approach.  The other runways are on a different alignment and the approach comes over the local towns. I was looking out of the window and filming a hyperlapse.  I was a bit confused as I was seeing bits of San Leandro that I don’t normally see and we didn’t pass Hayward Airport.  We continued to descend over land and it was pretty clear we were not heading for the normal runway.  Sure enough we touched down on the old part of the airport prior to taxiing back and all the way across through the freight area back to the terminal.  I watched jets depart from the runway we had just landed on as well as from the normal runway so I have no idea what was going on.  I doubt I will experience this again anytime soon.

Vipers Sneaking up on Strike Eagle

B11I5439.jpgBefore I say anything else, this shot is not original.  I didn’t think of this and I certainly wasn’t the first to shoot it.  Indeed, it is the exact opposite.  This is a shot that I have seen from other people a bunch of times but that I have never achieved.  The recovery for Red Flag has a lot of jets coming home at once.  Jets will break into the pattern and will be turning final when more jets are coming in to the break.  You can get jets coming in overhead directly behind the jet on final turn.  It looks cool but I had not got it before.  This time I got lucky.  I don’t know whether I am pleased with the shot or just glad that I finally happened to get it!

More Parallels

AE7I6074.jpgNot too much description to go with this post.  SFO is well known for its parallel approaches (and departures) and I have been seeing a lot of them recently.  Here are a few of the examples that have cropped up.  As an extra, I include a shot of two on approach with a departure in the background.  Combine a parallel pair with the other traffic a little further out on the approach and the sky looks a little busy.  However, while it looks interesting in person, it doesn’t make for a compelling shot.

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Some FedEx Vapor

AE7I7353.jpgDamp conditions are not uncommon in the Bay.  Getting some vapor over the wing during a climb out would not be a surprise. Getting it on the approach can also happen but not so often.  A FedEx MD-11 was on the approach to Oakland while I was walking along the shore.  As it headed away, they were configured for the final approach as some flashes of vapor showed themselves above the wing.  I happened to get them this time.

Grand Caravan Go Around – Thank-you

AE7I0734.jpgWe spent a day in Stanley Park in Vancouver.  This was not a day for photographing aircraft but there are so many operating in the area that it is hard to avoid.  As we were walking along the shore, a Grand Caravan made an approach.  I didn’t have the camera to hand so just watched it.  Having made a dive at the final approach, it floated long (in the air, not on the water) and the pilot elected to go around.  This gave me an opportunity to get the camera out.

AE7I0742.jpgMeanwhile, I could hear it coming around.  It seemed rather loud for the approach path it had taken previously.  Indeed, this time they took a path right across the bottom of the park.  I got out from under a tree just in time to get some shots of it turning on to final.  A far better angle than its first approach.  Maybe the pilot deliberately went around because he knew what I wanted?

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How Many Airliners in One Shot?

AE7I7067.jpgNormally airliners stay quite a distance from each other.  Getting more than one in a shot is the result of compression of the distance as they pass in different directions.  What is more fun is to have each jet be replaced by two.  SFO likes to have the parallel arrivals and similarly the departures are often involving two planes at a time.  If you time it right and have the angles aligned properly, you can get four jets in one shot – two on approach and two taking off.

A Different Angle on the Parallel Approaches

B11I0568.jpgThe parallel approaches to SFO are well known and have been the subject of previous posts here. This time I was looking for something different on this theme. I was at a favorite location of mine, Coyote Point. This is further out on the approach and a lovely park area. If nothing is happening, this is still a very relaxing place to be. It sticks out in to the bay with the result that you are much closer to the approach flightpaths. This makes for good opportunities to get shots of the aircraft and, in the warmer months, it reduces any problems with heat haze. However, it does change your alignment with the planes and the possibilities for parallel approach shots since the places appear to be stepped down from your angle.

B11I0258.jpgThis is not necessarily a problem so you can go vertical if you want. Also, it does make you well aligned for shots when the approaches are not happening in sync. You can find the second aircraft turning in further out is actually quite well lined up with the first since it is offset vertically as well as horizontally. The shots are not the classic parallel approach shots but they are still something a little unusual.

Skywest Races Southwest

AU0E5056.jpgI like having more than one airliner in one shot as you have probably figured by now if you read the blog a lot. Since SFO has parallel approaches, getting this type of shot is not a rarity although you do appreciate it when it works out. In this case a Skywest Embraer E175 (operating for United Express) and a Southwest 737 were lined up on the approach. They were offset a bit so their relative position from my viewpoint changed during the approach which provided a nice variety of compositions.

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Overview of a Nation’s Capital

The second leg of the journey that provided me with the storm video of Chicago was to Washington DC. For those that haven’t been there, Washington’s National Airport is located in the Potomac River. Approaches from the south come straight up the river but approaches from the north follow the winding line of the river to stay away from populated areas. It is quite a fun ride on a rough day.

On this day it was calm and evening was drawing in so there was a great view of the city as we made our approach. I shot some more video from the window using my phone and you can see all of the famous parts of the city. Enjoy!