Tag Archives: KBFI

Marine Week

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wpid10983-AU0E6829.jpgEn route from a day with a client to the airport I had a spare hour to pay a visit to Boeing Field in Seattle. I figured that my time window would mean there was nothing much to see and I didn’t have anything longer than the 24-105 with me anyway. However, when I got there I could see an interesting collection of USMC machines on the opposite side of the field and the Blue Angels were parked up near the Museum of Flight.

wpid10985-AU0E6834.jpgI took a ride around to where the Marine helicopters and V-22 were parked and got chatting to one of the crews. He explained it was the start of Marine Week and offered a chance to walk around the ramp with one of the crew. I was not going to refuse that. Mario kindly showed me around and let me shoot anything external. They had three UH-1Y Venoms and three AH-1Z Cobras along with a single V-22. One fof the Cobras was marked up in special squadron colors. I took a walk around all of them and grabbed a few shots while chatting with Mario about what it was like to support these machines. He had worked on the UH-1N before converting to the Venom so he had some interesting perspectives on the relative reliability of the two.

wpid10989-AU0E6839.jpgThese machines were going to be progressively moved across to the other side of the field as part of the public displays for Marine Week and the first of the Cobras actually was towed while I was there so my timing was excellent. However I did have to go and then my timing let me down as, while I was driving away, I saw an AV-8B Harrier II coming down the approach. Oh well. I still did better than I had expected.

Blue Angel

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wpid9133-C59F7796.jpgA surprise visitor at Boeing Field timed his arrival perfectly.  I had just pulled up at the field when I saw something running in on the approach at speed and not descending.  This had the look of a military break.  I didn’t have the camera out but, fortunately, given that it looked like they would break downwind to land, I had some time to grab the camera.  Sure enough, it was an F/A-18 that broke overhead.  More interestingly, it was a two seater from the Blue Angels.

wpid9131-C59F7780.jpgI was ready by the time it was on the approach and managed to get a few shots as they landed.  They then taxied over to Clay Lacy’s FBO and parked up.  Not sure what they were in for but it could involve the planning for Seafair later in the year.  Whatever the reason, a nice surprise.

L-100

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wpid9121-C59F7424.jpgMy Boeing Field visit also included a very nice surprise.  The evening was drawing in quite quickly but a view off to the south showed a lot of smoke coming from something on the approach.  At first I had no idea what it was but soon the familiar shape of a Hercules came into view.  This was a civilian model, the L-100.  It was operated by Lynden Air Cargo delivering something large!

wpid9123-C59F7472.jpgThey were heading for a ramp close to the threshold so the crew were not shy about thumping the aircraft down right on the numbers.  A decent cloud of tire smoke let you know they were down and then they put the props into reverse and were soon off the runway and taxiing back to the stand.  An interesting aircraft and a lucky break.

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Big Business Jets

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wpid9147-C59F7990.jpgI was back in Seattle recently and, while the reason for being there took up the majority of my time, I did have a couple of opportunities at the end of the days to pay a visit to Boeing Field.  I had been there last year and made the best of the nice light later in the day then.  This time, the light looked good but proved to be a bit fickle and the day was not as long given the time of year.  However, I did get an interesting selection of aircraft to shoot.  Boeing Field is a popular location for business aviation given its close proximity to Seattle city center.  There were some very nice large jets visiting.  An Airbus ACJ from Germany was parked up the entire time I was there but I never saw it move.  However, I did get to see some Globals and Gulfstreams stretch their legs.

wpid9119-C59F7175.jpgThe Global Express is a great looking business jet.  One arrived shortly after I did and I managed to get it as it came in.  I was at a spot I hadn’t tried before.  It gives a better angle on the aircraft as they approach and touch down but it does suffer from a more cluttered background which is a shame.  The Global looked like it was heading out again as I got ready to leave for the evening so I decided to go to the departure end of the runway and try and get it head on.  By now the light was really going but I ramped up the ISO and decided to go for it anyway.  Having Mount Rainier in the background certainly doesn’t harm a shot but it was really a bit too dark.

wpid9137-C59F7849.jpgThe other nice visitor was a G650.  The newest of the big Gulfstreams is a significant improvement from an aesthetic point of view as far as I am concerned.  This one had a great paint scheme too so I was very happy to see it.  The runway direction was changed just before it left so I got to see it as it was airborne rather than on the takeoff roll which was nice.

wpid9127-C59F7707.jpgThrow in some Dassault Falcons and I had a lucky run given how limited the time was that I had there.  Hopefully I will be back again sometime soon.