Tag Archives: washington

United’s 737-10 Being Used for SAF Tests

The NASA DC-8 was up in the Pacific Northwest for the trials sampling the air when burning sustainable aviation fuel. The aircraft that was actually burning the fuel that they were sniffing was a 737-10. This Max 10 is ultimately destined for United Airlines. Since the Max 10 is not certificated yet, I guess the jet was free for Boeing to use. It had a special livery for the trials program. Not sure whether this will be kept for service or not. However, when I was shooting the DC-8, I usually got to shoot the Max as well. It didn’t always get the best light, but I still got a few good shots of it.

Back to Whatcom Falls After Rain

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We visited Whatcom Falls a while back and, at the time, the water levels had been quite low. I had been thinking about heading back when the water would be flowing more but hadn’t got around to it. Then, Nancy and I were up in Bellingham for something else and, as we headed home, I make a quick detour to stop off at the falls. They are so close to the parking lot, you can really make a ten-minute stop if you want.

The water was definitely flowing strongly. The falls were flowing hard, and the water was also running through the spillway on the other side of the footbridge. I did go around the top of the falls to see the river flowing in and also take a look at the flow as it headed over the falls. It was very energetic, and I am glad to have taken the side trip. Here is some video of the falls.

Waiting at the South Concourse for Our Flight

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When we headed to the UK we departed from the South Satellite at SEA. It is the location used by most of the international operators. We got there in good time so I had a chance to watch some of the other flights arriving and departing. Here is a selection of shots of the airlines that came and went while we were there (including our jet to the UK).

The Sun Arrives for the Falcon 20

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Autumnal weather can make for unpredictable conditions when photographing anything but especially planes. I was up at Paine Field for the NASA flying but was pleased to see that a Falcon 20 was also due to make a stop. This was an IFL Group aircraft making a short stop before heading off again. The clouds had been rolling through, but they parted just before the Falcon showed up. We had great light on it as it landed.

Conditions didn’t stay great and, by the time it taxied back out to depart, it was not so good. Not terrible by any standards but certainly not the lovely light we had for the arrival. It’s rare that I see a Falcon 20 being used for personal transport these days but the fact that they still have a good role for freight usage means we get to see them around still which is welcome.

Delta 321neos Abound

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Delta has gone in for the A321neo in a big way. They are taking delivery of them at a pretty steady pace. That doesn’t mean you get them everywhere as some types get focused on regions that others don’t. For a while, we didn’t see too many of the neo jets up this way but that seems to have changed now. I am seeing loads of them if I am around SEA these days. Here is a selection of shots of their jets that I have taken in recent months.

Another Epic Encounter

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Nothing too special about this one. It’s just because Epics are a pretty rare type and a rather unusual looking plane so, when one shows up and I am lucky enough to be able to catch it, I think it is worthy of note. The fuselage of this type has a strange shape with a slightly humped look to it. It goes against the “if it looks right, it flies right” idea but it might just make for a more useful cabin for the occupants. Until I fly in one, I’ll never know. Would be good to get one air to air, though.

Other Sunny Sunday Bizjets

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One Sunday earlier in the year, I was up at Boeing Field for the arrival of an old Gulfstream. That proved to be a successful encounter and has been on this blog already. However, that was not the only bizjet traffic that day. I ended up with a variety of corporate aircraft movements.

There was a Canadian Challenger as well as some NetJets examples. A Falcon 7X was on the move which is a cool looking aircraft. There was also a Falcon 50 parked near the road alongside a Hawker. An Excel came through which isn’t that special but then we got an Eclipse which certainly is. It was a fun time to be out photographing with a lot in a short space of time. Here are some shots of those planes.

Assembling Roof Beams with Cranes

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A hangar has been under construction at Paine Field for a while and, while so much time has been taken up by the preparation of the groundwork, I happened to be there when they were assembling the frame of the hangar. The long span that the finished structure will have is built up of two pieces with the side beams and the roof beams for one side being assembled on the ground and then two cranes being called in to lift both halves up simultaneously so that they can be bolted in the center to provide the rigidity needed.

Seeing the cranes holding these large frames in place and the crews using scissor lifts to get up to put the connections in place was quite neat. Once the frames are in place, the process of cladding the building can take place in slower time. Those cranes will have been expensive to rent so getting that heavy lifting done as fast as possible will have been the goal.

Agate Beach

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My first visit to Lopez Island included a stop down by Agate Beach. When Nancy and I took a trip to the island, we headed down to the beach so I could see it again. The weather was lovely and the beach looked at its best. I took some panorama shots as well as regular ones to try and convey the feeling of the bay that the beach sits in. It’s a lovely location.

Murphy Moose On Floats At Olympia

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I’ve posted shots of Murphy Mooses (or however that should be as a plural) in other posts including one with a turbine engine. This one showed up at Olympia during one of the Olympic Air Shows. It’s an average looking plane but stick it on floats and it immediately looks more interesting. It landed and taxied in and then didn’t move again while I was there but at least I got some shots of it.