Gallery Update: Air Show Buzz Reno 2012

Got a huge update for you this time... Over 600 photos to be exact! All from my recent trip to Reno, Nevada for the 49th Annual National Championship Air Races. Hope you enjoy!

Reno-Tahoe (RNO) 1

Carson City (CXP) 1

Reno 2012 - Air Racers

Reno 2012 - Air Show

Reno 2012 - Flight Ramp

Reno 2012 - Race Pits

Reno 2012 - Static Display

Out of 600 plus photos, here's a taste of what I caught through my camera lense:

McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II "gate guard". Reno, Nevada (RNO).

Canadair CL-13 Mk. 5 (F-86) Sabre. Carson City, Nevada (CSN).

Grumman F8F-2 Bearcart (G-58) Race 77 Rare Bear. National Championship Air Races; Reno, Nevada.

Kent Pietsch finishing the Deadstick Routine on his Interstate S-1A-65F Cadet.

McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle from the 173rd Fighter Wing based at Klamath Falls, Oregon taxis out for the opening ceremony.

PZL-Mielec TS-11 Iskra bis D Race 17 Predator sitting at the Jet Racer Pits.

A view of the static display from the grandstands.

Aircraft Spotting 102: Off-Airport Spotting

Usually, aircraft spotting is done at airports whether it's normal traffic patterns or a special day such as an air show of some sorts. But aircraft spotting can also be done off-airport, or in other words anywhere other than at an airport. Off-airport spotting can be tricky, however. Half an example would be at an aviation museum not near or next to an airport. Now I say half because it's technically aircraft archaeology; for the most part the aircraft is not gonna go anywhere if it's a museum piece. Also, most aviation museums are already located on the grounds of airports. In fact, most static displays (with the exception of air shows) including military "gate guard" planes/helicopters is considered aviation archaeology and aircraft preservation and not really spotting just because they sit there and do nothing and easy to photograph. But photographers are still free to take pictures of them since they do have their own unique history and museum photos make an excellent addition to ones collection of aircraft photos.

Spotting is not limited to, but leans more towards aircraft movements. A true example of off-airport spotting would be taking a photo of an aircraft higher up in the air and the photographer is some significant distance away from the airport of origin. Of course, a really good camera with telescoping lens capabilities is most likely need, but it can be done.

Referring to notable examples on Airliners.net, common subjects of off-airport spotting are Hot Air Balloons and helicopters because of their ability to land practically anywhere. Fixed wing aircraft also fall into the category as well. Common examples include very old vintage aircraft that can take off from a field or an open patch of grass. Another common example would be the fly-bys over a sports stadium.

Another common off-airport spotting technique is taking aircraft photos from another while riding another. Commonly called "In Flight Spotting" or "Chase Spotting" (referring to a chase plane tasked with taking photos), most common results found when typing "In Flight" on the Airliners.net search engine are interior photos of passenger cabins, the cockpit when access is granted, and the wings of the very aircraft the photographer is travelling it. But taking photos of aircraft from another aircraft are possible but more difficult to get, especially when it's done from a commercial airliner. It takes perfect timing and location but for the most part, you're never going to see another aircraft from a commercial flight real well in the first place. And you'll need to sit in a window seat to even have a chance to photograph anything that's flying with you...

My first off-airport shot took place in a small rural Idaho town with no public airport. The aircraft was a Life Flight helicopter taking off from a church parking lot just across the street from where I was staying. It was by far one of the easiest off-airport spotting.

In fact, here's that photo:

N160AM takes-off from a rural town with no public airport.

 But every spotter has in their own right a different definition of 'off-airport spotting'. It's doable yet, complex at the same time. Take your pick! Either way, it's a fun thing to do!

Flight Critique: Southwest Airlines Flight 782 (RNO-PDX)

1.) Aircraft: Boeing 737-700

2.) Flight Time: 1 hour

3.) Clear skies all the way.

4.) Smooth flight most of the way; slightly turbulent.

5.) Complimentary drink and snack services.

6.) Flight was full so it felt slightly cramped but Southwest still never ceases to satisfy.

I got pictures this time:

At RNO after boarding.

Having just arrived in PDX.

Flight Critique: Southwest Airlines Flight 2873 (PDX-RNO)

1.) Aircraft: Boeing 737-700

2.) Flight Time: 1 hour

3.) Great weather flying out PDX and into RNO.

4.) Smooth flight all the way.

5.) Complimentary drink and snack services.

6.) Original flight itinerary called for 1.5 hours of flight time. Ended up being only an hour. Southwest never ceases to satisfy!

The Savior of General Aviation

In the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic is a village called Libice nad Cidlinou, where aircraft manufacture ATEC v.o.s. is situated. In my most recent gallery update, one of the aircraft featured was an aircraft manufactured by this company. And that would be the ATEC 321 Faeta.

Developed from the similar-in-appearance predecessor, the ATEC 122 Zephyr 2000, the Faeta was designed to comply specifically with microlight rules of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and U.S. Light-Sport Aircraft rules. Although classified as an ultralight and light-sport aircraft in the Czech Republic and various European nations, the 321 Faeta is approved under its very own class of aircraft in the U.S.A. as a Super Light-Sport Aircraft (SLSA).

Like the Zephyr predecessor, the Faeta has a factory-supplied Rotax 912 four-stroke engine as its powerplant The 321 also features a cantilever low-wing, two side-by-side configuration seats, enclosed cockpit under a bubble canopy, fixed-gears in tricycle configuration, and a T-tail. The fuselage is composed of carbon fibre, therefore made out of composite materials that makes it a light-sport class aircraft. Empty of fuel, the aircraft weighs only 613 lbs. (278 kg.) and is capable of carrying 1,042 lbs. (472.5 kg.) total. Unlike the Zephyr however, the Faeta wing uses a different tapered planform as well as a new airfoil. The cockpit is also very simple to the point where only basic instruments required for powered flight on 1-2 screens is on the control panel, although different options are available. The aircraft also features control sticks as opposed to yokes.

Performance-wise, the Faeta is capable of reaching speeds up to 146 Knots, or 168 mph (270 km/h), but a standard cruising speed typically does not exceed 123 Knots, or 141 mph (227 km/h). Because of its light weight, the Faeta is rated a stall speed at 28 Knots, or 32 mph (52 km/h) which is surprisingly low considering other single-engine aircraft like the Cessna 172 Skyhawk and the Piper PA-28 Cherokee (both popular and standard choices for various local flight schools) have higher stall speeds of 47 Knots, or 54 mph (87 km/h). The 321 Faeta also outdoes the Skyhawk and Cherokee both by having a doubled rate of climb of 1,400 Feet per minute (7 m/s). And with weight calculated correctly, the Faeta can have a fuel load up to 18 Gallons (70 litres) allowing for approximately 2-3 hours of flight time on a good day.

There are only about ten ATEC 321 Faeta-type aircraft registered in the U.S. present day. But pilots I know who have flown this aircraft unofficially call it the "Savior or Redeemer of General Aviation", and given the performance capabilities and the materials the airplane is made out of, they have good reason to call it that. Off the assembly line, a brand new Faeta would is worth about $89,000 compared to six figure price tags of most modern (and newer) single-engine general aviation aircraft. The other factor is the cost of maintaining the aircraft; compared to older Piper or Cessna aircraft, the Faeta is by far a lot more cheaper to maintain. Given the state of the economy, affordability of most General Aviation aircraft has a high price tag and public interest in the profession has been on the decrease as a result. The ATEC 321 Faeta holds the potential in promoting, boosting and gaining back the lost interest in the concept of flying under GA category. Right now it's a rare and uncommon aircraft to find the in U.S. and airport tower staff will most likely scratch their heads thinking "What's a Faeta?" when one radios in. But that doesn't mean flight schools can't purchase a small fleet of them anytime in the near future. Once the aircraft is a little more well-known and popularized, flight schools will most likely start phasing out their older, less-efficiant planes and replace them with Faetas for their performance capabilities, composite materials, cheaper maintainability, and simplicity.

Hence, the "Savior of General Aviation".