Gallery Review: New Year's Montage 2012

To my dear readers/fellow bloggers/aviation enthusiasts,

I would like to take this moment to wish everyone a Happy New Years. It has been an interesting one in terms of the things going on in regular life as well as the great photos of aircraft that I have taken this year... Here's a montage if you will, composed of some of my all-time favorite aviation photos that I have taken this past year:

Two of the last of several photos I got to take in Japan before I came home earlier this year:

Cessna Citation 680 Sovereign (JA680C) owned by Aero Asahi taxiing to the active. Nagoya-Komaki Airport, Nagoya/Kasugai, Aichi, Japan.

All Nippon Airways-ANA (Air Japan) Boeing 767-381ER (JA609A) parked at Tokyo Narita International Airport. Chiba, Japan.

Here are some of my favorite "local" shots:

Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 (N933DN) arriving at PDX. Portland, Oregon.

Horizon Air with Montana State University special livery De Havilland Dash 8 DHC-8 Q401 (N403QX) taxiing to gate at PDX. Portland, Oregon.

Air Canada Jazz Canadair CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER Regional Jet (C-GGJA) prior to taxiing at PDX. Portland, Oregon.

SeaPort Airlines Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (N950PA) taxiing at PDX. Portland, Oregon.

Delta Airlines Boeing 757-351 (N583NW) smoking the mains for landing at PDX. Portland, Oregon.

Typical scene of aircraft when it comes to SLE. Nice day though at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon.

Formation take-off of two Nanchang CJ-6As (Chinese derivative of the Yakovlev Yak-52) at SLE; NX63727 is the red one on the left and NX43HM is the black one on the right. During Hot August Flights 2012 held at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon.

Face-off! With a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (NL93012), nicknamed Nine O Nine during Wings of Freedom at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon.

ANOTHER face-off! With a Consolidated B-24J Liberator (NX224J), nicknamed Witchcraft during Wings of Freedom at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon.

North American T-6G Texan Racer 44 'Sixshooter' (N4269E), during Hot August Flights 2012 at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon.

 A McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle (78-0492) from the Oregon Air National Guard's 123rd Fighter Squadron "Redhawks" doing a fly-by for the opening ceremonies, in afterburners and emitting a contrail from the wingtips due to the right conditions Oregon has in terms of moisture. This is a shot I'm proud of!

Thunderbird #6 F-16CJ Fighting Falcon during the 2012 Oregon International Air Show at Portland-Hillsboro Airport. Hillsboro, Oregon.

Boeing C-17A Globemaster III (based at Tacoma, Washington) performing a fly-by at the 2012 Oregon International Air Show at Portland-Hillsboro Airport. Hillsboro, Oregon.

North American P-51D Mustang (N451EA) taxiing after demonstration at the 2012 Oregon International Air Show at Portland-Hillsboro Airport. Hillsboro, Oregon.

I posted a different photo of this Dash-8 Q400 before from the Oregon International Air Show but she showed up on my most recent spotting trip to PDX and I honestly feel this photo brings out the "Oregon Element" that I've grown to love/hate. Gotta admit, even though I'm not a fan of the colour orange, at least it looks good with black!

Rocky Mountain favorites:

Mooney M20M (N9716M). This is my uncle's airplane! Taken at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Salt Lake City, Utah.

Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark. This airframe is the only one left of it's kind. Restored by Pacific Fighters located at Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA); Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Rockwell B-1B Lancer on static display at Hill Aerospace Museum. Ogden, Utah.

Favorites from this year's Reno trip:

Hey! It's my uncle's plane again! Heh heh... He was looking for a spot to park! Taken at Carson Airport. Carson City, Nevada.

I didn't realize at the time, but 'Sixshooter' was racing in the T-6 class for the air races! Taken at Reno-Stead Airport. Reno, Nevada.

Now, these following two shots I was REALLY pleased with:

Both cutting-edge for their respective timelines, a North American  P-51D Mustang nicknamed 'Wee Willy II' and an F-22  Raptor flying in formation for the USAF Legacy Flight demonstration.

I was so happy to get both aircraft in the frame just as they came from behind prior to finishing up the USAF Legacy Flight demonstration.

Serving as a support/crew transport aircraft for the Patriots Jet Team, an Israel Aircraft Industries IAI-1124 Westwind (N900PJ) sits on the ramp at Reno-Stead Airport during the 49th Annual National Championship Air Races. Reno, Nevada.

But this has to be my all-time favorite photo that I've taken from this past year. It really holds a special meaning, so what's depicted in the following photo was indeed a privilege to witness:

Four noble World War II-era warbirds: An F6F Hellcat, an F8F Bearcat, an F4U Corsair, and a P-51D Mustang flying together in formation prior to breaking for the 'Missing Man' formation, paying tribute to the eleven victims who were killed in the tragic disaster which took place on September 16, 2011 during the 48th Annual National Championship Air Races.

I dedicate this photo to those eleven victims.

Happy New Years everyone! I had some great photos from this year. Here's to greater experiences, greater achievements (and more awesome photos to come hopefully!) for the year 2013!

Your fellow blogger, and aviation enthusiast,
Michael with a "K"

Gallery Review: Montage From Years Past...

On New Years Eve, I will post a montage of some favorite photos I took this past year. But to think I started this whole hobby back in 2008 seems like it was yesterday... So here is a montage of some of my favorite photos from I guess what you can call my "primitive" years considering the cameras I used...

2008

Humble beginnings usually come with a small digital camera (and willing parents who will let you borrow it!) to get started with...

Douglas C-47A Skytrain (Military designated DC-3) on static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum; McMinnville, Oregon.

Ex-Moldovan Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29S Fulcrum on static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum; McMinnville, Oregon. This was the first time I ever got to see a Fulcrum up close.

Jet Class Racer #55 (NX555FA), a Fouga CM-170R Magister taxiing prior to the Jet Class race for the 45th Annual National Championship Air Races held at Reno-Stead Airport; Reno, Nevada.

This was a privilege to witness! A B-17 Flying Fortress, two B-25 Mitchells, and a P-51 Mustang doing a special fly-by on final day of the 45th Annual National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport; Reno, Nevada.

I had to put this here because I haven't yet done so on my blog! This Cessna 172N SkyHawk II (N5174E) belongs to another one of my uncles! Photo taken at the Nervino Municipal Airport in Beckwourth, California; a tiny town not too far from Reno.

2009


Without a doubt, 2009 was one of my more eventful years in the aviation photography hobby. Not to mention I got my own digital camera!

Yakovlev Yak-9U 'Frank', one of four original models known left in existence and the only one of it's kind on display in the Western World. Displayed at the Museum of Flight; Seattle, Washington.

Nakajima Ki-43-IIIa Hayabusa 'Oscar' replica composed of parts recovered from at least four scrapped Ki-43s on display at the Museum of Flight; Seattle, Washington.

British Airways Aerospatiale-British Aerospace Concorde 102 (G-BOAG) on display at the Museum Flight Airpark; Seattle Washington. One of three Concorde aircraft on display in the United States and the only one on display west of the Appalachians.

Boeing 737-130 (N515NA) on display at the Museum of Flight Airpark. This was the very first 737 ever built.

Boeing 747-121 (N7470) 'The City of Everett' displayed at the Museum of Flight Airpark. This of course, is the very first 747 built by the Boeing company; a piece of history where it should belong.

The very first presidential jet, VC-137B (Boeing 707-153B) served as Air Force One for Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. Aircraft on display at the Museum of Flight Airpark in Seattle, Washington.

Pilatus PC-12 (N861PP) on exhibition display for Hot August Flights 2009. McNary Field (SLE); Salem, Oregon.

Oh no! It's Kent Pietsch and his Interstate S-1A-65F Cadet... Landed on a platform mounted on a moving pick-up truck! Oregon International Air Show 2009 held at Portland-Hillsboro Airport; Hillsboro, Oregon.

What crazy flying technique will this guy think of next!?

Canadair CL-13B Sabre 6 (Canadian built F-86 Sabre) belonging to the Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum taxiing after a flight display for the 2009 Oregon International Air Show at Portland-Hillsboro Airport; Hillsboro, Oregon.

SeaPort Airlines Pilatus PC-12/45 (N933SP) on static display during the 2009 Oregon International Air Show, promoting the airlines Pacific Northwest commuter service. Portland-Hillsboro Airport; Hillsboro, Oregon.

Jet Class Racer #67 (N115DH) De Havilland (F+W Emmen) DH-115 Vampire T55 taxiing prior to the Jet Class races for the 46th Annual National Champion ship Air Races held at Reno-Stead Airport; Reno, Nevada.

This aircraft once served with the Swiss Air Force.

North American P-51D Mustang (N51RH) 'Ole Yeller' on display at the Legacy Flight Museum; Rexburg, Idaho. This aircraft belonged to "The Pilots' Pilot", the legendary Bob Hoover.

This aircraft along with every other aircraft on display at this museum are still airworthy and flying on occasions.

2010

I will admit, 2010 was a slow year for my aviation photography but priorities in life called...

Left to right: Boeing 727-22 (N180FE) and Boeing 737-222 (N9051U) parked at the Purdue University Airport in Lafayette, Indiana. Both aircraft donated from FedEx Express and United Airlines respectively are used in the schools aviation program as a laboratory for maintenance systems and a taxi trainer under the Department of Aviation Technology.

PZL-Mielec/Antonov An-2 'Colt' belonging to the Ropkey Armor Museum just outside of Crawfordsville, Indiana. Believe it or not, this bird is air worthy! I was surprised to see a Polish Cold War-era plane in this region!

2011


It's all in Japanese but don't worry! They do actually fly! AND encourage aircraft spotting!!

Well, except for this one...

Sitting in a parking lot along the city borders of Toyohashi and Toyokawa of Aichi Prefecture, Japan is the fuselage of a Fuji T-1. Who knows what they're gonna do with the remains of this aircraft! Only 66 of them were built and served as intermediate trainers; ALL went to the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. The T-1 was also the first indigenously designed Japanese jet aircraft since World War II.

Hokkaido International Airlines - Air Do Boeing 737-54K (JA8504) on push-back from the gate in preparation for departure from Toyama to Sapporo (TOY-CTS). Toyama Airport; Toyama, Toyama, Japan.

All Nippon Airways - ANA Wings Boeing 737-54K (JA304K) taxiing for departure from Komatsu to Fukuoka (KMQ-FUK). Komatsu Airport; Komatsu, Ishikawa, Japan.

Fuji T-3 on public display at the Ishikawa Aviation Plaza; Komatsu, Ishikawa, Japan.

So there you have it! My favorites from the four years prior until now in a montage... See you on New Years Eve!

Gallery Update: Portland In Its Element

It is so nice to have friends and loved ones home over the holidays. It's also nice when you get to go pick them up from the airport and squeeze in a little planespotting time before that! Here is my sixth photo album from spotting at Portland International Airport on a rainy day; just what Oregon is known for!

Portland (PDX) 6

And the preview:

Two of a kind pass by each other; Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air De Havilland Canada DHC-8-401Q Dash 8 Q400 (N417QX taxiing for departure and N440QX in Oregon State Beavers theme colours having just arrived). Portland International Airport (PDX); Portland, Oregon.

Two F-15C Eagles of the 142nd Fighter Wings Redhawks of the Oregon Air National Guard taxiing back to the flight ramp. Portland Air National Guard Base (PDX); Portland, Oregon

Here's to a safe and happy holidays to you all!