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:
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| Cessna Citation 680 Sovereign (JA680C) owned by Aero Asahi taxiing to the active. Nagoya-Komaki Airport, Nagoya/Kasugai, Aichi, Japan. |
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| 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:
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| Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 (N933DN) arriving at PDX. Portland, Oregon. |
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| Horizon Air with Montana State University special livery De Havilland Dash 8 DHC-8 Q401 (N403QX) taxiing to gate at PDX. Portland, Oregon. |
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| Air Canada Jazz Canadair CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER Regional Jet (C-GGJA) prior to taxiing at PDX. Portland, Oregon. |
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| SeaPort Airlines Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (N950PA) taxiing at PDX. Portland, Oregon. |
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| Delta Airlines Boeing 757-351 (N583NW) smoking the mains for landing at PDX. Portland, Oregon. |
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| Typical scene of aircraft when it comes to SLE. Nice day though at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon. |
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| 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. |
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| Face-off! With a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (NL93012), nicknamed Nine O Nine during Wings of Freedom at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon. |
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| ANOTHER face-off! With a Consolidated B-24J Liberator (NX224J), nicknamed Witchcraft during Wings of Freedom at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon. |
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| North American T-6G Texan Racer 44 'Sixshooter' (N4269E), during Hot August Flights 2012 at McNary Field. Salem, Oregon. |
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| 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! |
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| Thunderbird #6 F-16CJ Fighting Falcon during the 2012 Oregon International Air Show at Portland-Hillsboro Airport. Hillsboro, Oregon. |
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| 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. |
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| North American P-51D Mustang (N451EA) taxiing after demonstration at the 2012 Oregon International Air Show at Portland-Hillsboro Airport. Hillsboro, Oregon. |
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| 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:
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| Mooney M20M (N9716M). This is my uncle's airplane! Taken at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). Salt Lake City, Utah. |
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| 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. |
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| Rockwell B-1B Lancer on static display at Hill Aerospace Museum. Ogden, Utah. |
Favorites from this year's Reno trip:
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| 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. |
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| 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:
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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:
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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"
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