Gallery Update: Chasing a 787-9 in Salt Lake City!

Finally! After seven years since the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner took to the skies, I have finally photographed one for myself today at Salt Lake City International Airport! One year ago on May 5, 2016, KLM  Royal Dutch Airlines, flag carrier of the Netherlands began seasonal twice weekly nonstop service from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam, and increased service to three times weekly on July 4, 2016. This is the first transatlantic route from Salt Lake City served by a European-based airline and is intended to supplement the existing daily flight between Salt Lake City and Amsterdam operated by Air France KLM’s Transatlantic Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, which operates its fourth-largest hub there. When they first started flights last year, KLM used Airbus A330s. Now as of this year, KLM now uses Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on their Amsterdam-Salt Lake route.

Personally, I find it ironic that I've spent the last ten years living in the Pacific Northwest where 787s SHOULD be a fairly common sight but my first sighting of one happens to be in the Wasatch Valley! The irony is in the fact that Dreamliners have eluded me for seven years...

Special thanks and shout-out to Bruce Leibowitz of Flightline Aviation Media for the useful information about spotting at Salt Lake City International, particularly the bike/jogging trail located under the approach path of 34L, where I took all my photos!

Here's the link:

Salt Lake City (SLC) 4

Preview:

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-700 (N608SK) arriving from Sun Valley as SKW4720.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200LR (N953SW) arriving from Twin Falls as SKW7405.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200LR (N441SW) arriving from Pasco/Tri-Cities-area.

KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (PH-BHI) "Lavendel" arriving from Amsterdam-Schiphol as KLM609. All of KLM's Dreamliners are named after flowers or flowering plants. "Lavendel" translates to Lavender. This is the eighth 787-9 delivered to KLM's fleet. I am beyond excited to finally add the Dreamliner to my photography portfolio!

The 787-9 first flew on September 17, 2013 and is 20 feet longer in fuselage length than the base model 787-8. The 787-9 also retains the same wingspan as the 787-8. KLM's Salt Lake flights depart on the same day as KLM610 on the return leg.

This was also my first time catching the full KLM livery. The last KLM aircraft I saw was a "naked" 777 last year headed for the paint shop!

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-700 (N611SK) arriving from Boise as SKW4610.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200LR (N426SW) arriving from Great Falls as SKW4558.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a United Express) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N106SY) arriving from San Francisco as SKW5465.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-932/ER (N843DN) arriving from Atlanta as DAL109. This was also my first time catch a Delta-operated 737 sporting the split-scimitar winglets.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER (N702BR) arriving from Missoula as SKW4764. Airframe originally delivered  in 2000 as N851FJ to Atlantic Coast Airlines to fly under the Delta Connection colors. In 2001, it was re-registered to the current N-number and flew for United Express. It was then transferred to Independence Air in 2004. Following the demise of Independence Air, airframe went to Chautauqua Airlines in 2007 and flew under Continental Express colors. SkyWest took ownership of the airframe in 2010.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200LR (N447SW) arriving from Idaho Falls as SKW4542.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200LR (N431SW) arriving from Fresno as SKW4641.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-832 (N37700) arriving from New York-JFK as DAL45.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A320-211 (N318US) arriving from Portland as DAL1194.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-2BD (N896AT) arriving from Sacramento as DAL702.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-440 (N8968E) arriving from Kalispell as SKW4775.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-2BD (N949AT) arriving from Reno as DAL1244. Formerly with AirTran Airways painted in the Orlando Magic basketball team livery.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200ER (N685BR) arriving from Rapid City as SKW4549. Airframe first delivered to Atlantic Coast Airlines in 2002 and flew under the United Express banner. It was then transferred to Independence Air in 2004. Airframe then went to Comair in 2006 and flew solely under the Delta Connection banner. Following Comair's demise, SkyWest took ownership of the airframe in 2011.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-790 (N614AS) arriving from Portland as ASA714.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-2BD (N717JL) arriving from San Jose as DAL50. Formerly with AirTran Airways and the only 717 to not have the -AT prefix in it's N-number. The -JL prefix was dedicated to former AirTran CEO Joe Leonard, who was a positive influence on the now defunct airline, by  leading the turn-around of the carrier and establish a culture of trust and entrepreneurship at AirTran following the bad reputation the airline had from it's predecessor ValueJet.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A320-212 (N352NW) arriving from Oakland as DAL553.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-702 (N632SK) arriving from Burbank as SKW4519.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-700 (N630SK) arriving from Billings as SKW4505.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A320-212 (N365NW) arriving from San Francisco as DAL706.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-700 (N613SK) arriving from Bozeman as SKW4649.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2B19 CRJ-200LR (N448SW) arriving from Gillette as SKW7391.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-701ER (N641CA) arriving from Omaha as SKW4657. Formerly with Comair and the very same airframe that was involved in a ground collision incident with an Air France A380 at New York-JFK on April 11, 2011.