Gallery Update: Interesting Sightings at Spanish Fork

Happy Halloween everyone! After I got done flying today, I stuck around for a little bit to photograph some unique aircraft that caught my eye. One was an agricultural aircraft with a radial engine, the Weatherly 620. The other was an Airgyro Tercel, a gyrocopter. Here's the link:

Spanish Fork-Springville (U77) 4

Preview:

Weatherly 620B (N90379) parked on the ramp. An agricultural aircraft designed in the 1970s based off the Weatherly 201, which was built in the 1960s. The B-model is a 1992 production variant equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine like the ones seen on Stearman biplanes. Radial engines are pretty uncommon here in Spanish Fork...

Airgyro Tercel (N557AT) working the pattern. Airgyro Aviation is locally-based at Spanish Fork and they manufacture three variants of their gyrocopters.

A Sight No More: Allegiant Air Boeing 757s

In March 2010, American low-cost carrier Allegiant Air purchased six used Boeing 757-200s from British charter carrier Thomson Airways with the intent of using them for trans-Pacific flights to Hawaii from several west coast cities. Not only did this acquisition and expansion keep to the airline's business model of offering low-cost services to popular vacation destinations, but it added perhaps one of the most lucrative (or so it seemed) vacation destinations in the United States. Allegiant introduced their 757s into revenue service in September 2011 from their main hub in Las Vegas on flights initially within the lower 48.

Once the airline received their ETOPS rating for the 757, flights to Honolulu International Airport began soon after. Allegiant inaugurated their Hawaii flights initially from Las Vegas and Fresno. Allegiant then began rotating their 757s flights around by pairing Honolulu with Bellingham, Boise, Eugene, Phoenix-Mesa, Santa Maria, Spokane and Stockton. There were plans to begin flying to Honolulu from Monterey, CA but such flights never came into fruition. Allegiant then began reducing its Honolulu city pairs until there were only two remaining (Las Vegas and Los Angeles). Then in November 2015, the airline announced that it was going to discontinue all service to Hawaii from the U.S. mainland. Allegiant Air determined that the extensive and costly maintenance check that happens about every 6 years (the D-Check) would cost upwards $1 million per aircraft; in short, it would not be financially viable just for a fleet of six airframes.

The other problem Allegiant Air encountered was that the Hawaiian market itself just didn't work out with the carrier's business model. Hawaii is dominated by vacation condos/timeshares. On top of that, most of the hotel operators in Hawaii had no interest in partnering up with Allegiant, so they had far worse hotel offerings there than they do in other mainland vacation markets. With the airline's business model being built around hotel and vacation packages, and without the popular Hawaii hotels at their side, the low-cost carrier was missing out on revenue from hotel rooms, that could've otherwise made all the difference in justifying keeping the Honolulu routes. Of course, the withdrawal of Allegiant Air from Honolulu means Hawaii is without an American low-cost carrier (for now).

Allegiant began retiring their 757s when each airframe was due for their heavy maintenance check. Given that Allegiant bought their 757s used and they already have a high number of cycles on them, it is highly unlikely that these airframes will get picked up and see service with another carrier, therefore will likely get scrapped. And as of today, Allegiant has retired the last of their 757s from the fleet. This leaves the Airbus A319, A320, MD-83, and MD-88 as the remaining aircraft type in their fleet; the MD-83s and MD-88s are scheduled to be retired by 2018.

I was lucky enough to photograph three of Allegiant Air's Boeing 757s (all doing charter flights) in Provo while I was getting started on my flight training. So here's a short montage:

Boeing 757-204 (N902NV). This airframe started life as G-BYAE with Britannia Airways, delivered May 1992. It was then leased to Icelandair in November 1994 before returning to Britannia Airways in April 1995. It was then transferred to Thomsonfly (and then eventually to Thomson Airways) after Britannia Airways rebranded in May 2005. On April 4, 2009, this airframe was withdrawn from use with Thomson Airways and went into brief storage at Shannon Airport in Ireland. It then went to Phoenix-Goodyear Airport on June 30, 2009 for a more long-term storage. In July 2009, airframe was acquired by aircraft lessor AerCap and was briefly re-registered as N964BV and was ferried to Paine Field in Washington to be converted for Allegiant on March 30, 2010. Airframe was re-registered to N902NV and delivered to Allegiant May 2010. Airframe was withdrawn from the Allegiant fleet on February 27, 2017 and went to storage down in Victorville-Southern California Logistics Airport March 10, 2017.

Boeing 757-204 (N906NV). Airframe started life as G-BYAP with Britannia Airways, delivered February 1994. It was then transferred in November 2004 to Thomsonfly following the re-branding of Britannia and again to Thomson Airways in May 2009 following the merger between Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways; aircraft was also nicknamed "John Lennon" after the famed Beatles member while in service with Thomsonfly and Thomson Airways. Airframe was then ferried to Abu Dhabi on October 11, 2011 for maintenance prior to returning to the United States. Re-registered to N906NV and delivered to Allegiant in April 2012.

Boeing 757-204 (N905NV). Airframe was first delivered to Britannia Airways in February 1994 as G-BYAO. It was then transferred to Thomsonfly in November 2004 following the re-branding of Britannia. Transferred again in May 2009 to Thomson Airways following the merger between Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways; during service with Thomsonfly and Thomson Airways, aircraft was nicknamed "Eric Morecambe" after the prominent comedian of British culture. Airframe was withdrawn from the Thomson Airways fleet on October 16, 2011 and ferried to Abu Dhabi for maintenance prior to returning to the United States. Re-registered to N905NV and delivered to Allegiant in March 2012. Airframe was fitted with blended winglets in June 2012.

These were rare catches, and it's a shame they're gone now...

Pilot Life: Pattern Work on My Birthday.

After doing a couple sessions of ground work with my instructor last week in preparation for an end-of-course stage check and eventual checkride, I got back in the cockpit and flew the pattern to keep myself sharp. Plus, today was my birthday and I figured I should do something I love, namely flying! As always, a pre-flight check was in order before I towed the airplane out of the hangar (I can use the tow tug Platinum Aviation has now!). I hopped in, got the engine started up, did the usual run-up procedures in the run-up area, taxied to the runway, and took off.

Back flying in 802CT!

I just stayed in the Spanish Fork pattern today to practice up on my takeoffs and landings, which consisted of short-field and soft-field techniques, touch-and-goes and stop-and-goes; I'm planning on going out to practice maneuvers later this week. As usual, I felt pretty comfortable in the plane and I felt good with my techniques that I've learned throughout flight training. Most of my landings were pretty good too. And of course, I executed a go-around if I didn't feel right about my landings, which occurred twice in today's flight. All in all, it was a simple flight to keep my skills sharp.

Gallery Update: Spotting from Salt Lake to Sacramento

I needed to return home to Oregon for personal business, so I ended up flying commercial. Of course, that meant some plane-spotting on the go! My trip started in Salt Lake City, with a three-hour layover in Sacramento California before arriving in Portland. Because of the flight schedule, I would be arriving in Portland well after sunset so no spotting took place there on this trip. I did however, get some shots at both Salt Lake City and Sacramento as well en route. Here are the links:

Salt Lake City (SLC) 6

Sacramento (SMF) 1

Commercial Air Travel 10/25/2017

Preview:

Salt Lake City

Frontier Airlines Airbus A319-112 (N951FR) "Benny the Brown Bear" parked at A2. Arrived from Atlanta as FFT1561 and would return to Atlanta as FFT1560.

JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 (N569JB) "Blues Brothers" parked at A4. Arrived from Long Beach as JBU1632 and scheduled to return to Long Beach as JBU1631. Airframe formerly sported the airline's 10th anniversary special liver, which was painted over earlier this year.

Sacramento

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-76N (N7727A) taxiing for departure as SWA1511 for Santa Ana. I flew in this plane into Sacramento from Salt Lake City as SWA5021.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-79P (N7857B) taxiing for departure as SWA4970 for Las Vegas. Airframe formerly with China Eastern Airlines as B-5094.

Air Transport International-ATI (d/b/a Amazon Prime Air) Boeing 767-319/ER/BDSF (N347AZ) parked on the cargo ramp. Arrived from Dallas-Fort Worth as ATN3784 and later scheduled to depart for Tampa as ATN3783. I was absolutely thrilled to see one of these in Sacramento! The new cargo carrier brand was founded just a year ago by parent company Amazon.com. Amazon contracts Air Transport International, ABX Air, and Atlas Air to fly for them.  

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N203WN) having just arrived from Long Beach as SWA279 and the same flight and aircraft I would fly home to Portland on.

Double Flight Critique: Southwest Airlines Flight 5021 (SLC-SMF) & Southwest Airlines Flight 279 (SMF-PDX)

Flight 5021 (SLC-SMF)

1.) Aircraft: Boeing 737-700

2.) Flight Time: Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes

3.) Flight was delayed coming from its crew base out of Las Vegas by about 20 minutes. Boarding time was 30 minutes later than scheduled and therefore, 30 minutes late departing Salt Lake City. Flight arrived 15 minutes later than scheduled.

4.) Southwest more than made up for the delay with complimentary snack and beverage service and a overall smooth flight. The views, as always was great as well.

5.) Flight was just under 70% full going into Sacramento so that allowed for a slightly roomier, and more comfortable flight. I can tolerate justifiable delays and Southwest never ceases to please, by being a low-cost carrier people like!

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-76N (N7727A), the plane I flew on from Salt Lake City (SLC) to Sacramento (SMF) for SWA5021. This is a former AirTran Airways airframe acquired by Southwest when they bought out the former and integrated. This was also my first time flying in Southwest 737 sporting the 'Heart' livery.

Flying over the southern part of the Great Salt Lake after turning west following departure.

Over the Bonneville Salt Flats just prior to overflying Wendover.

View of the historic Wendover Airport, as we began to leave Utah behind and fly into Nevada.

Cloud surfing! Who needs in-flight entertainment when you've got views like this?

View of Reno-Tahoe International Airport as we began our descent towards Sacramento.

A view of the Reno metro area as we descended towards Sacramento.

View of Truckee Tahoe Airport during the descent to Sacramento.

Lake Tahoe in the distance as we descended towards Sacramento.

A view of Sacramento International Airport as we entered in on the downwind for Runway 34L.

Left base for Runway 34L.

Short final for 34L, flaps extended.

Touchdown and spoilers deployed.

Pulling up to the gate.

Flight 279 (SMF-PDX)

1.) Aircraft: Boeing 737-700

2.) Flight Time: Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes

3.) Flight was early all around coming in from Long Beach; boarding started early and the flight got off the ground 5 minutes early as well. Arrival into Portland was also about 10 minutes early.

4.) Complimentary drink and snack services were as always, appreciated. Got some good views as the flight made a straight-out departure northbound while the sun set until it got dark coming into Portland.

5.) Flight was a little fuller (seriously, who flies to Portland?!) so it was a bit more cramped, but still tolerable.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N203WN), the plane I flew on from Sacramento (SMF) to Portland (PDX) for SWA279. "Free Bags Fly Here!" Thanks Southwest for that awesome convenience!

Just prior to push-back.

Climbing out on Runway heading after departing on 34L.

 

Flying over smoke. California and Oregon has seen some really bad wildfires this year...

Winglet view with Crater Lake.

I know I'm back in the Pacific Northwest when I see Crater Lake!

Pilot Life: Another Practice Flight Solo

It was another great day to get some flying in and I figured I might as well since I'm interested in staying sharp with the skills I've worked to get back. I am in the process of getting ready for the end-of-course stage check (a checkride before THE checkride, you might say!), which I will be doing with a senior flight instructor soon, hence the need to stay sharp. As always, I got through pre-flight of the airplane following my arrival at the airport.

I haven't flown in N992CT in a while... To the keen observer, yes the flaps are extended all the way; I snapped this photo right after I completed the pre-flight inspection. I was taught to pre-flight the Katana with the flaps extended because it makes it easier to inspect the linkage and hinges that attach the flaps to the wings.

After completing the pre-flight inspection, I hopped in the plane, I got the engine started up, taxied a short ways, did run-ups, taxied some more, lined up on the runway and I got airborne. I turned to the south and practiced all the maneuvers I've been taught, as I know that I can be asked to perform any number of them during the stage check and checkride.

After spending some time doing all the maneuvers required for a private pilots license, I headed back to the airport and practiced all my landing techniques. I logged four total landings on today's flight before I called it quits and taxied back to the ramp to shut the engine down.

Slowly but surely, I'll get it done...

Gallery Update: A Familiar Visitor to Spanish Fork

I was going flying today and I happened to bring my camera this time. Before I headed out to the airplane I scheduled myself in, I snapped a few shots which included a familiar aircraft I haven't seen in a while.

Spanish Fork-Springville (U77) 3

Preview:

Sorensen BF9-2 Phantom "Unfinished Business" (N81973) parked on the Spanish Fork ramp. I haven't seen this one-of-a-kind bi-plane since 2014! Built by Danny Sorensen of Golden Age Airshows, the aircraft has a Russian-made engine, and German-made propeller. It took Sorensen nearly 6,000 hours to complete construction of the aircraft, excluding design time. It is an aircraft reminiscent of the 1930s (the golden age of aviation, hence the air show name!) with modern high performance.

Gallery Update: An Allegiant Airbus and a Sun Country Boeing

I was planning on attending an air show up in Boise today, but I ended up not going. So as a consolation, I headed out to Provo to chase a couple of airliners (all of them being operated by low-cost carriers!). One was another Allegiant Airbus A319 (that I haven't photographed yet) in the airline's new livery and the other was a Sun Country 737-800 charter flight that brought back the BYU football team after their loss to Mississippi State today. And the best part about today's consolation spotting session? Beautiful sunset lighting!

Provo (PVU) 44

Preview:

Allegiant Air Airbus A319-111 (N332NV) exiting on A1 after arriving on 31 as AAY132 from Phoenix-Mesa. My second Allegiant Airbus with the new livery! And the setting sun made this incredible lighting possible!

Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-8BK (N818SY) on short final for 13 as SCX8661 arriving from Golden Triangle Regional in Columbus, Mississippi. Again, great lighting thanks to the setting sun! On board was the BYU football team returning to Provo after their loss at the hands of the Mississippi State University Bulldogs 10-35. The BYU Cougars is NOT having a great football season this year... After dropping off the BYU football team, airframe was later scheduled to depart Provo with the same flight number to Ontario, California.

Airframe first delivered to Flyglobespan in the U.K. as G-CEJP in June 2007. It was then leased to Oman Air in May 2008 before returning to Flyglobespan a year later. Then in December 2009, it went to Ethiopian Airlines as ET-AMZ until December 2012 when Sun Country took delivery of the airframe.

N332NV airborne after departing on 31 for the return-trip to Phoenix-Mesa as AAY133 after a quick turn-around. Lighting was still good even after the sun fell beneath the horizon.

Airframe first served with Cebu Pacific Air as RP-C3192 from December 2005 until acquisition by Allegiant in July of this year. This A319 is only a month into regularly scheduled revenue service, having been deployed by Allegiant on September 10, 2017.

Pilot Life: More Solo Flying Practice

Yesterday's scheduled flight for me was a skunk due to strong and gusty winds as well as low level turbulence (thank's for the warning ForeFlight!). But conditions were fine today so I logged another productive hour of flying into my logbook today. Preparation for the checkride continues. As always, I did my pre-flight routines for the airplane before hopping in and getting the engine started.

And I'll keep flying in N802CT as much as I can!

After taxiing a short ways, I did my run-ups. Everything looked good, so I taxied out to the runway and got airborne. As per the usual solo training routine I'm allowed (as endorsed by my flight instructor), I headed south and practiced the maneuvers as required for a private pilot's license. The focus for me today was doing some of the high and low-altitude turning maneuvers as I felt that it has gotten a little sloppy.

After getting some practice in, I headed back to the airport to do some pattern work. I ended up sharing the pattern with a Cessna Citation Excel jet, so I now had some wake turbulence avoidance to worry about! I had to do one go-around on one of my landing approaches, but I ended up getting some landing practice in regardless. After logging four landings, I called it quits and taxied back to the ramp.

Pilot Life: Back on the Saddle

After yesterday's flight got cut short, I found an opening for a late-morning/early-afternoon flight and I took it. And better yet, I got to fly in my preferred DA-20 Katana! I definitely wanted to end this week's flying on a good note so I felt it was important to get back on the horse after experiencing yesterday's disconcerting mishap that I had with a runaway trim control.

Back flying on N802CT!

I briefly met with my flight instructor; he was informed about my little runaway trim misadventure that I had yesterday. Afterwards, I headed out to the airplane and got the pre-flight done. I started up the engine, performed run-ups, and got in the air. Since weather was great and I was out for redemption after yesterday's little scare, I decided (with encouragement from my flight instructor!) to leave the pattern and practice up on the maneuvers I've been learning.

I initially stayed low after leaving the pattern and I headed towards Payson so I could do some ground reference maneuvers. Using the Payson LDS Temple as my point, I did some turns around a point and made several laps there. Afterwards, I sought out a straight stretch of road and performed S-turns across them. Once I was done with ground reference maneuvers, I climbed in altitude and decided to do some steep turns and I did several of them to practice.

After doing several steep turns, I headed back to the Spanish Fork pattern and did several touch-and-goes and stop-and-goes to practice my short-field and soft-field takeoffs and landings. After logging four landings total during this flight, I called it quits and returned the plane to the ramp. One thing's for sure, I love having all these opportunities to go out fly solo!

Pilot Life: A Practice Flight Cut Short

Today, I had to deal with a minor setback that forced me to cut today's flight short. I started out by flying in an airplane I did not schedule myself for because the plane I've been using was running behind schedule. So I ended up flying a different airplane, but I was fine with that. It was what happened while airborne that made me decide to end the flight. More on that below...

Ended up flying in N968CT after N802CT started falling behind schedule with the guys who were flying it before I was supposed to.

After doing the pre-flight, my instructor helped me pull the plane to the fuel pumps; we figured it would be best to fuel up before I went up and save the next guy flying the plane after me a little trouble. Plus, the tanks were kind of on the low side anyways! After I was done fueling, I pulled the plane away from the pumps and hopped in got started up. After I did my run-ups, I departed on the runway and made the same traffic pattern I did yesterday. The plan was to do the same things I did yesterday by practicing my soft-field and short-field takeoffs and landings. I started the flight and pattern work with soft-field work and that's all I really ended up accomplishing...

The mishap occurred just as I was about to turn on my base leg for what was supposed to be my third touch-and-go soft-field and the airplane started pitching up. I also felt the stick being pulled back as if I trimmed the aircraft; but I didn't touch the trim controls! A quick glance at the trim position indication on the cockpit panel showed the lights flickering from up to down and vice versa in rapid succession. I realized I had a runaway trim so I pushed the stick forward with great effort in order to keep the wings level, and then I recalled a technique I learned from a fellow student at UVU and pulled the circuit breaker for the trim control. And just like that, the pressure I needed to exert to counteract the abnormal trim on the stick was no longer necessary.

I extended the downwind leg for just a bit before pushing back in the trim circuit breaker and things were normal. I still didn't trust the trim and the trim indicator in the airplane I was flying in so I decided to make a full-stop landing and cut the flight short out of precaution. I made my base turn and descent and turned again to final approach. It ended up being longer flare over the runway and I touched down and rolled out before exiting to the next available taxiway. I taxied back to the ramp, killed the engine, and noted the issue I dealt with. I got a flight instructor from Platinum Aviation to come out to the airplane and explained to him what had happened; he assured me that he would look into it and try to replicate what I experienced.

This was definitely one of the more disconcerting experiences I've had flying solo. But I'm glad I was able to recall on the training I previously received in order to handle the situation which of course resulted in a safe and successful landing. Futhermore, today's experience goes to show that I've become a better pilot compared to a year ago.

Gallery Update: Chasing Sun Country Airlines in Provo

We are in the middle of college football season and that of course means there are charter flights roaming around taking football teams around! I missed several charter flights for BYU a month ago when they went out to New Orleans to play against Louisiana State University. Since then, it's been mostly local or in-state for BYU football (not that they're having a great season anyways!) so there hasn't been any charter flights. Today, the Boise State University Broncos football team flew into Provo on a Sun Country Airlines 737-800 and of course, I had to chase it down!

Provo (PVU) 43

Preview:

Cessna 525C Citation CJ4 (N460RG) on short final for 13.

Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-8FH (N820SY) "Lake Minnetonka" on short final for 13 arriving from Boise as SCX8687 with the Boise State football team on board.

Note the name "Lake Minnetonka" adorned on the aircraft's nose; in April of this year, the airline announced that all their planes were going to be named after a different Minnesota lake in the hopes of endearing itself to its customers and that it promotes the state to people in other markets. As a Minnesota-based carrier, this a good way to show pride for the company's home state!

This was my first time catching a Sun Country 737 sporting split-scimitar winglets.

Pilot Life: Solo Landing Practice (Breaking 70 Flight Hours!)

I scheduled myself to fly some solo pattern work for today and tomorrow. And I couldn't ask for better weather this afternoon! I met with my instructor briefly to go over what I was planning on doing and then he cut me loose. The only thing I was planning on doing the next two days was polishing up my landing techniques as the past few flights with my flight instructor showed that I needed to make little improvements; I've got the major techniques down, but it's just the little details that needs polishing up, hence the solo flights in the pattern I've scheduled for myself.

Flew in N802CT again as part of my practice.

After I pre-flighted, I hopped in and got the engine started up. I taxied a short distance and did my run-ups short of the runway. Once I verified everything was normal, I taxied to the runway, made my radio calls and took off via Runway 30 with a short-field takeoff. From there I made left-closed traffic and began doing my pattern work with the airport and airspace all to myself... Well, actually mostly to myself; as I was doing my circuits, a DA-40 Diamond Star came in behind me on one of my passes and a Cessna 172 on the ground called me on the radio asking how the air was as I was working the pattern. That Cessna took off after I landed at the end of my flight around the pattern.

I logged multiple landings, practicing both short-field and soft-field techniques with regular touch-and-goes or stop-and-goes where appropriate. Needless to say, most of my landings were pretty good! And honestly, it felt good to get some practice by myself in! Now that it was the fall season, it's starting to get dark earlier so I called it quits once the sun really started setting; by the time I taxied off the runway, the entire airport was already in the shadows of the mountains. I taxied over to the fuel pumps and ended the flight there because my instructor asked me to re-fuel the plane for a student and an instructor who were scheduled to take it out first thing tomorrow morning. So I fueled the plane by myself for the first time! After I topped off the tanks, I walked over the hangar and grabbed the tow tug so I wouldn't have to kill my arms and legs dragging the plane under my own strength alone! I hooked up the tug to the nose wheel and tucked the Katana I've been flying consistently into the barn for the night.

I filled out my logbook and realized that I've broken the 70 flight hours mark as of today!