M. Wynn: "Wild Card" Aviation Photography & Images: Gallery Update: NEO Smorgasbord at PDX!

About This Blog:

The primary purpose of this blog is to showcase the best of my aviation photography. As such, you will find links to my main aviation gallery on Facebook containing photos from aircraft spotting, some kind of aviation event such as air shows and fly-in events, as well as aviation museums. I also critique my flights on commercial airlines and the services they provide. Occassionally, you'll find personally written, independent articles based on news and current events involving aviation. And of course, I'll put up links to official and unofficial aviation-related websites when I find them. And when time permits, I'll talk and discuss about anything involving aviation. But most importantly, this is my way to document my journey into the aviation industry!

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Gallery Update: NEO Smorgasbord at PDX!

I have not given up the chase to photograph one of the three remaining Airbus A321neos still in the Virgin America livery (they're slated to be all repainted by this summer!)! And needless to say, I finally got what I was after today, as I decided to take another Sunday trip up to PDX to get some spotting in; my decision was made after seeing that one of Alaska Airlines' A321neos still in the Virgin America livery was coming back to Portland, this time at a more reasonable time of day.

Not only did I get the Virgin America A321neo I was after, but I also got to see and photograph TWO more A320neos, one operated Spirit Airlines and the other operated by Volaris! The latter airline was a bit of a surprise to me, considering that Volaris has never flown into PDX on Sundays previously, but now has increased to daily flights from their previous six weekly flights; that also means both Saturdays and Sundays are opportunities for spotters to catch Volaris during the daytime (weekdays are still arrivals and departures during the ungodly hours of the night on red-eye flights)! As for Spirit Airlines, it was great to finally catch an A320neo in their (still horrendously yellow!) livery as they are first U.S. carrier to operate the new narrow-body.

In addition to catching a few members of the A320neo family, other highlights from this spotting trip include another special livery from Southwest Airlines, as well as seeing the new livery of Ameriflight on one of their Beechcraft 1900C turboprops.

Portland (PDX) 42

Preview:

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N931WN) "Lone Star One" arriving on 28L as SWA3367 from Ontario. Right off the bat, this spotting trip started well! This livery was originally adorned on one of Southwest's former 737-300s before they retired the type.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-2BD (N993AT) airborne off 28R as DAL68 for Los Angeles.

United Airlines Boeing 737-924/ER (N38451) taxiing in after arriving on 28R as UAL1938 from Houston-Intercontinental.

Volaris Airbus A320-271N (N532VL) arriving on 28R as VOI5938 from Guadalajara. My second time photographing the base-model A320neo and my first time photographing one operated by a foreign carrier. Also my second time catching Volaris, yet my first time seeing this modified livery, which became standard once the carrier started operating A320neos. Also, Volaris flying into PDX on Sundays is new!

Frontier Airlines Airbus A321-211(WL) (N716FR) "Seymour the Walrus" arriving on 28R as FFT791 from Denver.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-932/ER (N869DN) arriving on 28R as DAL1456 from Atlanta.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900/ER (N918DU) departing on 28R as DAL2641 for Detroit.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-900/ER (N920DU) arriving on 28R as DAL2515 from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Compass Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N631CZ) arriving on 28R as CPZ5705 from Seattle/Tacoma.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N479WN) taxiing for departure as SWA4195 for Los Angeles.

"Lone Star One" taxiing for departure as SWA5165 for Las Vegas.

Virgin America (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Airbus A321-253N (N923VA) "3-2-1 liftoff" taxiing for departure as ASA1505 for Palm Springs. I am so happy to finally photograph an A321neo that's still in the Virgin America livery! N923VA was the last airframe to be delivered to Virgin America before the merger with Alaska Airlines was finalized.

SWA5165 departing for Las Vegas on 28L.

ASA1505 departing on 28L for Palm Springs. Unless I get another opportunity again soon, this might be the only time I'll this livery on the A321neo.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 (N283VA) arriving on 28L as ASA1057 from Palm Springs. Formerly Virgin America's "chace plane."

Sun Country Airlines Boeing 737-8Q8 (N809SY) "Lake Nokomis" arriving on 28L as SCX684 from Las Vegas.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A319-112 (N530VA) taxiing for departure as ASA1036 for San Jose. Formerly "gogo dancer" with Virgin America.

ASA1036 departing on 28L for San Jose.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-323 (N802NW) departing on 28L as DAL178 for Amsterdam.

N532VL taxiing for departure back to Guadalajara as VOI5939.

VOI5939 airborne off 28R for Guadalajara.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 (N365VA) departing on 28L as ASA1905 for Seattle/Tacoma. Fomerly "airbnb force one" with Virgin America.

N283VA departing on 28L as ASA1065 for Las Vegas.

Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N (N903NK) arriving on 28L as NKS260 from Las Vegas. My first time seeing an A320neo in Spirit colors! Spirit Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to operate the A320neo.