Happy 50th Anniversary to Airbus!

This day fifty years ago, an aerospace giant emerged following consolidation of several European aerospace companies. Founded in 1969, this multinational aerospace corporation is none other than Airbus, a designer, manufacture and seller of civil and military aerospace products on a worldwide scale. In five decades, Airbus achieved notable and praiseworthy milestones which includes the world's first twin-engine wide-body airliner, the A300, the first commercially viable digital fly-by-wire (FBW) airliner, the Airbus A320, and the world's largest passenger airliner, the A380. Airbus recently delivered their 12,000th aircraft, an A220 (formerly known as the Bombardier CSeries) to Delta Air Lines on May 20, 2019. In fifty years, the global Airbus fleet has conducted well-over 110 million flights carrying 12 billion passengers.

Wild Card Aviation Photography & Images wishes Airbus SE a Happy 50th Birthday and a huge congratulations for hitting 50 years! Aviation enthusiasts and pilots alike continue to look forward to future innovations and designs in the years to come.

A montage featuring some of Airbus' popular airliner models:

Airbus A300F4-600R (N147UP) operated by United Parcel Service - UPS Airlines arriving at Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah. The A300 holds the distinction as the world's first wide-body twin-jet airliner. While passenger versions are a rare sight these days, many A300s still serve as freighters.

Airbus A320-200 (N625VA) operated by Alaska Airlines departing Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon. The A320 family pioneered the use of digital fly-by-wire flight control systems as well as side-stick controls in commercial aircraft.

Airbus A319-100 (N309NV) operated by Allegiant Air arriving at Provo Municipal Airport in Provo, Utah. The A319 is the first of two shortened versions of the A320 family (the second shrink being the A318, which only sold in small numbers).

Airbus A321-200 (N144AN) operated by American Airlines departing Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon. American Airlines is currently the world's largest operator of the A320 family as well as the largest operator of the A321 sub-type; they are also the second largest operator of the A319 just behind EasyJet.

Airbus A330-300 (N802NW) operated by Delta Air Lines departing Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon.

Airbus A330-200 (N361HA) operated by Hawaiian Airlines departing Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon.

Airbus A320neo (N532VL) operated by Volaris arriving at Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon. Launched in late-2010, the A320neo (neo = New Engine Option) family is a updated version of the A320ceo (ceo = Current Engine Option), re-engined with newer, larger, more efficient CFM International LEAP-1A or Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines and with large "sharklet" wingtip devices. This new generation of the A320 family is supposed to be 15% more fuel efficient.

Airbus A321neo (N923VA) formerly-operated by the now-defunct Virgin America, now operated by Alaska Airlines departing Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon. Virgin America was the first airline to take delivery of the A321neo.

And just like how Airbus did when Boeing celebrated their Centennial anniversary three years ago, Boeing returns the same gesture, class, and respect to their aerospace rival for their 50th:

A rivalry that emphasizes respect and healthy competition within a lucrative industry! Well-said, Boeing! And congratulations again to Airbus for hitting the 50-year mark! May the next 50 years heading towards 100 be filled with continued innovation and new milestones!

A Sight No More: A Final Farewell to the Virgin America Colors

Early last year, the Alaska Air Group (AAG) received a single operating certificate for the combined Alaska Airlines and Virgin America from the FAA following the merger. Just a few months later in late-April 2018, the Alaska Air Group officially retired the Virgin America brand when the airlines merged into the same passenger service system with the final revenue flight officially being operated by Virgin America and their original "Redwood" call-sign. This opened the way for the Alaska Air Group to start re-configuring and repainting the former-Virgin America's Airbus fleet, with outstanding aircraft orders to be painted in the latest Alaska Airlines livery, meaning that the days were numbered when it came to spotting the red and white livery.

Today, word has spread that the very last Airbus in the Virgin America livery, an A321neo has been ferried to the Victorville-Southern California Logistics Airport from San Francisco for repainting, signaling the official end to the old Virgin America livery.

In recognition of the final re-branding and end to another airline livery, I present a montage of all the Virgin America Airbus aircraft I've photographed since April of last year; note that these photos were taken after the Alaska Air Group officially retired the Virgin America brand and this montage does not include photos presented in the montage presented last year in recognition of the official merger date.

Airbus A320-214 (N361VA) "Jersey Girl"

Airbus A320-214 (N624VA) "Red, White & Blue"

Airbus A320-214 (N855VA) "Screw it, let's do it"

Airbus A320-214 (N638VA) "San Francisco Pride"

Airbus A320-214 (N840VA) "by the way"

Airbus A320-214 (N284VA) "Rabid Badger"

Airbus A320-214 (N633VA) "The Tim Clark Express"

Airbus A319-112 (N523VA) "contents may be under pressure"

Airbus A319-112 (N527VA) "tubular belle"

Airbus A319-112 (N529VA) "Moonlights, camera, action"

Airbus A319-112 (N530VA) "gogo dancer"

Airbus A319-112 (N522VA) "the 1-year-old virgin." Formerly leased by Virgin America to Skybus Airlines, which painted it into a flying billboard with a Nationwide Insurance special livery.

Airbus A321-253N (N923VA) "3-2-1 liftoff." The very last A321neo and the very last aircraft delivered in the Virgin America livery. Sadly for me, this would be the only A321neo airframe I got to see wearing this livery.

Airbus A320-214 (N639VA) "air drake." The very last airframe sporting the Virgin America livery I ever saw.

And now, a look at all the former Virgin America Airbuses that have been "Alaska-fied" that I've photographed thus far, including a few airframes where I previously saw them dressed in red! Sadly for me, I never got to photograph two A321neos that were sporting special liveries (the "Most West Coast" livery and San Francisco Giants logojet livery) as they have been re-painted to the standard Alaska livery since then...

Airbus A320-214 (N625VA). The very first aircraft delivered to Virgin America, formerly called "Jefferson Airplane" would end up being the very first to be repainted into the Alaska livery.

Airbus A321-253N (N926VA), the second A321neo to sport the "More to Love" livery and the third Airbus to be delivered directly to Alaska Airlines from the factory following the merger.

Airbus A320-214 (N621VA), formerly nicknamed "Air Colbert."

Airbus A320-214 (N854VA), formerly nicknamed "stand up flyer."

Airbus A320-214 (N623VA), formerly nicknamed "three if by air."

Airbus A320-214 (N361VA), former "Jersey Girl."

Airbus A320-214 (N848VA), formerly nicknamed "bellapierre."

Airbus A321-253N (N927VA), the first A321neo to sport the "More to Love" livery and the second Airbus aircraft to be delivered directly to Alaska Airlines from the factory (the first being the SFO Giants logjet that I never got photograph!) following the merger.

Airbus A320-214 (N284VA), former "Rabid Badger."

Airbus A320-214 (N846VA), formerly nicknamed "glitter girl."

Airbus A320-214 (N640VA), formerly nicknamed "Refresh Air."

Airbus A320-214 (N851VA), formerly nicknamed "Friends Of Arjay Miller."

Airbus A319-112 (N521VA), formerly nicknamed "let there be flight." Also once nicknamed as "Spirit of Columbus" when Virgin America leased this airframe to Skybus Airlines.

Airbus A319-112 (N524VA), formerly nicknamed "Dark Horse."

Airbus A320-214 (N283VA), formerly nicknamed "Chace Plane."

Airbus A319-112 (N530VA), former "gogo dancer."

Airbus A320-214 (N365VA), formerly nicknamed "airbnb force one."

Airbus A320-214 (N852VA), formerly nicknamed "safady voyager."

Airbus A319-112 (N528VA), formerly nicknamed "Fog Cutter."

Airbus A320-214 (N842VA), formerly nicknamed "real steel."

Airbus A320-214 (N847VA), formerly nicknamed "Scarlett O'air."

With that, we bid a final farewell to the Virgin America colors, as well as their clever and chic aircraft nicknames. It'll all be missed by many who flew with them, as well as by the many AvGeeks who pursued the fleet!

Pilot Life: IMC in the Cherokee

So last week, there was a little setback as the Cherokee had some engine maintenance that had to be done, meaning that some of the flights I was supposed to do last week had to be pushed back until today; I also have some polishing up to do as far as procedures and personal habits are concerned, hence why I have flown out of Albany for nearly two weeks now. I'm hoping to get a checkride done by the end of the month (here's hoping!). As for today, I went up again with my usual instructor and shot some approaches into Corvallis and we even got some actual IMC conditions!

Getting some actual instrument time in N98241!

After doing the pre-flight and walk-around in the rain, we hopped in, got the engine started, and taxied out. We picked up our IFR clearance on the ground via phone with Cascade Approach before getting airborne off Runway 34. Once airborne, we flew the obstacle departure procedure out of Albany towards Corvallis and got into radio contact with Cascade Approach; from there we got radar vectors before proceeding with some full-procedure approaches all the while keeping in mind the improvements I needed to make (I have made it my personal mission!). We first shot the VOR 17 approach into Corvallis via the DME arc; we were in and out of the clouds throughout the flight.

As per the usual, we went missed before requesting the RNAV 17 approach via the procedure turn back to Corvallis. Again, we went missed after shooting the approach down to minimums. We were then going to shoot the approach back into Albany, but my instructor decided to cancel on our way down during the second approach into Corvallis due to time constraints, so we flew back to Albany VFR. We made an uneventful landing on Runway 16 after approaching and descending down to traffic pattern altitude and taxied back to the ramp.

Following logbook entries and a debrief, we called it good. As far as polishing up and kicking some personal habits go, today's flight saw quite a bit of progress and improvement since my mock-checkride with the chief flight instructor two weeks back. I fly again tomorrow (weather pending!) and I'm hoping for a repeat as well as continued improvement when personal performance on my part is concerned!

Pilot Life: Flying Club Checkout Flight

So the flying club known as Valley Flyers based in Salem is the organization that my uncle sold his Cessna 172 to. As part of the arrangement and deal, my uncle and I received membership to the flight club with certain fees and dues waived for the next twelve months, meaning that all we have to pay for are the hourly rental rates on the planes and any instructor time. The Valley Flyers club has a fleet of three Cessna 172s (two M-models plus my uncle's N-model), a Piper Cherokee, and a Cessna 182 Skylane, something I have my eyes on as I intend to get a high-performance endorsement in that plane. As for today, I did a club checkout flight with one of the instructors of the club in one of the M-model Skyhawks, which was personally exciting because I'm now adding another variant of the Skyhawk family to my logbook.

Doing a club checkout flight in a Cessna 172M Skyhawk (N12382), one of the oldest planes in the Valley Flyers fleet. After the N-model, this is the second variant of the Skyhawk family to be added to my repertoire!

My instructor and I got together at the hangars where the club aircraft are stored and we went over things ranging from club rules and policies before doing the pre-flight and walk-around. We pulled the airplane out of the hangar, hopped in, and got the engine started. We picked up the current ATIS information before calling up Salem Ground to pick up taxi clearance. We taxied out to the run-up pad by Runway 34 and did the run-ups. After that, I called up Salem tower and told them we were ready for departure, and we got our takeoff clearance. We got airborne and turned out to the east and cleared the Class Delta airspace.

Once leveled off, I executed a clearing turn before my instructor for the day put me through a few basic VFR maneuvers, which included steep turns, slow flight, a power-off stall, and simulated engine-out with a simulated emergency landing. After that, we headed to the southwest a little bit before turning back towards Salem; the ATIS information changed while we were out so we got the latest weather information before calling up tower, to which I requested a straight-in for Runway 31. I requested the option because my instructor was going to evaluate my landing before determining if I needed to practice a few or not. Despite having not flown a Cessna 172 since mid-March, I absolutely nailed the landing, so we went full-stop as my instructor was pleased with the landing!

We cleared off the runway and got our taxi instructions back to the ramp. We taxied over to the fuel pumps to top off the tanks before putting the airplane back in the club hangar and did a quick debrief. After my instructor signed off my logbook and officially checking me out to satisfy insurance purposes and club rules, we were done and went our separate ways.

Special thanks to my instructor, Chris for getting me checked out with the flight club! I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my flying, not mention flying out locally from my current hometown airport!

Gallery Update: Pak West Expediter in Salem

It's funny, because the last time I took some photos at Salem's McNary Field, I went after a Metroliner operated by Pak West/Sierra West Airlines. Well, once again I found myself chasing after another Pak West Metroliner variant, the SA-227AT Expediter. The Expediter (appropriate name for the role the plane serves!) is a member of the SA227-series of the Metroliner family with strengthened floors and a high gross weight option, purpose-built as a cargo aircraft. Only 22 Expediter airframes were ever built.

Salem (SLE) 20

Preview:

Pak West Airlines (d/b/a Sierra West Airlines) Fairchild SA-227AT Expediter (N564TR) arriving on 31 as PKW830 from Grand Junction. 

PKW830 taxiing to the ramp. This airframe was first registered as N3114B in 1983 before going to UPS as N564UP. Prior to acquisition by Sierra West, this airframe previously flew in Australia as VH-EEO with Pel-Air Aviation (d/b/a Australian airExpress) from 1996 until disposal some time in 2010. 

The Metroliner family is affectionately known by it's nickname, the "Texas Lawn Dart" because it was primarily manufactured in San Antonio, Texas and its fuselage shape really needs no explanation! Other hilarious nicknames include, "San Antonio sewer pipe," "Texas Sewer Pipe," "Death pencil," "The Screamin' Weenie," "Swetro" (because it's air conditioning sucks during the summer season!), "Terror Tube," "That noisy f***ing thing!" "Widow maker," and "Kerosene Crowbar."

PKW830 pulling up to the FBO ramp.

Face-to-face with the "Texas Lawn Dart."

PKW830 parked on the ramp following engine shut-down. Always a pleasure to see rare and uncommon aircraft like this one!