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!

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Gallery Update: Chasing a Saab 2000 in Corvallis!

About a year ago, I chased after a Saab 2000 operated by on-demand charter carrier, Meregrass, Inc./Wildcat Touring, one of three currently flown by the operator. Well once again, I find myself back in Corvallis chasing another one of these rare twin turboprops operated by Meregrass thanks to the tip-off received from FlightAware and FlightRadar24. I was actually flying around the same time, so I landed in Corvallis ahead of the Saab 2000's arrival and got some prime shots as it arrived and parked on the ramp near my plane. As of today, I got two out of the three Saab 2000s currently flown by Meregrass, Inc. doing business as Wildcat Touring!

Corvallis (CVO) 5

Preview:

Meregrass, Inc. (d/b/a Wildcat Touring) Saab 2000 (N814BB) arriving on 35 from San Jose on a charter. My third Saab 2000 photographed overall!

Taxiing in to the ramp. First delivered as an airliner in March 1996 as F-GMVD to Regional Airlines operating on the behalf of Air France before being transferred in March 2001 to RĂ©gional following the merger between Regional Airlines, Flandre Air, and Proteus Airlines; the airframe continued to fly on the behalf of Air France. Returned to Saab Aircraft and re-registered as SE-034 in March 2006. 

Turning in towards the ramp. After it's stint as an airliner, this airframe was converted for corporate use for stock car race teams; re-registered as N512RH in September 2006 for Rick Hendrick's Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR team. Re-registered again in March 2007 to N166GC, this time flying for Bobby and Thomas Ginns' NASCAR team, Ginn Racing.

Pulling in to the ramp. Meregrass, Inc. acquired this airframe in August 2010 and has been one of three Saab 2000s in their fleet ever since.

N814BB parked on the ramp following engine shut-down. After dropping off the charter passengers, plane was scheduled to make a quick hop over to Eugene for an overnight stay. Always a pleasure catching a rare bird such as this!

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