Gallery Update: Diamond DA62 Sighting in Salem

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Thanks to FlightAware, I noticed that a Diamond DA62, Diamond Aircraft Industries' newest twin-piston was en route to Salem today. Since I've never seen one before (with only over 100 built as of April 2019), I figured this was a good opportunity to go see it, considering that plane-spotting is at an all-time low and with new COIVD-related measures having gone into effect. This was fine way to get started on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend!

Salem (SLE) 63

Preview:

Empire Airlines (d/b/a FedEx Feeder) Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster (N873FE) arriving on 13 as CFS7686 from North Bend/Coos Bay.

CFS7686 taxiing to the FedEx ramp to pick up cargo before continuing on to Portland.

Civil Air Patrol Cessna T182T Skylane (N538CP) parked on the Civil Air Patrol ramp. Love seeing the standard military grey on the Skylane!

Diamond DA-62 (N403JL) arriving on 13 from Camarillo. My first time seeing Diamond's newest twin-engine aircraft. While it does resemble the DA-42 Twin Star, but the DA-62 technically wasn't designed from the 42.

Ameriflight Beechcraft 99A Airliner (N1924T) arriving on 13 as AMF3908 from Portland.

N403JL taxiing to the FBO ramp. The prototype DA-62 was designated as the DA-52 and first flew on April 3, 2012. Originally developed from the fuselage design of the single-engine Diamond DA-50 (itself a DA-40 on steroids still in development!), the DA-62 is equipped with two Austro AE300 Diesel engines that burn Jet A fuel. There's also a good possibility that Diamond might offer DA-62s with turboprop engines in the future.

Note the DA-62's long wingspan, 47 feet, 9 inches to be exact! The DA62 was certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on April 16, 2015 and by the FAA on February 23, 2016. 

The DA-62 is available in two weight versions; the "European" version has five seats and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 4,407 lbs., while the "US" version has seven seats and a MTOW of 5,071 lbs. The lower MTOW of the "European" version is to allow operators to avoid higher weight-based air traffic control user charges. 

Also under consideration is a special version of the DA-62 equipped with an additional baggage belly pod for the air charter market. The DA-62 is definitely a higher-end light-twin, with a price tag going above the $1 million mark!

AMF3908 taxiing to the ramp to pick up cargo before making the short hop back up to Portland.

Gallery Update: Spotting at PDX with My New Lens!

I'm excited that I got to use my new camera lens extensively today with a spotting trip up to Portland. I had to drive up because my little sister was flying in from Utah to be home for the extended holiday season and I suppose it's good timing too, considering some of the new lockdown measures being put in place later this week with anticipated spikes in COVID-19 cases here in Oregon (I am so done with this letdown of a year!).

The main highlight to this spotting trip was FINALLY getting to see the United Airlines' new livery (on an Airbus A319), which was revealed early last year (honestly, I'm surprised it has taken me this long to see it for myself!). I also added a few more Delta Air Lines Airbus A321s to my portfolio, as well as Spirit Airlines' very-first Airbus A320neo. What would've been the biggest highlight of this spotting trip for me would've been seeing my first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, but I somewhat blew the opportunity as I did not see it coming and had to settle for some so-so shots...

Portland (PDX) 58 

Preview:

United Airlines Airbus A319-131 (N831UA) taxiing for departure as UAL517 for San Francisco. Finally, my first time seeing United's newest livery!

UAL517 departing on 10L for San Francisco.

While this new livery and log is still pretty much the old Continental livery, the new shade of blue actually brought back the old "Rising Blue" colors in a sense. Also note that there are now only four lines of latitude on the globe as opposed to the six that were on the previous globe logo. There's actually some hidden meanings there! United Air Lines was formed through the merger of four smaller air lines: Varney Air Lines, Boeing Air Transport, Pacific Air Transport, and National Air Transport. The name "United" is reflective of that original merger. Homage was paid to the four small airlines that merged to create United throughout the airline's history starting with the 4 stars on a Friendship Livery, 4 stars above the Main Liner shield worn by employees up until 2012 (each star representing those four former airlines!), and the four "petals" that made up Saul Bass' tulip. Likewise, the four lines of latitude in the globe logo appears to pay a subtle homage to the origins of the per-merger United Airlines! Either way, this livery update is long overdue in my opinion!

United Airlines Boeing 737-724 (N15712) taxiing for departure as UAL1888 for Houston-Intercontinental.

Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-271N (N901NK) departing on 10L as NKS2446 for Las Vegas. This airframe was the very first A320neo delivered to Spirit Airlines!

Delta Air Lines Airbus A321-211 (N383DZ) departing on 10L as DAL1418 for Salt Lake City.

UAL1888 departing on 10L for Houston-Intercontinental.

Cessna 560XL Citation XLS+ (N781KB) arriving on 10L from Prineville.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N177SY) departing on 10L as SKW3414 for Burbank.

Alaska Airlines Airbus A320-214 (N839VA) airborne off 10R as ASA997 for Seattle/Tacoma. It sounds like Alaska's mainline division is leaning more back towards becoming a Boeing 737-only operator, so better catch these A320s while they're still around...

Delta Air Lines Airbus A321-211 (N317DN) airborne off 10R as DAL920 for Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-932/ER (N906DN) airborne off 10R as DAL713 for Atlanta.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N284SY) airborne off 10R as SKW3518 for Los Angeles.

Atlas Air (d/b/a Amazon Prime Air) Boeing 767-31K/ER (BDSF) (N1487A) airborne off 10R as GTI3731 for Wilmington, Ohio.

United States Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III (08-8194) parked on the military ramp. Based at McChord Air Force Base jointly with the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings.

Cessna 525B Citation CJ3 (N70FC) airborne off 10R for Salt Lake City.

UPS Airlines Airbus A300F4-622R (N154UP) taxiing to the cargo ramp after arriving from Ontario as UPS2972.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-990/ER (N423AS) airborne off 10R as ASA874 for Palm Springs.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N299SY) arriving on 10L as SKW3529 from Seattle/Tacoma.

Ameriflight Beechcraft C99 Airliner (N221BH) airborne off 10R as AMF1924 for Roseburg.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N279WN) taxiing for departure as SWA3326 for Oakland.

SWA3326 departing on 10L for Oakland.

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global 6000 (N900LS) taxiing for departure.

Gulfstream Aerospace G280 (N815CE) arriving on 10L.

N900LS airborne off 10L.

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (N5016R) taxiing to the Boeing ramp to get painted after arriving on 10R from Everett as BOE038. I'm kicking myself for not getting a better shot of this one as I did not see this one coming! As the tail indicates, this one's destined for Singapore Airline's low-cost subsidiary Scoot.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 (N597AS) taxiing to the ramp after arriving on 10R as ASA474 from San Diego.

Sun Country Airlines (d/b/a Amazon Prime Air) Boeing 737-83N (BCF) (N5261A) airborne off 10R as SCX3011 for Fort Worth/Alliance.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LL E-175LL/E-175SC (N265SY) arriving on 10L as SKW3565 from Los Angeles.

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N939WN) taxiing for departure as SWA4941 for Las Vegas.

SWA4941 departing on 10L for Las Vegas.

N154UP airborne off 10R as UPS9774 for Gary/Chicago. UPS began serving Gary, Indiana earlier this month.