Gallery Update: Two Saturday Metroliner Sightings at Salem

I had plans to go flying today. However, the flying club had a group fly-out today and were running a little behind schedule. And I was fine with them being late, because I was planning on being out at the airport early anyways to chase down two Metroliners scheduled to fly into Salem. One was operated by Ameriflight and other by Pak West/Sierra West Airlines. Both flights were chartered by non-profit "Fetch Fido A Flight," an organization that works with animal shelters and rescues in transporting pets and animals to no-kill shelters and get them put up for adoption.

While the sighting of Sierra West Airlines' Metroliner on a given day is nothing out of the ordinary, the sighting of an Ameriflight Metroliner certainly is. For starters, Ameriflight doesn't fly into Salem on the weekends and when they do, they're usually a Portland-based Beechcraft 99. So it's pretty unusual to see one of their Metroliners in Salem!

In addition to the two Metroliners, McNary Field was buzzing with General Aviation activity given how nice the weather was for this time of year. There were even a few GA highlights! I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Salem (SLE)

Preview:

Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six (N2461M) taxiing for departure to Portland-Mulino.

N2461M departing on 34 for Portland-Mulino.

Diamond DA-42-NG Twin Star (N449TS) arriving on 34 from Portland-Hillsboro.

Beechcraft C23 Sundowner (N9335S) arriving on 34 following a local flight. This is actually my first time seeing a member of the Beechcraft Mustketeer family!

Ameriflight Fairchild SA-227AT Expediter (N240DH) going around on 31 after coming in too high on final approach as AMF7147 from Denver-Centennial.

AMF7147 arriving on 31 after flying a right-pattern following the go-around. 

AMF7147 taxiing to the ramp.

It's so weird seeing one of Ameriflight's Metroliners in Salem, when the usual sighting is a Beechcraft 99!

N449TS taxiing out for a local flight.

N449TS departing on 34.

Beechcraft D55 Baron (N7803R) departing on 34 for Troutdale.

Oregon Army National Guard Sikorsky HH-60M (S-70A) Black Hawk (14-20693) making a low approach over 34.

N240DH taxiing back out, still as AMF7147 for a long trek to Dallas-Fort Worth, which is where this particular airframe and crew are likely based at.

Pak West Airlines (d/b/a Sierra West Airlines) Fairchild SA-227AC Metro III (N733BH) arriving on 31 from Colorado Springs as PKW836.

AMF7147 airborne off 13 for Dallas-Fort Worth.

PKW836 taxiing up to the ramp.

Airframe first flew for Big Sky Airlines as N160MC until going into storage in Billings, Montana until it was taken up by Aerocon, a Bolivian Airline that started up in 2005, with registration CP-2500. Aerocon ceased operations in 2015 and the airframe eventually made its way to Pak West/Sierra West Airlines.

Columbia Helicopters Boeing-Vertol 107-II (N190CH) executing a missed-approach over 31. First time seeing one of these in flight!

Sukhoi Su-29 (N29VB) taxiing out for departure.

N29VB airborne off 34 for a local aerobatics flight.

N190CH executing another missed-approach over 31.

The BV-107-II is a civilian model of the CH-46 Sea Knight (previously used by the Navy and Marine Corps), which remains in limited use. The civilian model was designed for use by helicopter airlines, a concept that's been overall unsuccessful. Furthermore, the civilian version is commonly referred to simply as the "Vertol."