M. Wynn: "Wild Card" Aviation Photography & Images: Gallery Update: Dornier 328JET Sighting in Corvallis!

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, February 19, 2023

Gallery Update: Dornier 328JET Sighting in Corvallis!

Another unique opportunity presented itself after seeing something that caught my eye on FlightRadar24, so I decided to drive down to Corvallis to go see it. I was after another one of Advanced Air's Dornier 328JETs working a college sports charter! You'll recall, I've photographed one towards the end of 2020 when I unexpectedly saw it in Salem; that particular airframe was flying on the behalf of virtual airline Taos Air. This time, the 328JET I was after was a completely different airframe and sporting Advanced Air's own livery (if you want to call it that!)! Let the photos speak for themselves:

Corvallis (CVO)

Preview:

Advanced Air Dornier 328-310 328JET (N395MS) taxiing to the ramp after arriving on 35 as WSN95 from Pullman on a college sports charter.

My first time seeing something with the standard Advanced Air logo!

Unlike the other two 328JETs Advanced Air utilized on the behalf of Taos Air, this airframe is the third in the airline's fleet intended for use for independent operations.

Note the name "Mammoth" on the engine cowling. This denotes Advanced Air's independent scheduled charter services from Los Angeles/Hawthorne and San Diego/Carlsbad to Mammoth Lakes via Mammoth Yosemite Airport in Mammoth Lakes, California.

Like with the Taos, New Mexico ski resort, Advanced Air began independent service to the Mammoth Lakes area on a seasonal basis to capitalize on the ski resort there starting with the 2021-2022 ski season.

WSN95 pulling up to the ramp.

When not flying to Mammoth outside the ski season, Advanced Air keeps their independently branded 328JETs busy with charter work as well as scheduled services elsewhere.

WSN95 parked on the ramp.

Unlike to the two Taos Air branded airframes Advanced Air operates, which all started life with U.S. operators, this airframe started its service life in Europe; it was first delivered in October 2002 to now-defunct Austrian carrier Welcome Air as OE-LJR. Denmark-based regional carrier SUN-AIR of Scandinavia took on this airframe in September 2011 and operated it on behalf of its charter subsidiary JoinJet.

It was a quick turnaround for this airframe as they didn't stay long and kept the APU running after shutting down.

N395MS taxiing back out for departure carrying the same flight number WSN95 for the empty ferry leg back to homebase, Los Angeles/Hawthorne.

In October 2021, this airframe was withdrawn from service due to ongoing pandemic repercussions at the time and went into storage in December that same year.