Gallery Update: A Rainy Morning in Eugene

My dad left home earlier this month to drive a car down to Arizona and would spend the majority of the month down there. Today, he was flying back home via Eugene and I drove down to pick him up. Weather-wise, today was a pretty miserable day, so there wasn't much to see; plus catching a cold wasn't helping much. But the trip down was worthwhile because I was able to catch a rare Saab 2000 operated by Freight Runners Express (FRE) under their Air Charter Express (ACE) brand, this time in their full livery. I'll let the photos speak for themselves here:

Eugene (EUG)

Preview:

Freight Runners Express (d/b/a Air Charter Express) Saab 2000 (N521FR) taxiing for departure as FRG455 for Omaha. My first time seeing the full Air Charter Express livery!

Arrived late last night as FRG9521 from Denver-Centennial. Clearly on a university sports charter.

I actually saw this airframe last year in Corvallis when it was still registered as N680PA and was in an all-white livery save for a few temporary decals.

Airframe was re-registered to the current N-number in March of this year.

FRG455 airborne off of 16R for Omaha.

Based on photos on the web, this airframe received its full ACE livery last last year.

A previously stated, the Saab 2000 has allowed Freight Runners to expand their reach from their Milwaukee base and bring their Air Charters Express brand out west.

Considering that this flight is headed to Omaha, they can fly halfway across the country in the Saab 2000!

It's really a shame that the Saab 2000 wasn't as successful as its predecessor as it could've competed with the likes of the Dash 8 family and the ATR turboprops...

Regardless, it's exciting to see a Saab 2000 given their rarity!

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Delta Connection) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175LR (N272SY) taxiing to the gate after arriving on 16R as SKW3915 from Seattle-Tacoma.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Embraer ERJ-170-200LR E-175L (N402SY) taxiing to the gate after arriving on 16R as SKW3341 from Los Angeles.

Allegiant Air Airbus A320-214 (N260NV) taxiing to the gate after arriving on 16R as AAY671 from Phoenix/Mesa. My dad was on this flight!

Airframe first delivered to Saudi Arabian Airlines as HZ-AS13 in December 2009.

Withdrawn from Saudia's fleet in September 2017 and went to Istanbul, Turkey for storage. Airframe entered service with Allegiant in July 2018.

Cessna 560XL Citation Excel (N1088R) airborne off 16R for a quick hop up to Portland.

First good look at the tail number here.

Gallery Update: Chasing a 737-500 in Salem (Again!)

Happy week-of-Thanksgiving!

In typical Oregon/Willamette Valley fashion, the weather today was less than ideal. But opportunities still present itself and thankfully, I didn't have to go far today to do a little plane-spotting for a unique sighting. I noticed on FlightRadar24 and FlightAware that the same Boeing 737-500 I saw last month had filed a flight plan into and out of Salem. While I already photographed this rare example of a 737 Classic and really had no reason to chase after it again, I only got shots of it departing last month and I figured I'd get some arrival and taxiing shots of it this time as it made it's quick round-trip cross-country flight, so off to the airport I went!

Salem (SLE)

Preview:

Dynamic Aviation (d/b/a Marine Spill Response Corporation - MSRC) Boeing 737-5Y0 (N735X) arriving on 31 as "Boeing Seven-Three-Five-X-ray-Experimental" from Moses Lake.

Last I saw this airframe, I got to see it's departure. I'm glad I got shots of it arriving this time!

I still consider this a rare sight for Salem, so it was an opportunity worth jumping on!

N735X taxiing back to 31 for departure back to Moses Lake.

These taxiing shots were what I was REALLY after!

Clearly, this airframe and crew aren't staying long as they picked up their IFR clearance back to Moses Lake while taxiing.

From this perspective, you get a sense of how short the 737-500 model is and for what type of flight segments it was built for when Boeing first introduced the type.

This is one of three 737-500s Dynamic Aviation operates for the Marine Spill Response Corporation. The company acquired a fourth airframe but is currently listed as partially-scrapped, meaning it was likely farmed for parts.

Two of Dynamic Aviation's 737s appear to be flying around east closer to the company's Virginia headquarters, while this airframe is doing legs in and out of Moses Lake out west.

Now where have I seen this angle before???

N735X holding short of 31 awaiting IFR release from ATC.

N735X "Experimental" taxiing onto 31 for departure.

N735X departing on 31 for the return-trip to Moses Lake.

Rotate!

It was fun to see this Classic again!