M. Wynn: "Wild Card" Aviation Photography & Images: Gallery Update: Chasing a 737-500 in Salem (Again!)

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!

Monday, November 20, 2023

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.