Gallery Update: Chasing 'Mad Dogs' in Eugene

In stark contrast to the rainy spotting day I had at PDX just four days ago, today was an absolutely gorgeous morning as we have some sunny weather for the weekend! This morning I went down to Eugene Airport to try some mid-morning spotting and chase down a rare 'Mad Dog.' For those unfamiliar with the term 'Mad Dog' in aviation, it's a nickname of the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 (playing off from the "MD-" abbreviation). How this term came to be is somewhat of an urban legend; pilots who fly the MD-80 say when they pressed a so-called "Go-Around Button," the throttles go all the way to full power, the nose shoots up, the airplane rattles and roars like never before. In other words, the MD-80 just goes crazy and sounded like a mad dog when a go-around (an aborted landing) is initiated. As for the existence of a so-called "Go-Around Button," there's probably no such thing but the urban legend continues to live so long as people use the term "Mad Dog." Hence the origin of the "Mad Dog."

Thanks to FlightAware, I noticed this charter flight operated by World Atlantic Airways, which I've never heard of; most likely a college game charter for March Madness. So given the fact that there was an opportunity to photograph a new airline and get myself an MD-80, which is something that's become a rare sight here in Oregon since American Airlines stopped flying MD-80s into Portland last summer, it was reason enough to go to an airport that's usually quiet most of the day to photograph a few airplanes in addition to my intended subject. Here's the link:

Eugene (EUG) 3

Preview:

Horizon Air Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 Q400 airborne after departing on 16R for Portland as QXE2036. Compared to Portland, I really enjoy shooting from this particular angle when flights are departing out of Eugene on 16R. Also, I didn't notice until now, but I got some prop vortices in this shot!

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a United Express) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 CRJ-200LR (N920SW) taxiing to the gate after arrival from San Francisco as SKW5632. While CRJ-100s and 200s are a rare sight at PDX now, you can sill catch them with relative ease at Eugene!

World Atlantic Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (N807WA) named "Ray Bradley" taxiing for departure as WAL206 for Montgomery Regional Airport (KMGM/MGM) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Based at Miami International Airport, World Atlantic operates on-demand and scheduled charter services using a fleet of 6 MD-80s (one MD-82 and five MD-83s). This is the first MD-80 I've gotten to photograph this year and I have to admit, I really miss seeing these all over the place. There's just something about old, smokey, loud jet airliners that thrills spotters such as myself...

Beechcraft M35 Bonanza (N9745R) airborne after departing via 16R.

WAL206 airborne after departing 16R. Eugene Airport's Runway 16R/34L is 8,000 feet long. This MD-83 used up almost the entire runway!

This was definitely the catch of the day! 

NetJets Bombardier BD-100-1A10 Challenger 350 (N770QS) airborne after departure from 16R as EJA770 for Kissimme Gateway, Florida.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a United Express) Bombardier CL-600-2B16 CRJ-200LR (N920SW) airborne after departure from 16R as SKW5392 for the return-trip to San Francisco.

Beechcraft B300 Super King Air (N291DB) airborne after departure from 16R.

Gallery Update: PDX in the Rain

I NEVER go spotting in lousy weather, especially when its raining like it does in western Oregon for nearly half the year; otherwise, I risk damage to my photography gear. Of course, I do have to make exceptions every once in a while whether it be a special aircraft making a rare appearance or I'm just going to be in the neighborhood anyways. In today's case, it's the latter. My aunt was visiting for the past several days and today I had to drive her to the airport so she could catch her flight back home. Even though it was raining, I took about an hour after dropping my aunt off and got a little planespotting in at my usual spot. I didn't take as many pictures compared to previous spotting trips but there was one or two things from today that made the trip worthwhile. Also with regards to the rainy weather, the one cool thing about spotting in the rain is watching jets kick up water on the runway and tarmac with their engine thrust. Here's the link:

Portland (PDX) 20

Preview:

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-7H4 (N784SW) arriving on 28R from Chicago-Midway as SWA2332.

United Airlines Boeing 737-924/ER (N37437) arriving on 28R as UAL569 from Chicago O' Hare.

Delta Air Lines Airbus A320-211 (N349NW) departing 28R as DAL1073 for Minneapolis/St Paul.

Saab 2000 (N92225) airborne after departure from 28R. It's been years since I've seen a Saab 2000 and this is the first one I've photographed since getting into planespotting. Based off of the shorter Saab 340, Saab 2000s are pretty rare considering that only 63 airframes were built and only about half that number are still in service. Reasons why they were built in limited numbers is because they were introduced around the time when regional jets, which provided better performance and passenger comfort for the same initial price (at the time), were starting to become the norm for regional airlines so that really killed sales. Now that we're in a time where fuel prices are a factor and turboprop regional airliners are starting to look good again, who knows how the Saab 2000 would've fared... This discreet, all-white airframe is registered to the United States Department of Justice.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-790 (N619AS) arriving on 28L as ASA587 from Santa Ana-John Wayne Airport.

American Airlines Boeing 737-823 (N803NN) taxiing for departure as AAL1525 to Dallas/Fort Worth.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-701ER (N227AG) arriving on 28L from Fresno-Yosemite as SKW3449. Unlike most Alaska-SkyWest CRJs, this particular airframe is not a former-Horizon Air, rather this is former D-ACPD of Lufthansa Regional/Lufthansa CityLine.

Horizon Air Bombardier DHC-8-401 Dash 8 Q400 (N410QX) arriving on 28L from Sacramento as QXE2618.

Horizon Air Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 Q400 arriving on 28L from Medford as QXE2328.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-2BD (N977AT) arriving on 28R from Los Angeles as DAL638.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-832 (N399DA) rotating off 28R for Atlanta as DAL1711.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-832 (N37700) arriving on 28R from Salt Lake City as DAL623.

United Airlines Airbus A320-232 (N469UA) arriving on 28R from San Francisco as UAL550.

Frontier Airlines Airbus A320-214 (N213FR) "Montana the Elk" departing on 28L for Denver as FFT788. After getting Frontier's new livery style the last two times, I'm glad I got another shot of Frontier's previous livery once more!

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-702 (N219AG) departing 28L for Burbank-Bob Hope as SKW3454. Airframe is former Horizon Air N619QX.

Horizon Air Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 Q400 (N434MK) departing on 28L. Unlike all Horizon Air planes, this aircraft's registration does not contain QX (Horizon Air's IATA code). Instead, it's got MK because this aircraft is named Milton G. Kuolt II, dedicated to honor the founder of Horizon Air; Kuolt founded Horizon Air in 1981.

SkyWest Airlines (d/b/a Alaska Airlines) Bombardier CL-600-2C10 CRJ-700 (N216AG) taxiing for departure after push-back. Check out that reflection on the tarmac! I should try spotting in rainy weather a little more often!

Gallery Update: Breakfast and Not A Lot of Spotting at Independence

This morning, my dad, uncle, two aunts, and I went over to the Starduster Cafe at Independence State Airport for some breakfast. Given the rainy weather we've been having, it's no surprise that there wasn't anything to see from a planespotter's perspective save for one Cessna sitting on the ramp. Here's the link:

Independence (7S5) 2

Here's what I saw:

Cessna 172M Skyhawk (N5154R) parked on the ramp. I'm liking how there's a reflection on the ground. My dad says this Cessna's colors look very similar to the one he and one of my uncles co-owned a number of years ago.