Curious on the backstory behind the photos? This is the place. You'll find not only write ups on local outings, but also reviews of major events I’ve attended.
Bell Textron’s Floyd Carlson Airfield
Take a look at Bell Textron’s customer training airfield near it’s Fort Worth, Texas headquarters!
Established in 2018, the Floyd Carlson Airfield in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is a training ground for Bell Textron. Here, customers learn all the necessary procedures, from the critical to the normal to the emergency, and practice their skills in a safe and controlled environment. If you happen to show up to the airfield on a weekday, you might just catch a glimpse of up to 5 Bell Textron helicopters at a time utilizing this practice field!
The Bell Training Academy has a long and storied history in the Fort Worth area. Since moving here in 1951, Bell has been responsible for some of the most iconic helicopters in history, including the Bell 47, the Bell UH-1 Huey, and the Bell 206 Jetranger.
The academy's fleet of helicopters is impressive to say the least. They currently offer training on the Bell 206, 407, 412, 429, and 505, each with their own unique set of capabilities and features. And with instructors who are not only highly skilled but also passionate about what they do, you get to see some truly impressive airmanship on display.
Dallas Love Field (June 18/20 2023)
A very interesting compliment of visitors at Dallas Love Field!
I often see Dallas Love Field as the hidden gem of the Dallas/Fort Worth area when it comes to interesting visitors and the week of June 18th was no exception.
The obvious highlight this week was the Vice President of the United States' campaign visit to Dallas. With the visit came two US Air Force C-40Bs of the 89th Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Andrews. One of these airframes, inconspicuously painted white, used the callsign "SAM2A." Upon further investigation, this particular airframe used to be based out of Rammstein Air Force Base with the 86th Airlift Wing. In 2019, the USAF decided to consolidate all of their C-40Bs to Joint Base Andrews under the 89th Airlift Wing. These Air Force Special Air Mission C-40Bs boast visible modifications, making them one of the most unique and capable 737s in the skies today!
Aside from the military traffic, there were also two sports charters making their way out of Love Field. The Toronto Blue Jays flew a rather tired looking Air Canada A320 to Miami to take on the Marlins, while the Texas Rangers headed to Chicago onboard "Kraft 1" to play against the White Sox. For those confused about the Texas Rangers baseball team flying on a New England Patriots jet, this particular air frame is operated by Eastern Airlines and during the NFL off-season is often used for various other charter jobs such as this.. Clear as mud?
The rest of the album contains various other aircraft with some more commonly seen at Love Field than others.
Enjoy!
Working Whirlybirds
A former TV star-turned heavy lifter and the new kid on the block both putting in work in the DFW area on the morning of May 16, 2023.
A fine morning of working whirlybirds in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex! Over half a century separate these two working airframes. First is the Bell 525 Relentless, a super-medium-lift helicopter still undergoing certification. It has a sharp employee-designed livery and was the third Relentless built. It spent some time side stepping up and down the taxiway at Bell's Arlington flight test facility.
Second was the venerable S-58, "Screaming Mimi" operated by aerial crane specialists 5 State Helicopters Inc just outside of the confines of the DFW Airport. Always a pleasure watching these true professionals operate so seamlessly in tight spaces. This particular S-58 was the star of the 1980s TV show Rip Tide. So wonderful to see it continue to earn its keep in 2023.
The Flying Subaru
A Subaru helicopter? Huh? Yep, you heard that right.
A Subaru helicopter? Huh? Yup, this is a Subaru Bell 412EPX. This is an incredibly modernized variant of the legendary Huey family with electronically controlled Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-9 engines, an improved main transmission, and a glass cockpit. The Bell 412EPX is a commercial version of the Subaru-Bell UH-2, formerly the UH-X, which was built to meet the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's requirement of a UH-1J replacement. Pictures below are N412EX flying at the Floyd Carlson Airfield in the Dallas/Fort Worth area yesterday morning. The Floyd Carlson Airfield was established in 2018 by the Bell Training Academy and is used for training customers critical, normal, and emergency procedures.
