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.
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!
SXM: The Caribbean Jewel Of Aviation
After 31 years, I finally visit the iconic Caribbean island of St Maarten!
Growing up as a total aviation nerd, I had always longed to visit the island of St Maarten to experience the thrill of watching planes take off and land over the iconic Maho Beach. Last month, I finally got the opportunity to witness this spectacle for myself, and it did not disappoint. However, what truly stood out for me was the sheer variety of aircraft that I witnessed over the span of 5 days despite it currently being the "low season" for tourists on the island.
Typically, you'll see the same set of aircraft across most US airports - the 737s, the A320s, the ERJ175s.. However, SXM Airport is different. It plays host to some more rarely seen and unique aircraft still in operation. As soon as I got off my plane, I was struck by the sight of planes that I had only seen in pictures before.
One of the first planes that caught my eye was the Fokker 70 operated by JetAir Carribean. This 80-seat regional jet was manufactured by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer, Fokker and only 47 were ever built since 1992.
Another plane that you see (VERY regularly) was the Britten Norman Islander. This aircraft is one of the most versatile in the world and is renowned for its ability to operate in harsh and remote environments. It's incredible short take off and landing performance makes it a popular choice for many local operators such as Anguilla Air Charters, Anguilla Air Services, Winward Express, and SXM Airways who perform both cargo and passenger flights between the many islands in the area.
The real aviation highlight of my trip to SXM Airport was my first glimpse at the ultra-rare Trislander, the three-engined cousin of the Islander. This is an aircraft that is almost impossible to see anywhere else in the world with only a handful still operating, which made the sight all the more special.
Between the 5 days I had the pleasure of visiting, I trekked to the French side of the island up north. There you'll also see some ATR action courtesy of French carrier Air Caraibes. Grand Case Airport is mere miles away from SXM and provides service to the beautiful surrounding beaches and resorts.
I could ramble on and on but it's as simple as this. If you are an aviation enthusiast, the island of St Maarten should definitely be on your bucket list. Between the perfect white sand beaches, world class food and booze at the Sunset Beach Bar, and the glorious variety of aviation you'll witness, the experience is truly unmatched by any other airport in the world.
You won't be disappointed!
Endangered Embraer: The Lineage 1000
With around 30 ever built, it was a pleasure to see the Embraer Lineage 1000, the corporate version of the Embraer 190 regional jet.
A rare Embraer Lineage 1000 made a welcome visit to Dallas Love Field this week! The Lineage 1000 is the business jet version of the Embraer 190 regional jet and is quite the rare bird with around 30 built.
Launched in 2006, the Lineage 1000 was advertised as an ultra large business jet that can comfortably seat 19 passengers. Unfortunately for Embraer, sales of the Lineage 1000 were fewer than expected with the onslaught of competing products such as the Global 6000, Falcon 7X, and G550s which also boast superior economics. As a result, in 2020 Embraer announced they would be discontinuing the Lineage 1000 and consolidating all its efforts into its Praetor and Phenom line instead.
This beautiful Lineage 1000 is owned by Los Angeles-based fashion designer James Perse and is seen here departing Dallas Love Field for Opa Locka, Florida after a short visit.
A Royal Classic
One of the few private 737-200s still flying around and this one has quite the history!
Those of us in North Texas are fortunate to have no shortage of classic aircraft based in the area, and this privately-owned Boeing 737-205(A) is one of my personal favorites as there are few private (or operating for the matter) "Jurassic Guppies" still flying in '23!
Even with yesterday morning's temps at a crisp 49F and a slight headwind, this classic ate up a significant portion of Addison Airport's 7,203ft runway 34 for its 2.6 hour flight down to Nassau, Bahamas!
This airframe was delivered to Norwegian airline Braathens S.A.F.E. in 1986 before being converted into a VIP configuration in 1993 for Saudi Arabian Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz. The Prince had a rather flashy interior outfitted with the aircraft boasting a VIP configuration of 19 seats, a meeting quarters, dining room, two large salons, and a master state room in the back with a bed. I also have it on good authority that much of the aircraft has gold accents and the photos in the below link seem to confirm that!
In 1999, the aircraft was sold to Basic Capital Management Inc of Dallas, TX and has been based in Addison ever since. Hoping this beauty still has plenty of life left in it!
OH....I forgot to mention this aircraft is for sale.. but you'll have to call for the price...
For Sale:
https://www.hangar67.com/aircraft/1986-boeing-737200/24336
Airframe History:
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/boeing-737-200-n370bc-basic-capital-management-inc/rqp1vj
Winter Storm Mara
Winter Storm Mara strikes Dallas Love Field.
A powerful winter storm wreaked havoc across much of the Southern half of the United States the past few days, with temperatures plunging well below freezing in North Texas since Monday. As I was stuck at a hotel near work, I was able to photograph a bit of the action taking place at Dallas Love Field which was greatly impacted by the deep freeze. While these freezes are not uncommon in many parts of the United States, North Texas typically only sees these large scale events once or twice a year at best so the infrastructure in place is not quite as capable of handling these long-lasting ice storms. The following photos show part of the team effort required to crank flights out in the midst of these brutal conditions. The system is finally winding down in North Texas at the time of this writing, with temperatures finally staying consistently above freezing tomorrow.
