Phoenix Area (PHX/GYR) Dec 20 & 23: Cargo, Tankers, and a Retirement or Two

[NickPeterman]

Hey Guys,

My Arizona adventure continued after Tucson. On our way up to Phoenix after hitting Pima Air and Space Museum, I noticed a pair of China Southern 777s were making their retirement flights into KGYR. While I got screwed by the first one who took the opposite runway of all other landing traffic, I bagged #2. Scary to think a 17 year old 777 is at roads' end.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7579/15884168838_0bf2612a02_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qcCvZY)IMG_5361 (https://flic.kr/p/qcCvZY) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr



Then, after a few days of errands, I was invited to join the Arizona Aviation Photographers, AZAP, for a morning out at KPHX. What a blast we had! I stayed for about 4 hours, and here is some of the days' haul.

Love the new livery, and it looks great in the pre-sunrise dawn light

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7526/16066057146_ca54b57bfa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qtGK4h)IMG_5381_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qtGK4h) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


This yellow beast was a great treat!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7552/16091850485_5f3ab07e83_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvYWw2)IMG_5435_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvYWw2) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8656/15905762119_a35e363402_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qexbVV)IMG_5439_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qexbVV) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Highlight of the day came early. I saw this big colorful tail taxiing and I knew it could only be one thing! I had wanted this jet since I saw photos of it a while back, and to get it less than 30 minutes into being back at PHX was fantastic. She received a water cannon salute upon landing, I can only assume it was a fini flight for a member of the crew.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7507/15905761399_9ed0ce3cde_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qexbHv)IMG_5458_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qexbHv) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


While relocating to our next spotting location, I saw what could only be a US Airways 757 in the new AA livery. A bit of coordination with my fantastic driver made this shot possible through the open window of our moving truck

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8624/15904567730_31e78a78ba_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qer4T1)IMG_5489_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qer4T1) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


The tower at PHX is sharp looking for sure!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7486/15469531404_49a6ac9114_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pyZoJG)IMG_5492_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/pyZoJG) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


A slightly less decked-out tanker for you, Moose ;)

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7546/16066054146_3b17444a55_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qtGJay)IMG_5507_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qtGJay) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Delta 757 at sunrise, what a pair!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7512/16089927761_f1155b98bb_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvP5XB)IMG_5521_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvP5XB) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Followed by an American cousin

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7471/16066053566_a6f7201822_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qtGHZy)IMG_5544_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qtGHZy) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


I guess these scimitars are becoming more commonplace because I have seen a lot of them at LAX and PHX as of late

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/15906098827_8d8dd69a24_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeyV2e)IMG_5563_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qeyV2e) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


The first of 4 MD-11s doing Santa's bidding

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8624/16089926891_800270d9b1_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvP5GB)IMG_5601_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvP5GB) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


This stunning white Scud belongs to Western Global, a new carrier who operates a trio of these beauties, and has been kicking around for UPS this holiday season.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7538/15472160483_6c676858db_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pzdSgD)IMG_5647_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/pzdSgD) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Always nice to see the somewhat-utilitarian looking A300

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7527/15472160183_fa33392097_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pzdSbt)IMG_5670_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/pzdSbt) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


My favorite US Airways Retro jet, still hasn't been Americanized yet.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15905757539_17965ea5bb_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qexayX)IMG_5697_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qexayX) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


End Part 1...

[NickPeterman]

And continue with part 2...

In terms of normal airline traffic, US 757s were the priority of this trip, and I got a few to be pleased with.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8584/15469528304_4c3a0c3655_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pyZnPf)IMG_5705_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/pyZnPf) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr



I just love these AA liveried 757s, so excuse another one!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7571/15905756849_486bce7138_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qexan4)IMG_5717_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qexan4) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


This Brasilia turned nice and tight off of the runway for us

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7483/15472158723_11ba20b794_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pzdRKi)IMG_5756_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/pzdRKi) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


A little taste of Dallas followed me to Phoenix, with this AA 767 bringing a bowl team into town, or picking one up... I am not enough of a College Football buff to know really.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8670/15906096037_5a9f62508b_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeyUc8)IMG_5790_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qeyUc8) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


1 of 3 UPS 752s that blasted off for points afield.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/16089924131_92ef55bde9_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvP4T2)IMG_5818_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvP4T2) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


No winglets, bit of an oddity in the NG world these days

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/16091843855_a6d184b9d0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvYUxH)IMG_5858_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvYUxH) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Now that WN is changing their colors, I was happy to bag a few "old" livery 738s to remember them by

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7567/16091843475_718224fd77_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvYUra)IMG_5886_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvYUra) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Speak of the devil...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15904562220_beb404abaa_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qer3f1)IMG_5894_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qer3f1) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr



My first US East retro jet, and what a nice looking bird she is!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7523/16091123252_45fd95f6db_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvVdkw)IMG_5911_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvVdkw) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Rocking the new winglets

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8652/16089922411_2a423ce5ee_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qvP4nn)IMG_5949_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qvP4nn) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


The 3rd MD-11 operator of the morning

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/15469525004_3f8065a028_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pyZmQm)IMG_5959_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/pyZmQm) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr


Looking good with winglets

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7552/16066047266_ee12b564c6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qtGG7W)IMG_5983_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qtGG7W) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr



Love the -90!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7545/15904560350_519e163c18_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qer2FL)IMG_5996_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qer2FL) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr



Heading back to the northern cold I fear...

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15905752679_b6e69cbeda_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qex98a)IMG_6045_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qex98a) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr



And the plane that isn't sure if he wants to fly for Sun Country or Transavia

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/15906092357_78849bf1b0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qeyT6F)IMG_6070_filtered (https://flic.kr/p/qeyT6F) by Nicholas Peterman (https://www.flickr.com/people/53263228@N04/), on Flickr



Hope you enjoyed.

Cheers!


Nick

[yankees368]

Fantastic set!

[moose135]

Great set of shots, Nick! Love the light out there. I've been wanting to go to PHX for a while now, probably time to make it happen!

[Zee71]

Great set! I haven't back to Tucson in along. I need to make it there just to see the Pima air museum and get a little spotting in. The light and colors there a breathe taking.

[Max]

What an amazing set, thanks for the running commentary it really adds to the pics

[markg]

Great shots Nick! Wan't sure by your comment on the SX/HV 737 but it's a winter lease. A lot of European stuff comes over to Canada and the US for winter. At one time a lot of US stuff went the other way for European summer season, but it doesn't happen as much now. I remember years ago at MAN we had a Pluna B732 for the whole summer operating for Britannia Airways (now Thomson or TUI). We also had a Minerva DC8 one day. Airtours spoiled it for the English/European spotter by chartering 2 or 3 clapped out 747-200's for long haul flying. They were so bad one got nicknamed the flying pig by the British press!

[MSN007]

Man that kind of blue sky is very rare now days down here, nice set.

[Vinny Ohare]

Great shots! I was a few miles away over in Papago park and was watching the same planes as you. The park is just a little too far for my 300mm lens. I just applied for the Arizona forum you mentioned since I am out in AZ for the winter. We are a mile south of Mesa airport.

[NIKV69]

SCY almost didn't do any leases with Transavia they have a huge fleet now. 821 is getting winglets and should ne in service next week. I would be surprised that after they return ZG they ever lease from them again. PHX is always a treat I love shooting there

[captmjk16]

Those are excellent shots Nick, great job!

[NickPeterman]

Thank you guys for the kind words! I also appreciated the info on the Sun Country/Transavia arrangement, and the history of those kinds of swap.