On the Delaware (8/16) (PHL, P72) [Image Heavy]
I spent a good chunk of Saturday sailing on the Delaware River on my friend's J/22 and was able to do some plane (and ship) spotting on the way.
It was definitely not a normal spotting excursion but I can't wait to do it again.
Started off the day heading south with the current and passing the Penn's Landing Heliport (P72)
Just like every other time I've passed the heliport there were no helicopters even though it's a pretty busy place.
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...with the Philly skyline.
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Some ship spotting:
The SS United States looking worse-for-ware. Hopefully something positive will come of her soon.
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The tug, "Reid Mcallister" helping out "Loa" to get turned around.
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"Loa" turning south and in doing so, blocking off most of the river!
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Back to the planes:
A great looking Challenger air ambulance (D-AFAI) en-route to PHL.
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After about and hour and 15 minutes we finally got to the sunlit side of the arrivals.
AAL1003 on a four mile final for runway 27R.
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Allegheny retro inbound.
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One of the remnants of the old Philadelphia Navy Yard Field/Mustin Naval Air Facility that was very active during WWII.
The main hanger and the seaplane ramp into the river.
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DAL1561 from ATL over "Loa".
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The "Spirit of Philadelphia" passing by the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) at the naval yard.
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Two hours down river the tide was about to change so we decided to head back up north.
The "Spirit of Philadelphia" heading back to Penn's Landing.
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The first of two surprising catches that day; FDX9004, one of the new 763s, inbound from MEM for some type of charter...
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..with the ramp tower behind.
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AWE799 from AMS, 2.5 miles from runway 27R.
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JBU759 from BOS.
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AWE735 from MAN.
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US 762 above the sail.
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Tacking!!!
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USCGC "William Tate" (WLM 560) crossing beneath the Walt Whitman Bridge.
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"William Tate" docked at the USCG Station, beat us back by some time.
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A look up the river.
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This time while we passed Penn's Landing Heliport there was a pleasant surprise.
A Super Puma, N7801F. In town to remove the giant "PNB" letters from a downtown sky scrapper.
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The venerable USS New Jersey (BB-62)
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Finally, "Summer Wind" with the Battleship New Jersey in the background.
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Hope you enjoyed your trip on the river :cool:
