TJIG-Isla Grande, Puerto Rico- 12/2015-1/2016: "Wait... is that a Trislander?!"
Hey Guys,
The photo processing continues. At the behest of Skyteam18, I will skip over SXM and instead bring some shots from an airport that may not have gotten much love here before, TJIG, the smaller of the two airports serving the San Juan area in Puerto Rico. Home to several commuter airlines servicing the small islands of Vieques and Culebra, TJIG also boasts some GA and Corporate traffic. It also abuts the Terminal Panamericano, and these first few shots were taken from deck 13 of the Jewel of the Seas, prior to sailing away.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1695/...a367a2d8_b.jpgTJIG Tower by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1477/...690e71b5_b.jpgUntitled PC-12. TJIG by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1507/...b235a863_b.jpgUntitled King Air, TJIG by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
Some weeks later I was back in San Juan to visit with some friends on a traditional holiday. Whilst driving to a local restaurant my attention was called to a departing aircraft by a member of my family. Having only seen them in photos previously, it took me some time to process that I was indeed looking at a Britten-Norman Trislander, and prompted the titular question for this set. Thankfully my bag was in the trunk, and I decided to investigate after lunch.
Upon getting to the field, there was no sign of the Trislander to be found, and my only consolation was this C208
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1576/...e4be6992_b.jpgUntitled C208, TJIG by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
Thankfully, a short while later, an unmistakable profile appeared on the downwind, and I managed to grab some photos despite the commencing rain.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1469/...bbd3d662_b.jpgVieques Air Link Trislander, 7 by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
I gotta love all the doors the crammed into this thing!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1650/...9e764119_b.jpgVieques Air Link Trislander, 6 by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
Unsatisfied with the weather, I returned a week later hoping this plane, which no one seemed to realize still operated, would fly again. I lucked out!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1444/...76455445_b.jpgUntitled Challenger, TJIG by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
Sadly this guy took me by surprise and I had no time to lower my shutter speed...
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1670/...1292c87a_b.jpgPRPD Bell 407 by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1612/...d9c7d01f_b.jpgUntitled GA, TJIG by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
And at long last, my target in ideal light!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1631/...102a3952_b.jpgVieques Air Link Trislander, 4 by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1502/...865c0d75_b.jpgAir Flamenco Islander by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1635/...fc18fdb7_b.jpgVieques Air Link Islander, 2 by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1643/...4f365178_b.jpgVieques Air Link Trislander, 3 by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
Final departure for the day
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1599/...2500e579_b.jpgVieques Air Link Trislander, 1 by Nicholas Peterman, on Flickr
While not as exciting as the myriad larger airliners that we often catch, I was very excited to bag such an unusual (and new to me) aircraft to start 2016! Thanks for checking it out.
Cheers,
Nick
