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A few from KMKE
I was able to get out and get a couple from KMKE.
The smoke from the fire in Northern Minnesota made for terrible spotting conditions on Tuesday.
#1
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0322a-L.jpg
#2
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0344a-L.jpg
#3
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0403a-L.jpg
#4
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0496a-L.jpg
The air was clearer on Wednesday
#5
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0830a-L.jpg
#6
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0888a-L.jpg
#7
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0892a-L.jpg
#8
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/Airplanes...S7T0679a-L.jpg
These were all from the 6th floor of the parking ramp. Had a nice chat with the local sheriff and TSA. Both were professional and just checked my ID and said have a nice day.
MKE was a nice diversion from KMSP, lots of Frontier and AirTran, not too much Delta (although I did get a nice DC9). The parking garage is a little far from the main runway, 400mm was needed for full frame on the larger planes and a lot of cropping would be required on the smaller planes. The light is good in the evening, morning shots would be totally back lit. There was a spotting area at the end of the main runway, but I was not able how to get good shots from there.
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MKE is fairly spotter-friendly, with the spotting area at the north end of 19R. As you discovered, the parking garage is also acceptable, just be prepared to get checked out...not normally a big deal. I've been up there for a few hours though and they left me alone. I guess it all depends on their mood.
The spotting area is good for afternoon and evening shots when they are using 19R, but sometimes they will run a combo pattern with departures on 19R and arrivals on 25L. In this case the arrivals are too far off for even a 400mm...for departures on 19R you will need some way to "get over" the two fences that are in your way. I use the back bed of my truck with a three-step stool, it works nicely.
Supposedly they are going to be putting in a new spotting area near the end of 7R, but so far haven't seen it happen.
-George Widener
http://www.flickr.com/photos/md11forever/
