KCLT 8/12/12

[moose135]

I spent my first weekend in Charlotte exploring the local area, and stopped by the Airport Overview Park at CLT on Sunday afternoon for a little spotting. I spent about an hour trying to make RJs look sexy and waiting on the main attraction, the daily LH A340. Such is life for spotters in CLT...

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-mRZqR9L/0/XL/JM20120812N460AW001-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-GRvvnWh/0/XL/JM20120812N438AW001-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-FdGVnVg/0/XL/JM20120812N178US001-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-rM3WJF2/0/XL/JM20120812N329EN001-XL.jpg

i did get a couple of good shots of the US Steelers jet.

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-fTQGkmT/0/XL/JM20120812N733UW002-XL.jpg

And of course, just as the Lufty was approaching, the "partly cloudy" skies became more "cloudy" and less "partly"...

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-Ptcp8fT/0/XL/JM20120812D-AIHV005-XL.jpg

After he arrived, I did a little more exploring, then came back a couple of hours later, just as he was ready to taxi for departure.

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-KpZptwJ/0/XL/JM20120812D-AIHV003-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-qG6jhjB/0/XL/JM20120812D-AIHV006-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-c8tZGdm/0/XL/JM20120812D-AIHV004-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-Dt6SjBL/0/XL/JM20120812N912DL001-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-m8GFSvd/0/XL/JM20120812N274AY002-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-dd6GvxQ/0/XL/JM20120812N251AY001-XL.jpg

In checking out the area, I saw the remnants of two T-2 Buckeyes in the yard of a business in the Cargo area (I didn't really see a sign saying who they were). Here's one of them, the second had more parts missing, and less paint.

http://www.moose135photography.com/Airplanes/Airliners-and-Airport-Spotting/Charlotte-Douglas-Airport/i-pwRPkbr/0/XL/JM20120812T-2Buckeye148238001-XL.jpg

[Ychocky]

I like the skyline shots there!

RJ's are sexy! Here in Ottawa we are excited to now get a Delta Connection ERJ!

[eric8669]

I'm liking the 330 and 767

[Cary]

Just wait until they send a An-225 your way!

[PhilDernerJr]

You make it look good John, as always!

[MarkLawrence]

Awesome John!!! I'm currently in SFO trying to make United 747's look good :) Pictures to follow when I can edit them!!!

[TJK]

Love that Steelers jet. It's a mission for me to get a decent photo of that in NY for my best friend, who's a huge Steelers fan.

[megatop412]

John I LOVE the head-on shot of Luthansa

[fk6065]

Nice work as always.

How is the local law down there with spotting?

[moose135]

Thanks, guys! I do miss the variety of NYC, but it's hard to beat the spotting location here. I really do like that head-on view as they turn onto the active, and the skyline does make a nice backdrop. Cary, I heard the An-225 has been here in the past, and I'll have to keep an eye open for it. I'm sure it will bring out a big crowd if it comes back.

Fred, I haven't ventured out to other spots, but this park is an official airport overview, set up for watching/photographing aircraft. There was quite a sizable crowd out, many with kids, to watch the operations. A few had scanners - people really were waiting for the LH 340. I was the only one with a DSLR, but many had P&S cameras or were using the smartphones to shoot stills/video, and when I was out during my visit in April, there were a couple of others with DSLRs.

[Delta777LR]

great shots moose!

[gonzalu]

Moose, the US Air 767 is sweet! I don;t think I have ever seen one in person!

Your story of the crowds remind me of KLAS when the Virgin Atlantic 747 comes in, the parking lot near the approach end gets completely saturated with cars and people with kids. Once she touches down, you're alone! Too funny... if someone gets there early, they ask nervously "did she come yet?" .. if they missed it and come late, they ask the same question and then the disappointment kicks in! LOL

[Roush6NY]

Great shots, Moose !! Looking forward to seeing more from down there