LAS 05/09/2011 - Missed Opportunities

I can kick myself... the short story, I missed the L-1011 :mad::mad::mad::mad:

So, there I was at the official spotting location for KLAS... nothing very exciting happening, one Southwest after another... not even their specials. So, it gets overcast and it begins to rain. I get in my car hoping it would pass. So it did not and I go back to my hotel. As you may know by now, I purposely picked a view overlooking south east so as to have a view of the airport.

As I get to the window, I look out casually and notice the L-1011 MISSING from its parking spot!!

http://manny.smugmug.com/Airplanes/S.../D2X3989-L.jpg

It usually sits facing my position to the right of the 747SP.

So I immediately start scanning the field and there she was taxiing to 25R :mad::mad::mad::mad: It would take me 5 minutes JUST to get to the lobby, never mind my car and then driving over to the spotting location. Even to get to the strip and try to catch her as she climbed would take minimum 20 minutes...

http://manny.smugmug.com/Airplanes/S.../O/D2X3983.jpg

Oh well, what can you do... the images are with a Nikon D2Xs + 200-400mm f/4 + TC17 1.7x Teleconverter for 650mm on 35mm with a crop factor of 1.5x effectively 1000mm+ ... and through heavy shielded pane glass windows and a range of about 4.2 miles!! so apologies for the awful quality...

http://manny.smugmug.com/Airplanes/S.../D2X4003-L.jpg

http://manny.smugmug.com/Airplanes/S.../D2X4023-L.jpg

Of course I figured oh well, she is probably on its way to Japan or somewhere with VIPs or to pick up VIPs or whatever. I should have heeded my gut feeling she was coming right back becuse she never put up her landing gear... so of course, I stayed in my room instead of running out. Sure enough, here she comes in again

http://manny.smugmug.com/Airplanes/S.../D2X4046-L.jpg

Missed opportunities.

To add insult to injury, she flew again and returned yesterday, under better weather. But I was stuck in my conference!!!

Still great stuff Manny considering your shooting circumstances. One of my most memorable and relaxing flights was on an old Eastern L-1011 back in the 70's. I miss them.

Awesome. At least you were one of the lucky few to see a Tristar in flight these days!

Thanks guys... that is exactly my point. I needed to AT LEAST see one fly one more time and record it :-) I saw some a long time ago when I was a little boy but that does not count LOL.

I am looking at them right now from my window. f they do as much as turn on the engines, I am "flying" out there :cool:

Considering you were about 4 miles away, those are some good shots Manny! Wish I could see that beauty fly myself. One of these days.

Manny, there's an easy way to fly on one again - start gambling at right casino, A LOT. :biggrin:

Jeremy, I [am] trying LOL. I am staying at The Palazzo but unfortunately, my bankroll is only $200-500 lol.

Hey, at least I can "see" it from my room lol.

Firstly..........what a bummer!!!! I'm sure all of us had missed opportunities at one time or another, but considering you were able to shoot it and see the L-1011 is nothing short of fantastic. The L-1011s remind me of Eastern Airlines, and when LGA had L-1011s flying in and out. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

Your Tristar shots are still better than mine.... Oh, wait... That's right! I don't have any! :wink:

Sorry Manny! If I hear anything about the short flights I will PM you. Here she is landing at Narita last year on her way to LAX couple days later while we waited. To see her on the downwind and land was pretty epic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZphsEs9yqI