INFO / LOG : The March MAX hunt – Part 3 Texas and JFK
Mar 20, 2020 16:58:47 GMT
Post by Admin on Mar 20, 2020 16:58:47 GMT
As mentioned in part 1, this is not a full log, as the MAX elements will take some time to sort out. Hopefully I will be able to post those later once sorted.
Updates to part 2 – thanks to those that responded –
Marana – the VIP aircraft was N625HR a 767, not 777
And both for Mesa Gateway
C-GWON was correct for the Legacy 500 – cn 55000075 a new registration
The DC-3 is N147AZ
The delayed flight from Phoenix meant an arrival into Austin, TX after 1am – fortunately the AVIS desk was still open so straight off to the off-airport hotel.
Next morning a quick circuit of Austin revealed nothing out of the ordinary, so off to San Antonio.
San Antonio March 13 2020
Another airfield with a Citation Service Center, as well as a large ST Aviation facility, which had a large number of American / American Eagle aircraft on maintenance. A hangar near the KDC-10 contained 6 C-1 / S-2 types under overhaul, but all primered.
N284DH 767 DHL
N286UP MD-11 UPS
N804WA MD83 World Atlantic
N806WA MD83 World Atlantic
ST Aviation
C-FNOH 787 Air Canada
C-FRSO A320 Air Canada
D-ALCM MD-11 ex LH Cargo – stored for UPS
D-ALCN MD-11 ex LH Cargo – stored for UPS
N117UW A321 American
N289UP MD-11 UPS
N819AN 737 American
N954UW E175 American Eagle
N956UW E175 American Eagle
Plus another UPS MD-11 and a VIP 777
N264DE KDC-10 ex Neth AF
N119RM C750
N203DH KA200
N277WC KA200
N285CC C560
N560PK C560
N679TX C560XL – is this back from CC-DDA?
N758K KA 90
N777HW C560
N886EP C750
N973CG CJ3
N978BE C680
N1205Z C525 M2
XA-BAE C750
XA-PAA C550
XA-TTC CJ3
Plus another Mexican CJ with engine covers off
N747RL Falcon 7X
N789G G159
Gulfstream possible stored with the college – Hallmark on tail
92-347 / XL T-1A USAF
92-357 / XL T-1A USAF
93-635 / XL T-1A USAF
Next stop was the final MAX store of the trip, the former Kelly AFB and ALC.
Kelly Field TX March 13 2020
The former Air Logistics Center was taken over by Boeing and now normally acts as a C-17 overhaul plant, plus other Boeing heavies. But with the MAX crisis this became another major location to store MAXs. At the time of my visit there were three groups, one spread around the Boeing plant, the main group on the northern apron and a smaller group a little south of that, plus a lone KC-46. The northern group are difficult to read off and it is best to photo the tail schemes to try and work them out. The next group can be read from an adjacent road – like elsewhere a number wear test registrations, but most (if not all) appear to have the line number taped onto the nwd with red tape. (This is also used on stripped down C-17s.) Some of those in the Boeing area can be read from a staff car park while a dead-end road around the southern end of the runway allows views back onto this ramp.
Details of the MAXs will follow once sorted, but these were also present
N104HR 727
N784TW DC-9 Ameristar
N962CE MD83 Everts
50006 C-5A USAF
70027 C-5A USAF
70038 C-5A USAF
Plus another 4 on the Air Force ramp – heat haze defeated me
Around the Boeing plant
80265 C-17A
55150 / HH C-17A
91190 C-17A Martinsburg
C-17A P-166 plus another stripped example
40787 E-4B
For those so inclined, there are 4 USAF aircraft preserved within the office complex.
On departing, a detour was taken to drive past the Lackland AFB which is adjacent to Kelly.
Lackland AFB March 13 2020
The main public road passes the parade ground with a large number of preserved aircraft, including items relevant here. There is a small car park by the main gate to get the best views.
(44-76071) C-47
(51-17640) C-118
(51-2567) C-119
(54-0155) C-121
(54-0668) C-123
Just north are three more outside a Medical Center
71-0878 C-9
(54-0593) C-123
51-5172 T-29
Next stop was Stinson Field, a light aircraft field plus a museum.
Then onto the long drive to Houston, broken by an opportunity for a Dairy Queen Blizzard as the weather was good enough for the first time on the trip.
Houston Hobby March 13 2020
Arrived at a good time to view the hangars at Hobby as the lights were coming on. Actually, a little late as by the time I got to the new Southwest hangar it was too dark to see the remaining ramps, which were left for the morning. Most areas can be viewed easily by driving down the various roads.
Rather than a long list of biz, just a few selected items
N60BT Westwind
N506FF Phenom 300
SP-ZAK Global 5000
XA-VCV C650
XB-GOQ PA-31 looked withdrawn
Plus plenty of Southwest
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Hobby, which is just at the end of runway 22. Requested an airport view room and was given 422 which was excellent. Last time we stayed here it was under refurbishment, which was now finished. However, the restaurant was still closed, but they use the shuttle bus to take you to a variety of local restaurants.
Houston Hobby March 14 2020
A quick run to complete the circuit included the local 1940s Air Museum which has an aircraft outside in an interesting scheme
N400PR 125 www.jetphotos.com/photo/9348664
N417EK Gulfstream II withdrawn near runway 17 threshold
Plus lots more Southwest!
It was then time to wend my way home, starting at Houston IAH
Houston IAH March 14 2020
Plenty of view airside – I was flying with Delta so in terminal A, but Gate A14 was my gate and good views of the runways can be seen here. Most movements are United but others included
C-FFYG E175 Air Canada Express
C-FNAP E190 Air Canada
N113DQ A220 Delta - my ride to JFK, a nice surprise (and another DQ)
N129DU A220 Delta
N490TA A320 Avianca
N530NK A319 Spirit
N544VL A320 Volaris
N623NK A320 Spirit
N705FR A320 Frontier
N841NN 737 American
N962DN MD90 Delta
N455BC PC-12 Boutique Air
N718DD G200
A pleasant three hour flight, with enough time to watch a film, brought me to JFK.
New York JFK March 14 2020
Arrived on a B gate and my flight home was with Virgin from A5. Having got supplies I settled near A7 which had a view out onto the Jet Blue ramp and the runways. A direction change later meant departures could be monitored as well. Lots of Delta and Jet Blue in this area, but others noted included
CC-BGO 787 LATAM
EI-EDY A330 Aer Lingus
EI-LRB A321 Aer Lingus
D-ALMA A330F DHL
N357FE MD-11 FedEx
PH-BHN 787 KLM
SE-RXZ 787 Norwegian
SU-GET 787 Egyptair
VQ-BIL 777 Aeroflot
VQ-BQB 777 Aeroflot
XA-DRC 737 AeroMexico (see below)
XA-GAK E190 AeroMexico
YU-ARA A330 Air Serbia
9Y-SXM 737 Caribbean
The AeroMexico 737 was boarding from the gate where I was sitting – lots of calls for the final passengers, who finally dawdled up to the gate. Then when the aircraft did taxi out, it looked at one stage as if it was going to return to the gate, but finally departed.
After a week with half-full flights, the impending travel ban had moved my Virgin flight to a packed economy section, even in a A350-1041. I settled down, but after a couple of hours was asked if I would mind changing seat to give the couple, with a small baby, next to me more room. As the move was to Premium Economy no objections from me and the rest of the flight was in more spacious surroundings with an excellent breakfast including a large bacon roll!
Hopefully you have found these reports of some use. I will try to come up with the full MAX list shortly. If anybody else was around the same places and has queries on some of the stuff I didn’t include, let me know.
Unfortunately, it seems that there will be few chances for trips in the coming months – already had to cancel Finkenwerder and Toulouse trips next weekend, but it is all a small price to pay for the fight against this virus. Stay safe out there.
Steve Mitchell
Updates to part 2 – thanks to those that responded –
Marana – the VIP aircraft was N625HR a 767, not 777
And both for Mesa Gateway
C-GWON was correct for the Legacy 500 – cn 55000075 a new registration
The DC-3 is N147AZ
The delayed flight from Phoenix meant an arrival into Austin, TX after 1am – fortunately the AVIS desk was still open so straight off to the off-airport hotel.
Next morning a quick circuit of Austin revealed nothing out of the ordinary, so off to San Antonio.
San Antonio March 13 2020
Another airfield with a Citation Service Center, as well as a large ST Aviation facility, which had a large number of American / American Eagle aircraft on maintenance. A hangar near the KDC-10 contained 6 C-1 / S-2 types under overhaul, but all primered.
N284DH 767 DHL
N286UP MD-11 UPS
N804WA MD83 World Atlantic
N806WA MD83 World Atlantic
ST Aviation
C-FNOH 787 Air Canada
C-FRSO A320 Air Canada
D-ALCM MD-11 ex LH Cargo – stored for UPS
D-ALCN MD-11 ex LH Cargo – stored for UPS
N117UW A321 American
N289UP MD-11 UPS
N819AN 737 American
N954UW E175 American Eagle
N956UW E175 American Eagle
Plus another UPS MD-11 and a VIP 777
N264DE KDC-10 ex Neth AF
N119RM C750
N203DH KA200
N277WC KA200
N285CC C560
N560PK C560
N679TX C560XL – is this back from CC-DDA?
N758K KA 90
N777HW C560
N886EP C750
N973CG CJ3
N978BE C680
N1205Z C525 M2
XA-BAE C750
XA-PAA C550
XA-TTC CJ3
Plus another Mexican CJ with engine covers off
N747RL Falcon 7X
N789G G159
Gulfstream possible stored with the college – Hallmark on tail
92-347 / XL T-1A USAF
92-357 / XL T-1A USAF
93-635 / XL T-1A USAF
Next stop was the final MAX store of the trip, the former Kelly AFB and ALC.
Kelly Field TX March 13 2020
The former Air Logistics Center was taken over by Boeing and now normally acts as a C-17 overhaul plant, plus other Boeing heavies. But with the MAX crisis this became another major location to store MAXs. At the time of my visit there were three groups, one spread around the Boeing plant, the main group on the northern apron and a smaller group a little south of that, plus a lone KC-46. The northern group are difficult to read off and it is best to photo the tail schemes to try and work them out. The next group can be read from an adjacent road – like elsewhere a number wear test registrations, but most (if not all) appear to have the line number taped onto the nwd with red tape. (This is also used on stripped down C-17s.) Some of those in the Boeing area can be read from a staff car park while a dead-end road around the southern end of the runway allows views back onto this ramp.
Details of the MAXs will follow once sorted, but these were also present
N104HR 727
N784TW DC-9 Ameristar
N962CE MD83 Everts
50006 C-5A USAF
70027 C-5A USAF
70038 C-5A USAF
Plus another 4 on the Air Force ramp – heat haze defeated me
Around the Boeing plant
80265 C-17A
55150 / HH C-17A
91190 C-17A Martinsburg
C-17A P-166 plus another stripped example
40787 E-4B
For those so inclined, there are 4 USAF aircraft preserved within the office complex.
On departing, a detour was taken to drive past the Lackland AFB which is adjacent to Kelly.
Lackland AFB March 13 2020
The main public road passes the parade ground with a large number of preserved aircraft, including items relevant here. There is a small car park by the main gate to get the best views.
(44-76071) C-47
(51-17640) C-118
(51-2567) C-119
(54-0155) C-121
(54-0668) C-123
Just north are three more outside a Medical Center
71-0878 C-9
(54-0593) C-123
51-5172 T-29
Next stop was Stinson Field, a light aircraft field plus a museum.
Then onto the long drive to Houston, broken by an opportunity for a Dairy Queen Blizzard as the weather was good enough for the first time on the trip.
Houston Hobby March 13 2020
Arrived at a good time to view the hangars at Hobby as the lights were coming on. Actually, a little late as by the time I got to the new Southwest hangar it was too dark to see the remaining ramps, which were left for the morning. Most areas can be viewed easily by driving down the various roads.
Rather than a long list of biz, just a few selected items
N60BT Westwind
N506FF Phenom 300
SP-ZAK Global 5000
XA-VCV C650
XB-GOQ PA-31 looked withdrawn
Plus plenty of Southwest
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at Hobby, which is just at the end of runway 22. Requested an airport view room and was given 422 which was excellent. Last time we stayed here it was under refurbishment, which was now finished. However, the restaurant was still closed, but they use the shuttle bus to take you to a variety of local restaurants.
Houston Hobby March 14 2020
A quick run to complete the circuit included the local 1940s Air Museum which has an aircraft outside in an interesting scheme
N400PR 125 www.jetphotos.com/photo/9348664
N417EK Gulfstream II withdrawn near runway 17 threshold
Plus lots more Southwest!
It was then time to wend my way home, starting at Houston IAH
Houston IAH March 14 2020
Plenty of view airside – I was flying with Delta so in terminal A, but Gate A14 was my gate and good views of the runways can be seen here. Most movements are United but others included
C-FFYG E175 Air Canada Express
C-FNAP E190 Air Canada
N113DQ A220 Delta - my ride to JFK, a nice surprise (and another DQ)
N129DU A220 Delta
N490TA A320 Avianca
N530NK A319 Spirit
N544VL A320 Volaris
N623NK A320 Spirit
N705FR A320 Frontier
N841NN 737 American
N962DN MD90 Delta
N455BC PC-12 Boutique Air
N718DD G200
A pleasant three hour flight, with enough time to watch a film, brought me to JFK.
New York JFK March 14 2020
Arrived on a B gate and my flight home was with Virgin from A5. Having got supplies I settled near A7 which had a view out onto the Jet Blue ramp and the runways. A direction change later meant departures could be monitored as well. Lots of Delta and Jet Blue in this area, but others noted included
CC-BGO 787 LATAM
EI-EDY A330 Aer Lingus
EI-LRB A321 Aer Lingus
D-ALMA A330F DHL
N357FE MD-11 FedEx
PH-BHN 787 KLM
SE-RXZ 787 Norwegian
SU-GET 787 Egyptair
VQ-BIL 777 Aeroflot
VQ-BQB 777 Aeroflot
XA-DRC 737 AeroMexico (see below)
XA-GAK E190 AeroMexico
YU-ARA A330 Air Serbia
9Y-SXM 737 Caribbean
The AeroMexico 737 was boarding from the gate where I was sitting – lots of calls for the final passengers, who finally dawdled up to the gate. Then when the aircraft did taxi out, it looked at one stage as if it was going to return to the gate, but finally departed.
After a week with half-full flights, the impending travel ban had moved my Virgin flight to a packed economy section, even in a A350-1041. I settled down, but after a couple of hours was asked if I would mind changing seat to give the couple, with a small baby, next to me more room. As the move was to Premium Economy no objections from me and the rest of the flight was in more spacious surroundings with an excellent breakfast including a large bacon roll!
Hopefully you have found these reports of some use. I will try to come up with the full MAX list shortly. If anybody else was around the same places and has queries on some of the stuff I didn’t include, let me know.
Unfortunately, it seems that there will be few chances for trips in the coming months – already had to cancel Finkenwerder and Toulouse trips next weekend, but it is all a small price to pay for the fight against this virus. Stay safe out there.
Steve Mitchell