Aircraft

[Gravdigr]

So...There I was...

Standing in the backyard, with my di--er--my camera in my hand, when I looked up and saw a passenger plane going over.

I yelled "Boss!! De plane! De Plane!!!" Well, I didn't really, but, I thought it. And then I thought "There's a camera in your hand with the long lens on, take a picture dumbass."

So I did.

Full size crop:



Manual focus, full 300mm tele, handheld, on a moving target. Through the tree, no less. I was kinda impressed with the outcome. Not a great pic, certainly not a keeper, but, it was soooo much better than I was expecting.

A couple minutes later I looked up again, and waaaaay out there was another plane. I mean it was waaaaaay out there, a mere white speck, floating silently through the sky. I remembered the camera in my hand, so I took a pic. And another, because electrons are free, well almost.

Then I reviewed these most recent pics on the back of my camera. My first thought was "Wtf?" and my very next thought was "No. Fucking. Way."

Now, my camera's screen is a pretty good display, so good in fact, that it regularly lies to me concerning the quality of pics I've just taken, so I wasn't 100% sure I was seeing exactly what I was seeing.

I immediately went to the computer, shoved the card in the slot, and clicked the thing.

"No. Fucking. Way."

I'd just taken two pictures of an AWACS plane!

Both untouched full size crops:




Auto focus, full 300mm tele, handheld, on a moving target.

I was totally stoked for a while. I'm not real sure why.

Do those airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) regularly patrol the skies over civilian Murka? Did I do something rare and cool by snapping one in flight (from the ground?)? Should I expect a visit from men in dark suits driving black SUVs?

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

A couple minutes later I looked up again, and waaaaay out there was another plane. I mean it was waaaaaay out there, a mere white speck, floating silently through the sky. I remembered the camera in my hand, so I took a pic. And another, because electrons are free, well almost.

Then I reviewed these most recent pics on the back of my camera. My first thought was "Wtf?" and my very next thought was "No. Fucking. Way."

Now, my camera's screen is a pretty good display, so good in fact, that it regularly lies to me concerning the quality of pics I've just taken, so I wasn't 100% sure I was seeing exactly what I was seeing.

I immediately went to the computer, shoved the card in the slot, and clicked the thing.

"No. Fucking. Way."

I'd just taken two pictures of an AWACS plane!

Both untouched full size crops:

Attachment 63300
Attachment 63301

Auto focus, full 300mm tele, handheld, on a moving target.

I was totally stoked for a while. I'm not real sure why.

Do those airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) regularly patrol the skies over civilian Murka? Did I do something rare and cool by snapping one in flight (from the ground?)? Should I expect a visit from men in dark suits driving black SUVs?

Well fair his fair since he's taking pictures of you!

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

I'd just taken two pictures of an AWACS plane!

First pic in the OP, edited:

[Gravdigr]

For comparison, the EC-3 Sentry, of which Boeing built 68. Production ended in 1992.



They were built on 707 bodies. Some 767s have the AWAC treatment. Idk how many or when they were produced.

ETA: My pics are not of the 767 variety. My plane has four engines, 767s have two.

[Carruthers]

Should I expect a visit from men in dark suits driving black SUVs?

I think you'll be OK Grav, but it probably wouldn't be wise to try the same trick in certain parts of Nevada. If you get my meaning.

[Gravdigr]

I was trying ID the airline of the plane in my first pic, but got bored real fast.

Also: Anyone know how to track a two-day-old-flight?

[Carruthers]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

I was trying ID the airline of the plane in my first pic, but got bored real fast.

Not posted with any great confidence, but I think this might be what you're looking for.



Delta Airlines Embraer ERJ 145

[Gravdigr]

I do.

[glatt]

That's not something you see every day!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Without a 300mm lens how would you know how many you see.

[Gravdigr]

Designed by a one-handed former prop spinner, I assume?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Actually he was a pilot.

Bentfield Charles Hucks (25 October 1884 – 7 November 1918) was an aviation innovator in the early 20th century. As well as test flying numerous aircraft types, he was the first Briton to perform a loop in an aircraft, which he performed in his Blériot at Hendon airfield in September 1913.[1] He is also credited with the Hucks starter and many feats of test flying during the First World War, while working at Hendon for Airco.

[Gravdigr]

Was he hit in the face by a flying hand/arm from a soon-to-be-one-handed-former-prop-spinner?

[Gravdigr]

[Glinda]

Some hippy in Portland has started a campaign to remove the Air National Guard unit from the local scene, because their regular sorties to protect our fucking coastline hurt his ears.

Complaint targets military jets over Portland neighborhoods

I daresay his ears would ring much louder if Pootie or Lil Kim lobbed a nuke our way.