August 25, 2009

Not there yet! Eva either had to go around because of an unstable approach or they were sent around by ATC.

A long haul United B767-322ER.

N524VA, "dark horse" taxies in past the Terminal 2 construction area.

A common sight at SFO.
United B747-422.

A Boeing 737-500 delivered to Southwest on Oct. 16, 1990.

California Air National Guard Blackhawk transitioning SFO's airspace.

B757 winglet.

Southwest gets on with the business of airlining!
Gear up by 200 feet....

You won't see this livery much longer....
Northwest has merged with Delta Airlines so all the NWA aircraft will be painted in the Delta color scheme. You can tell by the N-number if an aircraft was formerly NWA. This one is N584NW.

747s

One of the two daily Speedbirds taking off on RY28L for London's Heathrow Airport.

Southeastplan
On a rainy day in February. The rainshowers have just ended and as the front passes the winds are turning from Southeast to South and then on to Southwest. For a brief period of time even the heavy 747s are departing RY19R. Nippon Cargo is pretty light for a short flight to LAX. A runway change is already in progress as Skywest holds short of RY19R on their way to RY28L. The Brasilia pilots get a front row seat for a thrilling view of NCA's takeoff...

The last 19R departure is Japan Air Cargo also going to LAX.

Shoreline One Departure.
One of the most awesome sights at SFO is a 747 flying the Shoreline Departure!
Especially when they start the turn as soon as possible...

Ferry flight to LAX.
United needed a 747 down in LAX and they had an extra one up here at SFO. This 747-400 took off from RY28L with only the two pilots and a very light load of fuel on board. They used less runway for takeoff than a twin Cessna would!

February 25, 2009. After the rain.

N912UA
B737-522

Climbing off runway 28 into an afternoon Winter sky. The light in Winter is just great for photography. When it rains in the Bay Area the winds blow out of the South. As the front passes through the rain ends and the wind shifts to the West. SFO usually changes to a landing and departing RYs28 operation and if I can get a break its a great time for me to go outside with my camera....

Comings and goings

United A319 coming in on Bravo.
United B737-500 going out on Alpha.

Virgin America is seemingly being chased out of town by Southwest.
N625VA departed RY01R and will make a right turn to the Northeast, headed for the East Coast. The Southwest jet (N703SW) will make a left turn to the Northwest off RY01L, headed south. Its always pretty complicated at SFO...

Coming and going:
A B767 inbound on taxiway Bravo while a B757 is outbound on taxiway Alpha.

Wanting to go....
A long lineup of jetliners wait for their turn to depart on a windy day at KSFO.

Waiting...
N301UA was United's first B737-300. This workhorse 737 started service in 1987.
Here they are waiting on the ramp for a gate to open on April 17, 2008.

Feb. 14, 2008
With strong winds out of the North the arrivals had to land on runways 1 on Valentines Day morning. United's N118UA, a Boeing 747-422 makes a perfect landing on Runway 1 Right after a long flight from the Far East.