DFW | November 2009 | Founders' Plaza | Heavy departures...

Some days of the week I have an hour to kill while waiting on some the Chicklets' activities to wind down and finish up after school so I'll sometimes take the opportunity to swing by Founders' Plaza (it's only 10 minutes from their school) to grab a few shots. This particular day was a nice afternoon with the winds blowing out of the north and I was going to see if I could catch the late afternoon international departures.

This is N785AN, a Boeing 777-200ER built and delivered to American in March 2000. She must have been loaded to the gills and then some as her climbout as a lot flatter than usual for a 777 and I usually don't catch the gear retraction this late as most days it occurs much earlier.

Climb, dammit, CLIMB!!! This is D-AIGF "Göttingen", an Airbus A340-300 built and delivered to Lufthansa in March 1994.

Passing abeam Founders' Plaza after takeoff from 36L....this aircraft D-AIGF, was built originally for Continental Airlines back when Continental had some orders for the A340 in the late 1980s. That transaction got canceled and then it was to become N3404G with Northwest Airlines, but then that transaction got canceled as well and she ended up getting taken on by Lufthansa.

"Lufthansa 479 Heavy, contact Departure, good day....."

Heading out as well that afternoon is N396AN, a Boeing 767-300 built and delivered to American in February 1999. I think this flight was headed to South America, but not sure.

"American 822, cleared to land Three-Six Left, caution wake turbulence KLM heavy Airbus departing parallel right before you."

Now *that* is a spirited takeoff! A330s are some of the most graceful looking jet twins out there with the wing flex.

Now passing abeam Founders' Plaza in the setting sun, PH-AOE "Parliament Square-Edinburgh" is a relative youngster amongst the heavy departures this particular afternoon at DFW, having been built and delivered to KLM in July 2006.

DFW | May 2009 | Founders' Plaza | 36R Departures

The first week of May had some seriously shitty weather. Lots of thunderstorms and less than ideal photography conditions throughout the day. But, as a photographer patient of mine told me, those are the best times to learn as you'll push your DSLR settings to their limits to try and make the best of the lousiest of conditions.

^Naturally, the only nice day that particular week was Monday and everything was in a north flow pattern. Less than ideal for a good day of spotting at Founders', but I did get this decent shot of an Alaska 737-800 departing for Seattle.

This particular aircraft, N596AS, is a young'un. She was built and delivered to Alaska Airlines in April 2008.

DFW | April 2009 | Founders' Plaza | 36R Departures

^N825SK, a brand-spankin' new CRJ-900 flying for Skywest in Delta Connection colors, hauls it out of DFW for Salt Lake City. This CRJ-900 was built and delivered to Skywest in January of this year. Probably the *youngest* aircraft I've photographed at DFW yet.


^This aircraft also belongs to Skywest, but it's flying in United Express colors- N716SK, a CRJ-700 (note the shorter fuselage and lack of ventral fins under the rear fuselage compared to the CRJ-900) built and delivered to Skywest in December 2004. I think this flight was headed to Chicago, but I'm not sure.


^American 737-800 making an unusually flat climbout off 36R, this is N924AN, built and delivered to American in 1999 and retrofitted with winglets in 2007.


^Now we're talking! Korean Air Cargo 747-400F (HL7462, built and delivered to Korean in July 1997) on climb out headed to Anchorage on its way to Seoul-Inchon International.


^Passing nearly directly overhead Founders' Plaza, there's a lot more grime and streaking on the underside compared to the near spotless top and sides......


^"[I]Korean Air 36 Heavy, contact departure, good day....[/I]"


^N773AN, a ten year old Boeing 777-200ER with American Airlines starts its landing gear retraction cycle....


^Mmmmmm....Rolls-Royce Trent 892-17 engines, 92,000 pounds of thrust times two.....dig it.........


^Getting cleaned up and heading out, departure contacted, gradual turn to the east....I think this flight was headed to London..........