DFW | May 2009 | Founders' Plaza | Areas of convective interest....

Back in the middle of May there were some storm cells approaching from the north and well, I just can't pass up a chance to go spotting in severe weather because that's how I roll.

Now we're talking. That's what a I call an *ominous* sky. This is the airport beacon that's at the center of the spotting park at Founders' Plaza.

Well that sky means nuthin' if it doesn't have some whoop-ass along with it. Let's check the doppler radar feed....ahhhh yes, now we're talkin' business now. The blue crosshairs marks my location at Founders' Plaza and that red moxie is moving south with "make my day" written all over it. Yes. 'Cause that's how I roll, baby.

First off, here's a UPS MD-11F pushing back from the ramp adjacent to Founders' Plaza. This particular aircraft is N294UP, built originally in November 1991 for Delta Air Lines as N801DE, the first Delta MD-11. She was then passed to World Airways for a short while in the passenger role and was even leased for a short period by Ethiopian Airlines. In the first quarter of 2008 she was converted to freighter configuration by ST Aviation Services (SASCO) at Paya Lebar Airport in Singapore before entering service with UPS.

The morning Alaska departure to Seattle was delayed due to incoming weather but they weren't going to stick around for a hold. These guys, there were going to get out of town. Fast. And they did. This aircraft, N568AS, is a young'un, built in January 2007 as a 737-800.

Next up to bat and damn sure to expediting their departure with the approaching storm cells, is American's 757-200 "Flagship Freedom" with its special markings.

This NWA Airlink flight (operated by Compass Airlines) was headed north to Minneapolis, and well, that was a no go with the wall of storm bearing down on the area. They radioed to the East Tower that they were electing to head back to the gate. This particular aircraft, an Embraer ERJ-175LR, was built and delivered to Compass in October 2008.

A rather unusual sight in the morning was to have two Continental 737s on the NW hold pad preparing for departure. This particular 737 is a 737-500 that's been retrofitted with blended winglets- N14645 is a relative youngster as far as 737 Classics go, she was built and delivered to Continental in September 1997.

Following a Continental 737-500 was this Continental 737-800 headed out for Houston Intercontinental. This particular -800, N11206, was built and delivered to Continental in July 2000.

Last shot for this initial set. This just shows how bad it was getting, this Frontier A319 was one of the last to get the hell out of Dodge just before the storm shut things down. I don't have a good shot of which Frontier bird she is but was able to catch the landing lights coming on and the beacon flash.

These were tough as nails shots to get. Poor light, bad weather, I had to jack up the ISO on a lot of these shots and try all sorts of combinations of exposure compensation, shutter and aperture settings. Sheesh. Good way to learn all sorts of things about your camera.

DFW | May 2009 | Founders' Plaza | Mo' bad weather...

^Wednesday morning that week we had some storm cells moving through the area and I think we've established just how much I love spotting in bad weather. This particular morning was no different, but I was rewarded with a cool beacon flash on this UPS 747-400F pushing back from the UPS ramp by Founders' Plaza.

 ^As the UPS 747-400F headed out as UPS 2751 Heavy, the first of the approaching storm cells for the morning got closer and the sky darkened. I had to push the ISO way up and rest the camera on one of the picnic tables to get this shot come out halfway decent. But I include it because the UPS 747-400F in the new colors wears the nose cone from a UPS old colors 747-100/200F. Since the -100/200Fs have been retired since January (I think the -100s left in August 2008 and the -200s left in January), I figure UPS is making use of some parts lyin' around.

 ^"UPS 2751 Heavy taxi and hold short of One-Eight Left. Eagle Flight 2241, position and hold, One-Eight Left."

I wanted to capture the dark mood as the storm got closer, I was pleased that I caught the fin logo spotlight on the American Eagle ERJ-145 getting ready to takeoff and the sense of motion conveyed by the arriving American MD-80 landing on 18R.

^Of course, panning is kinda hard in a low-light situation, even with the ISO pushed up. This was the only shot out of a bunch that the arriving MD-80 wasn't blurred.

^Later in the morning the first batch of storm cells had moved off (notice the dark skies in the background towards downtown Dallas). One of the more unusual moments was this FedEx MD-10F taking position on 18L for departure. It's unusual for DFW as the FedEx terminal is on the east side and usually the FedEx flights depart from the east side (the 17s) instead of the west side where Founders' is located (the 18s).

DFW | April 2009 | Founders' Plaza | Thunderstorm!

So after dropping the kids off at school one day I took a quick swing by Founders' Plaza hoping to get some shots with lightning in the background....and didn't. But that didn't mean I tried.....

^Obligatory opening shot of the UPS ramp on a stormy morning. Interestingly there would be a siren that would sound from the ramp periodically. Not sure what it was, didn't see any flashing lights or emergency vehicles, I suspect it may have been some sort of lightning warning so that personnel avoid being out on the ramp in case of a lightning strike.
Oh wait, and here I am on this small hill overlooking the area. That's right. I'm THAT hardcore.



^Not the best picture, I was trying to capture the landing lights reflecting off the rainy runway/hold pad but found that I really should get a tripod for those sorts of shots.

Oh right, I want to stand on this small hill at Founders' Plaza with a metal tripod during a thunderstorm. That's right. That's how I roll, baby.

Anyway, this Alaska 737-800 departure to Seattle was delayed about an hour, I usually don't catch it departing. Behind it was a Continental 737-800 who elected to return to the gate due to deteriorating weather conditions. Didn't get a good picture there. Low light, strong winds, no can has tripod, the pictures has the blur.


^UPS 757-200F heading out from the UPS ramp. I had to pump up the ISO on these shots to get something useable, but I thought it'd make a "unique" photographic opportunity to test my newfound skills. I has them.

Running to the car ducking lightning and thunder. That's my skill. Yeah, baby.


^18L is normally used for departures and it closed for a short while this morning, so those with the brass cajones willing to depart were sent over to 18R for departure, like this American 757-200. The landing light was cool looking, but no love on catching some beacon flash.



^Bid adeiu to he with the brass testiculos as they roll down a rainy 18R to get up above the muck into sunny skies.

At this point there were two lightning strikes to my north in close succession not far away. At that point I cashed my chips in, pulled out my Golden Pussy card, hauled ass for the car and headed for home.

That's how I roll, baby.