KTPA spotting

[tfaudree]

On a 36 hour layover in TPA, so I headed down to the park under the 36L approach path. Storms approaching from the southeast provided a dramatic backdrop for some of the shots. As I was shooting, the winds were out of the northwest, but as the storm approached, it abruptly swung to the southeast and started gusting to about 40 knots. Palm tree branches started swirling, sand started blowing and the AirTran 737 pictured below likely encountered wind shear. You could clearly hear him goosing the thrust levers as he probably lost 10 to 15 knots at about 200 feet above the ground.

Click pictures for 1200x800 resolution.

1) American Airlines AstroJet
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/3591471810_07bc90a239.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/3591471810_5f2f19fc56_o.jpg)

2) Southwest 737-300 w/ winglets
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3590663053_414d59e4f3.jpg?v=0 (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3590663053_2d7914b242_o.jpg)

3) FedEx MD-11
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3591507499_5cfdb9d319.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3591507499_15dc1fb268_o.jpg)

4) Another Southwest 737-700 w/ winglets. Needs a fresh coat of blue on top.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3592314198_351102f5aa.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3592314198_f654dce327_o.jpg)

5) Bombardier Global 5000. Bonus points if anyone can tell me what the thing is under the nose.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3591252824_fc532caf8b.jpg (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3591252824_f7139de1e8_o.jpg)

6) Yet ANOTHER Southwest 737-700.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3591252696_498648087b.jpg?v=0 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3591252696_6886c213ef_o.jpg)

7) AirTran 737-700 passing overhead as the wind made the 180 degree shift. Pucker factor was probably pretty high on the scale for this flight crew.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3591252578_c7817a25f8.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3591252578_323a54e348_o.jpg)

And a bonus cockpit shot. I ferried a 2004 Cirrus SR-22 for a client this past weekend. You can see some weather along the route of flight on the multi function display in the center of the panel. By the time I got to Savannah, GA, the line had solidified and extended all the way to Charleston, SC. I found a hole about 20 miles south of Charleston and made the left turn to my destination.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3590444213_0cbe104889.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2445/3590444213_8e5d695368_o.jpg)

[A2EVOMR]

Excellent set of images. I love when you can get sun and the dark clouds at the same time, makes for stunning shots. And under the nose of the Express is a Ram Air Turbine.

[PhotosGuy]

Good ones! And under the nose of the Express is a Ram Air Turbine. D*mn! Tough to beat a college edumacation! :D

[silvrr]

Great light. Looks like a storm coming in for the last few.

[TTk]

Very nice set great colour's and detail..

[em21701]

I didn't know airplanes had ignition keys!

[vr6pwns_me]

Good shots. I need to find some time to go sit at Tampa for a good couple of hours as its not constantly busy, or if it is it's a lot of the same stuff.

[tfaudree]

I didn't know airplanes had ignition keys!

Sho' 'nuff do. The ignition system on small piston engine airplanes aren't much different than a car. The only difference is that the spark is generated by a magneto instead of the battery. That way, if the alternator fails and the battery is drained, you still have a source of ignition.

Just remember, for any fuel burning engine to make power, four things have to happen; suck, squeeze, bang and blow. Piston engines do them in sequence and a jet engine does them all at once.

[Brikwall]

Just remember, for any fuel burning engine to make power, four things have to happen; suck, squeeze, bang and blow.

Politicians tend to do the same four things as well... sometimes in sequence, but usually all at once. :lol:

[PhotosGuy]

LOL!

[credesigno]

Some lovely photo's there, thanks for sharing them. :D

Russ.

[garyeaton]

36 hour layover?

[Fedxpress]

Well the "thing is under the nose of the Corporate jet not the FedEx. The ADG "Air driven Generator on the MD-11 is inside until it is deployed for loss of Electrics or Hydraulics.
Every plane here has a Jet Engine no Magnetos or Spark Plugs. They have Ignitors that light the fuel and then are turn off except takeoff and landing and in Icing or trublance. They are just incase the flame goes out. Once started the fire burns in the combustion chamber until you turn off the fuel.
Small planes have keys like was stated above, but jets don't except for the door on smaller planes.
I will have to get back with whats under the chin of the Private jet, guessing some short of camera or sensor for a hud or likes.

Fedxpress

[A2EVOMR]

Well the "thing is under the nose of the Corporate jet not the FedEx. The ADG "Air driven Generator on the MD-11 is inside until it is deployed for loss of Electrics or Hydraulics.

I never said FedEx, I said Express. As in Bombardier Global Express or Global 5000 depending on where you look up the aircrafts info.

[Fedxpress]

I stand corrected, I believe that the item under the Express is the EVS HUD system.
Fedxpress

[A2EVOMR]

Okay tfaudree... Is it a RAT or an EVS HUD? Who's the winner and what do they win.

[tfaudree]

Its a RAT, or ADG, or whatever you want to call it. EVS is more flush mount with the fuselage and would hardly be noticeable in a shot like this

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(G5-Executive)/Gulfstream-Aerospace-G-V-SP/0585919/L/
EVS camera on the bottom of the nose

A2EVOMR, you win a cookie. You can go buy one from the grocery store :-P

[Fedxpress]

Well for the Rat to be deployed there should have been a problem or Training.
I looked at it close up and it looks like a rat, But why???
Fedxpress

[A2EVOMR]

A2EVOMR, you win a cookie.

I like cookies.

[tfaudree]

Well for the Rat to be deployed there should have been a problem or Training.
I looked at it close up and it looks like a rat, But why???
Fedxpress

The aircraft had just come back from a test/demo flight. It is very common to wring the airplane out on a test flight to ensure everything works correctly. You don't want to deliver an airplane to a customer if something is going to turn out to not be working. That is a good way to lose customers.

[Fedxpress]

Makes since to me.
thanks
Fedxpress