(Air) Sometimes You Get The Bear...

Good stuff Jay. Love the Antonov. Hopefully there will be all sorts of interesting planes in town in two months when I come to visit!

Superb shots once again Jay.

Ace, Jay

Courtesy of Lynn Allen: http://www.dailymail.c​o.uk …rewell.html#ixz​z19tp68EC4

Stunning man! I really enjoyed these! Is this a normal spotting location or not? I have seen the AN-124 at my home base once and it is big but kinda ugly :P

I Thank You All for the very nice feedback...

Phoenix-Gateway Airport (formerly Williams AFB .. aka "Willie") is very photographer friendly. Provided you don't hang on the fence or otherwise use it for support, photographers are welcome to bring ladders in order to shoot over the fence in the immediate area of the GA FBO and the easily identifiable Gazebo and park area next door.

Outside of this area, unless otherwise proscribed, photographers may use ladders provided they remain 6' from the fence at all times.

This LINK should take you to a Google Maps view with the area I mentioned centered on the map. It is the small green area just above the words "APS Emergency Maneuver Training" which is a flight school at Willie that teaches unusual attitude recovery. The GA FBO is just above the small green spot (which features a small hill for that added lift as well!)

LINK to a closer view of the hill and Gazebo area.

Generally, anything taking off on RWYs 30 (L, C, R) will rotate right in front of you climbing out to the northeast with the best photo ops coming from departures off RWY 30L (which the AN-124 used) and 30C. 30R is just a bit too far out given that this was a former AFB (it's a big piece of real estate) and the amount of heat haze you'll have to fight between 10am and 5pm.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #11674087
I Thank You All for the very nice feedback...

Phoenix-Gateway Airport (formerly Williams AFB .. aka "Willie") is very photographer friendly. Provided you don't hang on the fence or otherwise use it for support, photographers are welcome to bring ladders in order to shoot over the fence in the immediate area of the GA FBO and the easily identifiable Gazebo and park area next door.

Outside of this area, unless otherwise proscribed, photographers may use ladders provided they remain 6' from the fence at all times.

This LINK should take you to a Google Maps view with the area I mentioned centered on the map. It is the small green area just above the words "APS Emergency Maneuver Training" which is a flight school at Willie that teaches unusual attitude recovery. The GA FBO is just above the small green spot (which features a small hill for that added lift as well!)

LINK to a closer view of the hill and Gazebo area.

Generally, anything taking off on RWYs 30 (L, C, R) will rotate right in front of you climbing out to the northeast with the best photo ops coming from departures off RWY 30L (which the AN-124 used) and 30C. 30R is just a bit too far out given that this was a former AFB (it's a big piece of real estate) and the amount of heat haze you'll have to fight between 10am and 5pm.

Thanks Jay! I'll hope to come there and meet you somday!