Yes, this is a bit off topic from my regular posts but based on the requests that I have received for more photos from SCOOT fans, I thought to put together a post dedicated to their first 787’s inaugural flight. Yesterday, I had published a post that included a photo of their new 787, dubbed “Dream Start”, sitting on the ramp in Paine Field which prompted quite a bit of activity on Twitter and in my email.
After yesterday’s completion of a high speed taxi and braking test, the bird was cleared for her inaugural flight. ‘Dream Start’ departed Paine Field to the south, flew along Washington’s coast line past Seattle at which point it turned to the east and arrived in Moses Lake. After departing Moses Lake she headed back to Paine Field where she will take a ‘customer flight’ with officials from Scoot in the coming days and then she she should be delivered to Scoot on or about February 1.
Since I had spent the majority of the day at Paine, I was able to see her depart and arrive. Unfortunately most of this happened early in the morning which resulted in some of the photos being back-lit. Unfortuntately I can’t control the Sun’s position so I’ve learned to accept that some photos will not be as good as others!
Hopefully for you SCOOT fans, this will tide you over until you see the bird arrive in Singapore!
I’ve been in Paine for a couple of days and have been dealt a hand of bad weather weather for plane spotting. Rain, fog, and mist have all gotten into the way so far but I did catch a break tonight. With most of the rain and mist ending, it became easier to frame a few decent shots.
Several 787s are parked around the field as they wait completion and delivery. Below, you’ll find a few from Virgin, Scoot, United, American, and JAL among others.
The Plane Spotting gods no doubt are looking over me this weekend.
Yesterday, I was able to be among the first set of eyes to see Lufthansa’s newest 747-8i, D-ABYR, emerge from Boeing’s Paint Hangar at Paine Field. Then later in the evening, I was tipped off that Lufthansa Cargo’s last 777 Freighter was set to be moved to it’s final assembly position. I say tipped because I received the great intel from a Paine Field expert.
Known on Twitter as Paine Airport (@MattCawby), Matt has the pulse on what is happening with Boeing as far as aircraft movements are concerned. His regular updates helps followers keep tabs on test flights, assembly movements and delivery flight information. You can see more of his work and photography on his website as well.
So after I get the call letting me know that ‘D-ALFE’, the last 777F that LH Cargo has on order, was set to move from one hangar to another I set off to a ‘secret’ spot that lets you see inside the assembly hangars. A Cathay Pacific 777 had just been completed and moved to the fuel dock making room for D-ALFE to move into place.
Here is a video and a few images showing the transfer from last night (January 10, 2015):
D-ALFE as she is prepared to move along Boeing’s assembly line.
D-ALFE pushed back into her final assembly position
D-ALFE will now have her engines attached and stay here until she is ready for the Paint Hangar
