Seemingly Quiet

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is ranked the world's busiest, but you'd never know it from this picture.  In this flyby from around 10,000 feet, the airport looks quiet and empty.

Runways Without Approach

Naval Air Station Alameda, Alameda, California, USA

Naval Air Station Alameda (NGZ) closed in 1997 and has not been used for much since that time.  We took this photo while climbing out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which is located just across the bay.

Abdanoned and Blue

Guardhouse, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, Chamblee, Georgia, USA

This guardhouse at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) sits abandoned and we imagine high-tech security or another guard station has taken its place.  It looks very abandoned and blue.

Hang Around for Some History

Moffett Field Historical Society Museum, Mountain View, California, USA

Moffett Field hosts the one of the world's largest freestanding structures, Hangar One.  Hangar One was built to house very large dirigibles (rigid airships).  Beyond Hangar One, there are many other cool old structures to see at Moffett Field.

This is a side view of the Moffett Field Historical Society Museum, where you can learn all about Moffett Field and the history of dirigibles in United States Navy.

As Moffett Field and Hangar One date back to 1931, we decided to make this a sepia photo.  The sepia really highlights the peeling paint, although the scene was nearly two-tone to begin with.

Part of Hangar One is seen in the far right of the picture.

Which is Colder?

Icelandair 757, Denver, Colorado, USA

We found it ironic to learn that Icelandair offers non-stop service between Reykjavik and Denver.   You might think that Colorado is like Miami Beach for the folks in Iceland, but sometimes (even in winter) it is colder in Denver than Reykjavik.

Winter?

United Airlines Boeing 777, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

While much of the nation is in the cold of winter, it is usually warm in Hawaii during December and every other month.

At most airports, you can only see the planes through thick panes of glass.  At Honolulu International Airport (HNL), you can enjoy a stroll outside and see and hear the planes while you await your flight.  They even have lovely gardens to enjoy.

Tracks to Nowhere

MARTA Tracks, Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

These are overflow tracks for the end of the MARTA north and south lines.  The last station is just behind where this photo was taken.

Don't Blow It

Warning Sign, Maho Beach, Sint Maarten

This warning sign is posted on Maho Beach, which sits at the end of the sole runway for Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). 

Princess Juliana is internationally known as a terrific place for plane-spotting and for getting really close to arriving and departing aircraft.  Some people get a little too close and get blown into the rocky ocean beyond the runway.

Fuel Wright Now

Fuel Truck, Dayton International Airport, Dayton, Ohio, USA

We have no idea if this company has any real ties to Orville and Wilbur, but it was cool to see this fuel truck at Dayton International Airport (DAY).

If you're ever in the area, there are several aviation museums nearby and even some cool exhibits in the James M. Cox Dayton International Airport.

Oil and Water

Harbour Air DHC-3 Otter, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Not only do planes float at the Vancouver Harbour Water Airport (CXH/CYHC), aka
the Vancouver Coal Harbour Seaplane Base, but the petrol station does too!

Sea the Runways?

Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

The Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome (YWH), also known as Victoria Inner Harbour Airport, is a seaplane airport for downtown Victoria.  You can see both runways and taxiways in this photo.

Floating Jetbridge

  Vancouver Harbour Water Airport, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

This floating walkway brings passengers to and from the seaplanes docked on the water.  Vancouver Harbour Water Airport (CXH) is the busiest water aerodrome in Canada and sports the worlds tallest control tower.

A Taxi Longer Than A Flight

Patterson Field, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Greene County, Ohio, USA

The first manned airplane flight by Orville Wright was just 120 feet.  The taxiways at Patterson field, which is part of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, are certainly longer than that.

Wright-Patterson has two airfields, Patterson and Wright.  Wright Field was originally named for Wilbur Wright (the 2nd man to fly, shortly after brother Orville), whose first flight was 175 feet.  Again, not only do the taxiways exceed that length, but so do many airplanes which visit these fields.

We're Not in Kansas

Mid-Continent International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Despite the name, Kansas City (aka Mid-Continent) International Airport (MCI) is in Missouri, not Kansas. The photo's unusual hue was the result of the windows on this particular Beech 1900D aircraft.

The airport has some very unusual architectural features which made sense to the TWA designers, but are less attractive to and functional for modern travelers.  Nonetheless, it's an historic gem featuring a (mostly) single-level layout of three ringed terminals.

Big Bird

Boeing 747, Los Angeles International Airport, California, USA

This view of a 747 at LAX gives you a real perspective of this giant plane's true size.

Rolling Cigars

Tampa International Airport, Tampa, Florida, USA

Tampa's Ybor City neighborhood is well known for its cigar factories.  At the Tampa International Airport, you might occasionally see a vintage, cigar-shaped Boeing 737 rolling down the runway.  We took this photo during a fly-by before our final approach.

Langoliers?

Cincinnati International Airport, Kentucky, United States

This scene from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is reminiscent of the Stephen King novel "The Langoliers".  Because of cutbacks and mergers in the airline industry, much of the once vibrant CVG now languishes.

West Into the Sunset

America West Jetliner, San Francisco, California, USA

America West Airlines was a US airline which has since merged with US Airways.  During its later years, it was derisively known by many as "America's Worst".  We flew America West once, on a short flight from Phoenix to Orange County.  It wasn't bad at all.

See Plane

Air Traffic Control Tower, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Sitting atop a skyscraper, the Vancouver Harbour Control Tower is the highest air traffic tower in the world.  Designed to handle seaplane traffic, the control tower's height makes it easier to see all of the aircraft and boats in and around the harbour.  From the lofty Vancouver Lookout, we were able to look over to the tower.

Flags for the Flagships

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois, USA

At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), American Airlines' Concourse K is a skylit hall adorned with the flags of many nations with a modern globe as its centerpiece.  Timeless and modern all at once, the hall transmits positive energy to the hustle and bustle.