Although the weather was not favourable on this day, I was again lucky. This aircraft was (according to information from a local spotter) planned to arrive from Xian, but there was no information and it looked like it has not flown for a long time. When I completely resigned, suddenly and not in a standard way it appeared over my head to make a circle and land on runway 26, without being seen on FR24. Although it was scheduled to continue to Tashkent, it remained parked at Bishkek, so local spotters from both locations were jealous :-)
Originally I did not plan to stop at Shymkent in Kazakhstan at all, but because it lays on the bus route from Tashkent to Bishkek, I decided to at least have a look at Google Maps. And the decision was taken... On the apron, except many Antonovs, awaited me a memory of my childhood, this IL-62M which previously served with ÄŒSA as OK-PBM.
This DC-9-32F operated from the beginning in the cargo role, so it has not been converted from a passenger version. It started its service with Alitalia in 1969 and after 54 years still plies the skies, now mainly between Mexico and USA.
I saw this airplane flying in flight level and did not even think it might come exactly to Tashkent. When I discovered it, it was too late to relocate to the opposite end of the airport to photograph it before landing. But I was very lucky as the Boeing 747-400 of the new British airline One Air did not slow down as other aircraft and taxied all the way to me at the end of the runway :-)
The majority of flights at Detroit - Willow Run Airport are operated in early morning or late evening hours. To catch some aircraft in the air is a matter of luck or good information sources. I succeeded at least in the case of this red coloured MD-83SF of Aeronaves TSM, although in not the sunniest weather.
To talk about the youngest arrival to the fleet in case of a 33-year old aircraft is somehow strange, however this Boeing 737-300F is exactly that, moreover it carries the new paintscheme of Kalitta Charters II.
One last classic towards the end of this short series of photos from Willow Run Airport - Boeing 727 of Kalitta Charters II, although the classic feel is slightly destroyed by additional winglets.
The second B727-200F in USA Jet Airlines fleet received recently the new attractive colours of the airline and the technicians maintained it during my visit at Willow Run Airport.
Traffic at Detroit - Willow Run Airport is very variable. While on my first day with beautiful clear skies there were no aircraft operated by Mexican airline Aeronaves TSM, I had to come back on the second day despite the clouds, as I could not resist right four DC-9s and MD-80s plus one Swearingen Metro.
This Boeing 737-200 is unique in the fleet of Ameristar as unlike the rest it is used for passenger transport in luxurious 60-seat arrangement. One of the Ameristar managers on the apron did not want me to allow taking pictures of their aircraft, therefore it is sometimes better take a picture first and ask only afterwards...
Another carrier operating from Willow Run Airport that pleases the heart of old aircraft lovers is Ameristar. On the apron I discovered their two "baby" DC-9s and sole B737-200.
Established by the Kalitta family three air carriers operate in the US: Kalitta Air in cargo segment with B747 and B777s, Kalitta Charters in business aviation and Kalitta Charters II also in cargo business but with smaller aircraft of earlier production date. This B737-300, which started it career with Air Europa, taxies at Detroit - Willow Run Airport for departure from RWY 23.
"Baby" DC-9s were rare even in my youngster years, but to see them active today is a true rarity. The rising sun shone on this one at Willow Run Airport only for a while from the hole in the clouds, before another aircraft of the same company blocked the view.
Boeing 727s are in minority in the USA Jet Airlines fleet, however I managed to get right two of them at Detroit - Willow Run Airport, this one still carries the older scheme of the carrier.
Passengers to Orebro in Sweden were transported today from Bratislava by this Airseven Boeing 737-800, operated under Copenhagen Air Taxi flight number.
This DC-8 is almost 55 years old and currently is stored at Willow Run Airport near Detroit. Its owner is Global Aviation Leasing and apparently they are working on its return to airworthy condition. By the way, in the hangar in the background bombers B-24 Liberator used to be produced during World War Two.
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum at Hamilton airport near Toronto operates many historic aircraft, offerring them also for pleasure flights for members. On Saturday and Sunday 16-17 September 2023 they flew besides this DC-3 also other treasures like Avro Lancaster, PBY Catalina, B-25 Mitchell and several smaller types.
This B767-300BDSF of Amerijet International brought cargo last night from Miami to Bratislava. As during today´s departure it rotated way too early and clouds covered the sun, I decided for this for me unusual crop.
