A 747 Comes into Detroit

 After Delta retired the 747, it has been rare to see a 747 coming into Detroit Metro.  Occasionally there is one that brings a football team in and that was the case today.

A 747 belonging to Atlas Air was bringing in the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars play the Lions tomorrow.

Both teams have a 4 and 7 record.

There are many fans that still believe the Lions can make the playoffs.

I suppose it is possible.  I also suppose it is possible that I win the lottery.

At any rate, it was cool to see a 747.

I like the looks of this livery to boot.

One more.  And I leave you with the fact that this plane has won as many Super Bowls as the two teams combined.

There was an A330 coming in behind it.

I figured I would catch it because it is a neat looking plane.

It was coming in front Amsterdam.

If I had gone out earlier, I could have caught some planes on the 27s.  It was still windy when I took these pictures but not quite as windy.

Pictures from the O'Hare Hilton

I headed over to Chicago for the weekend.  I thought I was going to catch the Air and Water Show there but more on that later.  This time, I did something different.  I mean we normally stay a hotel but this time I stayed at a hotel I've wanted to stay at for a while.  I ended up staying at the O'Hare Hilton and selected a runway view room.

I wasn't sure if I would be disappointed or not, but fortunately, I wasn't disappointed.

I got to the hotel at about 11 on Friday but it was too dark for any pictures but the airport looked pretty cool.  I couldn't wait to get up.  The first plane I caught was a United 787.  I think this one was getting ready to head out.

This United 737 was coming in.  I think I even got a little panning action out of it.

A DHL 767 getting ready to taxi out.

This is an airline that I haven't caught before.

Air India was founded in 1932 as Tata Airlines.  The original owner was J.R.D. Tata and he flew their first plane which was a DeHavilland Puss Moth.  He ran an air mail service that went from Karachi to Bombay.  In 1946, it became a public limited company and was renamed Air India.  Today it has 127 aircraft and services 102 locations.  This is a 777.

A United 737 coming in.

I don't think I've caught this airline before either.

Ethiopian Airlines was founded in 1945.  It currently has 134 planes and services 127 passenger and 58 cargo destinations.  This was a 787.

A Royal Jordania n 787 coming in from Amman.

A United 787 landing.

I think this is another airline I haven't seen before.

Japan Airlines is Japan's flag carrier and was founded in 1951.  I have a picture of a 3 year old me in front of a Japan Airlines 747.

a Fed Ex 767 getting ready to go out.

An Atlas Air 747 coming in.

Because I love 747s.

And one more.

An All Nippon Airways 777 coming in for a landing.

This the other airline from Japan.

A United 777 coming in for a landing.

A United 757 getting ready to take off.

A 757 coming in.

Taxiing.

A 757 getting ready to take off.

And one more shot of that 757.  The 757 looks really good in this livery.

Michigan Exposures Hits the Road

I haven't done a "Hits the Road" post in a long time.  But then again, this is the first year that I've stayed in a hotel in a long time.  I also got myself a decent laptop that I can take with me.  So that helps.

I ended up going to Chicago for the Air and Water Show.  I decided to get tickets on one of the boats where you can watch the show.  I couldn't get tickets until tomorrow, so I spent today planespotting.  I ended splurging and getting a room at the O'Hare Hilton.  I also got one of the runway view rooms, so that gave me the opportunity to spot as I was getting up.

The above plane is an Atlas Air 747 that was coming in from Anchorage.  It was probably actually coming in from Shanghai.  Typically, they don't do a full fuel load so they can carry more cargo.  As I type this, she is getting ready to back to Anchorage.

At any rate, I don't know why I didn't get a room here sooner.  It is pretty cool.