With Aviation Geek Fest fast approaching and in the spirit of AvGeeks everywhere, I am giving out my tips on spotting at Paine Field (KPAE) in Everett. Known predominantly as the location of ’œthe Boeing Factory’ it can be an AvGeek’s dream or nightmare. Here are some of the tips and tricks from a local AvGeek who calls KPAE his home base…
You could take photos just like this using our guide. Photo by David Parker Brown / AirlineReporter.com
Location:
Paine Field (officially known as Snohomish County Airport) is located in Mukilteo/Everett, roughly 30 miles north of Seattle. In relative terms, it’s about 30 minutes or so north on I5 from downtown (if you’re not during peak Seattle driving time that is). Originally an Air Force Base in the 50s it became the home of the Boeing Factory when the 747 factory line was built on the site, the rest from that moment is history.
The airport has three runways (two parallel & one cross runways) though the one predominantly used is 16R/34L. This runway is the site where every Boeing wide body since the first 747 has had its first ever flight; pretty good landmark. The field also has a number of other aviation related tenants including ATS (Aviation Technical Services) who do the maintenance work for Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest and Alaska Airlines, along with a number of local AvGeek attractions including the Future of Flight, Historic Flight Foundation & the Flying Heritage Collection.
Some key places to spot at Paine Field. Orig image from Google Maps.
Where to Spot:
The two primary locations that most AvGeeks are going to be interested in are ’œFuture of Flight/The Mounds’ or ’œThe Wind Sock’. These two locations border 16R/34L and at different times mean different kinds of views available. The rough guide is:
- Future of Flight/The Mounds: Predominantly used for 16R Arrivals/Departures. Your best shooting/viewing spot is up on the Stratodeck (free to access) on the top floor of Future of Flight and can lead to some great views/shots of aircraft lining up for take-off, panoramas of the flight line showing all the different aircraft in multiple states or taxiing for take off. You can also get nice approach shots as aircraft land right in front of the factory. If the Stratodeck is closed, there are a number of mounds built into the sites next to the fence line that allow you to take a photo unhindered by those pesky barb wire fences (no need for a step ladder here). For those staying at the Hilton Garden Inn (located next to Future of Flight) you may even be able to get a good shot direct from your balcony.
(Example Shots – A Lot 787, ANA 787 Lining up, Ethiopian 777 Cargo Head On)
The Location of the “windsock” at Paine Field. Not much here but you will be close to the action Photo by Malcolm Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
- The Wind Sock: Located down near the Historic Flight Foundation, this spot is a little bit more basic and not as well known. There isn’t really much to this spot but a built up area, just off a side entry at the top of a mound. What it gives you is unrivalled close up action of the touchdown point of 34L. You are extremely close and those with big lenses will need to zoom all the way out for some arrivals (especially a Dreamlifter). Though you can get some impressive landing/take off shots you will also get very close to touch and go’s by the heavies on 16R and that can be an impressive sight on its own.
(Example Shots – Dreamlifter Take Off, Emirates 777, JAL 787
To help you find your way to these two locations, a great new site Aviation Photographic has a great little guide to spotting at Paine Field with a map that will show you an easy way to identify these locations (even if from a satellite image).
People lined up on the mounds outside Future of Flight, to take photos of an aircraft departing. Photo by Malcolm Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
When to Spot:
Weekdays are by far the best time to spot at Paine Field with the factory and test flights in full force. Flights come and go at random times and although Flightaware.com can be a great source at times, you need to live by one rule at Paine Field: Boeing Time.
What is ’œBoeing Time?’ It is really just a way to describe that if you are an avid spotter, out to get that brand new aircraft fresh from the factory, be prepared to wait’¦.. a lot. Because these are test flights, so there is no guaranteed time of departure. They either pop up at the very last minute or more often than not, they run late.
Usually you can rely on the Dreamlifter schedule which are operated by Atlas Air. They show up on Flightaware as GTI4*** (where *** is the rest of the flight number), and they come at all hours of the day or night. You can sometimes get a Southwest or Alaska or Delta 737 coming in on the weekends for maintenance, although most of the time this is during the middle of the night.
Boeing 787s on the flight line at Paine Field. Photo by Malcolm Muir.
Random Tips/Tricks:
A couple of extra little tips and/or tricks for you:
- Being that there is no commercial service here at the field, you will more than likely need a car to get around. There are a number of places around the field that offer great places to spot. Just try to stay off Boeing property, since they do not allow you to take photos from their property and might be met by a security person. If you stick to the above two spots, you won’t have a problem (and a step ladder won’t be required).
- Since flights come and go at any time, having a scanner or access to LiveATC (via one of their mobile apps) can be helpful. Remember that LiveATC has about a 10-20 second delay and that access is not guaranteed so it could go down. On some days they will also play the ATC feed on top of the Stratodeck at Future of Flight.
- During winter you can get some great shots even with the rain and cold. Since movements are often infrequent you may not be exposed to the elements for long, you can hang out in your car down by the mounds and pop out when needed.
Hopefully the guide can help you enjoy your time at Aviation Geek Fest (or any time in Seattle really) that little bit better. If you have photos taken from Paine Field you want to share, put them in the comments — we would love to see them.
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This story written by…Malcolm Muir, Lead Correspondent. Mal is an Australian Avgeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry.
@BigMalX | BigMal’s World | Photos |
Downtown Seattle Skyline Photo by Malcolm Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
As a newly transplanted Australian to the Pacific Northwest, I sometimes feel that I am a tourist in my own city. David has lived here quite a while, so to him, this is his backyard. But to me, this is all new, though I have visited a few times; I am still constantly exploring this city. With Aviation Geek Fest approaching, I am sure there are other people who are visiting and wondering what other non AvGeek things can be seen in Seattle.
Seattle has so many different things to see & do that the possibility is endless, but if you are in town for just a few days, well these sights should be on your ’œmust do’ list. If you live in the area or have visited and have other ideas, be sure to share them in the comments.
- Pike Place Market’“ The quintessential experience in Seattle. The longest operating Farmers Market in the USA, home to fresh fruit & veggies, fresh seafood and anything your heart could desire. The Market contains the ’œPike Place Seafood Market’ home of the flying fish and make sure to take a walk downstairs to the Market Theater Gum Wall, shove on a piece of gum — just don’t touch. If you are looking for souvenirs to bring home, you will have no problem finding something.
Pikes Place Market in Downtown Seattle is one of the most iconic places to visit Photo by Malcolm Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
- Coffee, need more Coffee ’“ Seattle is home to a number of coffee companies but I am sure you have all heard of this small company with just a number of shops around the country. They call themselves Starbucks. Their first ever store (well not really the first but that is a whole other story) is located down in the Pikes Place Market area. Not only can you line up to buy a cup of their coffee (and sometimes that line is looooong) they also sell merchandise that is not available anywhere else.
- Seattle Center’“ This is easy to find since it is the home to that weird looking pointy thing, the Seattle Space Needle. Built for the world’s fair in 1962, the Space Needle and the surrounding area is a big draw card for tourists. The Space Needle will set you back around $20 to get up to the observation deck, but remember what Seattle’s weather is known for — not seeing very far. One way to cut back on the fee is to have a meal in the restaurant (Sky City Restaurant) at the top (or check out tip #5). Also in the area are the Pacific Science Center and the Experience Music Project & Sci Fi Museum (EMP). The EMP building alone is worth a visit just to see this spectacle from the outside (see photo below).
Experience Music Project/Sci Fi Museum is an eclectic looking building Photo by Malcolm Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
- Ride the Seattle Monorail– The nation’s first commercial monorail, at $2 a ride, is a pretty good way of going from Seattle Center to the downtown area. Still running the very retro styled monorail cars, this is a good flash back. The ride takes barely 2 minutes and is a great way to skirt above the streets.
The Nations oldest Commercial Monorail, marked 50 years of service in 2012! Photo by Malcolm Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
- Columbia Center Tower ’“ Located on the Corner of Columbia Street & 5th Ave, the Columbia Center is the Pacific Northwest’s tallest building. It towers over the Space Needle and dominates the skyline on a clear day. There is an observation deck on the 73rd floor that has views over the city that will astound you. They don’t go 360 degrees like the space needle, but the entry is only $9 per person! What is even better, if you are there mid-week (Monday to Friday), there is a Starbucks on the 40thfloor with views almost as good for free.
View of Seattle from the Columbia Center Tower Photo by Malcolm Muir / AirlineReporter.com.
- Take a flight seeing tour around Seattle – Kenmore Air and Rainier Flight offer aircraft tours of the city and with Seattle HeliTours you can go in a helicopter. What better way to see Seattle than from the sky? As an AvGeek it should come as no surprise that these might be some of the best touristic options in Seattle. But to make it even better, why not do it on-board a Seaplane taking off from South Lake Union, right next to downtown, with Kenmore.
- Ride a Ferry – If you like planes, you might also like boats. For a few bucks, you can walk on to a ferry in downtown Seattle and enjoy the ride. If you want to be a bit more adventurous, head north to Anacortes, WA to catch the ferry up to the San Juan Islands.
No matter what you want to see, or what you enjoy doing, you are sure to be able to find it in Seattle. There are so many more things to do, please share some of your favorites in the comments.
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This story written by…Malcolm Muir, Lead Correspondent. Mal is an Australian Avgeek now living and working in Seattle. With a passion for aircraft photography, traveling and the fun that combining the two can bring. Insights into the aviation world with a bit of a perspective thanks to working in the travel industry.@BigMalX | BigMal’s World | Photos |
This was originally posted on Jan 31st and updated and re-posted on Feb 13th…
NOTE: When you print your tickets, it incorrectly states where to meet on Saturday. We are to meet at the Museum of Flight by Noon to take the 737 factory tour.
This is shaping up to be one EPIC event and I am so happy that so many of you will be able to join in. All 420 tickets sold out over the weekend and there were over 35 people on the wait list.
If you are still looking for a place to stay the Hilton Garden Inn at Paine Field is still offering a special #AGF13 discount.
Be Social Media Ready to share this adventure. Follow #AGF13 on Twitter and be sure to follow/mention/like the following companies/organizations who are making #AGF13 possible:
Here is the schedule (as of now):
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 16th: Renton and South Day
- 9:00am to 5:00pm: Open access to tour the Museum of Flight and the Space Shuttle trainer (minus the crew compartment). Also be sure to check out the 2013 Northwest Scale Modelers Show going on in the main gallery from 10:00am to 5:00pm. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed]
- 9:00am to 3:00pm: #AGF13 HQ will be located in the Skyline Room at the Museum of Flight with coffee. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed.]
- 12:00pm: Meet in the Museum of Flight’s lobby where we will board buses and given a Boeing 737 Factory balcony tour in Renton, WA. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: 12yrs and older. Clothing: no high heels, no open toes. Cameras: Not allowed.]
- 5:00pm to 6:30pm: Receive a VIP after hours tour of Personal Courage Wing at the Museum of Flight. [Ticket Required: Boeing 737 Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed]
SATURDAY AGF13 TICKETS ALSO GET YOU ACCESS TO [A ticket or badge for AGF13 is required, cameras are allowed and no age restrictions for all]:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17th: Paine Field Day
- 10:00am, 11:30am and 1:00pm: There will be multiple tours leaving the Future of Fight (meet in the main lobby) to tour the Boeing Dreamliner Gallery. [Ticket Required: Dreamliner Gallery Group Ticket With Appropriate Time. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed]
- 3:00pm: VIP Boeing Factory Floor Tour. Meet at the Forward Cabin conference room (follow the signs) at the Future of Fight and we will be bussed to the factory. [Ticket Required: Boeing Factory Tour Ticket. Age Restriction: 12yrs and older. Cameras: not allowed. Clothing: no high heels, no open toes.]
- 5:00pm to Later: #AvGeek shin-dig at the Future of Fight with pizza, beer and airline/aviation related prizes and lots of nerdy aviation talk. [Ticket Required: Any AGF13 ticket. Age Restriction: None. Cameras: Allowed.]
SUNDAY AGF13 TICKETS ALSO GET YOU ACCESS TO [A ticket or badge for AGF13 is required, cameras are allowed and no age restrictions for all]:
OTHER THINGS TO CHECK OUT WHILE IN TOWN [not officially part of #AGF13]:
If you have questions, please leave them in the comments. Thanks! See you this weekend and prepare to HAVE FUN!
Delta Air Lines is “Building A Better Airline For New York.”
While attending school in Michigan from 2008 to 2012, I flew home to New York City on Delta Air Lines quite often. The schedule from Detroit Metro (DTW) to John F. Kennedy (JFK) was quite lite, with only a small handful of flights per day, while most flights went to LaGuardia (LGA). I did everything within my power to avoid flying into LGA. Even if it meant paying slightly more, I did not want anything to do with LGA.
Deltas terminal at LGA was cramped, overcrowded, and lacked any food options of a higher quality than Burger King. LGA was a downright unpleasant experience. Flash forward to 2012 and Delta began their ’œWin New York’ program, involving expanded flight schedules and spending massive amounts of money to revamp the passenger experience.
In the summer of 2012, Delta purchased a majority of US Airways landing slots at LGA, becoming the dominant carrier at the airport and expanding into terminal C. While construction in terminal C is still on-going and not expected to be complete for quite some time, the transformation of terminal D is astounding. I was invited by Delta recently to check out the new improvements.
For the time being, the check in and security areas remain unchanged. Once you move beyond the entry way, however, changes are immediately visible. The first thing passengers will see after moving through security is a brand new food court and shopping area. I am happy to report that Burger King is gone, replaced by Taste of Custom Burgers by Pat La Frieda.
Feel like having a glass of wine and a full service meal? Take a seat at Taste of Prime Tavern. Maybe you just want a cup of coffee, or a bag of chips? It’s all available in the new food court. These restaurants are referred to as a “taste of” because once the check in area is expanded, these restaurants will be expanding as well.
Taste Of Prime Tavern at LGA Terminal D
Flyers of competing New York airline jetBlue may find this food court familiar, and they should. The company behind the redevelopment of terminal D at LGA is OTG, the same company that operates the food shops at JFK terminal 5. Many design elements of the food court are similar to that at JFK.
Adjacent to the food court are a few small shops, but they aren’t your typical magazine and soda shops. One store features high end products from Brooklyn Industries, a bit different that the usual ’œI <3 NY’ shirts you typically find.
Beyond the food court, terminal D has had every detail upgraded. Expanding on a pilot program at JFK, Delta and OTG has placed iPads everywhere. Nearly every seat and table has an iPad propped up, waiting for passengers to interact.
When first touched, the iPad prompts the passenger to select their flight, so that any status updates about their can be sent to them. After that, highly visual menus appear, inviting the passenger to order up some food, or even purchase some souvenirs before their flight. After paying with the attached credit card reader, orders are delivered to the passenger’s seat in about 10 minutes.
Keep an eye on your flight status while at the sushi bar
I came across a passenger using an iPad while waiting for her flight, and asked her what she was using it for. She explained that she was actually accessing her bank account, and that she much preferred using the iPads rather than her own phone. Access to the internet is free with the iPads, but wifi for personal devices is not, which may explain why some passengers would chose to use the iPad. Whatever the motivation for use, this amenity seems to be a hit.
iPads everywhere!
The real highlight of the renovated terminal are the restaurant options. Marcelo Surerus, Manager of OTG at Delta’s Terminal D at LGA, showed off the wonderful restaurant options his team has worked to bring passengers.
I was able to taste generous portions of pizza, sushi, seafood, steak and fries, even chocolate and vanilla gelato for dessert. All of the food was seriously tasty and competition for some of the best restaurants in New York City.
Steak and fries at LGA terminal D. So good, I had to ask how it was prepared.
After Delta took over terminal C from US Airways, they quickly built a connecting bridge to terminal D. Terminal C is not up to the same level as D quite yet; there is still quite a bit of work left to be done. Some restaurants are still under construction; however, the SkyClub is open for business. If you find yourself with enough time before your flight, it is worth the walk over to terminal D for a better food selection.
It is clear that Delta is taking its “Win New York” program seriously. The airline’s LGA terminals have seen a complete overhaul and expansion, while a brand new terminal is being built at JFK. After a short period of time, I no longer avoid LGA- I prefer it. The experience at JFK for Delta is currently far below that of LGA, a change I am sure most people did not see coming. Next time you find yourself at LGA with a few hours before your flight, try the steak- medium rare.
ADDITIONAL DELTA LAGUARDIA PHOTOS:
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Check in
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Delta offers free snacks and bottled water throughout the terminal
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Terminal D food court
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Terminal D food court
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Terminal D food court
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Shopping
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Keep an eye on your flight status.
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Terminal C/D connecting bridge. Moving walkways coming this summer.
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Terminal D SkyClub
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Terminal D SkyClub
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Terminal D SkyClub
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Terminal D SkyClub
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The highly graphical iPad menu
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Cheese pizza
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Sushi roll
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Tuna Tar Tar
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Delicious vanilla gelato
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Fill up your water bottle here!
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View of the ramp from the terminal C/D connecting bridge
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Terminal C
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Coming soon to Terminal C
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Terminal C food court
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Terminal C
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Terminal C
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iPads everywhere!
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Taste Of Prime Tavern at LGA Terminal D
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This story written by… Jason Rabinowitz, Correspondent.
Jason is a New York City native who has grown up in the shadow of JFK International Airport. A true “avgeek”, he enjoys plane spotting and photography, as well taking any opportunity he can get to fly on an aircraft.
@AirlineFyer | FaceBook | |
Emirates Airline announces a new tier for the Skywards program. Photo taken at Dubai Airport yesterday by AirlineReporter.com.
Today, Emirates Airlines will announce a new elite tier in their Skywards program: Platinum. Just before the announcement, I was able to sit down with Brian LaBelle, Senior Vice President of Emirates Rewards in Dubai to ask some questions and learn more about the airline’s program.
Previously, Emirates had three rewards tiers: Blue: just register, Silver: earned at 25,000 miles and Gold: earned at 50,000 miles. Starting April 1st, 2013, passengers will be able to attain Platinum status flying over 150,000 miles. That is quite the upgrade from 50,000 miles of Gold status, so what will the premium get you? Here are the main benefits:
- Access for the cardholder and one guest to the Emirates First Class lounge in Dubai and Emirates Lounges across the network
- Complimentary Emirates Skywards Gold card for each member’s partner, giving them the benefits of Gold status, even when flying on their own.
- ’˜Last Seat’ Flex reward, enabling Skywards Miles to be utilised on any flight, as long as there is an open seat.
- Additional 20kg luggage allowance.
- ‘Guaranteed Business Class‘ revenue seat, meaning you will not be bumped if you use cash or rewards for a business class seat.
- 75% bonus Skywards Miles
LaBelle explained to AirlineReporter.com that Emirates wants to reward their top fliers and make sure they keep flying on Emirates. He wasn’t able to confirm how many current Gold level members will automatically earn Platinum status on April 1st, but he was able to say that out of the 8.6 million who have signed up for Skywards, about 110,000 are currently Gold members.
Although status will not transfer between most other airlines that Emirates has partnerships with (Alaska Airlines, jetBlue and easyJet), the new status will be shared with Qantas Airlines Frequent Flyer Program. This makes sense since both airlines will be entering a larger alliance starting also on April 1st.
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This story written by…David Parker Brown, Editor & Founder.
David started AirlineReporter.com in the summer of 2008, but has had a passion for aviation since he was a kid. Born and raised in the Seattle area (where he is currently based) has surely had an influence and he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else in the world.
@AirlineReporter | Flickr | YouTube |
