Plane Spotting in Las Vegas

moose135 · October 27, 2015

I was out in Las Vegas for a business conference last week, and found time for some plane spotting at McCarran Airport. There are a few good spots at the airport, maybe the best being the terminal parking deck - when the Air Traffic Control gods like you, they send departures out on Runway 1R - which provides a unique background...

1 - Southwest 737 departs with the Luxor Casino in the background.

2 - Janet 737 departing, one of six operated by the US Air Force. They are used to fly employees from LV to Tonopah and other "secret squirrel" locations in the desert.

3 - The casino business is good - Las Vegas Sands 747SPs used to fly "whales" to their properties in the US and Asia.

4 - Omni Air 767 under the watchful eyes of David Copperfield. Hope he doesn't make it disappear!

5 - The High Roller Ferris wheel, at 550 feet the tallest in the world, with a Southwest 737.

6 - Hawaii or Las Vegas? Choices, choices...

7 - Another Southwest 737, wearing new colors.

8 - Allegiant Air is based in Las Vegas, and has a major operation at the airport.

David_S85 · October 27, 2015

Those backgrounds are great!

Sam · October 27, 2015

These are really good! Great perspective and background.

Sam

Stumblebum · October 27, 2015

Yeah background totally kills it!

GSPeP · October 28, 2015

Great picures

Really special with those backgrounds.

Thelensspot · October 28, 2015

Very nicely done. I agree with what has already been said regarding the backgrounds. Great work here!

Cavalier · October 28, 2015

What they said - and I enjoyed the narrative along with the photos.

denisegoldberg · October 28, 2015

fabulous!

--- Denise

moose135 · October 28, 2015

Thanks, folks! It was my first time shooting in Vegas, and weather and ATC certainly cooperated.

Richard · October 29, 2015

^^ What they said.

CCoop · October 29, 2015

Gotta love how the telephoto compresses fore- and background elements! I was sure #1 was a fake! And I would say #2 and #6 are most appealing to me with the stark mountains as background.

Travel · October 29, 2015

What lens were you using?

z_28 · October 30, 2015

Very nice, I'm simply jealous :^#

BTW - since it's about 1.5 mile from your spot to Sphinx -
what kind of business conference's camera and lens did you used ??

FlyNavy · October 30, 2015

Excellent work as always Moose!

moose135 · October 30, 2015

Thanks! I brought my own gear - Canon 5D3 with the 100-400mm L/IS lens, all in my carry-on.

Plane Spotting in Las Vegas

Comments