Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport – Week of: 12/2/2013 – 12/8/2013
Article and Photos by Steven Valinski
This week I did not spend much time at Willie, but, during the time that I was there, I was fortunate to catch some interesting aircraft. With aviation photography, information can be a valuable asset that helps you be in the right place at the right time. This week, information helped me minimize the amount of time I spent waiting around the airport for activity. Earlier in the week I was told that the Blue Angel’s “Fat Albert” was in town. For those of you that do not know, “Fat Albert” is a U.S. Navy C-130T that is used as a support aircraft for the U.S. Navy demonstration team, the Blue Angles.
Upon arriving at the airport, I noticed “Fat Albert” parked to the south of the main ramp. To my surprise, there were a few additional aircraft of interest. First, AirUSA had one of their Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets and an Aero L-39 Albatros parked on the ramp. These guys were staging some tactical operations out of Phoenix-Mesa Gate Airport and would be flying in and out over the following few days. In addition, a U.S. Army Special Ops Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk was parked on the ramp. This helicopter had a unique paint scheme and the battalion company name of “Voodoo” painted on it.
Later in the week, it was pure luck that helped me capture a few additional aircraft. I was at Willie for twenty minutes waiting for a friend to arrive so we could travel to Luke AFB for some aircraft observation. While I was waiting, a Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian departed. This was a Boeing test helicopter and the latest Apache model. Along with the helicopter, a U.S. Air Force Northrop T-38 Talon and a U.S. Navy/Marines McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk departed shortly thereafter.
Even though I did not spend much time at Willie this week, the yield was nothing to complain about. If only aviation photography was always this efficient and productive…
Steven’s interest in photography began when he was 16 years old when he received his first SLR camera, a Minolta XGA. It makes sense that eventually his passion for aviation and photography would merge into a love for aviation photography.
In addition to being the web designer, webmaster and chief editor of Aviation Photography Digest, Steven has been published in numerous magazines worldwide.
Steven has an M.S. from Boston University and uses Nikon photographic equipment.
Steven is a Nikon NPS Titanium member.
Steven can be reached at: [email protected]