14 Votes (4.43 Average) and 12,982 Views  

Boeing 737-700 (N793SA) - The setting sun is illuminating the western side of Rattlesnake Mountain and Southwests "Spirit One" (N793SA) as it glides past The Snake while covering the final few thousand feet of its s/final approach to Reno Tahoe Internationals runway 34L.  N793SA bears the name "Spirit One" in recognition of its being the first Southwest fleetbird to wear the "Canyon Blue" clothes way back when it joined the SWA fleet.  This is my first-ever capture of Spirit One, and it came as a tremendous surprise to me; when it first came into view approaching RTIA from the south I made no move to get into position to snap it.  It was only at the last second that I scurried over to shoot it after realizing how well the brilliantly setting sun would light it up.  Didnt even know Id caught "Spirit One" until after it had landed.
/images/icons/csMagGlass.png medium / large / full

Boeing 737-700 (N793SA)

Submitted

The setting sun is illuminating the western side of Rattlesnake Mountain and Southwest's "Spirit One" (N793SA) as it glides past The Snake while covering the final few thousand feet of its s/final approach to Reno Tahoe International's runway 34L. N793SA bears the name "Spirit One" in recognition of its being the first Southwest fleetbird to wear the "Canyon Blue" clothes way back when it joined the SWA fleet. This is my first-ever capture of Spirit One, and it came as a tremendous surprise to me; when it first came into view approaching RTIA from the south I made no move to get into position to snap it. It was only at the last second that I scurried over to shoot it after realizing how well the brilliantly setting sun would light it up. Didn't even know I'd caught "Spirit One" until after it had landed.

Comments

Please log in or register to post a comment.

Mark C
Nice catch of "Spirit One". Also great shot to include the mountain landscape. 5 stars!
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
Mark, there are a couple of spotting locations that make it possible to get The Snake in the background when inbounds are using 34L. I always like it when the sun is going down and I can get pics like these.
It is also possible to snap photos FROM The Snake, but not at this time of year. The babies are swarming out up there and I've had enough close encounters with baby rattlers that I've learned my lesson. :-)
Dwight Hartje
Another great photo, Gary! I look forward to seeing more!
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
Hi, Dwight. :-)
Thank you for your compliment and your encouragement. I'm just an amateur photographer, so your comments (here and in the past) are very much appreciated. I know I can't snap 'em to the ultra high quality level of some other contributors because I lack the equipment and the talent, so I usually post just one photo a day (occasionally two) and I try to insure that the photo I'm posting is worthy of appearing in the gallery. (I'm also very picky about what I post because I don't want my name associated with crummy or p-poor quality work.) Sometimes; however, I select one that is "outside" the standard style (like the recent one I posted that was taken in a heavy snow squall) even though I know it isn't the finest quality simply because I like to show something different from the regular. It pays off for me; I was recently contacted and invited to do an aviation photo shoot in the San Jose area even though there are photogs who live lots closer. Also had three of my photos published in the Winter 2014 edition of The Hook. That sort of recognition makes me feel pretty proud, but I feel just as proud when I receive compliments from FA viewers like you who enjoy seeing my shots. So again, I thank you very much for the above comment, Dwight. And keep those pics coming from NC too, OK? :-)
Dwight Hartje
Thanks, Gary! I jest recently did some plane spotting at RDU in the rain, witch made for some nice effects, and I will probably upload the first of those today.
Dwight Hartje
Your photo also seen in Daily Newsletter!
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
I look forward to rainy and snowy conditions for several reasons: 1) they offer the chance to snap unique shots that show water and snow being blown around, 2) the adverse WX create a cool challenge to shooting a clean and sharp pic, and 3) I have more respect for a photog that is willing to brave the adverse elements; the great majority of "spotters" are fair weather only; if it is a bit chilly or if it requires any kind of physical exertion to get their shot, they aren't interested. So just knowing you were out there in the rain tells me you are my kind of spotter. I'm looking forward to seeing your new posts.
And BTW, don't know if you've heard: American is retiring one Mad Dog a week now, and they will continue doing so until all the MDs in their fleet are wfu and sent to their final rest in the boneyard. So if you see one, snap it and save it if you can.
Jan Degreef
Incredible shot - wish we had these vantage points at EBBR !!
ACTIVITY LOG
Want a full history search for N793SA dating back to 1998? Buy now. Get it within one hour.
Date Aircraft Origin Destination Departure Arrival Duration
03-May-2024 B737Chicago Midway Intl ()Buffalo Niagara Intl () 07:45PM CDT 09:50PM EDT Scheduled
03-May-2024 B737Los Angeles Intl ()Chicago Midway Intl () 12:35PM PDT 06:10PM CDT Scheduled
03-May-2024 B737San Francisco Int'l ()Los Angeles Intl () 10:25AM PDT 11:30AM PDT Scheduled
03-May-2024 B737Harry Reid Intl ()San Francisco Int'l () 07:30AM PDT 08:50AM PDT Scheduled
03-May-2024 B737William P Hobby ()Harry Reid Intl () 05:30AM CDT 06:20AM PDT Scheduled
02-May-2024 B737Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Intl ()William P Hobby () 07:30PM CDT 08:35PM CDT Scheduled
02-May-2024 B737Baltimore/Washington Intl ()Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers Intl () 05:24PM EDT 06:20PM CDT Scheduled
02-May-2024 B737Tampa Intl ()Baltimore/Washington Intl () 02:23PM EDT 04:22PM EDT En Route
02-May-2024 B737Denver Intl ()Tampa Intl () 08:17AM MDT 01:12PM EDT 2:54
02-May-2024 B737Eppley Airfield ()Denver Intl () 06:55AM CDT 07:11AM MDT 1:15
01-May-2024 B737Denver Intl ()Eppley Airfield () 07:59PM MDT 10:15PM CDT 1:16
01-May-2024 B737Will Rogers World ()Denver Intl () 06:41PM CDT 06:52PM MDT 1:10
01-May-2024 B737William P Hobby ()Will Rogers World () 04:56PM CDT 05:59PM CDT 1:02
01-May-2024 B737Reagan National ()William P Hobby () 01:21PM EDT 03:09PM CDT 2:48
01-May-2024 B737Chicago Midway Intl ()Reagan National () 09:37AM CDT 11:56AM EDT 1:19
01-May-2024 B737Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ()Chicago Midway Intl () 08:31AM EDT 08:18AM CDT 0:47
30-Apr-2024 B737Chicago Midway Intl ()Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport () 08:31PM CDT 10:10PM EDT 0:39
30-Apr-2024 B737Austin-Bergstrom Intl ()Chicago Midway Intl () 05:12PM CDT 07:21PM CDT 2:09
30-Apr-2024 B737Hartsfield-Jackson Intl ()Austin-Bergstrom Intl () 03:11PM EDT 04:06PM CDT 1:55
30-Apr-2024 B737Jacksonville Intl ()Hartsfield-Jackson Intl () 12:56PM EDT 01:39PM EDT 0:42
30-Apr-2024 B737Hartsfield-Jackson Intl ()Jacksonville Intl () 11:17AM EDT 12:05PM EDT 0:47
29-Apr-2024 B737Denver Intl ()Hartsfield-Jackson Intl () 05:16AM MDT 09:41AM EDT 2:25
28-Apr-2024 B737Salt Lake City Intl ()Denver Intl () 11:08PM MDT 12:02AM MDT (+1) 0:54
28-Apr-2024 B737Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl ()Salt Lake City Intl () 08:01PM MST 10:21PM MDT 1:20
28-Apr-2024 B737San Diego Intl ()Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl () 06:02PM PDT 06:59PM MST 0:56
28-Apr-2024 B737Dallas Love Fld ()San Diego Intl () 04:19PM CDT 05:04PM PDT 2:45
28-Apr-2024 B737Midland Intl Air and Space Port ()Dallas Love Fld () 07:34AM CDT 08:28AM CDT 0:53
27-Apr-2024 B737Denver Intl ()Midland Intl Air and Space Port () 06:30PM MDT 08:51PM CDT 1:20
27-Apr-2024 B737Los Cabos Int'l ()Denver Intl () 12:17PM MST 03:51PM MDT 2:34
27-Apr-2024 B737San Diego Intl ()Los Cabos Int'l () 08:57AM PDT 10:34AM MST 1:37
26-Apr-2024 B737Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl ()San Diego Intl () 09:30PM MST 10:27PM PDT 0:56
26-Apr-2024 B737Daugherty Field ()Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl () 07:44PM PDT 08:35PM MST 0:50
26-Apr-2024 B737Sacramento Intl ()Daugherty Field () 06:01PM PDT 06:58PM PDT 0:57
26-Apr-2024 B737William P Hobby ()Sacramento Intl () 02:38PM CDT 04:15PM PDT 3:36
26-Apr-2024 B737Orlando Intl ()William P Hobby () 12:24PM EDT 01:33PM CDT 2:08
26-Apr-2024 B737Chicago Midway Intl ()Orlando Intl () 08:18AM CDT 11:18AM EDT 1:59
26-Apr-2024 B737Will Rogers World ()Chicago Midway Intl () 05:23AM CDT 06:59AM CDT 1:36
25-Apr-2024 B737Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl ()Will Rogers World () 07:38PM MST 11:24PM CDT 1:46
25-Apr-2024 B737Daugherty Field ()Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl () 05:47PM PDT 06:44PM MST 0:57
25-Apr-2024 B737Dallas Love Fld ()Daugherty Field () 03:44PM CDT 04:41PM PDT 2:56
25-Apr-2024 B737Denver Intl ()Dallas Love Fld () 05:12AM MDT 07:55AM CDT 1:42
25-Apr-2024 B737Denver Intl ()San Antonio Intl () 05:12AM MDT Diverted
24-Apr-2024 B737John Wayne ()Denver Intl () 06:28PM PDT 09:09PM MDT 1:41
24-Apr-2024 B737Denver Intl ()John Wayne () 04:24PM MDT 05:31PM PDT 2:06
24-Apr-2024 B737Chicago O'Hare Intl ()Denver Intl () 02:10PM CDT 03:23PM MDT 2:12
24-Apr-2024 B737Dallas Love Fld ()Chicago O'Hare Intl () 10:52AM CDT 12:49PM CDT 1:56
24-Apr-2024 B737Charlotte/Douglas Intl ()Dallas Love Fld () 08:35AM EDT 09:50AM CDT 2:15
23-Apr-2024 B737Baltimore/Washington Intl ()Charlotte/Douglas Intl () 07:59PM EDT 09:00PM EDT 1:00
23-Apr-2024 B737Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester Intl ()Baltimore/Washington Intl () 05:38PM EDT 06:28PM EDT 0:49
23-Apr-2024 B737Baltimore/Washington Intl ()Frederick Douglass/Greater Rochester Intl () 03:59PM EDT 04:48PM EDT 0:48
23-Apr-2024 B737Denver Intl ()Baltimore/Washington Intl () 09:37AM MDT 02:29PM EDT 2:51
23-Apr-2024 B737Portland Intl ()Denver Intl () 05:29AM PDT 08:32AM MDT 2:02
22-Apr-2024 B737Sacramento Intl ()Portland Intl () 10:10PM PDT 11:15PM PDT 1:05
22-Apr-2024 B737Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl ()Sacramento Intl () 07:52PM MST 09:26PM PDT 1:33
22-Apr-2024 B737Baltimore/Washington Intl ()Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl () 04:45PM EDT 06:09PM MST 4:23
22-Apr-2024 B737Hartsfield-Jackson Intl ()Baltimore/Washington Intl () 02:10PM EDT 03:34PM EDT 1:23
22-Apr-2024 B737Miami Intl ()Hartsfield-Jackson Intl () 11:14AM EDT 12:43PM EDT 1:29
22-Apr-2024 B737Chicago Midway Intl ()Miami Intl () 06:31AM CDT 09:55AM EDT 2:23
21-Apr-2024 B737Nashville Intl ()Chicago Midway Intl () 11:03PM CDT 12:09AM CDT (+1) 1:05
21-Apr-2024 B737Charlotte/Douglas Intl ()Nashville Intl () 09:41PM EDT 09:38PM CDT 0:56
21-Apr-2024 B737Nashville Intl ()Charlotte/Douglas Intl () 06:46PM CDT 08:36PM EDT 0:49
21-Apr-2024 B737Will Rogers World ()Nashville Intl () 04:33PM CDT 05:49PM CDT 1:16
21-Apr-2024 B737Austin-Bergstrom Intl ()Will Rogers World () 02:33PM CDT 03:29PM CDT 0:55
21-Apr-2024 B737John Wayne ()Austin-Bergstrom Intl () 09:01AM PDT 01:24PM CDT 2:22
20-Apr-2024 B737Metro Oakland Intl ()John Wayne () 06:48PM PDT 07:51PM PDT 1:02
20-Apr-2024 B737Kansas City Intl ()Metro Oakland Intl () 04:33PM CDT 05:58PM PDT 3:24
20-Apr-2024 B737Nashville Intl ()Kansas City Intl () 01:53PM CDT 03:18PM CDT 1:24
Basic users (becoming a basic user is free and easy!) view 3 months history. Join
 

Login

Don't have an account? Register now (free) for customized features, flight alerts, and more!
Did you know that FlightAware flight tracking is supported by advertising?
You can help us keep FlightAware free by allowing ads from FlightAware.com. We work hard to keep our advertising relevant and unobtrusive to create a great experience. It's quick and easy to whitelist ads on FlightAware or please consider our premium accounts.
Dismiss