Our aircraft for today’s “Pacific Island Hopper” service, a specially modified United Airlines 737-800 (N37293). Honolulu Intl. AirportDeparting Honolulu on the Pacific Island HopperMajuro, Marshall IslandsMajuroTakeoff from MajuroMajuroMajuroKwajalein seen during the flight from Majuro to Chuuk. The Island Hopper stops in Kwajalein 2x per week. Landing in Chuuk, MicronesiaTakeoff from ChuukTakeoff from Chuuk, Micronesia
My “Around the World Trip” with Star Alliance got off to a rocky start. The entire trip was planned around a thrice-weekly flight called the “Pacific Island Hopper,” operated by United Airlines. It departs Honolulu and stops at various islands en route to Guam. Not 45 minutes before my 10hr flight to Honolulu was to […]
Sunset over Iran on Etihad 777-300ER (A6-ETQ) from Toronto to Abu Dhabi.Abu Dhabi AirportSunrise near the Maldives on Etihad 787-9 (A6-BLV) Deplaning at Malé Airport after arriving from Abu Dhabi. Today we flew Etihad’s 787–9 in special F1 livery (reg. A6-BLV). Flying on a Manta Air DHC 6 Twin Otter from Malé Airport seaplane terminal to Kihavah. Spinner dolphinsSpinner dolphinSpinner dolphinsSky Bar, Anantara KihavahAnatara KihavahSpotted eagle ray between overwater villasGuitar sharkStingrayUndewater restaurant at Anantara KihavahGrouperManta Air DHC 6 Twin Otter with other traffic out of the co-pilot’s window. En route to Kihavah to Malé, Manta Air DHC 6 Twin Otter (8Q RAF)View from the hotel lounge at Noovilu Seaplane Terminal at Malé Velana International Airport. Opened in October 2022, it is the largest seaplane terminal in the world.
Approaching Tromsø, Norway, the first stop en route to Svalbard.Approaching Tromsø, NorwayRejected landing at Tromsø on an SAS A320neo.Approach to Svalbard Airport, the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled flights.Svalbard AirportSvalbard Global Seed VaultThe Radisson Blu Polar Hotel, the northernmost hotel in the world. Hilmar Rekstens vei, the main street in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world.Longyearbyen town centre.01:30 in Longyearbyen. Longyearbyen, just after departure.
There are only 7 A330-800neo aircraft in commercial service. OY-GKN after deplaning in Kangerlussuaq.Climbing out of Kangerlussuaq en route to Ilulissat.Over Disko Bay on final approach to Ilulissat. Hotel Arctic in Ilulissat, the northernmost 4-star hotel in the world. Ilulissat Icefjord empties into Disko Bay. The Jacobshavn Glacier at the top of the fjord is the most productive glacier in the northern hemisphere.The iceberg struck by the Titanic was “born” in western Greenland 2-3 years before the disaster, quite possibly at Ilulissat.00:05, July 1, 2023 - IlulissatIlulissat AirportAir Greenland Dash 8-200 in flight from Ilulissat to Qaanaaq. Descending into Qaanaaq. Approach to QaanaaqApproach to QaanaaqView from Qaanaaq airport. Qaanaaq is the 2nd northernmost town in the world. The flight deck of Air Greenland Dash 8-200 OY-GRP while in flight between Qaanaaq and Ilulissat. Approach to Ilulissat from NuukTakeoff from Ilulissat for Nuuk. From left: Ilulissat Airport, Ilulissat town, Ilulissat Icefjord. Approach to Nuuk. The scenery gets better and better. Approach to NuukNuukNuukDeparture from NuukTakeoff from KangerlussuaqApproach to Copenhagen
Revisiting one of the world’s most beautiful countries.
Supercell in SE OklahomaEnd of chase in SE OklahomaChasing in western Texas and eastern New Mexico. Landspout tornadoLandspout tornadoWeakening supercell. After chase, Hereford, Texas.This supercell produced a brief tornado earlier. Despite losing a bit of its mojo, you can still see the wall cloud and updraft. The heavy equipment out in Clovis, NM.The heavy equipment out in Clovis, NMBy far the best dust devil I have seen. Landspout tornado. Approaching Fort Sumner, NM, where Billy the Kid was killed. Watching a supercell build from Fort Sumner, NM.Ground scraping wall cloud. Near golf ball size hail in the Texas panhandle. 1/2 - see next photo for CG bolt a couple of frames later. 2/2
Winging It 
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