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The view: A lonely airplane sits under the moonlight
The pilot: Kevin Knight
The airplane: Cessna 172
The mission: Home to Bremerton, Washington (PWT), from Phoenix.
The memory: After taking a commercial flight back to SEATAC, I was dropped off at PWT by a friend. While walking to my hangar at 10pm to retrieve my car, I saw this lonely 172 on the flight line with the moon illuminating it. The temperature was 33 degrees F, extremely humid, and really uncomfortable. Like me, I suspect the plane wanted to warm up and head somewhere else. Even planes get lonely.
Want to share your “Friday Photo?” Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]
Kevin is an instrument-rated pilot who’s logged more than 1,200 hours over 25 years. He bounces between Texas and Washington, and currently owns a 1983 Cessna TR182. He previously owned a 1967 Mooney M20F.
Latest posts by Kevin Knight (see all)
- Friday Photo: night on the flightline - January 7, 2022
- Friday Photo: Puget Sound fun - September 18, 2020
Kevin, great photo! I was wondering what type of camera or phone you used?
Thanks for the shot.
Joe
Thx for the email. I’ve walked by that plane in good weather and bad. The prop is definitely two blade.
iPhone 12. I paid my way through college shooting for the Associated Press and still have lots of Nikon gear. However, “smart phones” are getting smarter all the time and capable of shooting terrific pics. Their greatest limitation is versatility since optics can’t be changed. If I’m shooting air-to-air, I need a long lens and stabilization to insure good results. That said, if something looks interesting, use what you have!
The composition and contrast really speak to your time as a professional photographer. It is amazing how smart phone lenses can equal the performance of Nikon, Fuji and even Zeiss lenses of twenty years ago.
Neat photo. Kind of a herky looking 172. I think I see a three bladed prop up front.
Great picture and description!
A dark flight line can be an enchanting place that conjures up all sorts of images. To this day, I still have a vivid recollection of another quiet dark night, more than 30 years ago, walking out to find my airplane that had been parked somewhere in the far reaches of the Port Columbus airport, when the quiet of the night was interrupted by the unmistakeable sounds of a DC-3 being brought to life in preparation no doubt for it’s nightly chores. That big round engine’s signature, whrrr, sneeze, snort and cough followed by a smoothing pleasant rumble was rhapsodic in nature and I stopped to take it all in, pure emotional pleasure!
I think it is a 182 as it has a solid back window. 172s have a 2 piece back window unless the newer ones went to one-piece windows. I grew up flying a ’67 and then ’66 C-182 and remember I could tell which was which by the back window. My favorite was a ’75 C-180 – gets out of anywhere you can get it into!
Wow! Great photos! :)