14 Votes (5.00 Average) and 2,968 Views  

Airbus A300F4-600 (N172UP) - Thick smoke from two major wildfires burning just west of RNO in California, the North Complex and Loyalton wildfires, is completing obscuring the city skyline and the mountains of the Sierra Nevada as UPS's N172UP is off 16L and beginning to climb out at the start of an early morning (7:08 AM) trip to KONT (Ontario, CA).
/images/icons/csMagGlass.png medium / large / full

Airbus A300F4-600 (N172UP)

Submitted

Thick smoke from two major wildfires burning just west of RNO in California, the North Complex and Loyalton wildfires, is completing obscuring the city skyline and the mountains of the Sierra Nevada as UPS's N172UP is off 16L and beginning to climb out at the start of an early morning (7:08 AM) trip to KONT (Ontario, CA).

Comments

Please log in or register to post a comment.

Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
The wildfire smoke was thick enough that my eyes were burning and watering, but I had been requested to be at RNO at 8:15 AM to photograph (along with three television cameramen) a major emergency aircraft crash exercise scheduled for 9 AM. By 8:30 the air at ground level had cleared up a bit and the exercise was conducted as scheduled. It terminated 2 hours and 20 minutes later. About 55 units of emergency equipment (ambulances, fire trucks, police, mortuary, hospital medical, Command Post, helicopters, and city busses) from over 20 area agencies performed actual responses during the exercise. I was a member of the local media that converged on the scene when the simulated crash occurred, and as previously instructed, they took video and I took photos and together we besieged the airport Public Info Officer with questions. The "crash" actually utilized a one-half scale sized tri-engine T-tail "jetliner" that is constructed to be on fire with heavy smoke. During the course of the exercise, I used 3 cameras (all hanging from around my neck) and took just under 2000 photos - some of which were very graphic. It was an "experience" I'll never forget and which we all hope will never happen for real.
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
Gavin, Alien, Viv, Cliff, Dave S., Hundo, Dwight, a mentor, Greg ... After obtaining a couple of opinions from friends in this area, photos I took during the exercise are only marginally appropriate to this site and might even be upsetting to some viewers who are not known to me. So I am prepared to share with any of you and others of my FA friends who I do not have e/m addys for (ie: Darryl, John M., rwb, Ken K, Fiona, etc., etc.). All I need is to know you DO wish to receive such pics. For those who I do not have an e/m addy, such as John M or Ken K, etc., reply to [email protected] with the addy you wish me to use. Thanx. ... G
Greg Byington
Great shot, Gary! That sounds like quite an experience, and yes, I would like to see some of your other shots. Keep up the great work!
Dave Sheehy
Nice shot, Gary and yes I would like to see the results of your photo shoot, thanks!
Gavin Hughes
Such an atmospheric photo, worth a full 5 and more. We've had that experience here in the past, interesting photos and can be taken but don't we all wish it didn't happen.

I will be another one for your photos of course, and kudos to you for having the sense to not post graphic images here - simulated or not. Not sure some people wouldn't be as considerate and you'd hope in those cases FA wouldn't allow them anyway.
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
On the way. Do Not Repost.
Dwight Hartje
Beautiful shot, Gary! Stay safe out there!
Viv Pike
Hey Gary, thank you so much for your consideration.
YES PLEASE, I would love to see your photos of what can only be described as dream for most photogs (the simulation I mean, never a real event).
Please feel free to send my way.

(ps - considering the atmospheric conditions there, this pic above is outstanding!)
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
@ Viv, Lonnie ... Two sent. More soon. Dwight ... TYVM. Hey, I caught two very different BNSF locomotives. Not my primary interest but they looked neat. (Wave)
Dwight Hartje
BNSF has a bunch of great schemes such as Fakeboonet, Executive, Wedge, Orange Pumpkin, and many others. I really like them and would love to see the pics!
ACTIVITY LOG
Want a full history search for N172UP dating back to 1998? Buy now. Get it within one hour.
Date Aircraft Origin Destination Departure Arrival Duration
11-Dec-2024 A306Sacramento Mather ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 06:39AM PST 01:05PM EST Scheduled
11-Dec-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Sacramento Mather () 04:12AM EST 05:24AM PST En Route
10-Dec-2024 A306Southwest Georgia Rgnl ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 11:19PM EST 12:24AM EST (+1) 1:05
10-Dec-2024 A306Pensacola Intl ()Southwest Georgia Rgnl () 08:47PM CST 10:24PM EST 0:36
10-Dec-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Pensacola Intl () 04:24PM EST 04:48PM CST 1:24
10-Dec-2024 A306Capital Region Intl ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 06:24AM EST 07:20AM EST 0:55
10-Dec-2024 A306Chicago/Rockford Intl ()Capital Region Intl () 03:21AM CST 04:54AM EST 0:33
09-Dec-2024 A306Philadelphia Intl ()Chicago/Rockford Intl () 10:40PM EST 11:44PM CST 2:03
09-Dec-2024 A306Ontario Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 09:01AM PST 04:13PM EST 4:11
08-Dec-2024 A306Los Angeles Intl ()Ontario Intl () 06:56PM PST 07:20PM PST 0:24
08-Dec-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Los Angeles Intl () 03:45PM EST 04:51PM PST 4:05
06-Dec-2024 A306The Eastern Iowa ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 10:25PM CST 12:22AM EST (+1) 0:56
06-Dec-2024 A306Des Moines Intl ()The Eastern Iowa () 08:54PM CST 09:21PM CST 0:26
06-Dec-2024 A306The Eastern Iowa ()Des Moines Intl () 06:31AM CST 06:56AM CST 0:24
06-Dec-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()The Eastern Iowa () 05:29AM EST 05:34AM CST 1:05
05-Dec-2024 A306Reno/Tahoe Intl ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 07:14PM PST 01:52AM EST (+1) 3:38
05-Dec-2024 A306Sacramento Mather ()Reno/Tahoe Intl () 05:25PM PST 05:51PM PST 0:25
05-Dec-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Sacramento Mather () 03:08PM EST 04:06PM PST 3:57
05-Dec-2024 A306Dallas-Fort Worth Intl ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 09:54AM CST 12:27PM EST 1:32
04-Dec-2024 A306Houston Bush Int'ctl ()Dallas-Fort Worth Intl () 08:22AM CST 09:26AM CST 1:04
04-Dec-2024 A306Chicago/Rockford Intl ()Houston Bush Int'ctl () 03:34AM CST 05:43AM CST 2:09
03-Dec-2024 A306Philadelphia Intl ()Chicago/Rockford Intl () 10:19PM EST 11:25PM CST 2:06
03-Dec-2024 A306Chicago/Rockford Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 03:53PM CST 06:33PM EST 1:39
03-Dec-2024 A306Bob Hope ()Chicago/Rockford Intl () 07:03AM PST 12:23PM CST 3:20
03-Dec-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Bob Hope () 04:16AM EST 05:17AM PST 4:01
03-Dec-2024 A306Greenville/Spartanburg Intl ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 12:02AM EST 01:00AM EST 0:57
02-Dec-2024 A306New Orleans Intl ()Greenville/Spartanburg Intl () 08:44PM CST 10:56PM EST 1:11
01-Dec-2024 A306Pensacola Intl ()New Orleans Intl () 06:37PM CST 07:16PM CST 0:39
01-Dec-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Pensacola Intl () 04:26PM EST 04:42PM CST 1:16
01-Dec-2024 A306Orlando Intl ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 10:07AM EST 11:56AM EST 1:48
01-Dec-2024 A306Jacksonville Intl ()Orlando Intl () 08:50AM EST 09:21AM EST 0:31
30-Nov-2024 A306Luis Munoz Marin Intl ()Jacksonville Intl () 08:13AM AST 10:17AM EST 3:03
30-Nov-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Luis Munoz Marin Intl () 02:01AM EST 06:27AM AST 3:25
29-Nov-2024 A306Rickenbacker Intl ()Muhammad Ali Intl () 11:36PM EST 12:18AM EST (+1) 0:42
29-Nov-2024 A306Muhammad Ali Intl ()Rickenbacker Intl () 04:25AM EST 05:01AM EST 0:35
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