Laredo USA - Spotting Paradise - Jan 2024 (civ & mil)

[EHAM]

Hi all,

I started 2024 with a spotting trip to a relatively unknown location: Laredo, TX, USA. A true aviation gem hidden deep in the south of Texas at the Mexican border where aviation history is still very much alive. Ten days of old-school spotting (waking up and not knowing what might drop in that day) in mostly mild and sunny winter weather resulted in the following highlights. Please visit my Flickr-page for many more photos (and in better resolution) and my website www.aviaspotters.nl for the log/trip report.

1. Let's kick-off with some military visitors:
2306 HC-144B US Coast Guard 090124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

2.
87-70160 Beech C-12U2 US Army 170124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

3. 92-0354/XL T-1A Jayhawk USAF 090124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

4. On to the main target: old cargo aircraft in all shapes and sizes
N741FD Airbus A300B4-600RF FedEx 090124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

5.
N406LC L-100-30 Hercules Lynden Air Cargo 110124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

6. UR-CAJ Antonov 12BK Ukraine Air Alliance 130124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

7.
N729CK Boeing 727-200F Kalitta Charters II 110124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

8.
N726US Boeing 727-200F USA Jet 090124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

9.
N832US MD-88SF USA Jet 140124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

10.
N784TW DC-9-15RC Ameristar 100124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

11.
XA-UPS DC-9-33F Aeronaves TSM 090124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

12.
XA-VFL CRJ 200SF Aeronaves TSM 140124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

13.
N561SW Embraer 120ER Berry Aviation 170124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

14.
XA-PNG SA227AC Metro III Aeronaves TSM 090124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

15.
N827AA Falcon 20E USA Jet 140124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

16.
N760RA Falcon 20F Royal Air Freight 090124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

17. And a fair share of Mexican business jets stopping for customs
XA-RAD BAe 125-800XP VIP Empresarial 130124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

18.
XB-FNX Falcon 50 Alta Actitud Jets 140124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

19. What other way to end a day in this aviation paradise than with a beautiful sunset
XA-FGL Gulfstream G280 Servicios Aereos Regiomontanos 120124 KLRD by Joost de Wit, on Flickr

[Key]

Awfully nice Joost, almost like a time machine to the 80s with a few modern goodies.


Erik

[YS11]

Great old stuff

[MikeRomeo]

Indeed a brilliant set of pictures. Aircrafts seem to be posing at the right angle with the right light. All neat from an airfield I didn't knew about. And there is so much more cool stuff on your flickr page...

Question: On the FedEx A300 photo I can see your shade plus the fence. Are you using a ladder or shooting through the fence?

Thank you for sharing this set of images.

[EHAM]

Thanks all!

Question: On the FedEx A300 photo I can see your shade plus the fence. Are you using a ladder or shooting through the fence?

I'm not a fan of shooting through the fence so indeed I used a ladder, actually for all of my photos taken there. I "rented" a ladder at the Home Depot and returned it at the end of the trip to get a refund. Let's call it a good way of recycling and thinking green .
Depending on your height a 3-step ladder should be fine for most people. I did not encounter any issues with security/police, although they were passing by frequently they were very friendly and let me use the ladder near the fence without saying anything. I did keep a relatively low profile and only put up the ladder when there was something taxiing by.
I tried to arrange ramp access as well but that was not successful and not a real advantage anyway.

[MikeRomeo]

Thanks for the throutlly explanation. Ladder it is! And indeed a good system if you can return it at the end of the trip.
Best regards and once again, a great set of photos!