POTUS in Dallas 8-9-10

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

I would love to be able to take a nice shot if AF1 as it comes into Love Field with the Dallas Skyline in the background and then maybe find a spot to catch it on the tarmac, don't know if they will hangar it while he is boots on the ground or not. I know that he will come in hot and heavy, ie fast and steep, so I must be at the location and ready to shoot. I know that they will close all air traffic into LF for at least 15 minutes before he arrives so seeing SW flights stop should give me at least a few minutes warning. I guess I will need to be somewhere north and west of Bachman lake, I assume he will come straight in from the south since he will be up from Austin. So I need to be set up by just after 3 and set it out till he arrives. Any ideas of a good location that may have a bit of elevation? Bachman lake is to low and the angle isn't quite right. Maybe of the the businesses on HH's parking lot? I can shoot at as high as 1600 mm if I have too.

Also the regional Tea Party and the Libetarian Parties will be having rally's starting at 5 pm, The L will be at a High School stadium that is nearby in Dallas while the T's said that they are setting up on Turtle Creek near the home where POTUS will be (but this may be moved). These two should offer some interesting photo ops.

[scoami]

I'm thinking of heading out there myself. Any idea which runway will be used?

[Davidtxs]

Originally Posted by scoami

I'm thinking of heading out there myself. Any idea which runway will be used?

With the wind out of the south they will probably use 17L landing from the north.

Hope noones in around 3707 Crescent in HP today lol

[scoami]

Originally Posted by Davidtxs

With the wind out of the south they will probably use 17L landing from the north.

Hope noones in around 3707 Crescent in HP today lol

They wouldn't use the longer runway, or will the shorter on (13L) accommodate a 747?

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

To be honest I think they may come straight in, curve over Fair Park and straight on in from the south-if they come in from the north then the shot that I want will be out of the question.

Heard that the flight is supposed to touchdown at 4:20 but that may just be a joke, so I think somewhere after 3:45.

After looking at my Calatrava Bridge pics I may just set up at Trammel Crow Park in the Trinity Basin which means if he comes in from the North I am nowhere in position to get the shot that I want. If He comes in from the North then you would need to be some where around I35 and Walnut Hill to get the plane and Downtown in the shot.

Heard that the Republican/Libetarian Rallies have been combiined at 10000 Hillcrest at a High School Stadium which is north of Walnut Hill-starts at 5pm but I bet there will be entry before that- will be HOT so bring water!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Well I'm rolling the dice and heading out for a direct flight in from the south-since they pretty much kill airspace for at least 15 minutes before he enters it he can pretty much come in any way that he wants-wind looks to be coming in from the east south east so not sure what that would indicate.

After he touches down I'm going to head over to LF and see if I can grab a shot of AF1 on the tarmac- Heard that he will be leaving Dallas at 6:30 but that I think is a mistake by the radio since it would be hard to do dinner-speak-kissbutt in under 2 hrs! So could be a second opportunity for a shoot but will be at the rally then.

[L Stegall]

I just watched it land from my office window. Like many a SW flight I've been on, it landed from the North, coming in over Bachman Lake. Not sure what runway that is. It was pretty cool to see it touch down. My office is on the 11th floor of a building off Stemmons, so we have a nice view of Love Field.

I know he will be @ dinner in Dallas tonight, so I expect the plane to still be @ Love Field this evening. While my husband and I know the dinner hosts, I guess we don't run in the same financial circles to make the dinner invite list. lol.

[scoami]

Here's a few I took from the small road between Bachman Lake and the runway. Police were there, but didn't run anybody off.

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[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

some nice shots, I caught the take off but since sun was across from the plane didn't come out that great. Also when waiting for the motorcade to come be sure you have your camera ON- I could kik myself since I had a clear view a nd could have had some great shots if the camera was ON!

Made it over to the TeaParty rally-about 1000 people there, HOT HOT HOT but they were in bleachers in some shade-some pics already up. Republican and Tea Party Rally in Dallas on 8-9-10 Photo Gallery by pgkps at pbase.com will add more tommorrow-tired now.

[oldfotopro]

For those not versed in aeronautical information I offer the following.

Aircraft rarely land with a tailwind, even if they could. If something went wrong the pilot would be held responsible for his poor decision. A B747 standard configuration would require approximately 9000 ft. of runway on a "standard" day. With our air temp, density altitude becomes a consideration and final approach speeds have to be compensated, causing a longer desired length.

The B747 used primarily to transport the POTUS does not have the total weight of a commercial B747 and the landing/TO parameters are optimized.

Given the length of the runways at DAL I would put my money on the following runway.

Setting up south of the airport was folly.



Runway 13R/31L

Dimensions: 8800 x 150 ft. / 2682 x 46 m
Surface: concrete/grooved, in good condition
Weight bearing capacity:
Single wheel: 100.0
Double wheel: 200.0
Double tandem: 350.0

[Hanky]

Well done Scott, right accross from SW air is a small park and boat shed. You can park there and walk the lake shore or road edge to get good shots. That's if you ever need to hang out a while and shoot a few.

[SCone]

Amazing what $60,000+ per hour will buy these days