Diversions Part 1

 

GRR being situated in between Chicago and Detroit, we tend to get a fair amount of diversions. Typically spring and summer storms will cause the best chance for these to pop into GRR. Here are scans from some of the best ones. 

 The only MD-11 visit ever that I can recall.

 The only AAL A300 visit ever as well. This was a fall time diversion and the crew timed out and had to stay the night.

 This DC10 was a 2 engine ferry from JFK-MSP with a fuel stop in GRR. You can see the rudder deflection well in the pictures.

 Saw lots of 757's (still do), but this is one is still sporting the old Orient paint scheme.

 First ever B747-400 diversion. Kansai (KIX) -DTW.

 Lots of 757/767 from both UAL and AAL.

 

 

 A little bit of everything on this Saturday evening.

 



DC10-40

Lockheed Jetstar

 One of the more iconic bizjets. Only a handful in active service still grace the skies today.

 LA Kings Jetstar 731

 N38BG and fleetmate Lear 55 in the mid 90's. N38BG changed to N95BD.

N95BK was seen here in Muskegon in the summer of 2012 before being scrapped. Cockpit shots are also from this bird. Probably the last pictures before its' demise.
N95BK was the same airplane as N95DB as seen above.

 Chased N377SA to Kalamazoo in Sept 2012 only to be very fortunate and catch it in Nov of 2012 without shooting through a fence.

Farewell AirTran

AirTran ceased operations in GRR with the Southwest merger a while back, but on the 28th of Dec 2014, AirTran ceased all operations everywhere. The B717's will continue to motor on for many years to come in GRR as they all will (or are already) be flying for Delta.

 

 

The Mighty DC8 part 1

Loaded just about every DC8 that Kalitta (American International Airways too) owned at that time. Mostly saw the -54F's with an occasional -61F or -63F.

 

 

 N817CK  DC8-61F

 N161DB Buffalo Airways DC8-61.

 If I recall correctly, It was here for the Emery/Postal Christmas rush

Beechcraft Bonanza gear up landing

There was recently a Bonanza gear up incident that reminded me of pictures I have of another incident a few years ago.

 N7272B on 11-26-1994 could not extend the gear due to a failure of the gear motor. After flying around and trying alternate methods of trying to get the gear to extend, they elected to land at KGRR. Here is the sequence of pictures from the gear-up landing that day and the recovery.

 

 

 

First Digital only post

First current digital only post. No retro scans today. Just ones that I picked out randomly.