Airport Overlook at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport has for years had an Airport Overlook, and like the aviation museum it was closed and then relocated to accommodate expansion of the airport. The old overlook was a gravel parking lot, with a few benches and a port-a-potty or two (sometimes). The view of the airport was good and it was located close to the center runway.
Airport Overlook at Charlotte Douglas International AirportAirport Overlook at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
The newly opened Airport Overlook is a wonderful spot. The views aren’t quite so good currently, but a new runway (to be called 1/19C since you can’t have two 18/36Cs!) is being built that will be about as close to the new overlook as the old one was to the center runway.
Besides a large paved parking lot, there is a huge children’s playground, picnic tables and park benches, an F-4 Phantom on display and (not yet open) real restrooms!
Aircraft arriving at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Kathy & I visited this past Saturday with our son and grandson. It was a humid morning, with a bit of fog hanging around, and I had fun photographing the planes taking off and creating condensation clouds around their wings as they passed through the moist air.
Condensation clouds formed by aircraft departing from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a humid morning.Condensation clouds formed by aircraft departing from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a humid morning.Condensation clouds formed by aircraft departing from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a humid morning.Condensation clouds formed by aircraft departing from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a humid morning.Condensation clouds formed by aircraft departing from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a humid morning.
Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
The former Carolinas Historical Aviation Museum, located on the grounds of Charlotte Douglas International Airport, closed several years ago to make way for a runway expansion. It recently reopened as the rebranded ‘Sullenberger Aviation Museum.’
Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III is the pilot credited with saving the lives of all passengers and crew aboard US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, when he ditched the plane, landing on the Hudson River after both engines were disabled by a bird strike. This event has been known as “The Miracle on the Hudson.“
“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport“Miracle on the Hudson” exhibit with the salvaged USAirways Flight 1549 Airbus A320 at Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Flight 1549 had just departed LaGuardia airport in New York City bound for Charlotte when the accident occurred. Since the plane was bound for Charlotte, a number of passengers were from Charlotte, including a number of high level officers of several area companies. Their influence allowed for the creation of the new organization and a campaign to have the salvaged aircraft brought to Charlotte as the centerpiece of the new museum.
Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Kathy & I visited the Sullenberger Aviation Museum shortly after it opened in early June along with our son and grandson. It is a very nicely done tribute to Flight 1549 as well as a showcase for the aircraft housed in the previous museum. In addition to the aircraft from Flight 1549, there are a number of military, corporate and civilian aircraft on display, as well as a number of hands-on spaces for kids both small and large. We enjoyed our time there and look forward to returning.
Sullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International AirportSullenberger Aviation Museum at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
Sapphire Pool at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Imagine our surprise when we read that a “hydrothermal explosion” had occurred at Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone on July 23. We had visited just two months prior, and the news photos of the devastation were incredible. All of our tour guides had joked about how Yellowstone sits on a huge underground volcano, and “you never know….” It’s well known that violent eruptions can happen at any time, and sometimes they actually do. Yikes! Fortunately no one was injured, and damage appears to be mostly limited to the boardwalk. And of course the size and shapes of several of the pools were dramatically altered.
Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Our visit was in an evening and the sky was overcast. As a result a lot of the colors are quite muted. But the various colors of the pools and the surrounding bacterial mats are quite evident.
Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkJewel Geyser at Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBacterial mats add interesting colors and textures to hot pools and geysers. Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBacterial mats add interesting colors and textures to hot pools and geysers. Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBacterial mats add interesting colors and textures to hot pools and geysers. Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
And gnarly trees! 🙂
Biscuit Basin, Yellowstone National ParkBiscuit Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National Park
Kathy & I visited Grand Canyon twice during our visit to Yellowstone. The first time was on our own, and we got there before 8:00am to avoid the crowds. We use the term “Nooners” to describe the people who start showing up to tourist locations around the time we are leaving. Yes, I know there is another connotation for that word! 😉 In a place like Yellowstone the Nooners start showing up and filling the parking lots by around 10:00am, in some places even earlier.
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National ParkUpper Falls of the Yellowstone River from Upper Falls View. Yellowstone National Park
The canyon and the waterfalls are spectacular in any light, and we managed to get quite a few photographs, especially on the north rim where you could really see the topography. One of the things I particularly liked about the north rim is the gnarly trees growing out of the rock cliffs. They made for interesting subject matter and I’ve included just a sample here.
Yellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National Park
As we were leaving the Artist Point area, someone asked me if I knew what time the rainbow happened. It must have been obvious from the look on my face that I didn’t know anything about a rainbow. Silly me – a failure of research!
Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National ParkLower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Lookout Point. Yellowstone National ParkLower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National Park
Fortunately, we returned the following day on a morning photography tour aboard one of the yellow buses. Our guide knew exactly when the rainbow would occur (about 9:40am, just in time for the Nooners! 🙂 ) and positioned us in the right spot. Not knowing when the peak color would be I made over 100 frames in order to end up with about 6. The one posted here is the only one I’ve processed so far but is typical of the others. Interestingly, the first day we visited was overcast, so we might not have seen the rainbow that day anyway!
Yellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone River from Inspiration Point. Yellowstone National Park
Because it was a photography tour and not a Tom & Kathy journey, the tour only stayed long enough to capture the rainbow and didn’t travel the north rim at all. It was off to another photographic destination! I’m glad we saw the rainbow, but also glad to have visited the canyon on our own!
Bison in Snow. Yellowstone National Park near Biscuit Geyser Basin
Yesterday afternoon the thermometer on our patio (in the shade!) read 100 degrees. The month before we were taking a photography tour in Yellowstone. In the snow at 30 degrees!
Still processing photos and a bit behind, but couldn’t resist commenting on the temperature differential.
Stay cool, wherever you are! 😉
Pine trees in Snow. Kepler Cascades overlook, Yellowstone National Park near Old Faithful Inn
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
I’m kind of used to people looking at me funny when I am stooped over my tripod composing a scene instead of taking the ubiquitous ‘selfie’ with my phone. I was reminded of that while visiting the Mormon Row Historic area of Grand Teton National Park. While everyone else’s lenses were pointed at the Moulton Barns, I was facing the other way looking for compositions on the other side of the road.
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Kathy is often reminding me to “turn around.” But this time I remembered it on my own!
Andrew and Ida Chambers Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
The Chapel of the Transfiguration is a small log chapel in Grand Teton National Park, in the community of Moose. The chapel was sited and built to frame a view of the Cathedral Group of peaks in a large window behind the altar. The chapel, which was built in 1925, is owned and operated by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson. The church is open daily, and still hosts services on Sunday. On the day of our visit, an organist was playing in the chapel.
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
The chapel was built to serve guests and employees of the dude ranches that stretched north of Jackson along the base of the Teton Range. The land was donated by Maud Noble, owner of nearby Menor’s Ferry, predating the establishment of Grand Teton National Park in 1929 and its expansion into the Moose area in 1950. The chapel played a primary role in the movie Spencer’s Mountain, which was filmed in Jackson Hole in 1963, and featured Henry Fonda and Maureen O’Hara.
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National ParkChapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
The chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1980.
Chapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National ParkChapel of the Transfiguration. Grand Teton National Park
View of the Teton Range from Mormon Row Historic District, Grand Teton National Park
We wrapped up our western swing with a 2 day visit to Jackson, WY and Grand Teton National Park. This is a classic view of the Teton Range from an area called the Mormon Row Historic District. The photo is a bit of a cliche but I can’t imagine a photographer passing it by. Some photographs just need to be taken! We had some pretty nice clouds on this day, which helps a lot.
