Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA, KIWA, IWA) "Willie"

[Paul Larson]

Thank you Matt for your kind words. I hope that you had the opportunity to get to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway to see and photograph the Willie air tanker traffic. In the past three days there have been many new fire starts. Today 10 Tanker Air Carrier T-911 and T-912 were used on the initial slurry drops on the Moses Fire in New Mexico.

[Matt Ottosen]

Thank you Matt for your kind words. I hope that you had the opportunity to get to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway to see and photograph the Willie air tanker traffic. In the past three days there have been many new fire starts. Today 10 Tanker Air Carrier T-911 and T-912 were used on the initial slurry drops on the Moses Fire in New Mexico.

As of the last month I have been working nights and weekends, and it has completely thrown me off.  I haven't been able to make it out for any photography in over a month.  I'm hoping things change soon, I have tonight and the next two off.  I guess now my weekends and holidays are during the week, just another thing I must get used to.

[Jeff D. Welker]

The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is one of my most beloved airframes.  This big tri-jet has always captured my fancy.  Nothing special about 912 taxiing to the fire base ramp, but the nice clouds was all the excuse I needed to make a photograph.

[tajmahal250]

[/url]UKRAINIAN MUSCLE by Thomas  Backus, on Flickr[/img]

[Chris V]

[Ned Harris]

Nice capture, Chris.

[Chris V]

Thanks Ned!!

[Brian Lockett]

Antonov Design Bureau An-124-100M UR82027 visited Phoenix-Mesa Gateway on July 28 and 29, 2019 to pick up four Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Indian Air Force.

[Jeff D. Welker]

[trmphoto]

Tanker traffic from back in June:

Tanker 912


Tanker 40

[Joe Copalman]

Love that 10 Tanker shot with the gear up.  Was that shot form the hill, or from down near the Embraer lot?

[trmphoto]

Love that 10 Tanker shot with the gear up.  Was that shot form the hill, or from down near the Embraer lot?

That was taken from the hill.  I noticed the gear came up quick on the two DC-10s operating that day.  Once they reached the freeway at the north end of the runway, they made a hard turn to the east and headed right for the fire.

[Chris V]

[Brian Lockett]

Antonov Design Bureau An-124-100M UR82023 visited Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Arizona on December 4 and 5, 2019 to pick up four Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Indian Air Force.

[Brian Lockett]

Antonov Design Bureau An-124-100M UR82009 visited Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Arizona on March 9, 2020.