Boeing CH-47 Chinook (0808058)

This "first time ever for me" shot of an airborne helicopter flying along while I was standing on the ground looking DOWN in it marked a special moment of my 25th climb to the top of Rattlesnake to do some spotting.

Great catch Gary and sounds like an amazing experience!

Great vantage point Gary.

What a superb spotting position.

Awesome shot.

Great and rare shot. I wonder how old that particular Chinook is?

Darryl, Ken, Robert, & Bill >> I very much appreciate your kind compliments, guys. Thank you very much.
Bill >> It has been converted twice. Began its "life" as a CH-47C w/reg 70-15034. Later, was converted to a CH-47D and assigned reg 83-24109. And of course, now it's been converted to a CH-47F and is registered 08-08058. So that first reg (70-15034) reveals that this oldtimer is at least 50 years of age. Uncle Sugar has gotten his $$$s worth from this one. (Grin and a wave)

As usual, the story and the picture are perfect!

Gary, Have you run into any rattlers on Rattlesnake Mountain. Use to hike there and Peavine back in the 70s when I lived in Reno and went to University of Nevada.

Adelma >> My most sincere Thank you for that very complimentary comment. The word "perfect" is a bit of an overstatement, but I am extremely grateful to you (as well as Robert, Bill, Ken, and Darryl) for the praise, and I am intensely pleased that you viewed my photo and enjoyed it. As for the info / story, I often try to add something to the pic by including some info, and FA member "a mentor" (Jeff) recently told me he enjoys the added comments, so I'm glad you do too. Thanks again. And be safe. Gary ("Olde Carl") Also, I and a few others occasionally share our best w/each other via e/m. For instance, as soon as the new Top Gun II movie is released, I'll be sharing a superb pic of Tom C in an F-18 waving to me as it was just about to land in front of me at KNFL. For obvious reasons, pics like that will never get posted here. If you are ever interested in receiving an occasional a/c pic from me, e/m me at [email protected] and I'll add you to the (pretty short) list.
Dale >> extremely ironic that you ask ... I just saw one yesterday. First one of this new calendar year. It is out of its den a bit early and was moving so sluggishly I could have outrun it on crutches. But ... if it is out, i'm thinking there are more. Yesterday's was not my first-ever encounter up there. A few years back, I was coming down and I was at that narrow spot (pickup truck-width) with the drop off on one side and the sheer uphill on the other when I heard a rattle. It was sunning itself. Problem was that it was a big one and could strike across the width of the dirt path. And I couldn't go around because of the sheer drop next to me. So I backed up ... and heard another rattle. I was Fargin' scared! So I tossed rocks at the one I could see in front of me and when it moved a bit more uphill, I eased on by. Saw one another time, too, but that time it was far enough away that my encounter with it was not a close one. It's the babies that really concern me. The babies haven't yet learned how to control the amount of venom they inject ... so they just give it all they have. And right now, those babies are emerging from the winter dens on Rattlesnake. So yesterday's climb is most likely my last one for the next few weeks. By the middle of July, it is so hot up there that they don't come out during the day. Hey, Dale, E/m me at the above addy and I'll share some pics from N Nevada. (PS - Where are you living now?)

Another EPIC shot, Gary! The hills/mountains of Reno with the snow make for a wonderful background and you take advantage of every opportunity!

Gary, Thanks. [email protected].

Amazing photo op Gman! rare to see a Chinook do a fly by at any airport....!