Wheels Up! by Steven Hayes

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • While attending a warbird photo shoot at the Flying Heritage Collection (FHC), the author was unexpectedly surprised by a large An-124 commercial freighter taking off.
  • This unannounced appearance and takeoff of the massive aircraft during a pause in the planned event created an unforgettable sight.
  • The author felt lucky to have witnessed this impressive and sudden occurrence.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The Flying Heritage Collection (FHC) at Paine Field had always put on great events and I expected this photo shoot of Pacific Theater warbirds to be just as good. During a pause in the aerial performances of their Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat and Mitsubishi A6M3-22 Zero, this An-124 commercial freighter operated by Volga-Dnepr was a complete surprise, coming out of nowhere.  It was not part of the event.  What an amazing sight to suddenly see this huge airplane taking off as the wheels were just coming up. It was a sight I will never forget.  Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good.   

Canon EOS 60D, Canon EFS 18-135mm Lens       

1/400, F10, ISO100

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get the latest Plane & Pilot Magazine stories delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE