GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
USA - MO and KS
St Louis – Feb 2016
LANDSIDE
Not much in the way of views. I drove around the perimeter and was able to find some views but there wasn’t much in the way of places to park up. I did find a grass area next to the road but got moved on.
AIRSIDE
HOTELS
Several hotels in the area but don’t know of any with views
WHAT TO EXPECT
Not much unfortunately. Long gone are the days of TWA who had hundreds of flights a day. Even when American took over the airport was still fairly busy. But now its completely dead and not worth bothering with. Southwest are the major operator. United had several RJ’s parked up possibly awaiting maintenance.
St Louis Cahokia
The downtown airport proved more interesting. A preserved Fedex B727 N288FE lives here. There also seems to be some sort of Global Express finishing centre here with 5 parked up. These can’t be seen from the terminal area though, you need to drive around the perimeter to see behind the hanger.
St Louis Scott AFB
Theres a small collection of aircraft preserved at the entrance to the base including DC9 71-0877.
Wichita
Kansas City - Aug 2017
LANDSIDE
The Terminals are almost circular in shape. They have 3 of them but only B and C are in use at the moment. By walking around them most stuff can be seen. Its hard to find one spot that will get you everything. There is runway on either side and both are used for arrivals and departures. But most stuff should be seen if you find a spot in one terminal overlooking part of the other.
I couldn’t find much around the perimeter. There is an abandoned car park near the car rental facility providing good views of this runway and a few stands and some views of the maintenance area on the other side.
To get to the maintenance area take the I-29 south and take the next exit. A bit further south from the maintenance area I found an elevated place to park. Good views but a bit distant, especially with the heat haze.
AIRSIDE
Its a strange set up. There are several different security checks all with there own few gates. You are confined to this area so depends where your gate is as to the view you will get.
HOTELS
Many in the area but don’t think any have views. There are a few located close to the maintenance area.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Not amazingly busy but ticks over. Southwest are probably the busiest operator but all the other main carriers have regular fights.
The maintenance area has some interesting stuff. 6 Avianca F50s and a few F100s at the time. The F100s are being broken up though and bits and pieces remained.
The main reason for visiting would be to visit the local scrapyards at Bates City and Rantoul.
Bates City - White Industries
The Friendly side of town to the east. They help you as much as possible. The boss came to the realisation he could make money out of us charging $75 per hour with a minimum of two hours and maximum of four. See there website for details.
Many of the aircraft are covered in bushes and trees and many are in bits and pieces. Impossible to identify many, however they know exactly which aircraft are where and if theres any specific planes you want to see, they will find them for you.
Theres probably a couple of hundred planes here. Lots of smaller GA stuff along with a lot of turboprops - J31’s, B1900s, E110’s, Metros etc. More recently they have been focused on buying smaller Biz types and some Kingairs.
Rantoul - Dodsons
The unfriendly side of town to the west. No tours, No Photos, No looking. Against FAA rules so they say. Don’t even go and ask them. Just get what you can from the perimeter to start with.
Views arn’t great but about half a mile before there entrance theres a decent view from the fence along the side of the road. Most stuff can’t be identified but take some photos and see what you can figure out. Several gulfstream fuselages can be seen.
Continue past there entrance and take the next left. They have several more aircraft parked around the back of there facility. Then I would drive into there facility. Park by the side of the office and if nobody is around get some photos of what can be seen here. Then if you get chased away, you have already seen what you can.
Lots of smaller GA stuff but also some larger Airliner stuff. A DC8 was here along with an MD88 and other bits. Several Gulfstreams, a couple of CRJs, global express and an ATR. A couple of D328s and Saab 2000 may still be here all mixed in with lots of small props and GA stuff.
Dodsons also use a small airfield at Ottawa about 10 miles away. Recently purchased aircraft may arrive there and be parked up until they are ready to move them to this facility. A couple of Gulfstreams and a Challenger where parked at the time.
