Ian Kluft โ
โ๏ธ๐๐"PDX opens shiny new baggage claim escalators as major renovation continues" by The Oregonian @OregonLive - Terminal construction projects are continuing to reach completion through the year at Portland Int'l Airport. South-side escalators down to baggage claim from the new exit at Concourses B/C (Alaska, American, Frontier, Hawaiian & JetBlue) are open. The north-side escalators are scheduled to open in June. https://www.oregonlive.com/travel/2026/05/pdx-opens-shiny-new-baggage-claim-escalators-as-major-renovation-continues.html #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Another one? Already? A brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landed in Portland #KPDX from the 787 factory in Charleston #KCHS, as BOE758. Other avgeeks figured out this mostly-white plane, except flower petals on the tail, is LN1303 for China Airlines (Taiwan). Since both bays of the Boeing PDX Paint Hangar are full, also 787-9s, it may have been ferried for paint early because Boeing's parking ramp is full at CHS but not at PDX. LN1303 had its first flight April 30. #aviation #travel #avgeek
@ptld2_dot_btg There isn't an official spot. I got the IcelandAir takeoff from the short-term garage. Planespotters are accepted in the parking structures - just keep it obvious to the cameras that you're interested in the planes and not the parked cars. I've been collecting and updating advice for planespotting at PDX on my github[.]io site for the past year. There are 9 locations I recommend. You undoubtedly already know some. https://ikluft.github.io/avgeek/pdx-planespotting.html #aviation #avgeek #KPDX #Portland
Video of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landing at Portland #KPDX on Runway 28L, as flight number BOE014. This plane was made for LOT Polish Airlines but for some reason wasn't delivered. Lufthansa has bought the plane. Boeing flew it from parking at SKF to PDX. The propeller sound on landing is from the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), which the Boeing test pilots deployed during flight, checking all the systems. It will be repainted for Lufthansa in the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar. #aviation #travel #avgeek
4 weeks ago I got video of the arrival of another NTU (not taken up) 787-9 arriving in Portland for repainting for Lufthansa. That had been made for AirEuropa but not delivered. The propeller sound indicates the Boeing test pilots deployed the RAT (ram air turbine) as part of their flight tests. We could see similar today with BOE014. NTUs seem to spend 6-12 weeks here, much longer than just painting. https://avgeek.social/@ikluft/116348712946096906 #aviation #travel #avgeek #KPDX #PNW
Ian Kluft โ โ๏ธ๐๐ (@[email protected])
Attached: 1 video Next in line at the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar today: ex-AirEuropa 787-9 from a cancelled order (officially "NTU" not taken up) acquired by Lufthansa to get ahead of 787 factory production. This plane has been parked for almost 2 years waiting for a new buyer. Boeing test pilots ferried it from PAE to PDX. They did tests for 2 hours, including deploying the RAT (Ram Air Turbine) which can be seen behind the main gear and sounds like a propeller. #aviation #avgeek #travel #business #PNW
Arrival time estimates on Boeing test flights should be taken as variable. The original JetTip alert I got said 15:21 ETA. FlightAware is currently showing 14:20. But the flight plan includes test maneuvers over eastern Washington State before coming to PDX. So the later time is probably closer to correct. But they are trying to put a plane that has been mothballed for 2 years through the flight test checklist. It'll take what it takes. Fuel on board is the only schedule. #aviation #avgeek #KPDX
#Avgeek alert for Portland, Oregon: BOE014 B789 in flight from San Antonio Kelly Field #KSKF to Portland #KPDX. (Thx @JetTip .) ETA 15:20 PDT (*). Avgeek forum info says the temporary registration N879CJ is an ex-LOT (Poland) order which was not taken up (NTU), now acquired by Lufthansa. It's coming to PDX to be repainted. The other bay in Boeing's PDX paint hangar also has a Lufthansa B789. This plane has not flown in 2 years waiting for a buyer. https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE14/history/20260502/1800Z/KSKF/KPDX #aviation #travel #PNW
"โHurricane Hunterโ crew spent 6 weeks at PDX, studying atmospheric rivers" by Oregon Public Broadcasting OPB (PBS Portland) - Results from #NOAA 6-week deployment to Portland #KPDX from Feb 1 to Mar 15 of Hurricane Hunter Gulfstream IV jet "Gonzo" #N49RF is already showing scientific results. New insights to structures of storms is expected to help improve forecasts of #AtmosphericRiver events. https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/19/pdx-hurricane-hunter-crew-studying-atmospheric-rivers/ #aviation #avgeek #weather #PNW
I got ~6mi/10km distant pictures of #UnpaintedAirplane Boeing 737 MAX8 N839AK as BOE866 on downwind leg of its approach to Runway 10R at Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX. This is a brand new plane on its "B1" flight (first flight of the airframe flown by Boeing test pilots) out of the factory in Renton #KRNT. The pre-painted rudder shows this plane will go to Alaska Airlines. I had not previously seen any Alaska planes coming to PDX for paint. #PicklePlane #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Planespotting from home: IcelandAir A321LR (neo) descending out of the cloud base leaves visible condensation in the vortices behind the outer edges of its flaps. Conditions have to be just right for the condensation to be visible. This effect disappeared as relative humidity decreased slightly as it descended farther below the clouds. #KPDX #weather #aviation #avgeek #travel #PNW
