Also on today's bike ride, after not getting to an ideal spot in time for the green/unpainted 737MAX (and just getting some still shots from the bike path), I was in place at the airport for the British Airways 787-10 which arrived soon afterward. #aviation #avgeek #Portland #KPDX #PNW

While bicycling around Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX, I explored bike-accessible locations to get pictures of planes. As expected, there's limited parking near the airport. So some spots need a bike to get to. These views are along the Columbia River (other side of the levee from Runway 28R/10L), at the end of 28R/10L and in the Cascade Station shopping center between the short final for both 28R & 28L. #aviation #avgeek #cycling #Portland #KPDX #PNW

Today I spotted a brand new Boeing 737 MAX8 arriving from Renton #KRNT on its B1 flight (first flight of the aircraft from the factory with Boeing test pilots) at Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX Runway 28L. As it went by I saw United globe livery on the already-painted rudder. So after this plane gets out of Boeing's Portland paint hangar, United test pilots will probably fly it on its 2nd flight. Assuming tests pass, United will pay for it & take delivery. #aviation #avgeek #business #travel #PNW

Before a plane arrives in Portland, there are hints an #avgeek can use to anticipate if it's probably a brand new green plane... Boeing-owned, coming from an airport with a Boeing factory, either Everett Paine Field #KPAE (777 & 767, soon Max10) or Renton Municipal Airport #KRNT (737). Then the flight path can be a big hint that the test pilots are putting a never-before-flown aircraft through the "test card" checklist. So it isn't exactly a direct route. 😀 #aviation #avgeek #business #travel

Boeing sends new planes for painting in Portland as extra capacity beyond what their paint hangars in the Seattle area can handle. At Everett #KPAE they can paint new 777s & 767s (and formerly 747s) on field before first flight. As needed, some fly unpainted to PDX for painting. And new 737s fly out of Renton #KRNT either to Boeing Field #KBFI in Seattle or to Portland #KPDX for paint. #aviation #avgeek #business #travel #PNW

I made an edit a couple posts back in this thread, about hints a plane coming to Portland might be a brand-new green plane. Really, the first hint is "Boeing-owned". You can start checking the other factors after that gets your attention. It flies with a Boeing callsign for testing and painting until the purchase is completed later at a Boeing delivery center in Seattle #KBFI, Everett #KPAE or Charleston #KCHS. #aviation #avgeek #business #travel

Today I drove to PDX Airport #KPDX and got pictures of what I think is the same 737 MAX8 that arrived unpainted on the 3rd, now out of the paint hangar and departing with its United paint. It flew as a Boeing-owned plane to Boeing Field in Seattle, where presumably the purchase by United will be completed and they'll take delivery there. #aviation #travel #avgeek

Coincidentally the next plane to land on Portland Runway 28L after the newly-painted plane's departure was another green 737 MAX8 on its first flight arriving for paint. The painted rudder looks to me like this one will be going to Singapore Airlines. #aviation #travel #avgeek

@ikluft as best I know I’ve never caught a greenie in flight. Im so happy for you…. And a little jealous

@User47 I had seen the green planes on occasion from the house when I wasn't even looking for them. But trying to get enough advance warning to get a camera out, or better get to the airport with a camera, was elusive. I couldn't check flights online at the right time. The secret formula to catching 'em in flight is to live near an airport with a paint hangar, and subscribe to @JetTip alerts. Now in a few weeks I've spotted as many on purpose as I had previously spotted unaware in the past year.