Ian Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Apr 29, 2025
I bicycled to Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX for a closer view of this unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8. Coming from Renton WA #KRNT where the 737 final assembly line is, I suspect this was the very first flight of this aircraft, known as the "B1" flight since it's the first flight done by Boeing test pilots. (A later pre-delivery flight with customer test pilots is called the "C1" flight.) Boeing has a paint hangar in Portland so some new planes fly here on B1 to get painted. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Apr 29, 2025

Sometimes a perceptive #avgeek can tell which airline an unpainted new plane will be going to. The rudder gets installed already with final paint because the paint hangar can't get inside the mechanism with out disassembling it, which they don't want to do. Unless it's a special livery, this looks to me like it's going to Singapore Airlines.

Credit to @JetTip for the first hint that a Boeing-owned plane might be on the way to Portland from Renton, which I inferred as possibly new. #aviation

Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Apr 29, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Apr 29, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 3, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 3, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 3, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 4, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 13, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 13, 2025
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 14, 2025
Clarification: it was a coincidence that a brand new green plane was the next to land after the newly-painted plane took off. However, it was not at all a coincidence that I was there to catch it. That was the plane I drove to the airport to get pictures of. #aviation #avgeek
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 22, 2025
The latest brand new Boeing plane to arrive in Portland #KPDX for painting isn't obvious to me (from the painted rudder and winglets) which airline it will go to. Perhaps it's a non-standard "special livery". This is a 737 MAX8 whose first flight was cancelled 2 days in a row before flying from the Renton #KRNT factory today . #aviation #travel #avgeek
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 22, 2025
Here's a closer look with a screenshot, cropped and slightly sharpened, for a view of the painted rudder and winglets to figure out who's the customer for this Boeing 737 MAX8. (edit: the top stripes on the tail look like Norwegian Air Shuttle. But the winglets would be a new style for them.) #KPDX #aviation #avgeek #travel
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 22, 2025
I think this is rare for Portland, but not unheard of - a second brand new green Boeing in one day, on its first flight coming for paint. (The Boeing paint hangar in Portland has capacity for 2 planes at a time.) This time it's a 737 MAX9. The painted rudder looks to me like it's going to Aeroméxico. This morning I drove to the airport; this time I took my bicycle and got it from a spot where there's no public parking available. #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 22, 2025
30 minutes after the green MAX9 arrival, there was a bonus #avgeek sighting. I got cell phone video of a Cathay Pacific Cargo Boeing 747-8F landing on Runway 10R. In those 30 minutes, winds turned around the runway directions and I didn't have time to bicycle around to the other side of the airport. In the background are trusses of the I-5 Interstate Bridge between Portland OR and Vancouver WA, and to the right of it are high-rise buildings in downtown Vancouver WA. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋May 22, 2025
Another video from this afternoon's bike ride to PDX. This shows Alaska Airlines 198, a Boeing 737 MAX9, arriving from Anchorage, Alaska on Portland Runway 28L. Both Anchorage and Portland are hubs for Alaska Airlines. #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 1, 2025
Here's today's game of "Name that livery", which we all try to figure out the customer based on a painted rudder on an otherwise-unpainted plane. This is a Boeing 737 MAX8. It landed at Portland #KPDX Runway 28L since that's closest to the Boeing paint hangar. This one appears to me to be for SCAT Airlines of Kazakhstan. We'll know for sure if someone catches it on the way out of painting in some days. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 1, 2025
Video of this afternoon's green/unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 arrival at Portland Airport #KPDX Runway 28L for painting. When we see these, it's usually the first-ever flight of that aircraft out of the Renton WA factory. The painted rudder leads me to think this is going to SCAT Airlines of Kazakhstan. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 4, 2025
Another brand-new green Boeing 737 MAX8 was flown to Portland #KPDX for painting this afternoon on its first flight out of the Renton #KRNT factory. Based on the painted rudder, this one appears to me to be going to Malaysia Airlines. I didn't have as good a vantage point since the wind & weather turned the runways around. It landed on Runway 10R. #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 4, 2025
Video of the landing this afternoon of a new unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 on Runway 10R at Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX on its way to the Boeing paint hangar. #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 12, 2025
A new Boeing 737 MAX8 departed from the Boeing paint hangar at Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX today. The customer is SCAT Airlines of Kazakhstan, which we wouldn't normally see at PDX. I think this is the same one I posted pics + video arriving unpainted on May 31. At this point the plane is still owned by Boeing. It departed for Boeing Field in Seattle where the purchase and customer delivery will presumably occur. https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE156/history/20250612/1645Z/KPDX/KBFI #aviation #travel #business #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 12, 2025
Video: takeoff of newly-painted Boeing 737 MAX8 of SCAT Airlines (Kazakhstan) on Runway 28L at Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX heading to Boeing Field #KBFI in Seattle for customer delivery. Also continued the video pan to show an IcelandAir 757 in its overnight parking spot awaiting this afternoon's scheduled return flight to Reykjavik. #aviation #travel #avgeek
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 19, 2025
Video: a brand-new unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 arrived at Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX on its first flight out of the Renton factory today. It was coming to Boeing's PDX paint hangar. Based on the painted rudder and winglets, I couldn't immediately tell which airline is the customer for this plane. It could be a custom livery, leasing company or private buyer. #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jun 19, 2025
Here's a cropped frame-grab from my video of the brand-new unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 which arrived at Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX today. I didn't find an obvious match for which airline it's going to, based on the painted rudder and winglets. #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jul 8, 2025
From home in Portland I saw a green unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 on final approach to Portland Int'l #KPDX, coming from the 737 factory in Renton #KRNT, Washington. The pre-painted rudder and winglets appear to be from AJet of Turkey. This is usually the first flight of the aircraft by Boeing test pilots. It's going to Boeing's Portland paint hangar which handles overflow when the Seattle-area paint hangars are booked. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jul 10, 2025
Spotted from my backyard in Portland: an unpainted green (vinyl protective coating from the factory) Boeing 777-200LR freighter on final approach to Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX coming from the Boeing Everett Factory at Paine Field #KPAE on this aircraft's first flight. After landing it taxied to Boeing's Portland Paint Hangar. The rudder was unpainted. But ADS-B indicated the plane will be registered in UAE upon customer delivery. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jul 12, 2025
Viewed from my backyard, a new Boeing 737 MAX9 with pre-painted rudder indicating this one will be going to United Airlines. It came from Boeing's 737 factory in Renton WA #KRNT. This one was different because it did 2 touch-and-go's on Portland #KPDX Runway 28R before landing on Runway 28L, nearest to the Boeing paint hangar. I would have missed some pics if I had been at the airport, without enough time to reposition to the other runway. #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jul 22, 2025
Spotted flying into Portland #KPDX this afternoon: a brand new green unpainted Boeing 737 MAX9 on its first flight out of the factory in Renton #KRNT. It came to the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar, which Boeing uses for overflow capacity when all the Seattle-area paint hangars (at RNT PAE BFI) are booked. The pre-painted rudder and winglets indicate this aircraft's customer is United Airlines. #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jul 25, 2025
I bicycled to Portland Airport #KPDX this afternoon. Here's the same Boeing 777-200LR/F freighter which arrived as an #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane on July 10, now painted in Emirates Sky Cargo livery. Though it's still owned by Boeing at this point. The plane flew to Boeing Field #KBFI in Seattle where purchase and customer delivery are routinely the next steps. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jul 25, 2025
Takeoff on Runway 28L at Portland Airport #KPDX of a Boeing 777-200LR/F freighter fresh out of the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar. This is probably the plane's second flight. Its first flight was July 10 from the Boeing Everett factory at Paine Field #KPAE to Portland for painting. Today it flew to Boeing Field #KBFI in Seattle where the customer will complete the purchase and take delivery. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jul 29, 2025
Planespotting from home this afternoon, I got pics of a brand new green Boeing 737 MAX8 inbound from the 737 factory in Renton #KRNT. It was on final approach to Portland Int'l #KPDX. After landing, ADS-B showed it taxied to the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar as expected. The pre-painted rudder looks like this plane's buyer is SCAT Airlines of Kazakhstan. ADS-B data agreed, showing a KZ reg. I saw another SCAT arrive May 31 & leave June 12. #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Aug 13, 2025
An unpainted green Boeing 737 MAX8 flew by today on its way to the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar. I got pictures from home as it flew by about a mile away on final approach to Portland #KPDX Runway 28L. The pre-painted rudder indicates this one may be for Arajet of the Dominican Republic. Since it flew in from Moses Lake, Washington #KMWH, it was likely coming from storage, not the factory. (Orders may change for stored planes.) #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Aug 17, 2025
A mystery unpainted green plane I spotted today inbound to Portland Int'l #KPDX was a Boeing 737 MAX8. The pre-painted rudder and winglets are the only hints at this point. It looks like this one will go to Enter Air, a charter airline of Poland. (ADS-B showed Polish registration.) Interestingly, Wikipedia doesn't show any current MAX8 orders for them. So either it needs an update or this may be an order by an aircraft leasing company. #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Aug 18, 2025
Spotted from home today in Portland: a brand new green unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 on approach to Portland Int'l #KPDX on the aircraft's first flight out of the Boeing factory at Renton #KRNT. Each one is a new puzzle: I think this one is going to Norwegian Air Sweden due to the pre-painted rudder (with Norwegian Air Shuttle pattern) and the ADS-B data (indicating Swedish registration). It taxied to the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar. #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Sep 4, 2025
This afternoon I spotted a green unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 on approach to Portland #KPDX, coming from the Boeing 737 factory in Renton #KRNT. It was probably the plane's first flight. Callsign was Boeing 940. After landing it taxied to the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar. The pre-painted rudder and winglets look like this plane's customer is Oman Air. ADS-B also showed OM registration. #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Sep 4, 2025
Flights with indirect routing like today's are a big hint that a plane coming from Renton #KRNT to Portland #KPDX will probably turn out to be a new unpainted green plane on its first flight. Boeing test pilots fly out to eastern Washington State while putting the plane through the "test card" checklist. Many things to verify as working properly before they hand off a new aircraft to the customer's line pilots. https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/BOE940/history/20250904/1615Z/KRNT/KPDX #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋
Something you don't see every day in Portland #KPDX... a Boeing 737 MAX8 of Norwegian Air Sweden. Except I already posted pics of this plane here. It arrived August 18 on its B1 flight as a green #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane. Now out of the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar on its second flight, it could be customer pilots testing on its C1 flight. It did two trips around the pattern at PDX before departing north to Boeing Field #KBFI in Seattle for customer delivery. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Sep 6, 2025 at 7:53pmWeb
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Sep 16, 2025
I spotted an Oman Air Boeing 737 MAX8 in OneWorld special livery as it departed Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX. This brand new plane is still owned by Boeing, flying to Boeing Field #KBFI in Seattle for customer delivery. I posted pictures of this same aircraft on Sept 4 when it arrived as an #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane on its first flight. It was painted during the 12 days it was in Portland. #aviation #business #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Oct 28
Another plane that seemingly doesn't belong here: FlyDubai 737 MAX8 departing Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX. This plane is brand new and not yet delivered to the airline. It arrived at the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar on Oct 17 from the Boeing 737 factory in Renton #KRNT. This is probably the plane's second flight. I'm guessing customer pilots are doing a "C1" acceptance flight test since Boeing test pilots already tested it and it's in eastern Washington for maneuvers. #aviation #travel #avgeek
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Nov 7
I got pictures of a brand new Boeing 737 MAX8 on final approach to Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX. This is the recurring theme of 737 MAX planes arriving for painting in Portland. It's flown by Boeing test pilots on its first flight out of the Boeing Renton #KRNT factory. The mystery each time we see one of these is what airline it's going to. This time the pre-painted rudder indicates the customer is American Airlines. #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Dec 3
Spotted: brand new Boeing 737 MAX8 departing Portland Int'l Airport #KPDX. It came from the Boeing Paint Hangar wearing TUI livery and ADS-B indicating UK registration G-TUPC. It's flying with the callsign Boeing 911. Next step after its arrival at Seattle Boeing Field #KBFI will likely be "delivery" (payment and change of ownership) to the customer who will then ferry it home. #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Dec 17
Planespotting at PDX today: new green Boeing 737 MAX8 arrived as BOE941 on this aircraft's first flight out of the Renton factory, coming to Portland for painting. The pre-painted rudder indicates this plane was ordered by Oman Air. Also, before it arrived I saw Oman registration indicated on ADS-B tracking. #KPDX #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Jan 22
Spotted departing PDX today: brand new Boeing 737 MAX8 C-GMJV for Air Canada🇨🇦. It departed from the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar as BOE728. After flight test maneuvers over eastern Washington State, it landed at Seattle Boeing Field where customer delivery will occur. I decided not to wait at the airport for this plane to depart - the 777-9 was the primary goal. I got this picture a couple miles away at a station where I got off the MAX light rail. #aviation #travel #avgeek
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Mar 1
Spotted arriving at PDX today: green/unpainted Boeing 737 MAX8 as BOE242 on final approach to Runway 28L. The pre-painted rudder looks like AeroMexico, though missing the stripes of standard livery. It transmitted ADS-B data indicating this plane will be registered in Mexico. This is the first flight of the aircraft, coming from the Boeing 737 factory in Renton #KRNT to the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar. #KPDX #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane #aviation #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Mar 19
Spotted at PDX this afternoon: green #UnpaintedAirplane #PicklePlane Boeing 737 MAX8 on its first flight out of the Renton factory, arriving at Portland #KPDX as Boeing 508 for painting at the Boeing paint hangar. The pre-painted rudder indicates this plane will go to American Airlines. And ADS-B telemetry also indicated AAL. #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Mar 19
This Pilatus PC-12 turboprop N21AU landing at Portland #KPDX would probably go mostly unnoticed... except for its radio callsign Boeing 21AU. This is a crew transport coming to pick up the test pilots from Boeing 508. It will take them back to Boeing Field #KBFI in Seattle where the flight test base is located. Either this plane or a Cessna 208 that Boeing flies for similar purpose shows up when planes are entering or exiting the PDX paint hangar. #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Mar 27
Spotted at PDX this morning: green #UnpaintedAirplane Boeing 777-200LR freighter on its first flight out of the Everett PAE factory, seen here approaching Portland Int'l Airport PDX for painting. The rudder was not pre-painted, eliminating one hint which airline it will go to. ADS-B telemetry indicated this plane is for a customer in UAE. When combined with the list of current 777F orders, that narrows it down to Emirates SkyCargo. #PicklePlane #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Mar 31
Spotted departing PDX today: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner now in Lufthansa livery after a visit to the Boeing Portland Paint Hangar, flying as BOE845. This is line number 1011, among a bunch that some avgeeks have been tracking from a canceled Norwegian order which were all snapped up by Lufthansa to get ahead of 787 factory production timelines. By the time I noticed it was moving, it had lifted off, leaving me a few seconds to grab the camera. #KPDX #aviation #travel #avgeek #business #PNW
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Apr 4
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
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Apr 18
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
Show threadTheNovemberFella ✊🏳️‍🌈 🇺🇦☸️🛰️🚀Apr 6
@ikluft 👍👍
Show threadsimonbpMar 28
@ikluft Well, no rush then
Show threadIan Kluft ✅✈️🎈🌋Mar 28
@simonbp Yeah, that thought occurred to me too. It'll take 3-4 weeks for them to paint a 777. Then we can tell what directions things are going by where it flies from Portland. If it goes to BFI, then the customer delivery process is proceeding normally. If it goes to MWH, it's getting stored until the customer is ready for delivery.
[edit: I suspect as a cargo carrier they can make revenue flights without the plane going to its home base for a while.]