Blue Skies Aviation

@blueskiesaviation

Amateur aviation photographer based in the northeastern US. All photos my own unless otherwise credited. 🚫AI🚫

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Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· 5d

It did bring a nice 787-10 to Bradley, so there’s that

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· 12d

Close up of the M2

Close up of a Browning M2 machine gun on the back ramp of a CH-53

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· 12d

Need a lot of stuff moved straight up? The CH-53E Super Stallion may be right for you. This behemoth from HMH-772 at McGuire AFB made a stop at KBAF on 07/22/26, sporting an M2 Browning on the back ramp. #ch53 #superstallion #kbaf #usmc #marines #helicopters #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A CH-53 on the ramp with one of the ground crew doing pre-flight checks

Close-up of the front of a CH-53 with the crew chief looking out the window

A CH-53 lifting off with a forested ridgeline in the background

CH-53 climbing out, with the back ramp open and a Browning M2 mounted on the ramp

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· 17d

Happy 7/27 day to all who celebrate! Seen here is the Zero G 727 resting on the ramp at KPSM at sunset, 05/06/24 #b722 #kpsm #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A white/blue/black 727-200 with text “Zero G” sitting on the ramp facing away from the camera with a vivid sunset behind it

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· 24d

Say the line… #airventure #oshkosh

A screenshot from FR24 of the massive line into Oshkosh

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· 26d

Not a rerun from a few weeks ago; a different RAF C-17, landing at the same airport on the same runway. This time it was ZZ174, seen here on short final for runway 23 at KCEF yesterday. #raf #c17 #kcef #westover #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

An RAF C-17, reg ZZ174, viewed from below and to the right in the landing configuration

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jul 14

The Red Dogs: US Marine Corps UH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom from HMLA-773 out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, departing after a quick stop at KBAF this evening #barnes #kbaf #hmla773 #reddogs #usmc #helicopters #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A gray UH-1Y helicopter starting up, with two crew members readying the aircraft for takeoff

UH-1Y Venom lifting off. The side door is open, and a crew member seated inside waves to the camera

A gray AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter lifts off the ramp

The UH-1Y Venom departing to the right, with the AH-1Z Viper beginning to bank to the left to follow

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jul 11

American Airlines’ Astrojet retro livery 737 departing KBDL today. I’ve shared Astrojet pics before but it’s well worth revisiting. #astrojet #americanairlines #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A silver 737-800 with a red stripe and text “American Airlines” and “Astrojet” climbing out with the gear partially retracted

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jul 7

A new addition to Westfield, MA: Visitors entering the city from the south are now greeted by the vertical stabilizer of an F-15. The 104th Fighter Wing, based in Westfield, flew the F-15 until September of 2025, and recently received their first F-35s. #104fw #f15 #kbaf #barnestormers

The vertical stabilizer of an F-15, bearing the text “104th Fighter Wing, MA, and AF85104, along with the seal of the city of Westfield

The vertical stabilizer of an F-15, bearing the text “Westfield” along with the image of a Minuteman superimposed over the outline of Massachusetts

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jul 1

Placid Lassie lives in my neck of the woods. Here she is landing in Pittsfield, MA

DC-3 “Placid Lassie” touching down with rolling hills in the background

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 28

Jolly Greens and Blackhawks undergoing testing at the Sikorsky plant in Stratford, CT #sikorsky #blackhawk #jollygreen #helicopters #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

An HH-60 Jolly Green lifts off in front of another HH-60 parked on the ramp

An HH-60 in flight with a wooded hill in the background

A Blackhawk in the hover with a fire truck and an HH-60 in the background

An HH-60 in the hover with another HH-60 in the background

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 24

It was a busy day for this crew

A screenshot from ADSB exchange of the track for this aircraft on the day these photos were taken, showing it traveling all over southern New England performing various tests at various airports.

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 24

FLIGHT • CHECK FLC80, a Beech King Air operated by the FAA, makes a stop at KBAF, 06/11/26. The FAA uses King Airs like this one to test the calibration of ILS approaches and navigational aids. #faa #flightcheck #kingair #n80 #kbaf #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A blue and white Beech king air, registration number N80, viewed from below in the landing configuration. The outer portions of the wings are painted orange with text “flight“ on the right wing and “check“ on the left wing.

A blue and white king air taxis into its parking space.

Outer portion of left wing painted orange with text “flight“

Outer portion of right wing painted orange with text “check“

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 22

Caught a fairly distant pic of this plane 6/13 departing KBAF

A blue and white Quest Kodiak with a large star on the tail in flight

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 21

Special liveries from KBDL, 06/14/26: Southwest’s “Missouri One” and American’s “America 250” landing on runway 24 #southwest #americanairlines #b737 #kbdl #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A Southwest 737-700 with a Missouri themed livery in the landing configuration

An American Airlines 737-800 with a large red white and blue “250” decal in the landing configuration

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 19

No mention of the Martin P6M Seamaster?

A photo from overhead of a P6M taking off from the water

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 19

RAF C-17, call sign ASCOT6239, landing at Westover ARB 06/11/26 #c17 #raf #kcef #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

An RAF C-17, registration ZZ176, viewed from below and to the side on the landing configuration

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 16

One of my favorite pics of the weekend. It reminds us of a time when America interacted with facists by dropping bombs on them.

Fifi climbing out passing behind an American flag

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 16

More pics

A large puff of smoke as engine #4 on Fifi rumbles to life

Fifi on short final. A pilot told me that landing a B-29 requires a significant nose down attitude right up to the flare.

Gunfighter taxis past Fifi on the way to the runway

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 16

Pics from the Commemorative Air Force’s recent visit to Westfield, MA, featuring their B-29 Superfortress “Fifi”, along with P-51 “Gunfighter” and some other vintage warbirds. #caf #b29 #p51 #fifi #warbirds #kbaf #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

B-29 Fifi climbs out with the gear coming up

B-29 Fifi viewed from below on short final with the sun overhead

P-51 “Gunfighter” overhead in a right bank

A blue and yellow Stearman biplane in flight

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 13

JetBlue’s new Dominican Republic themed “Quisqueya la Bluebella” A320 at KBDL today, landing runway 24 and departing 33. JetBlue is crushing it with specials lately. #jetblue #republicadominicana #a320 #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A dark blue JetBlue A320 with a bright, multicolored tail section on short final

A dark blue JetBlue A320 with a bright, multicolored tail section climbs out with the gear partially retracted

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 12

Today marked the beginning of a new era for the 104th FW in Westfield, MA. Eight months after the last F-15 departed, the first F-35s arrived at KBAF. These jets are loaners from Florida and Wisconsin while the Barnestormers wait for their own jets. #f35 #104fw #kbaf #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A four ship formation of F-35s viewed from behind, with the lead jet beginning the break

An F-35 makes a low approach with a forested ridgeline in the background

An F-35 pulls hard out of a low approach, causing some vapor to form at the wing roots

Three F-35s vacating the runway and taxiing to the ramp. Mt Tom is visible in the background.

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 9

At the other end, here’s one landing at Newark, taken in 2024

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 7

TITAN04, US Marine Corps KC-130, executes a missed approach at KCEF, 06/02/26 #usmc #c130 #kcef #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A gray KC-130 climbs out with the gear still extended

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 3

What a day to be at Westover. Four Spanish Navy Harriers stopped for gas on their way to MCAS Cherry Point. Such timelessly beautiful jets. This might be the last time I’ll see (and hear) airworthy Harriers. Link to videos in comments👇 #harrier #españa #armada #kcef #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

Parked Spanish Navy Harrier viewed 3/4 on with the cockpit slightly open

Four Spanish Navy Harriers parked side by side on the ramp

Four Spanish Navy Harriers parked on the ramp. The pilots are getting ready to start the jets.

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 1

Bonus biz jets

A white Bombardier Global 5500 with a gold stripe on short final

A white trijet Falcon with blue stripes on short final

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 1

Taxiing out for runway 24

JetBlue’s Boston themed A320 on the taxiway with trees in the background

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· Jun 1

Wicked cool plane guy, sawr it ovah the Dunks in Dorchestah JetBlue‘s “Wicked Blue” A320 landing runway 33 at KBDL today #jetblue #wickedblue #boston #kbdl #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

Dark blue JetBlue A320 with large, colorful text “BOSTON” in the landing configuration

Dark blue JetBlue A320 with large, colorful text “BOSTON” in the landing configuration, viewed from slightly behind

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· May 24

Grumman Albatross and Dassault Falcon on display at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Massachusetts, May 2013 #falcon #albatross #coastguard #airplanes #aviation #avgeek

A Grumman Albatross seaplane and Dassault Falcon jet in Coast Guard livery displayed in a small plane park

Blue Skies Aviation@blueskiesaviation· May 23

Not sure of its origin, but here is one at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona