62 Votes (4.33 Average) and 21,735 Views  

Airbus A320neo (N307FR) - It was a hot time in Reno last night. This photo, taken just 25 hours ago, catches FFTs "Champ the Bronco" (N307FR) hurriedly trying to taxi from the runway 16R hold line all the way down to the other end in an attempt to make it to runway 34L and get out of town. The Frontier flight had just left the terminal and was almost at the north end of taxiway Alpha, next to go from 16R, when sudden high swirling winds descended from the Sierra Nevada and a vicious electrical storm exploded over the airport and the city. An inbound SW, less than a mile out, encountered a brutal wind sheer and the pilots immediately reported that the flight was diverting to SMF. This Frontier Bus, a Navy C-40, and a FDX heavy all shut down their engines on Alpha to wait out the storm. As they sat, lightning ignited the fire visible here and a second fire just beginning to spread at the right edge of this photo. About 35-40 minutes later, after a UA inbound made a rough arrival on 34L, the FFT pilots requested permission to restart, swap ends of the runway, and get gone for Denver. This pic was taken as they hustled from the hold of 16R to 34L where they made a successful getaway.
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Airbus A320neo (N307FR)

Submitted

It was a hot time in Reno last night. This photo, taken just 25 hours ago, catches FFT's "Champ the Bronco" (N307FR) hurriedly trying to taxi from the runway 16R hold line all the way down to the other end in an attempt to make it to runway 34L and get out of town. The Frontier flight had just left the terminal and was almost at the north end of taxiway Alpha, next to go from 16R, when sudden high swirling winds descended from the Sierra Nevada and a vicious electrical storm exploded over the airport and the city. An inbound SW, less than a mile out, encountered a brutal wind sheer and the pilots immediately reported that the flight was diverting to SMF. This Frontier Bus, a Navy C-40, and a FDX heavy all shut down their engines on Alpha to wait out the storm. As they sat, lightning ignited the fire visible here and a second fire just beginning to spread at the right edge of this photo. About 35-40 minutes later, after a UA inbound made a rough arrival on 34L, the FFT pilots requested permission to restart, swap ends of the runway, and get gone for Denver. This pic was taken as they hustled from the hold of 16R to 34L where they made a successful getaway.

Comments

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cliff731
Gary - that looks like a serious fire burning in the background... :-(
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
The two fires seen here were later named the "Kiowa" and "Hoge" fires. Lightning also ignited another wildfire near Reno Stead Airport (KRTS) during this same storm.
cliff731
Gary - when such fires are given a name, that's a significant event! Your narrative is very descriptive... :-(
Grant Bush
Wow! Thats crazy! Hope everyone is safe!
Greg Byington
Amazing! Great shot and story, Gary!
jet4ang
Great shot Gary. Good ol' Reno. I learned to fly here and encountered a nasty storm in 06 during my 2nd solo. Nearly pissed my pants but brought the old 182 down safely. I watched a lightning bolt hit the ground nearby during my approach in the rain. Whew!
ken kemper
Splendid Photo Gary.
scottie snyder
absolutely stunning
Gary SchenauerPhoto Uploader
Scottie S. >> Thank You VM for your Comment. (Wave)
ACTIVITY LOG
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Date Aircraft Origin Destination Departure Arrival Duration
27-Apr-2025 A20NJohn Wayne ()Harry Reid Intl () 18:37 PDT 19:29 PDT Scheduled
27-Apr-2025 A20NSan Francisco Int'l ()John Wayne () 16:11 PDT 17:27 PDT Scheduled
27-Apr-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()San Francisco Int'l () 13:28 PDT 15:01 PDT Scheduled
27-Apr-2025 A20NSan Francisco Int'l ()Harry Reid Intl () 10:51 PDT 12:13 PDT Scheduled
27-Apr-2025 A20NOntario Intl ()San Francisco Int'l () 08:20 PDT 09:16 PDT Scheduled
27-Apr-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Ontario Intl () 06:23 PDT 07:02 PDT Scheduled
25-Apr-2025 A20NCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ()Harry Reid Intl () 21:01 EDT 22:02 PDT 4:00
25-Apr-2025 A20NFort Lauderdale Intl ()Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport () 17:29 EDT 19:39 EDT 2:10
25-Apr-2025 A20NCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ()Fort Lauderdale Intl () 13:59 EDT 16:07 EDT 2:07
25-Apr-2025 A20NTampa Intl ()Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport () 09:34 EDT 11:19 EDT 1:45
25-Apr-2025 A20NCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ()Tampa Intl () 06:13 EDT 07:58 EDT 1:44
24-Apr-2025 A20NSarasota/Bradenton Intl ()Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport () 16:04 EDT 18:04 EDT 1:59
24-Apr-2025 A20NCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ()Sarasota/Bradenton Intl () 12:53 EDT 14:47 EDT 1:54
24-Apr-2025 A20NBoston Logan Intl ()Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport () 09:30 EDT 11:21 EDT 1:50
24-Apr-2025 A20NCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ()Boston Logan Intl () 06:16 EDT 07:55 EDT 1:38
23-Apr-2025 A20NCancun Int'l ()Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport () 11:23 EST 15:19 EDT 2:55
23-Apr-2025 A20NCincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport ()Cancun Int'l () 07:41 EDT 09:32 EST 2:51
22-Apr-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport () 09:13 EDT 10:55 EDT 1:42
22-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Orlando Intl () 05:17 EDT 07:18 EDT 2:00
21-Apr-2025 A20NNashville Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 19:28 CDT 21:53 EDT 1:25
21-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Nashville Intl () 17:28 EDT 18:14 CDT 1:45
21-Apr-2025 A20NBoston Logan Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 13:34 EDT 14:39 EDT 1:05
21-Apr-2025 A20NCharlotte/Douglas Intl ()Boston Logan Intl () 10:26 EDT 12:00 EDT 1:33
21-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Charlotte/Douglas Intl () 07:23 EDT 08:36 EDT 1:12
20-Apr-2025 A20NJacksonville Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 22:01 EDT 23:41 EDT 1:40
20-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Jacksonville Intl () 18:59 EDT 20:48 EDT 1:48
20-Apr-2025 A20NHartsfield-Jackson Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 15:56 EDT 17:24 EDT 1:27
20-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Hartsfield-Jackson Intl () 12:27 EDT 14:06 EDT 1:39
20-Apr-2025 A20NJacksonville Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 09:19 EDT 10:57 EDT 1:38
20-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Jacksonville Intl () 06:11 EDT 07:57 EDT 1:46
19-Apr-2025 A20NSouthwest Florida Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 19:49 EDT 21:59 EDT 2:09
19-Apr-2025 A20NLong Island MacArthur ()Southwest Florida Intl () 15:38 EDT 18:12 EDT 2:33
19-Apr-2025 A20NSouthwest Florida Intl ()Long Island MacArthur () 12:06 EDT 14:36 EDT 2:29
19-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Southwest Florida Intl () 08:14 EDT 10:36 EDT 2:22
18-Apr-2025 A20NRaleigh-Durham Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 22:54 EDT 23:53 EDT 0:59
18-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Raleigh-Durham Intl () 20:55 EDT 21:48 EDT 0:52
18-Apr-2025 A20NMyrtle Beach Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 18:25 EDT 19:37 EDT 1:12
18-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Myrtle Beach Intl () 16:18 EDT 17:24 EDT 1:06
18-Apr-2025 A20NBoston Logan Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 13:52 EDT 14:49 EDT 0:57
18-Apr-2025 A20NCharlotte/Douglas Intl ()Boston Logan Intl () 10:35 EDT 12:22 EDT 1:47
18-Apr-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Charlotte/Douglas Intl () 08:01 EDT 09:08 EDT 1:06
17-Apr-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 23:31 PDT 06:31 EDT (+1) 4:00
17-Apr-2025 A20NSacramento Intl ()Harry Reid Intl () 20:00 PDT 21:09 PDT 1:08
17-Apr-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Sacramento Intl () 17:45 PDT 18:55 PDT 1:09
17-Apr-2025 A320San Francisco Int'l ()Harry Reid Intl () 10:59 PDT 12:20 PDT Cancelled
17-Apr-2025 A320Ontario Intl ()San Francisco Int'l () 08:28 PDT 09:50 PDT Cancelled
17-Apr-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Ontario Intl () 06:33 PDT 07:19 PDT Cancelled
16-Apr-2025 A20NSan Francisco Int'l ()Harry Reid Intl () 18:39 PDT 20:17 PDT 1:37
16-Apr-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()San Francisco Int'l () 09:22 PDT 10:38 PDT 1:15
15-Apr-2025 A20NPhoenix Sky Harbor Intl ()Harry Reid Intl () 14:21 MST 15:06 PDT 0:44
15-Apr-2025 A20NMinneapolis/St Paul Intl ()Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl () 11:51 CDT 12:52 MST 3:00
15-Apr-2025 A20NPhoenix Sky Harbor Intl ()Minneapolis/St Paul Intl () 05:51 MST 10:34 CDT 2:43
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