62 Votes (4.33 Average) and 21,608 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
04-Apr-2025 A320Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl ()Denver Intl () 06:10 MST 08:43 MDT Scheduled
03-Apr-2025 A320Denver Intl ()Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl () 23:02 MDT 23:47 MST Scheduled
03-Apr-2025 A320The Eastern Iowa ()Denver Intl () 20:36 CDT 21:12 MDT Scheduled
03-Apr-2025 A320Denver Intl ()The Eastern Iowa () 16:43 MDT 19:06 CDT Scheduled
03-Apr-2025 A320Palm Springs Intl ()Denver Intl () 12:42 PDT 15:18 MDT Scheduled
03-Apr-2025 A320Denver Intl ()Palm Springs Intl () 10:15 MDT 11:02 PDT Scheduled
03-Apr-2025 A320Miami Intl ()Denver Intl () 06:58 EDT 08:46 MDT Scheduled
02-Apr-2025 A320Denver Intl ()Miami Intl () 23:13 MDT 04:49 EDT (+1) Scheduled
02-Apr-2025 A20NPensacola Intl ()Denver Intl () 19:50 CDT 21:45 MDT On The Way!
02-Apr-2025 A20NDenver Intl ()Pensacola Intl () 14:48 MDT 18:31 CDT 2:42
02-Apr-2025 A20NPortland Intl ()Denver Intl () 09:56 PDT 13:08 MDT 2:11
02-Apr-2025 A20NLos Angeles Intl ()Portland Intl () 06:42 PDT 08:49 PDT 2:07
01-Apr-2025 A20NDenver Intl ()Los Angeles Intl () 23:26 MDT 00:32 PDT (+1) 2:05
01-Apr-2025 A20NIndianapolis Intl ()Denver Intl () 19:19 EDT 20:08 MDT 2:48
01-Apr-2025 A20NDenver Intl ()Indianapolis Intl () 14:13 MDT 18:02 EDT 1:48
01-Apr-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Denver Intl () 10:36 PDT 12:49 MDT 1:12
31-Mar-2025 A20NChicago Midway Intl ()Harry Reid Intl () 21:03 CDT 23:03 PDT 3:59
31-Mar-2025 A20NHouston Bush Int'ctl ()Chicago Midway Intl () 12:46 CDT 14:44 CDT 1:58
31-Mar-2025 A20NChicago Midway Intl ()Houston Bush Int'ctl () 09:07 CDT 11:27 CDT 2:19
31-Mar-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Chicago Midway Intl () 02:13 PDT 07:09 CDT 2:56
30-Mar-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Harry Reid Intl () 22:11 EDT 00:03 PDT (+1) 4:52
30-Mar-2025 A20NLas Americas ()Orlando Intl () 15:08 AST 18:07 EDT 2:59
30-Mar-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Las Americas () 11:11 EDT 13:13 AST 2:02
30-Mar-2025 A20NBoston Logan Intl ()Orlando Intl () 06:19 EDT 08:55 EDT 2:36
29-Mar-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Boston Logan Intl () 21:56 EDT 00:19 EDT (+1) 2:22
29-Mar-2025 A20NHartsfield-Jackson Intl ()Orlando Intl () 17:55 EDT 18:54 EDT 0:58
29-Mar-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Hartsfield-Jackson Intl () 15:09 EDT 16:18 EDT 1:09
29-Mar-2025 A20NChicago Midway Intl ()Orlando Intl () 08:59 CDT 12:12 EDT 2:12
29-Mar-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Chicago Midway Intl () 06:05 EDT 07:26 CDT 2:21
28-Mar-2025 A20NGerald R Ford Intl ()Orlando Intl () 19:50 EDT 21:56 EDT 2:06
28-Mar-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Gerald R Ford Intl () 16:08 EDT 18:24 EDT 2:15
28-Mar-2025 A20NDetroit Metro Wayne Co ()Orlando Intl () 12:19 EDT 14:26 EDT 2:06
28-Mar-2025 A20NOrlando Intl ()Detroit Metro Wayne Co () 08:38 EDT 10:57 EDT 2:18
27-Mar-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Orlando Intl () 23:04 EDT 00:59 EDT (+1) 1:55
27-Mar-2025 A20NTampa Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 18:35 EDT 20:36 EDT 2:00
27-Mar-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Tampa Intl () 14:25 EDT 16:37 EDT 2:11
27-Mar-2025 A20NMiami Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 10:24 EDT 12:57 EDT 2:33
27-Mar-2025 A20NPhiladelphia Intl ()Miami Intl () 06:06 EDT 08:26 EDT 2:20
24-Mar-2025 A20NDenver Intl ()Philadelphia Intl () 23:58 MDT 04:50 EDT (+1) 2:52
24-Mar-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Denver Intl () 20:00 PDT 22:25 MDT 1:24
24-Mar-2025 A20NSan Antonio Intl ()Harry Reid Intl () 18:17 CDT 18:37 PDT 2:19
24-Mar-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()San Antonio Intl () 12:34 PDT 16:57 CDT 2:22
24-Mar-2025 A20NDenver Intl ()Harry Reid Intl () 10:34 MDT 11:00 PDT 1:25
24-Mar-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Denver Intl () 06:12 PDT 08:43 MDT 1:31
23-Mar-2025 A20NHouston Bush Int'ctl ()Harry Reid Intl () 23:26 CDT 00:17 PDT (+1) 2:50
23-Mar-2025 A20NOntario Intl ()Houston Bush Int'ctl () 16:06 PDT 20:57 CDT 2:51
23-Mar-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Ontario Intl () 14:07 PDT 14:42 PDT 0:34
23-Mar-2025 A20NSan Francisco Int'l ()Harry Reid Intl () 11:20 PDT 12:32 PDT 1:12
23-Mar-2025 A20NOntario Intl ()San Francisco Int'l () 08:27 PDT 09:26 PDT 0:59
23-Mar-2025 A20NHarry Reid Intl ()Ontario Intl () 06:35 PDT 07:11 PDT 0:36
22-Mar-2025 A20NDenver Intl ()Harry Reid Intl () 13:22 MDT 13:57 PDT 1:34
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