Fargo, North Dakota.

In late June, I was getting ready for a proficiency flight in preparation for my annual Civil Air Patrol (CAP) check flight (certification to continue piloting CAP aircraft). As I went about my business doing the normal preflight safety checks, I noticed a large cargo aircraft that looks like the military heavy hauler, the Hercules C-130. This wasn’t a military aircraft painted in the usual dull gray. It was painted white with the only identifying signage reading “Lynden Air Cargo.” A quick Internet search would yield several facts about the civilian version of the Lockheed C-130. Known as the L-100, the civilian variant was manufactured from 1964 through 1992 after delivering 114 units. I would further learn that Lynden Air Cargo is based in Anchorage, Alaska and uses a fleet of the model L-382 variant of the L-100. According to Lynden’s website, they transport “everything from groceries to cars within Alaska through scheduled weekly service and oversized cargo worldwide through charter flights.”

As someone who’s spent a little time around the airport in Fargo, I can say I’ve never noticed one of these giant aircraft on the ramp here before. Of course, my timing could be bad and they may stop regularly, or they may simply have had a charter pickup or delivery or needed a refuel. When I first noticed the L-382, it was sitting, engines idle but with a large auxiliary power unit operating as they were preparing to depart.

About the photo: Part of my purpose for the day was to reacquaint myself with the avionics in the Cessna C-182 (glass cockpit) as it’s been awhile since flying the “glass”. I was sitting at idle having just finished inputting my flight route into the GPS when I noticed the cargo hauler on the taxiway headed toward the runway for departure. I grabbed my iPad and captured a few images as the freight dog passed in front of me. This image captured between the spinning prop blades of my aircraft is the clearest shot I took. I always find it interesting how the camera’s image capture process gives moving propellers a scimitar curve that appears to be off center. The image was cropped to remove some of the cowling of my aircraft giving it the appearance that I was standing beside the aircraft instead of sitting directly behind the left side pilot controls. The photo was edited with Lightroom, Aurora 2019, and Luminar Flex. The rule for Cellpic Sunday is simple. The image must be captured by a mobile device.

John Steiner