I've been wanting to get out and take photos in the rain for a while, and the stars aligned today with a few smart flight alerts for interesting aircraft and some long-duration rain. The spray from departing aircraft, thrust reversers, and reflections add a nice twist on what would have otherwise been just another day at my home airport.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

N401DZ, a Delta Air Lines A330-900neo, preparing to depart on flight 9963 for JFK. This aircraft threw a smart flight alert, as the A339s are, for the time-being, unusual visitors here.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

N1EB, a Gulfstream G550 that belonged to the late Rush Limbaugh, departing. This tail is blocked from the commercial trackers, including JetTip, so it was a fun surprise to see at the airport.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

N401DZ departing with some nice effects from the high humidity in the engines, over the wings, and drifting off the belly.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

Soutwest's N712SW arriving on flight 661 from MDW. The 737s and their low engines provide very dramatic spray on arrival.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

Delta's N1201P, a 767-300, departing on flight 435 for HNL.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

A pair of Delta A321s, N338DN and N343DN, taxi in the rain.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

Denver Air Connection's E145 N970DC departing for TVF on flight 5110.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

Delta's N698DL, departing on flight 1465 for LAS, looking good kicking up spray and sans winglets.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

iAero's N418US, a 737-400, departing for AEX on flight 3616. iAero is a familiar visitor on charter flights at MSP, though this threw a smart flight alert today as it's fairly unusual to get their 737-400s here.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

N554NW, a Delta 757-200, arriving from DEN on flight 2187.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

N963U, a Falcon 900EX, which appears to operate for Uline, a large shipping and business supply company. Sadly this aircraft is blocked from commercial flight trackers, including JetTip.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

N331NW, a Delta A319, arriving from SLC on flight 873.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

Bahrain's A9C-HAK, a VVIP 747-400, which arrived a couple of weeks ago from RST, presumably after dropping off someone at Mayo Clinic, rests on the north end of the Humphrey remote apron. Rumor has it they'll depart on the morning of June 3.

Nick Benson - JetTip.net

MD-90s N311EV and N910DN rest behind a Delta facility at MSP. N311EV had been used as an engine testbed before the MD-80/90 fleet was retired.

Nick Benson

Nick lives in Burnsville, Minnesota with his wife and three children. He grooves on railroad and aviation photography, politics, geography, weather, and LEGO. He started JetTip's smart flight alert service in 2017, and is now a full-time avgeek. He can frequently be found atop a step ladder at MSP's Aircraft Viewing Area.