Cessna Skyhawk (N495SP)

Although there isn't usually very much military metal activity at RNO in the week or two before Christmas Day, there were two military aircraft on the Atlantic Aviation ramp when this shot was snapped.

Ah Rattlesnake Hill.....good in the winter..my younger bro is moving to near Dayton in the near future....I have to conquer the "Snake" in the near future!~

Alien >> Let me know when you (and your bro?) are paying a visit and I'll go up with ya ... AND .... I'll take you airside too.
Posting another snap from the top of The Snake right now ....

Thanks for this great shot Gary! The military metal look like a black T38 alongside a Blackhawk helo!

Hey, Chris, Howdy and Happy Holidays to you and all in your family.
Yessirree, that's a Blackhawk and a T-38 down there. The T-38 is from Beale AFB ... not that far away in California. And it was still there yesterday, a full week after I snapped this shot. Don't see anyone working on it or anything so I'm not sure why it has not gone back to Beale. In the past, there were a few instances where a military warbird would come here the day before a holiday and leave the day after the holiday. That usually meant that a higher-ranking military officer needed to get in some flying time in order to keep her / his flying qualifications and maintain his / her flight rating. Fly here, visit at home, fly back, and the mandatory flight time requirement had been met. But those jets usually came from somewhere far away -- east coast, maybe, or from down south. Beale is just over the Sierra so no one would fly to here from there for flight time -- I can drive there in less than 2 hours; only takes 10-12 minutes in a fighter.
Hey, you have an awesome holiday. (Wave)

Thanks Gary! Nice to know that T38 is based at Beale AFB. I had not realised just how close that is to RNO. You have an awesome holiday! Waves from SYD.

Hi Gary, in regards to Beale AFB being less than 2 hours drive from KRNO, would that drive take you up over the Donner Pass, which according to my best available data is situated at an impressive 7,088 feet AMSL? It's just that, on the continent I'm on, which is nearly 3 million square miles, that road is just a couple of hundred feet shy of our highest mountain peak!

That is a great capture Gary and love the fact that you caught the military birds in the background. Well done! Love this perspective!

CHRIS that is correct Donner Pass..... if ever there, use the old Highway for the best option, then the interstate if needed......

Thanks Tom! Willdo.