C-17 Globemaster - Antonov An-124 Condor
4,515 views · Published 4 March 2013 · 2:00 · Indexed 29 October 2026
Channel: Fight to Fly Studio · 2013 · Autos & Vehicles
Backstory: I've been attempting to get shots of an An-124 coming in to Paine Field for almost two years now. Each time I seem to miss its arrival or departure anywhere from 12 hours, to 12 minutes... lately, it's been closer to 12 minutes as I'll see the aircraft land or takeoff as I'm driving to the airport. But today, March 3, 2013, I FINALLY was prepared, and ready to catch this plane! Had plenty of memory cards, batteries, and even better, the weather was GREAT! Aircraft was landing to the south, so I went to my spot by the windsock. A bunch of my spotting friends were there, we were chatting, having a good time, and waiting for a surprise C-17 to takeoff before the arrival of the An-124. The Globemaster departs (as you see in the video) to the North, then a few minutes later, we spotted the mighty Condor! It was spotted east of the airport heading... NORTH! I think I let out an obscenity in frustration, and after a few moments of contemplating my options I got in my car, and hauled tail up to the viewing location at the north end of the field. I stopped my car in the middle of the road to the parking lot, grabbed my camera and RAN up the little hill to get a good view, and that is when the recording began of the An-124... keys in my car, car still running... but FINALLY, I got it on camera! Today I was victorious! By a mere 19 seconds!
