This aircraft has been flying exclusively with Delta for all of its nearly 27 years. The giant blended winglets were added in 2012. Seen here adding some rubber to an already rubber-laden runway 30L, Delta 1492 arrives from Honolulu.

This path at Moore State Park sports it's first snow of the year on New Year's Eve, 12/31/2015.

Peak season assistance from this Kalitta Air 747 along with an Atlas Air 747 help UPS get all of Santa's packages where they need to be in time for Christmas.

The other half of peak season assistanc--this Atlas Air 747 along with a Kalitta 747 help UPS get all of Santa's packages where they need to be in time for Christmas.

Still lookin' good after 47 years!

"The Spirit of Atlanta" ferried in from Atlanta earlier in the day to operate Delta 140, MSP to Paris (CDG/LFPG).

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I smell beacon! I actually took this as a quick test shot to check my histogram on the fading light situation as the sun was going down. Well, who can pass up a good beacon catch? Apparently, not me.

This is Compass 5717 climbing off runway 30L for Chicago Midway.

Good timing with the FedEx truck on the freeway ramp, lower right.

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Super Bowl visitors from Saudi Arabia arriving in the ultra-luxury Sky Prime Aviation Services A330.

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UPS sent their newest aircraft to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport this morning on its first revenue flight. It is seen here backtaxiing down runway 30L prior to its departure back to Louisville.

My third "catch" of the Salmon-Thirty-Salmon. One small thing has changed since the other two...can you spot it?

This aircraft started life as a passenger hauler for United Airlines in June 1974 and was converted to a cargo hauler and delivered to FedEx in November 1998.

A rare single-day scheduled B744 service into MSP. This is Delta 163 approaching runway 30L, arriving from Amsterdam and replacing the normal A333 service.

Delta 2221 departs under elusive Minnesota sunshine for the return trip to Seattle.

One of three AAL Dreamliner diversions originally destined for ORD, instead seeking temporary refuge at MSP due to thunderstorms in the Chicago area. This is AAL154 continuing its flight from Tokyo (NRT/RJAA), departing runway 12R in the rain.

Last of the pastel winter skies as FedEx 798 approaches runway 30L.

When you're about to get buzzed by Air Force One.

Second time catching this slick Boeing Business Jet based on the 737-700.

A passing thunderstorm cell to the southeast around sunset time produced some wonderful lighting effects behind terminal 2.

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This Amazon Prime Air 767 started life flying passengers for the Russian airline, Aeroflot, in 1999 followed by Transaero in 2014 before getting the BeDek Special Freighter (BDSF) conversion in 2016.

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Alaska 36 settles in on runway 30R from Seattle.

Another golden hour departure for the Air France A-343.

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Delta 169 lifts off in the rain using less than 5,000 feet of runway on its way to Paris.

Diverted to MSP to acquire a new engine for a Delta 777 in LAX. However, there was another last-minute change of plans and it continued to IAH without any additional load.

Over the numbers, the first arrival of the Airbus A330neo at MSP airport.

Delta 120 arriving from Tokyo (HND/RJTT).

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Delta 588, arriving from Seattle, approaches runway 12R as the sun breaks through creating dramatic contract with the line of showers passing to the northeast.

Ascot 2138 off to Tacoma.

Dusk arrival, runway 30R.

Excruciatingly gratuitous closeup is brought to you by Svörtuborgir. That's the name of this Icelandair 767 taxiing into the low evening sun prior to departure. Once again, someone really needs to get these guys a pair of sunglasses! 😎 There are old pilots and bold pilots but there aren't any blind pilots! 🙈

One from the archives.

Through the morning mist over the river valley as Delta 1620 approaches runway 30L from Omaha.