Server: Solo
Airline: United Airlines (operated by Mesa Airlines under the DBA United Express)
Aircraft: Embraer E-175
Origin: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Belgrade, Montana (BZN)
Destination: Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles, Virginia (IAD)
Flight Number: ASH6261
Route: KBZN - KIAD
Flight Time: 4h 38m
Flight Level: 34,000 & 36,000 feet
On a recent flight from Bozeman Yellowstone to Washington Dulles, I captured these three stunning (slightly edited) shots of the Mesa Airlines aircraft. While this is a seasonal winter route, it is still considered the longest regularly scheduled regional jet flight in the United States and truly puts the Embraer E-175 to the test. This particular flight was fully booked, demonstrating the small but steady demand that keeps this route operational. Overall, the flight was fairly uneventful, except for a few bumps during departure from Bozeman, which is expected due to the high terrain, but nothing unreasonable.
The clear skies below soon turned to clouds as we climbed out of Bozeman, flying over Park County.
The sun began to set as we cruised over eastern Montana, taking a northern route to avoid a winter storm over the western plains.
The sun finally dipped below the horizon as we turned southeast to proceed on course.