FLL - ATL (06:40 - 08:40)
Delta Airlines DL 2526
Boeing 757-200/N555NW
I got up at 5:00 am to get my flight at 6:40 am to Atlanta! Yes you read correct! I booked an additional flight! Just for fun! Originally I planned to spend the whole day at the beach in Fort Lauderdale but some month before my initially trip started I found a very cheap flight with Delta airlines on a Saab340.
At the beginning of my scheduling back in January I tried to get the intercontinental flights on an Embrear 135/145 and a Saab340 because I miss both types in my flight log. At this time the only airline with both types in the fleet is Continental(Express) and I found a good deal with a stop over in Waco, TX. But the price rasied very quick over 1000 Euros a couple of weeks later so that I had to drop my plans.Some month later I searched just for fun for some flights from FLL. And e voila I found a cheap trip to Florence, SC via Atlanta on Delta's 757 and Mesaba Aviation Saab 340 within a single day. I booked the flight immediatly for $ 160. I checked the Delta website at least once a week because I was sceptical if Delta switch the Saab 340 to a CanadairRJ. I didn't happen! Puhhh.
Finally I arrived at 06:00 am at the airport and boarding already began. I just had my camera equipment with me and no bags to check. The flight was almost full and we arrived on time in Atlanta. I walked a little bit around and bought some stuff for breakfast before I entered the wonderful Saab 340 1.5 hours later.
My breakfast

Somewhere over Florida or Georgia

Final approach on Atlanta

Thrust reverse engaged

After we exit RWY28

Rush hour! Sadly my window was very dirty

My aircraft from FLL

Delta 777

This Omni DC10 brought some soldiers home

Commuter gates

ATL - FLO (10:00 - 11:41)/actual RWY 10:53 - 11:57)
Delta Airlines opb. Mesaba Aviation DL3045
Saab 340/N447XJ
It seemed to become an uneventful and stressles day. But than the nigthmare began. The flight was totally full. When everybody found his seat, suddenly both pilots left the plane and went to the cargo hold in the back of the aircraft. Couple of minutes later one of the pilots made an announcement "we have trimming problems and have to put out some bags". Minutes later the flight attendant came back with two big bags and put those into an overhead bin. First problem solved. So we started our long ride on Atlantas taxiways to the southernmost runway 28. But we stopped somewhere and the pilot made the next announcement. "the plane is too heavy for take off and we have to burn some fuel on the taxiway until we reach our MTOW" What?? I never heard that before! Burn fuel on the taxiway! Strange! Ok we waited 20 minutes until the pilots loose the parking break and we were able to take off from Atlanta. And we did it!
My home for the next hours.

The journey begins

International Terminal E

Unknown building under construction. Maybe someone knows whats build up there.

Eva Cargo MD11F

Shorty after take off

Final approach on Florence, SC

FLO - ATL (12:06 - 13:54)/actual RWY (13:38 - 14:53)
Delta Airlines opb. Mesaba Aviation DL3008
Saab 340/N447XJ[/B]
We were getting late and I started to getting nervous if I will get my return flight from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale. The next problem was that I didn't have a boarding card for my return flights from Florence, SC. Layover time in FLO? 15 minutes! My return flight was on the same aircraft that brought me to Florence! So when I arrived I didn't went to the exit. I stayed at the gate where I arrived (Ok Florence has just two gates and the waiting area is equipped with a total of 40 seats. Its a very very tiny airport!) The ramp agent looked a little bit strange when I told him I just left the plane behind him and want to return with exact the same aircraft to Atlanta. But she gave me the tickets without any circumstances and just sayed "You love to fly". Thats right! So I waited for boarding next to the door until a new announcement was made by the ramp agent. "We have technical issues with a seat and have to wait for a technican who will have a look at the seat". Oh yeah perfect! How long will it take until they find a technican at this huge airport? But already 30 min later they called for boarding which was very quick. Seems like it wasn't a big problem to fix the seat. But just one hour left in Atlanta to get my flight home! No problem? Forget it! Its a Saab 340 and on a Saab 340 you always have weight issues! Next announcement by the flight attendant when everybody was seated: "The plane is too heavy" Again! She called three names which have to leave the aircraft. Those will be booked on another flight. I crossed my fingers that my name is NOT on this list! And he wasn't. Sorry but this is ridiculous Delta! Why are you using a plane which is not able to transport all passengers from one city to another. Florence is just 1 hour away from Atlanta! Ok I am not on the list, lets start the plane! Oh I forgot to tell that these three passengers (two were soldiers) have bags in the cargo hold. And if a ramp worker gets only $5 a hour you can imagine how slow he works. This took at least 30 more minutes and BINGO my connection flight is in the air when I will arrive. Without me!I was pissed! very pissed! Two delays caused by weight and trimming issues?? Is the Saab really that bad?? I flew with many different props before. EMB120, Do328, Beech1900, ATR, Dash etc. but never experienced such significant weight problems as on the Saab340. Is this a typical problem of this type? Where are the experts?
Boarding began

Cockpit Crew

View of the Terminal.

Cabin view of the Saab

Finally in the air!

We were in the air and 1 hour and 15 minutes later (but 1,5 hours late) we landed in Atlanta, again on RWY28. We arrived at the gate at 03:00 pm. My plane back to Fort Lauderdale starts at 02:45. Good bye! Whe I was out of the plane at 03:10 my first look went to the monitors. Flight DL0424 to FLL, delayed. Now starting at 03:15 at gate A20. Boarding already began. I arrived at gate D23 from Florence. Will you make it in 5 minutes from D23 to A20 at the biggest airports of the world? Normally not but I did! I ran as fast as I could! After many "sorry`s" and "excuse me" I climbed the escalator to the top of Concourse A and I saw a crowd at gate A20. From that point I was pretty sure that I will get the flight! The flight was 45 min lates and I was just happy to be on the way back to FLL! But I was done....
ATL - FLL (14:55 - 16:49)/actual RWY (16:04 - 17:33)
Delta Airlines DL 2027
Boeing 757-200/N502US
What a wonderful sight! My plane to FLL

Bring me home!

Fly AirTran ehhh Delta Jets!

Rotate! Nice sight of Downtown Atlanta

Full ramp! Note the two white CRJ's on the back to the right

More Delta jets

Its getting empty

Everglades

Decend onto FLL

My new property

FLL airport. A rain shower just passed the city

The beaches

Turn right...

Straight ahead...

Last right turn. Nice ship!

Those planes are stored for many years in FLL

I walked to my car and drove to the top level ot the hibiscus garage at the airport to make some pictures until it was getting dark and I returned to my hotel.
Brand new 737-800 for AA

I love the looooong 73E

IBC Cargo ramp with Saab340 and Fairchild Metroliner freighters

Spirit A319

Delta 757 from Atlanta I assume

Canard Bleu

Parked Spirit A319 next to the Terminal

Some classic aircrafts and a 727 Freighter

View out of my hotel room. What a wonderful sight!

My room for two nights. (Ocean Sky Resort)
Great photos. I’m from Netherland and I’m also planning to take a trip to USA… and this is a very helpful report!
Thanks Josh, have a nice trip and successful trip!
Great report and superb photos!
Thanks Paul!