Aviation Photo #0652327 Boeing 757-222 - United Airlines

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Aircraft

United Airlines
Boeing 757-222

Reg.: N509UA

MSN: 24763

Line No.: 284

Location & Date

San Francisco - International (SFO / KSFO)
California, USA - August 15, 2004

Caption

With LH 744 D-ABVE. The two planes appear to be touching! The 757 is on final for 28L while the 747 is for 28R. The runways are 750 ft apart, so there is still plenty of room between them. Incidentally, Lufthansa 455 is seen here returning to SFO due to an oil leak and eventual shutdown of the number 2 engine. Note rudder is deflected to the right compensating for the failed engine on the left side.

Photographer

Ben Wang

7K California, USA

Contact Ben Wang

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Distinct Views: 1,627,940
Photo Added: September 03, 2004

Comments (223)

Anonymous

18 years ago

Nice and lucky shot. Anyway Ben Wang has valued this scene at its top!

Anonymous

18 years ago

I have rated the photo with five stars because when I saw it I thought that the two aircrafts (the b747 and b757) had touched each other. So the site from where the photo had been taken was the best it could be.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Good job, ben!

Anonymous

18 years ago

That picture was cool

Anonymous

18 years ago

Nice picture, I wondered what the people in the plane thought when they looked outside.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Remarkable!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Amazing! I wouldn't have noticed the rudder had I not seen the comment. I wonder if any of the passengers captured the moment on film?

Anonymous

18 years ago

Just amazing. Excellent shot.

Anonymous

18 years ago

That scared the bit jesus out of be when I saw the preview picture on the frontpage until I read the comment.

Danil Premgi.

Anonymous

18 years ago

What a shot! it took a while for me to figure this one out!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Looks like a race. The perfect time to take it. Great photo Ben Wang!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Very good picture take at the right time.
You can almost imagine the pilot sticking his head out and say "Can you please tell me the right direction too Germany"

Anonymous

18 years ago

Hey i thought pilot of united airlines is saying,"give me 100000$ otherwise i will get in the german one". hey don't mind jus kiddin;-)

Anonymous

18 years ago

Just Marvellous

Anonymous

18 years ago

One of those rare shots you could wait years to get. Well done, Ben. The right place at the right time!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Great photo "i would be rather scared beeing in that 757"

Anonymous

18 years ago

Shot of a lifetime,ben, and so timely with soia/prm being introduced on the 28s at sfo,which will mean intersecting approaches under radar surveillance in poor weather with a last minute turn for the plane on28r,aphoto opportunity there maybe, mick west,england

Anonymous

18 years ago

It looks like they are taking a family photo. "Get a little closer guys, thats it, that's it, SNAP" It seems the 747 has his wings on the shoulder of the 757. Really nice photo

Anonymous

18 years ago

How if these aircraft collide with each other?!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Very beautiful

Anonymous

18 years ago

WOW, wierd!

Anonymous

18 years ago

At first I thought that it's some kind of a new plan. Very good shoot. My congratulations for the idea.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Can't find a better angle

Anonymous

18 years ago

Great shot.

Anonymous

18 years ago

It looks like they're buddies!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Nice shot. Chevere!
Imagine each pax. windows planes !!!!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Smart shot but a great photographer. its the planning that counts

Anonymous

18 years ago

Loved how the planes appear side-by-side! I wonder how far behind the 747 is?

Anonymous

18 years ago

How rare it is and the illusion it creates

Anonymous

18 years ago

Incredible they appear to be shagging

Anonymous

18 years ago

INCREDIBLE!!! AWESOME!!!U're great Ben!

Anonymous

18 years ago

If you see it the first time,you think they are really near to each other but it`s not true!!
Unbelievable picture!!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Great photo

Anonymous

18 years ago

This is called the real Star Alliance!! Superb Photo!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Just... WOW!!!!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Impressive shot!

Anonymous

18 years ago

It really looks like those aircraft are going to collide.I hope the Lufthansa 455 was all right after its oil leak this is a really special photo and my congrats go to Ben .Merry Christmas!!!!-James

Anonymous

18 years ago

Imagine being in that UA752 seeing a giant LH 744 right beside you!

Anonymous

18 years ago

WOW!!!!! Very Cool it really looks like the two aircraft are just a couple of feet apart great photo Ben.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Simpy breathtaking. Great photography. Almost like siamese twins.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Wow it is fun to see two of my favorite aircraft
= - ))))

Anonymous

18 years ago

At first i thought this is "hap-sung", which means "modified photo" in Korean. :)

Anonymous

18 years ago

Who's gona land first?????????????

Anonymous

18 years ago

Wow, terrific picture.. Go Ben!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Great Shot

Anonymous

18 years ago

I love boeing aircraft!

Anonymous

18 years ago

What might passengers think in both planes when seeing another plane so close?

Anonymous

18 years ago

Awesome shot

Anonymous

18 years ago

The apparant closeness is a very eye-catching effect.

Anonymous

18 years ago

WOW...great shot.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Nice

Anonymous

18 years ago

What an illusion!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Thats amazing, Im shocked there isnt more of these

Anonymous

18 years ago

Oh my god! I got scared to hell. It looks like the 747, well lets just say its rear end sorta spurted out some gas! :)^_^(: Nice shot!

Anonymous

18 years ago

Amazing !

Anonymous

18 years ago

They really do look like they´re touching each other! T.B.

Anonymous

18 years ago

It's amazing

Anonymous

18 years ago

Crash waiting to happen!

Anonymous

18 years ago

I really don't want to be the passenger on one of these 2 aircrafts ! great photo!

Anonymous

18 years ago

I've flown back home to SFO before with a UA747 next to our plane....it's the most awesome view!!! It makes the 747 look so graceful, as if its floating......

Anonymous

18 years ago

My good lord! That's quite a pick. Kind of airplane pals trying to hug each other.

Anonymous

18 years ago

The photo of the Greatest Airplane hug is by far the coolest thing i have ever seen.

Anonymous

18 years ago

An awsome shot with two aircraft almost touching. one of the best pictures i've seen in a very long time that made my jaw drop.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Size does matter !

Anonymous

18 years ago

Oh pleas dont hurry, its not an air race. both of you can land but boeing 747 first.
i love the shot, thank you BEN.

Anonymous

18 years ago

Get out of my way !

Anonymous

17 years ago

The first impression I got was "there is gonna be a crash" - and I was ready to look into the online news for an incident at SFO on this date... poor me and my soul, all I had to do was read the comments. HAHA! This is brilliant! - a keeper.

Anonymous

17 years ago

This like many others show how cameras can fool the eye. It also demonstrates the difference in size of the sister aircraft. Nice photo.

Anonymous

17 years ago

He-he-he... star alliance, in action

Anonymous

17 years ago

Wow! :D

Anonymous

17 years ago

Great shot

Anonymous

17 years ago

This photo is just so bizarre, it so doesn't look 750 ft apart... :O

Anonymous

17 years ago

Wow!!

Anonymous

17 years ago

AWESOME!Can they really do that

Anonymous

17 years ago

Awesome. It looks like the wings are touching. It must have been scary for the passengers on both planes.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Nice!!!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Wow that would be a pretty amazing expiriance to be abor one of those planes.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Siamese Twins?

Anonymous

17 years ago

Are they glued together?

Anonymous

17 years ago

Mommy wait for me...haha. Nice shot

Anonymous

17 years ago

The timing of getting both aircraft on different glide paths in almost parallel positions is pretty difficult to pull off. A pretty good shot, definitely.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Touch, dont touch, touch, dont touch ...

Anonymous

17 years ago

Clarity and depth of field -- colors appear to be true renderings -- composition is excellent.

Anonymous

17 years ago

I've heard of road rage but never 'air rage', great shot.

Anonymous

17 years ago

I hope they didnt crash!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Cool photo !!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Excellent capture of hte two jets. Eventhough they ae so far from each other, they seem to be so close at the same time.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Amazing visual illusion. Great shot angle.

Anonymous

17 years ago

The front top of the United looks superimposed on the other.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Cool pic

Anonymous

17 years ago

WOW!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Oh my... super shot.

Anonymous

17 years ago

This is such a beautiful shot because it seems the 747 is about to swallow the 757.good job Ben.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Its a beauty seeing two Star Alliance aircrafts close together, and I wouldn't think they would be 750 ft apart. Wished I was on one of those.

Anonymous

17 years ago

I wonder what the people in each aircraft thought when they saw another plane was THAT close! may be they startd to wave at eachother?? who knows?? :)

Anonymous

17 years ago

Who won the race???? Cool pic....

Anonymous

17 years ago

Hello everyone. I love this picture.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Great shot man who shot this deserves a clap

Anonymous

17 years ago

I was there several days later. I have seen both planes but never in such a fantastic shot. One of the greatest photos of all time.

Anonymous

17 years ago

I didn't know you could do stunt flying with a 747 and a 757. It doesn't look like they're 750 feet apart!! I wonder how many passengers headed for the restrooms after getting off, LOL! Very shocking, very cool photography!!

Anonymous

17 years ago

That is an amazing photo. Like everyone else I thought they were almost touching and they sure look a lot closer than 750 feet apart. Lucky you to have been there ready with camera to catch it.

Anonymous

17 years ago

To see two aircraft on approach in such apparent proximity in a photograph and with such remarkable clarity is unusual which goes a long way to making it exciting and brilliant; it also shows what a huge aircraft the 747 is when compared with a twin jet engined passenger plane.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Awesome pic Ben!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Is incredible hoe look these 2 airplanes!!!!!!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Very nice, the big brother and the little brother

Anonymous

17 years ago

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet pic. unreal. how often can u get a shot like that. imagine what the passengers are thinking. lol

Anonymous

17 years ago

Is this for real? Scary!!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Very good picture! Very lucky, capturing a moment like this.

Anonymous

17 years ago

Fantastic... no more words...

Anonymous

17 years ago

Amazing photo, great contrast between two beautiful airplanes!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Great pic

Anonymous

17 years ago

That's an incredible shot!!! No clouds, no nothing! Just two wonderful airplanes apparently holding each other's hand trying to reach the runway peacefully and accompanied!!! wonderfully shot!!

Anonymous

17 years ago

Nothing more than amazing

Anonymous

17 years ago

It's amazing. I have never seen any picture such as this picture in whole of my life.

Anonymous

16 years ago

This picture has coem up i nthe random picture generator on the homepage and everytime i see it i always clck on it because it's so brilliant. This was my desktop backround for a mmonth a yr ago

Anonymous

16 years ago

The visual effect of the photo of the two planes being near each other

Anonymous

16 years ago

The pilots in the 757 didn't listen to the tower when they said they would be landing next to a 747, soon they hear a loud noise look out the right side of the plane then, HOLY CRAP

Anonymous

16 years ago

This is such an amazing pic! What an amazing illusion!It took me ges to click on that the white wing on the ua belonged to the ua.After several loong stares you can see that it is slightly lower (I think) but woww!

Anonymous

16 years ago

Very nice, Really shows of the size of the queen of the skies

Anonymous

16 years ago

I would've been great if the shot was taken from the front

Anonymous

16 years ago

It looks like the 747 has a side-car.

Anonymous

16 years ago

The thing I like about this shot is you can see the heat blur on the 757 so clear, you know how to take some fantastic pictures, more of the same, Thanks.

Anonymous

16 years ago

Very good picture! Well done! First i thought the big brother shows his little brother how to land carefully:D Thanks for this shot. 5 Stars*****

Anonymous

16 years ago

Not only do you have an eye for beautiful birds, but you know how to reach inside of people and touch them in a way no other photographer can. Great job. Beautiful and graceful birds. Amazing to see how much more flaps the 75 has as compaired to it's big brother as noticed by the attitude. WOW.

Anonymous

16 years ago

Beautiful

Anonymous

16 years ago

Thats a wondeful shot.....its like both of em are jostling for space....

Anonymous

16 years ago

Interesting note observing the difference in pitch attitude between the two.

Anonymous

16 years ago

Good pic

Anonymous

16 years ago

That's an amazing picture!well done!

Anonymous

16 years ago

Beautiful!

Anonymous

16 years ago

Okay switch it around

Anonymous

16 years ago

I love this picture # 1

Anonymous

16 years ago

Wow! That's just amazing!

Anonymous

16 years ago

Those two planes appear to be colliding with each other. I have never seen two aircraft so close together. 5******

Anonymous

15 years ago

What a beautiful picture! Two Boeings so close! I wish i could see two Airbus in the same shot! Neva!

Anonymous

15 years ago

What a beautiful picture! Two Boeings so close! I wish i could see two Airbus in the same shot! Neva!

Anonymous

15 years ago

Amazing shot indeed! What's also nice to see is the rather different angle of attack between the 747 and the 757.

Anonymous

15 years ago

I find it hard to believe this picture

Anonymous

15 years ago

Amazing amazing pic....

Anonymous

15 years ago

If the remarks is true then this is a lovely shot, i guess the photographer just happens to be in the right place at the right time.

Anonymous

15 years ago

Maybe those planes are Siamese twins!

Anonymous

15 years ago

Those two planes are best buddies.

Anonymous

15 years ago

Its really really hard to believe this pic! once in a lifetime catch!

Anonymous

15 years ago

Wow

Anonymous

15 years ago

Great picture, amazing aproach, the view from the windows must be breath taking.

Anonymous

15 years ago

Excellent knowledge of perspective, time and space, congratulations, one of the best pictures I`ve ever seen in my hole life

Anonymous

15 years ago

Sfo landings are awesome!

Anonymous

15 years ago

Wow.. like mom and son.. haha...

Anonymous

15 years ago

Great pic 5 star

Anonymous

15 years ago

Wow~ it is amazing , it is the best photo i have seen.nice job man , keep it up!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Its always a wonder to see 2 planes side by side above the ground. and you guys hve done it so nicely. it looks like real...

Anonymous

14 years ago

Great photo!

Anonymous

14 years ago

If they really could have been as close as it looks, without crashing:
*sleepy 4 year old opens his window on the United B752*
"MOM! There's a jumbo jet right next to us!"

Anonymous

14 years ago

It looks like a person could step out of the 747 and jump right onto the 757!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Outstanding photo!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wow...is this even possible? It doesn't look very real. Outstanding photo though.

Anonymous

14 years ago

This was so confusing when I saw it for the first time. Thats the SFO action for you. Love this pic.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Its a spectacular sight to see the 747 for real! nice to see both of them side-by-side.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Probably the TCAS must be going off like crazy.

Anonymous

14 years ago

What a moment cought. It is something you would not see every day. Even for those who flying it is looking unusual. From this angle looks like jets are about to touch each other. Very good picture!

Anonymous

14 years ago

It actually looks like both jets were racing to the runway to see who was the first to land at SFO. They also seem to be touching the tip of their wings. Awesome picture!

Anonymous

14 years ago

The overlaping wings of each plane,it loo9ks like a midair collison about to happen. Wow!!!!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Very nice view angle!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Good Picture :D

Anonymous

14 years ago

It's difficult to believe the two aircraft are 1/2 mile apart. Looks more like ab inpending collision.
Good use of a telephoto lens.

Anonymous

14 years ago

Awesome

Anonymous

14 years ago

I look so good that at first i thought it was fake!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Wow I never seen something like that

Anonymous

14 years ago

Is this a PR ad for Star Alliance? Nice shot!

Anonymous

14 years ago

Are you sure they're not touching? Perfect timing, Welldone!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Notice the different angles of the fuselages at the same point of approach!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Great!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Great pic : )))

Anonymous

13 years ago

WOW! What an amazing shot! How was this picture taken?

Anonymous

13 years ago

Hatsoff to the photographer

Anonymous

13 years ago

Great. five out of five

Anonymous

13 years ago

Superb photography,impossible to tell that there is some distance between the two aircrafts.
deb

Anonymous

13 years ago

Is it star or sky allience? code share or runway share? :)

Anonymous

13 years ago

Wow, I can't believe you took this photo. Amazing 5 star photo.

Anonymous

13 years ago

Imagine if they were both A380s or 747s.

Anonymous

13 years ago

Very rare situation to capture!

Anonymous

13 years ago

It's interesting to see the different angles of attack for the landing. The 757 seems to have a much more nose down angle than the 747. Next question? Is the rudder being held into place by a trim switch or is this a manual position by the pilots foot rudder pedal? Hope that doesn't sound dumb.

Anonymous

13 years ago

Great! Hope that this was not a product of a PHOTOSHOP. It is better if this was an accidental images... ;)

Anonymous

13 years ago

First of all congrats for this amazing 5* photo. As an air traffic controller and a person who knows physics I have to explain sth. These two are at least 3 miles apart diagonally. Explanation:
1. It is not allowed to be less than that.
2. Angle at which this photo is taken is at least 45 deg and both a/c looks parallel.
All credits to the photographer for capturing the moment but these a/c are not as nearly close as you think.

Anonymous

13 years ago

Awesome

Anonymous

13 years ago

Great one!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Bizarre it looks like the ua is helping the lh .amazing shot

Anonymous

13 years ago

This is an awesome picture

Anonymous

13 years ago

Just amazing and what perfect timing Ben, thank you for shareing your fantastic work with us..

Anonymous

13 years ago

Terrific

Anonymous

13 years ago

The United 757 seems to be helping the Lufty 744 descend =)

Anonymous

13 years ago

Amazing shot...looks like 757 is lending a shoulder to its brother following an injury :D

Anonymous

13 years ago

This such a cool photo - cheers!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Cute!

Anonymous

13 years ago

Star Alliance teamwork

Anonymous

13 years ago

I'm watching for a long time this incredible situation ,undoubtedly the focal lenght of telephoto lens does its part , and although it is explained that they are landing on two different tracks , I cannot imagine the real route they are.

Ciao Riccardo

Anonymous

13 years ago

Unbelieveable!

Anonymous

13 years ago

My Boeing Ferrari is better than your Boeing Mustang!!

Anonymous

13 years ago

It almost looks like they are connected! How long do you have to stand and wait to capture something like this?

Anonymous

13 years ago

And coming in to the home stretch, it's United ahead by a nose, Lufthansa making a move on the outside. They're neck and neck, it looks like it'll be a photo finish, folks....

Anonymous

12 years ago

The aircraft looks like Mother and Father.Awesome!

Anonymous

12 years ago

Ah, the magical effect of a zoom lens at work.

Anonymous

12 years ago

Incredible by the way the lufthansa 747 is wondurful.

Anonymous

12 years ago

The closeness and capture is amazing,it looks like no room for error..

Anonymous

12 years ago

Great scene

Anonymous

12 years ago

Awesome! It looks like they share a wing.

Anonymous

12 years ago

Looks like my FSX AI traffic...Awesome shot!

Anonymous

12 years ago

It looks like they're holding hands on the way down about to land! :)

Anonymous

12 years ago

Amazing Shot!

Anonymous

12 years ago

Wow!!!!!! INCREDIBLE SHOT!!!!!!!

Anonymous

12 years ago

Nice visual effect, really looks like they are in contact.

Anonymous

11 years ago

Wow this is a good photo! looks like friendly!

Anonymous

11 years ago

Wowww,, really stunning photo

Anonymous

11 years ago

One of the best aviation photos I've ever seen!

Anonymous

11 years ago

Awesome--Sadiq

Anonymous

11 years ago

Incredible! Good observation regarding the rudder.

Anonymous

10 years ago

Aircraft having smalltalk (or maybe discussing questions of life?), holding hands in the air... I think I don't have to go see Disney's 'Planes' now anymore, having seen the real deal! ;)