From 2009 to 2011, Josef Hoflehner watched passenger planes landing at Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch/French Caribbean island of St Maarten/St Martin. Nothing extraordinary in plane spotting. But this airport is within splashing distance of Maho Beach, a spot popular with tourists. In 2011 the runway was lengthened, but back then jets passed just four meters over the heads of sunbathers.
Holidaymakers enduring the long, languid, lazy, shapeless and dull days of remorseless sun and splash viewed almost exclusively through sunglasses were being treated to sudden thrills, reminders that the easy journey from ‘better-than-Spain’ brochures to ‘paradise’ beach is fraught with peril, industry and excitement.
The picture above is one of our favorites – the plane seems to give a cheeky wink as it zooms above the topless woman. She seems oblivious to the huge machine casting its shadow over the beach like some diesel powered cloud.
Air France Airbus A340-300, arriving from Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
Says Josef:
When a plane flies overhead you don’t hear anything else. It’s a normal beach, but once a plane approaches the entire situation changes. People run around, trying to get to a good spot for their own snapshot. Some freak out and scream; others stay calm and don’t seem to care much. The noise is absolutely deafening. I spent several months there, but never got used to it. Sometimes the ground begins to quake, triggering the alarms of nearby cars. Once the plane passes, the exhaust can cause small sandstorms on the beach. And there’s the smell of burnt rubber and kerosene, which some girls seem to love.”
“The woman is on the phone, and was so busy talking she didn’t notice the 300-ton, wide-body airliner overhead. Once it had passed, though, she seemed very surprised.”
JetBlue Embraer 190, arriving from San Juan.
United Airlines Airbus A320-200, arriving from Washington-Dulles.
American Airlines Boeing 737-800, arriving from Miami International.
Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200, departing to Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta.
U.S. Airways Boeing 757-200, arriving from Charlotte-Douglas.
Insel Air McDonnell Douglas MD-82, arriving from Curacao.
All photos courtesy of Josef Hoflehner. Buy Jet Airliner: The Complete Works.
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.
