General Aviation

[maineairphoto]

what settin were u using may i ask
Great pics

[Inverted]

I've heard the 2-Niner Diner is supposed to be good! Fun AP to practice at, too..

Some more from today -- in the midst of a light rain...

Ya its good food. If I wasnt flying to Salinas for the airshow this weekend I would get a burger at Two Niner.

[Steve K]

Turns out these biplanes were coming in for a WACO fly-in, which coincided with Petaluma's monthly display day.... I was treated to full access at the airport on Saturday for some really fantastic displays, flying, and all around good people. I'd not shot biplanes or much GA stuff before, and I had a blast. Conditions were kind of poor on Saturday for the first half -- grey overcast and light drizzle around the field, but I did my best. All sorts of old Pipers, Stearmans, Wacos, varioius turbo-prop float planes, and types I could not ID yet -- plus some military visitors (Texans) and a DC-3 fly over. Went back on Sunday and got to plant myself in the seat of a Stearman for a taxi ride -- was quite a thrill! (can only imagine if we'd left the ground!) And got some great access to shoot a couple of the local biplanes... pics to come.  I was close enough to everything to be able to use my 18-200VR lens, which may not be the best tool for the job but it's sharper than my Sigma 300 at least. What a weekend! 

((Marinephoto -- if you are asking me, thanks btw, most of those shots were in SP mode at 1/200 or lower and F8-F16, if you need more specific data for any just specify and I'll provide))

[Tomcatlover]

This Piper Aztec was the victim of a tornado.

[maineairphoto]

thats not good

[Inverted]

Holy crap that plane got trashed!

[CAVU Mark]

Some Polo Field work today.

[CAVU Mark]

More from on the Polo Grounds

[CAVU Mark]

The opposite of prop blur.

[bcradio]

Ouch!  Looks expensive!

[mycole]

CH-801 from Zenith Aircraft company, a homebuilt/kit aircraft manufacturer located in Mexico, MO.  I took a tour of their facilities a couple weeks ago.  Nice people, nice place.  Their STOL aircraft, like this 4-seat 801 and the two-seat 701 and the recently developed 750 have incredible STOL and rugged field performance.  Y'all should see their videos on their website.  It's an interesting looking plane, for sure, one that some say only it's mother could love.  Thanks to Joyce Fort at Zenith for the tour and for her hospitality. 



Note the fixed slats that help give the incredible STOL performance. 

[Steve K]

[Steve K]

Saw these yesterday in Sonoma -- I believe the Bucker is a fairly rare sighting: completely original aircraft, too.

[Kedar]

Dang  that is some neat light there - I need to fly in, on one of these days, and check it out.

Sweet light on the SR, and nice visitors too!!

[Steve K]

Thanks! -- we were there from about 1:30 until sunset around 4:15-4:30... and the sun is behind you from the access spots.

Fly in on New Year's Day as apparently there is an informal gathering then  ... I'm going to try to check it out at least.