Warbirds Air to Air

[El Guapo]

Dare I ask what YOU were in?  They didn't put you on the wing again, did they?  Hate it when that happens.

I got strapped to the canopy last time we flew

[Jorgo]

Ahhhh, but I see that they arranged a blue sky for you.

[Tonyz]

Who dat all dressed up funny in the back seat?

[Tonyz]

Guapo/feyo...

Did you just hold the camera up into the slip stream for that one?  How did you fight the buffet?

[GeoffS]

Here's one from the Red Wing show.  I was in #4 in a formation of CAF T-6's. Great pilots; they shifted the formation around for some great photos.  I was sitting in Scott Romuld's SNJ4 which has a rear seat that pivots around so you can shoot backwards (it was a gunner-training plane in it's previous life).  There are a couple of more shots in the Wings of Freedom show thread.

[El Guapo]

Si Tony.

It was blind shooting at its best.  The Yaks are so underpowered that I made sure we were the trailing aircraft.  Had we been in 1,2 or 3 slot, the act of creating an airbrake would cause havoc with the trailing aircraft.  When we landed, Mad Dawg asked what was going on back there.  He could feel the difference in airspeed everytime I stuck the camera out the top.

I really don't know how you or Jorgo can fit in the back of those things!...resting your chin on your knee?

[Tonyz]

I tried a couple of pop up shots like that....got blurred canopy shots.   

I will have you know that I am a slim, lithe, svelt individual who wears that back seat like a glove! 

[El Guapo]

I am sorry, all I read was...blah, blah, blah...like a glove...

As you can see, even during runup, MadDawg was trying to ask the other pilots "What in the world is my passenger doing back there?"  Notice him pointing with his thumb.

If anything, getting a feel for what will happen due to wind sheer from runup while on the ground is a great way to predict whether you'll be able to manage while in the air.  (trying to keep this on topic...)

[Jorgo]

Keeping on Topic? Is the Corona past it's use by date?
I generally use the Yak-52EW for a photoship - Enlarged Width version.

[Tonyz]

Well I managed to stuff myself in the back of a yak (okay, okay, I can hear your comments...flthy minded gits...) and got some decent shots.  For anyone who thinks air to air is easy....It really was some hard work trying to move around in a tight cockpit, temps in the 90's F.  and at times pulling some serious g forces.  After two flight of about 3.5 hours total I was beat.  But what a kick in the pants!

[evangilder]

Thought I would throw in this Fokker.

[LAshooter]

What a Fokker. 

[Tonyz]

Oh thats COOL!  Where did you shoot him at??

[Scotty G]

Here are a few more...

[Scotty G]

Mas...