Warbirds Air to Air

[Tonyz]

I will return to my room now to cry.   

[André]

I will return to my room now to cry.   

Please don't. Just see the above pix as a challenge for yourself. I have been doing it since I joined these forums trying to get the same results.

No idea where I can find the nearest Yaks though..... California seems a bit far. 

[evangilder]

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

Chino. I went up with Hartley Folstad in the Stearman for that shot. I also shot Margi Stivers doing her wing walking routine from an L-19. That was a lot of fun.

[Scotty G]

I will return to my room now to cry.   

There is no crying in air to air photography!!! If you were with me on those flights, you'd have gotten the same! Keep on going for it!

[Tonyz]

We had fun.      But if someone says "Oh, air to air would be so easy to get good shots..."  Yeah, right.  It is a kick in the pants, but damn, I worked!!

[evangilder]

I wouldn't necessarily call it easy either. But I will say that it gives you plenty of opportunities to get some good shots. There is a lot of twisting and turning in the seat and craning your neck too. But would I do it again? Oh hell yeah! Here are a few more of that Fokker, flown by Jimmie New. Notice the dive angle in the second shot. WHEEE!

[Tonyz]

Those are sweet!  Flying in the Yak is a blast, but it is tight and cramped and small in the back.  Strap on a parachute and 5 point harness and moving around just makes shooting to the rear and down really tough.   (Yeah, bitch whine moan...)   I hope to get up with them again in a dedicated photo ship that has large open doors etc.   Wonder if a C-130 flight would open up?   

[evangilder]

Thanks Tony. I haven't been in a Yak yet, but the Stearman was a little snug as well. For the first shoot with the wing walking, I was in an L-19, which is really ideal for air to air from a photographers perspective, with the exception of the high wing for direct side shots. But it is comfortable and spacious with both side windows able to be pulled up so there is no glare. 

[RichardVM]

   Wonder if a C-130 flight would open up?   

Ummm, I think I can guess the answer to that one...

I recall there are some Twin Beech's down there. They can work very well and, although they're pretty expensive, they're still cheaper and easier to find than a civilian C-130, which can (could) be had if your checkbook is BIG enough.

Richard

[André]

Those are sweet! 

I second that.

Air to air is fun even when weather or cockpit conditions are not always the way we wish.
Tony, both of us are just too tall. Actually, that C-130 sounds great. 

I bet El Guapo, Eric and Scotty are all little guys who easily fit in thinny cockpits. 

[evangilder]

I can't speak for the other guys, but I an 5' 8" and about 155, so it's not too bad for me. Just don't ask me to shoot from a ball turret! 

Nice shot, Andre! Sometimes hazy weather is cool because it "auto-softens" the background for you.

[Ztex]

Some scans from @1986

B-25J, Yellow Rose
From B-17 Chuckie
1986, Pampa, TX



Looking out the other side...

[StefanB]

DHC-2 Beaver (former Royal Netherlands Air Force so warbird or not?), taken from AT-16ND Harvard with a crappy camera.

[Ztex]

You said "former" RNAF...yep it's a warbird (IMHO)

Cool shot!

[Trey Carroll]

Umm, are we gonna let Scotty run away with this???















Aha, justice is served

tc