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| Can photoflying become exhausting? Well yes, if the final project we fly this season is located in Arizona. The month of October is still far from chilly and more like super-hot during the day. But the stunning scenery makes up for all the suffering, and the ‘Breaking Bad’ vibes during the day. Just like last year we had the opportunity to fly several of the photomissions in the sunset with the true golden light, and to complete the hardship we decided to wake up around 4am to be ready for some sunrise action as well. Spoiler, it is oh so worth it!! You literally see the colors of the
desert changing by the minute while the aircraft is hanging on to the
Skyvan photoship. The main day for the ‘vintage & classics’ was really exhausting, as we started to fly just when the sun came up, and finished only when the sun disappeared again. Hail and a big thank you to Sam Knudson, keep us all alive with a supply of Gatorade! |
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We would get to meet another 14 aircraft and 2 helicopters, thanks to the great support from Tim Brown and all his flying friends. To kick things of in a magical way, we got the Vietnam camouflaged T-28, a warbird that was high on the wish list as in 2023 it could not make it. Just sensational to see the colors on this aircraft and a super thankful subject for the photographers aiming to get a full disc of the massive propeller. |
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Two helicopters in the program this time, two classics with the JetRanger and AS350. Aerobatic aircraft came in the shape of the Nanchang, Gamebird and RV-4. YES, GA aircraft can look super pretty and were part of the line up. A blue & white Bonanza chased the Skyvan for 15 minutes, while the price for smallest aircraft got to the Flightdesign CTSW. A challenge to fly for both the pilot in the subject aircraft and the Skyvan, as during the day when the temperature rises so does the turbulence!! But the best practice we can offer to all the photographers onboard the photoship… let’s have another Gatorade! |
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Many aircraft can be considered ‘classics’ and that goes for the L-39 as well. Over 200 of these Czech built jets are in private hands in the USA. We got one in brilliant colors, fitting so nicely into the desert scenery. |
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We also had many real warbirds this time, the Boeing Stearman being the slowest one. But in its famous blue & yellow colors AND smoke it was a very welcome sights. From the WW II era we got the Yak 9-UM, the Wildcat and the P-51 Mustang, we grabbed every chance to set up some unique 2-ship formations. When the sun was setting over the Arizona desert the T-28 in Vietnam camouflage came out for a second time to fly a formation with the Mustang. Can’t get enough of just how fantastic that scenery is in the last light of the day, seeing a few warbirds join-up on the Skyvan. | |
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| Fortunately it was not another sunrise flight for our Military day, but it was still early when we got to see the very first aerial join-up of the Slovak Air Force F-16V. Big thanks here to Alfonz Liszka for arranging the approval. A pitty that – I assume for legal reasons – the Slovak markings were covered, but it was super to see a brand new F-16, like it just came out of the box. If all goes well, this jet will fly in its active life for almost 50 years! | |||
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| Unfortunately the Top Aces ‘Blue Flanker’ F-16 had to cancel last minute, but their friends of the Blue Air team made it with a superb 2-ship formation photoshoot of two of their Pilatus PC-9 trainers. Very nice touch with the sharkmouth on the nose. And so our flying season for 2024 came to an and, it was our best year ever, but that is only gonna last for a few months, as 2025 is shaping up to become busier and bigger than ever before!! |  |
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