Blue Angels Flight Shots from ToM '21

Continuing on some shots from Thunder over Michigan '21 show.

These are some inflight shots, in some form of formation.  That would lead one to conclude that there are solo shots, and maybe some shots from on the ground on the way.  Both thoughts would be correct.  I'm running out of time to post those.  Next two weekends are booked, with one being the Selfridge open house.  Then ToM '22.  Already checking out the long range weather forecasts.

A lot of what I'm looking for is the camera/lens combos.  Currently I think the best combo is the D500 and 70-200 f/2.8.  On a sunny day.  And at ToM, the show line comes close enough to use a 300 mm lens.

The nice thing about ToM is I have three days of access.  And access means I can bring whatever I need or want to use.  Lots of time to mix and match.  Experiment.  And this year I have the 80-400 to add into the mix.

And a few shots from ToM '21, Blue Angel performances.

The first shots are with the D500/70-200 f/2.8 combo.  There was very little cropping on this shot, as well as the rest.  For me, this was pretty clear.  That f/2.8 allowed a really fast speed.

Blue Angels - Diamond 4

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8

300 mm, 1/3200 sec, f/3.5, ISO 110 (Auto)

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Same camera combo and speed for this next shot.  This is a common echelon pass, and is close and clear enough to see the pilot at work.

Blue Angels - Echelon Pass

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8

300 mm, 1/3200 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Moving on to the D850/200-500 combo shots.  For some of these, I was using a mono-pod.  Trying to work it.  This year, maybe more time with the Mpod.

This is a photo of the ever common Fortus Maneuver.  This is really truly unique to the Blue Angels, as the tail-hook is dropped.  On both aircraft.

Blue Angels - Fortus Maneuver

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6

500 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 (Auto)

EV 0, Aperture Priority, Size FX

I had to look for the formal name for this maneuver.  This is called a Double Farvel.  Google it.  The stuff you learn when you go to an airshow.

Blue Angels - Double Farvel

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6

410 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 (Auto)

EV 0, Aperture Priority, Size FX

This next shot has a bit of chaos.  Chaos in a world of perfected coordinated movement.  That is worth a photo every time.

Blue Angels - Head On Breakout Pt2

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6

410 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 (Auto)

EV 0, Aperture Priority, Size FX

Looking forward to the '22 show.

F-35 In Flight at TOM '21

One of the really nice things about the Thunder over Michigan show was it was three days long.  And in three days, there are changes in weather.  There are also changes in camera and lens combos.  Usually with two day shows, the time of day for the performers doesn't change.  But add a Friday in - and the times may change.

In the case of the F-35 Demo team, the Friday practice was mid-afternoon but the show times on Saturday and Sunday were mid-morning.

The Friday mid-afternoon shots were crystal clear with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens.  The Saturday and Sunday shots were with the 200-500 f/5.6 lens.  My opinion, not so clear, but the humidity was high in those morning hours.

The Friday mid-afternoon shot.  Using the f/2.8 lens allows for a 1/2500 shutter speed at ISO 100.  Pure awesomeness.

F-35 with Some Vapor

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8

300 mm, 1/2500 sec, f/4.0, ISO 100

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

There's always something about an afterburner shot.  And, if the exhaust cone can be seen, in the day, BONUS.

F-35 AB Climb

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/NIKKOR 200.0-500.0 f/5.6

435 mm, 1/1600 sec, f/5.6, ISO (Auto) 180

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

And another AB shot.

F-35 Hard Left Bank

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/NIKKOR 200.0-500.0 f/5.6

750 mm, 1/1600 sec, f/5.6, ISO (Auto) 180

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

AB yellows and oranges,  Nothing like it.

A10 Demo Team - TOM '21

The A-10 Warthog, to me, is one of the most interesting weapon systems in the inventory.  Don't misunderstand, I do like the gee-whiz factor of the F-22.  And as much as I like the high-tech stuff, I also believe in the simplicity of the Warthog.

The aircraft that was designed in the early '70 has gone through a number of upgrades over the years.  Some high tech has been added.

But the role of the aircraft remains the same.  Deliver the 'gun'.

The 'Gun'.  The 'Gun' is actually a GAU-8/A Avenger Autocannon.  The total system weighs just over 4,000 pounds.  The system can fire up to 3,900 rounds per minute accurately to 4,000 feet.  Simplicity.

I saw the A-10s during Desert Storm.  For clarity, I didn't see them in action, but while we were on a down range ramp waiting to be unloaded or for gas, most of the fighter aircraft we saw were F-15s and A-10s.  We traveled among some good company.

So I'm always very happy when I see one in the air, or at a show.  No afterburner.  No noise.  Just one of the coolest weapon systems, ever.

These are some shots from the Thunder over Michigan 2021 show.  For the taxi shot, we were that close to the taxiway.

A-10 Close Taxi

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR

55 mm, 1/1250 sec, f/4.0, ISO 64

EV +1, MANUAL Mode, Size FX

I'm beginning to like the shots where the pilot is in view - and you can almost see see the flight panel.

A-10 Left Bank

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6E ED VR

195 mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

A-10 Dirty Approach

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8

300 mm, 1/1600 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Fun to watch it fly.  Can't wait to see another demo flight in the future.  Simple is good.

Consolidated PBY Catalina at Wild Wednesday

The day before Wild Wednesday might have been called Research Tuesday.  As is habit before I go to an airshow, I keep looking at the scheduled performers and aircraft.  I'm looking for the last minute changes - either additions or deletions.  In the case of this year's Wild Wednesday there was a late addition. A Consolidated PBY Catalina was added.  Very happy.

The PBY is a staple of all good WWII movies about the Pacific theater.  It will show up either as a search aircraft, rescue of downed pilots aircraft or blown up on an airfield.  I need to see one in the air.

And on Wild Wednesday, I did.

Yea, the environment could have been better.  I'd certainly like to see a water take-off.  Or a close encounter with water would do.  A classic paint job would be nice.

Of the more than 3,300 built by multiple companies and countries for WWII, I will finally get to see one.

I will gladly take a white scheme, against a flat sky sighting.  After all, I shouldn't hit a home run on the first try, eh?  Have to have a reason to keep going on.

With the forecasted inclement weather, this PBY could be counted on to stay in the air to the end.

On Research Tuesday I looked to my new friend, FLICKR, to see other shots of a PBY.  Looking for best photos of the props and what speed to go with.  What I found was I could get away with 1/320 but best would be 1/00 or slower.  However, those were in somewhat perfect light.  That was not the case here.  The best photos, for me, came out at 1/200 sec.  That seems to work for me.  Room for improvement!

I usually try to post three to four shots of the selected aircraft in different attitudes or phases in flight.  That didn't work out so well here.  I have three shots taken in the same lap.  Again, room for improvement.  But I have a few shots of a WWII aircraft that I didn't have before.  And I'll gladly take it.

PBY Bank

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

400 mm, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 180 (Auto)

EV +0.67, Shutter Priority, Size FX

PBY Roll Out

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

400 mm, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 220 (Auto)

EV +0.67, Shutter Priority, Size FX

PBY Level

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

400 mm, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 180 (Auto)

EV +0.67, Shutter Priority, Size FX

It was worth the drive to see this one fly again.

CF-18 Demo Team - In the Rain

The 2022 version of Wild Wednesday was anything but.  As planned, the show would have been pretty good for a mid-week break.  Mother Nature had other plans.

Says it all.

The show was scheduled for two hours.  In the end, there was 45 minutes of flight time.  And one deceased bird.

And truth be told, I'd do it again.

You can't fight Mother Nature.

I did get some photos of the local B-17, Yankee Lady.  I also got a few shots of a PBY Catalina.  Along with the CF-18 photos, I consider this outing a success.

I am by choice a fair weather outdoor photographer.  This was so far outside of my comfort zone, I needed a rain coat.

Yep, that is a plastic bag over the D850.  In the morning I searched/watched Youtube on how to protect your camera equipment from the elements.  There was one video that said, you don't need to do anything.  I passed that one by and kept searching.  I landed on a video that suggested a mid-sized garbage bag with two holes cut in for the lens and eye-piece.  In my budget and I had time and scissors.  By the end of the show, the camera was the driest thing in the car.  I can live with that.

A little rain will not stop the all-weather fighter.  The CF-18 for me was the top liner of the show.  I saw the new Top Gun movie last weekend, ready for the noise.  If they queue the music just right....  And they did.

There are many challenges to shooting an airshow is less than perfect light.  For me, I would be shooting jets a a lower shutter speed - going from my preferred 1/1250 to 1/800.  And ISO setting from 64 to 1600.  Get the photo first, let the software do the rest.  For now I'm posting the final products, but may do a before and after post processing.

I originally thought that none of the shots would clean up enough for a Flickr posting, but I was wrong.  I'm really happy with how these turned out.

Being dark, thank you Mother Nature, allowed this shot to really grab me.  Afterburner.  Very rarely seen before sunset.  And the front gear landing light.

CF-18 Off the Deck

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

400 mm, 1/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600 (Auto)

EV +0.67, Shutter Priority, Size FX

Due to a local bird violating the TFR for the show, and not getting proper clearance, a collision with one of the CF-18's engines was inevitable.  The aircraft did recover without further issue.  But it was really dark now, as the weather was really dropping.

CF-18 Dark Taxi

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

400 mm, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600 (Auto)

EV +0.67, Shutter Priority, Size FX

I could add some exposure, but this is pretty realistic of the lighting for the time.

Hope to see the Canadians fly in the future.  In better lighting.

Flightline Life - TOM '21

I've started posting to FLICKR.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kmpankopf/

As I am getting ready to see a mid-week show tomorrow, I was checking FLICKR for photos of some of the new to me aircraft.  Just to get an idea of where to start.  Advertised to fly is a PT-17.  The PT-17 is NOT a variant of a B-17.  There will be a B-17 flying, and like the B-17, the PT-17 is prop driven.  The PT-17 is bi-plane trainer.  I have no idea at all for propeller RPMs.  There were some nice photos at 1/200 sec.  So I have a place to start.  I would have thought much slower.

Anyway.

As I was looking at these shots, I noted a number of photos of aircraft on the flightline.  I haven't posted many flightline shots.  And the flightline shots did look good to me.  They sort of fill out the day.  Certainly not as exciting as air shots, but maybe more to the elusive photographic story.

So story it is.  At the Thunder over Michigan '21 show, I had access to the flightline before it became overrun by the masses.  These are some of the flightline shots from the show.

At this show, they tried to get as many B25s as they could.  that was the theme.  I'm not sure of the final number, but let's say 10-12 were there.  And in the morning, they were ready to go.

B-25s on the Ramp

NIKON D500 Ver.1.30/Nikkor 70.0-300.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

195 mm, 1/1600 sec, f/6.3, ISO 140 (AUTO)

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size DX

Every morning there is maintenance to be done to keep the aircraft safe for operations..  Or not.  But there is always a meeting to discuss.  Did anyone bring the donuts?

B-25 Maintenance Meeting

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/Nikkor 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8

35 mm, 1/500 sec, f/8, ISO 125 (AUTO)

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size FX

One of the aircraft at the show that was new to me was the Airbus A400.  Fun aircraft to walk around.  It is a bit larger than the C-130.  This A400 was from Germany.

A400 Flying the Colors

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/Nikkor 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8

70 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100 (AUTO)

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size FX

Finishing up the morning walk, some of the other performing aircraft.  Some appear to still be napping.

Flightline Morning

NIKON D850 Ver.1.20/Nikkor 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8

70 mm, 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100 (AUTO)

EV 0, MANUAL Mode, Size FX

Nice to walk around when no one is in the way.  I didn't have to remove any objects from any image.

TBM at Dover

Too late in life have I discovered the value of History.  For me, its military aviation.  With a special interest in WWII aircraft.  So much innovation in such a short time.  Crappy way for R&D to be conducted but you do what you have to do.  And no computers, slide rules only.  If you don't know what a slide rule is, Google it.

When I go the airshows, I'm always looking at the static and airshow performers.  When I get to see a "new" for me aircraft, there is another purpose to going.

I saw my first TBM at the Reno Air Races.  It didn't move, just a static display.  However, a great start.  My first impression was it was larger than I expected.  I saw it parked with it's wings folded, like it was on a carrier deck.

The TBM entered the inventory as a torpedo-bomber in 1942 and saw it's first action in the Battle of Midway.  In total, just under 10,000 were built by Grumman and under license by General Motors.  The TBM carried a crew of three and a bombload of 2,000 pounds.  It had a range of 1,000 miles and had a ceiling of 30,000 ft.

Oh, those 1940s numbers.

The TBM has some famous history.  G.H.W.Bush '41 was a pilot.  Paul Newman was a rear gunner.  And for infamous history, 5 TBMs were lost in the Bermuda Triangle, known as Flight 19.

Interesting history is everywhere.

When I saw a TBM was scheduled to perform, not static, I was even more happy to get to Dover.  The primary reason was always to see FRED fly, but the TBM is a bonus.

And a bonus it was.  I got to hear the twin-row Wright R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone fourteen-cylinder radial engine fire up, blow smoke and just make the low rumbling, vibrating disturbance in the air. 

And I did see it move.  Just awesome.  Not that I did any time travel to the past, but it was close enough.

TBM on Dover Ramp

NIKON D500 Ver.1.31/Nikkor 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8

72 mm, 1/500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size DX

TBM Inflight at Dover

NIKON D500 Ver.1.31/Nikkor 80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

600 mm, 1/250 sec, f/13, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size DX

TBM Touchdown at Dover

NIKON D500 Ver.1.31/Nikkor 80.0-400.0 mm f/4.5-5.6

405 mm, 1/250 sec, f/11, ISO 100

EV 0, Shutter Priority, Size DX

Shooting at 1/250th is a bit fast for WWII aircraft, but I have a better chance of getting keepers.  And as I don't have any other shots I'll take it.  Next time, 1/100 sec.

Another ol' Warbird off the list.  Next up, a T-33 Shooting Star at the Wild Wednesday Air Show at Willow Run.  On Wednesday.