C-47 Flying Past Control Tower
Taking off and flying past the control tower at Palm Springs International Airport. The C-47 Skytrain “What’s Up Doc?” from the Palm Springs Air Museum flying ride passengers for a Living History Flight Experience.
Smoke Glow
The smoke filled glow from the nearby fires at Reno-Stead Airport toward the end of the day. We were returning from a flight on the Palm Springs Air Museum C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” at the Reno Air Races 2022.
On The Way Reno Air Races 2022
Last week Tuesday on the way to the Reno Air Races 2022 in the Palm Springs Air Museum C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. I was way too busy since then to post.
Veterans Day Flyovers
Veterans Day this year the Palm Springs Air Museum did flyovers in the C-47 and other Museum aircraft. Alongside was the C-53 “D-Day Doll” from the Commemorative Air Force Riverside CA.
My Best Side
Me doing more of what I do at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Photograph by my good Air Museum friend Rob.
77 Years Later Fueling A C-47
June 6, 1944 D-Day, the Allied Invasion of Europe. The aircraft most remembered in the invasion was the C-47, dropping paratroopers and supplies. We did not fly today at the Palm Springs Air Museum but I did fuel the Museum C-47. It is painted in the D-Day invasion stripes of the time. Just interesting to think what I was doing these 77 years later.
C-47 Flight Today
Today’s flight in the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47. From and back to Palm Springs doing approaches at March Air Reserve Base. The March tower asked “How old is that airplane?” This one was built in 1944. That makes it 77 years old.
Over March Air Reserve Base
This was our last pass today through March Air Reserve Base. The prior pass was right down the runway at 50 feet before we pulled up, but I was too busy to get some video. We were flying in the grand-daddy of those C-17’s down there; the Palm Springs Air Museum World War II C-47.
Flyover For WWII Nurse 101 Years Old
June 1942, Doris Howard arrived in Palm Springs as an Army nurse at the newly converted hospital, previously the famous El Mirador Hotel. Serving throughout the war, taking her to other countries, she even survived a Kamikaze attack.
Returning to Palm Springs and what is now Desert Regional Medical Center all these years later, we were honored to do a flyover for her in the Palm Springs Air Museum WWII era C-47 on Friday May 14, 2021. The full story and more photos from the ground in the Desert Sun newspaper at http://bit.ly/DorisHoward
What’s Up Doc?
The World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. Likely I have flown in this aircraft somewhere around a couple of hundred times or more. This when we were doing ride flights with Hangar 24 Brewery & Taproom at the Redlands Airport. Great fun! Thanks!
NAF El Centro Not This Year
Last year headed to the airshow at NAF El Centro with the Palm Springs Air Museum. I was flying alongside in either a T-28 Trojan or P-51 Mustang, I don’t recall which. I have flown in this C-47 hundreds of times. Anyway the airshow this year of course was cancelled. Sheltering at home.
Buckling In Marilyn
Last night we taxi’d in with VIP’s for a corporate event at the Palm Springs Air Museum in the C-47. We even had Marilyn Monroe on board! I got to buckle her in too. We do a lot of corporate events.
Flying For The 75th Anniversary Of D-Day
Flying for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day with the Palm Springs Air Museum on the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. With Marjorie Snell; her husband 101st Airborne Paratrooper Francis “Russell” Snell was there on D-Day at Normandy for the Allied Invasion of Europe, June 6, 1944.
C-47 Back To Palm Springs
Last Sunday, me in the C-47 headed back to the Palm Springs Air Museum. Three days at the Hangar 24 AirFest in Redlands. That was a lot of fun! Thanks to Ben, Sue and Paul and especially to Mark! And Thanks to Jason for the departure video.
Been Busy Flying
Have not been updating my blog here much recently. Will get back to it soon. Been busy flying and photographing and doing lots of video with the Palm Springs Air Museum. Thanks!
Kingman AirFest & Fly-In
Next week, Saturday Oct 6th find me at the Kingman AirFest and Fly-In with the Palm Springs Air Museum. If you are in the area stop by, it’s free admission. And for my photographer friends, looks like many a great photo op too. Thanks!
So much fun! Come join us at the Kingman AirFest and Fly-In October 6th! This is your opportunity to fly too! Our Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, just back from the Reno Air Races, and our C-47 D-Day “What’s Up Doc?” are ready to take you on an incredible flight experience of history!
There will be all kinds of aircraft on display and flying in. Outstanding cars coming around, lots of food and lots to see. Warbird and glider demonstrations, aircraft from the unique Red Star Pilots and the Mohave County Military Vehicle Group.
Give us a call to book your own flight and for more info at 760-778-6262. These will book up fast so please call.
Our C-47 flights are only $225.00 per person. Great for a fun group experience too. P-51 Mustang flights are $1895.00 and this is truly an experience of a lifetime. A flight int he most iconic of all fighter aircraft. Give us a call for more info at 760-778-6262. Thanks!
Flying By With the Sigma 150-600mm Lens
Some more photos working with the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S lens. On my Canon 1DMkIV. The flying photos were shot at 600mm and only 1/200th shutter speed. It was mounted on an Induro monopod and a Foba ball head.
The slower shutter speed is to capture the prop blur. It is indeed a beast of lens and mounted to a I series Canon body makes for a big heavy package. Panning with this at 600mm will take some more practice. Also I will try it handheld. Right now I am thinking this has some real possibilities. Love the color fidelity and reach of this lens. At 600mm on that body it is the equivalent of 780mm.
The aircraft at the Palm Springs Air Museum; a Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny” dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”.
Flight Of Two
Yesterday shooting photos and video on board the Palm Springs Air Museum C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. Fujifilm X-H1 camera.
August 19th is National Aviation Day in celebration of the development of aviation. We celebrated with a “Flight OF Two” on August 19th returning from the Wings Over Camarillo Air Show. Aircraft that were pivotal in the history of aviation. Flying in our own World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” and across from us, the CAF Inland Empire C-53 “D-Day Doll”. Take a minute to watch and listen and enjoy some the experience of flying in these amazing 75 year old Warbirds.
The holiday was established in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with the Presidential Proclamation designating the anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday to be National Aviation Day. Orville Wright, born in 1871, was still alive when the proclamation was first issued.