Take A Break And Fly
Let’s take a break for some flying. The Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny” from start up to shut down around the pylons at the Reno Air Races 2019. I mounted a GoPro inside and there was some really great light making it seem like you are right in the cockpit.
That is me in the black t-shirt doing the start-up and sending it out. I was doing more than just photography at the Air Races and at Air Shows. Although you can see my camera hanging on my back. It is a Fujifilm X-T3 and 100-400mm lens. One of the reasons I avoid carrying a lot of gear, too much going on.
Mustang Around The Pylons At Reno
Some more from the Reno Air Races just over a week ago. The Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny” from start up to shut down around the pylons. GoPro video with some really great light makes it seem like you are right in the cockpit. That is me int he black t-shirt doing the start-up and sending it out. I do more than just photography although you can see my camera having on my back. It is a Fujifilm X-T3 and 100-400mm lens. One of the reasons I avoid carrying a lot of gear, too much going on.
Around The Pylons In A P-63
Another installment from only a week ago with the crew of the Palm Springs Air Museum at the Reno Air Races. This is really special… the aircraft is the World War II P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”. There are perhaps four Kingcobras still flying. No passengers are allowed in aircraft during racing but this is a single seat aircraft anyway. I do get to fly and photograph from many other aircraft.
So this was a place for GoPro. Mounted to the side of the pilot’s flight helmet, you get a perspective of his line of sight from instruments to outside flying past the pylons. It really is just like being there. Turn up your sound too!
GoPro Goes
GoPro goes when I can’t go. Two reasons for that here… the P-63 is a one seat airplane, and passengers are not allowed in the races.
This is a rare sight indeed! The Palm Springs Air Museum P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly” flying the pylons at the Reno Air Races 2018. Turn on your sound! When our P-63 is in the air you can be sure it is likely the only P-63 in the air in the world.
T-33 Beauty In Flight
There is beauty in flight. The Palm Springs Air Museum Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. A truly wonderful video production by ParkAir Vision. Pilot Michael Pfleger, myself in the backseat. July 4, 2019.
Honoring Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend (February 29, 1920 – June 21, 2019), our T-33 will appear at the upcoming Reno Air Races. Please join with us in honoring the Colonel and there are some fun perks for helping us out. We do need you! Thanks and click here… https://igg.me/at/PSAMReno2019
Shooting from the backseat of the T-33. I was using my Fujifilm X-H1 and 50-140 lens. Mounted on the left and right canopy rail, I had a GoPro Hero6 Black.
Always Exciting From The Cockpit
Always exciting from the cockpit! However no passengers going around the pylons at the Reno Air Races, so I have to do it with GoPro. This was a GoPro Hero6 Black. Here in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny”.
As a favor to me, I am asking all of my friends to visit our crowdfunding page and help out. There are some fun perks and even some courtesy of Fujifilm. Thanks! https://igg.me/at/PSAMReno2019
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.
Reno Race Start P-51
In the cockpit with GoPro in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny” yesterday at the Reno Air Races. Mounted with mounts from Nflightcam.
Kingcobra From The Cockpit
In the cockpit with GoPro in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-63 Kingcobra at the Reno Air Races. Mounted with mounts from Nflightcam.
Air To Air
Just some thoughts on air to air photography. Flying with the Palm Springs Air Museum, we were doing July 4th celebration flyovers. Alongside the T-28 Trojan, I was in the backseat of the Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. The Mustang is at best, somewhat short on room in the back. There is also a curvature to the canopy that lends itself to a lot of distortion. My choice of gear here made it all work out easier.
I was shooting the latest Fujifilm mirrorless camera, the X-H1 and the Fujifilm XF50-140 lens. The 5-axis in-body stabilization works in conjunction with the lens stabilization, perfect for this kind of shooting. It is also physically smaller and lighter than a full size DSLR which in tight quarters or pulling a couple of g’s makes a huge difference.
This time out I also especially appreciated my camera strap choice. From Vulture Equipment Works especially made for aviation use. A tougher strap does not exist. It is designed with carabiners connecting the strap to the camera. The ability to easily disconnect them helped in easily getting the strap out of the way of my headset cable. When you are getting in, you are buckling up your parachute, shoulder harness and seat belt, camera and headset, so wanting to change how you set things up from when you got in does happen.
At the same time, I was also running two GoPro’s. Each mounted inside to my left and right, pointed 45 degrees front. Got some great video I will show you later.
Anyway just thought I would share. It was great fun! Thanks!
National Military Appreciation Month
May is National Military Appreciation Month and May 19th was National Armed Forces Day. buzzbox premium cocktails joined with the Palm Springs Air Museum to honor the so very many by celebrating the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. Watch and listen as Air Museum Volunteer and United States Air Force Veteran Al Crossley tells his story and takes a flight in the “Red Tail” P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. Thanks!
T-28 GoPro View
A GoPro view of the Palm Springs Air Museum T-28 Trojan flying by the crowd at the Hangar 24 AirFest in Redlands CA this past weekend. Lots of flying, lots of excitement, food, beer, music and fun! Thanks!
Bunny Back Up Camera
I just thought this was fun. I had left the GoPro’s running yesterday after a flight. Back up camera, on the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny”.
Thermal Club Racetrack
The prestigious Thermal Club Racetrack below as we are coming in for a landing at the Jacqueline Cochran Air Show for Saturday May 5th. In the Palm Springs Air Museum T-28 Trojan. Tomorrow morning we will fly the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” over too.
I Did Get To Stagecoach!
Truly makes the best way to get to Stagecoach. In the Palm Springs Air Museum T-28 Trojan. We had no traffic and a great view!
I Was The Ground Crew
I was the only “ground crew” for this flight of three aircraft so could not go fly and shoot from the backseat. Put a GoPro on the wing. Much Fun! I like it 
🙂
The Palm Springs Air Museum T-28 Trojan coming back for a twilight landing in Palm Springs after a nearby flyover with two T-34 Mentors from March Air Reserve Base. Our pilot Michael Nightingale.
Mustang Ride
A little of the excitement of what it is like flying in the iconic World War II fighter airplane, the P-51 Mustang. This one is “Bunny” for the Palm Springs Air Museum. More great video with a GoPro.
C-47 Wing Walking
Not actually, but the view from the wing, shooting with a GoPro. The World War II D-Day C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. For the Palm Springs Air Museum.
For A 102 Year Old Veteran
Yes it is great fun to be flying with the Palm Springs Air Museum as the photographer and doing the social media. But getting to share doing something for all the right reasons is really special. A flyover for the 102nd birthday of a World War II Veteran and POW. More info below…
On the way to do a flyby to celebrate the 102nd birthday of Veteran Mike Kovich in Desert Hot Springs last Saturday. Mike was a top gunner in a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber in World War II. On the very first mission to bomb Berlin his plane was shot down and he was captured. He spent 13 months as a POW. Very exciting for us to be able to fly on by with our P-51 Mustang “Bunny” and our T-28 Trojan! Thank You to VFW Post 1534 for sharing Mike’s birthday with us! Visit with Mike in his interview with KESQ News here at https://goo.gl/yZVW2c Thanks!
You Have A Race!
This is how the Race starts! The planes join up and fly to the course. As you are watching, you will see the T-33 pace plane climb away and it is on! Six P-51 Mustangs including our Palm Springs Air Museum “Bunny” dive for the first pylons! The Silver Race of the Unlimited Class this past Sunday at the National Championship Air Races in Reno! This was shot on my GoPro mounted along the canopy rail. You can also watch this in HD on my Vimeo Channel at https://vimeo.com/235180990
We had a great successful ten days at Reno and we were honored to have the entire event join us in celebrating the brave Tuskegee Airmen heroes of World War II! You can join us in that too, through this one last weekend and be a part of our “Red Tails Race Team”! You can even get our actual Team T-Shirt and the Official Poster and more. Please check it out and we Thank You so very much for your help… https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/red-tails-race-team
