Photography by Ian L. Sitren

Posts tagged “P-51 Bunny

Mustang Coming At You

P-51 Mustang “Bunny” landing after Memorial Day 2023 flyovers at the airport in Palm Springs.


P-51 Mustang Landing

“Bunny” a P-51 Mustang landing after Memorial Day 2023 flyovers at the airport in Palm Springs.


Flying Over Snow In A Mustang

Riders in the Palm Springs Air Museum aircraft yesterday had a spectacular view of the snow covered Jan Jacinto Mountains. This is the P-51 Mustang “Bunny”.


Bunny

“Bunny” the P-51 Mustang from the Palm Springs Air Museum going out on a ride flight. The last flight for today before bad weather coming in.


Bunny Takeoff

“Bunny” the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang dedicated to Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend in takeoff. Pilot Tom Nightingale.


Ride Flights

Palm Springs Air Museum ride flights over the weekend. A T-6 “Texan” trainer and the P-51 Mustang “Bunny”.


P-51 Wheels Up

The P-51 Mustang “Bunny” taking off out of the Palm Springs Air Museum.


The Bunny Next Door

From the Palm Springs Air Museum; the P-51 Mustang “Bunny” going out for a flyover and I was in the Museum T-28b next to it.


My Office Yesterday

Running the flights all day for the Palm Springs Air Museum.


Watching Airshows

This is a good view for watching an airshow. The P-51 Mustang “Bunny” from the Palm Springs Air Museum.

“Bunny” opens the show doing a flyby of a giant American Flag skydiver at the “Wings Over Camarillo” airshow. “Bunny” is a P-51 Mustang owned by the Palm Springs Air Museum. Dedicated to the “Red Tails” Tuskegee Airmen.

Mustang Passing On The Right

Doing a flyover with the P-51D Mustang “Bunny” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. I was in a T-28B Trojan also from the Museum.


My Bunny Mask

I like my mask better than your mask! Just had a couple made for myself. From one of my photographs of “Bunny”, the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang dedicated to Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend.

Mask Bunny


Frontline Flyover And 100 Megapixels

“Bunny” the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang headed out for a Frontline Friday Flyover. Joining up with the Air Museum’s World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” and the P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly” saluting the people on the frontlines fighting the pandemic.

Photographed with the Fujifilm GFX100 medium format camera system. A 100 megapixel camera capable of shooting five frames per second with continuous autofocus. I have found it fast handling, extremely versatile and producing incredible image quality.

Frontline Fylover 05-15-2020 P-51 Tower


Lots Of Props

The Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny” taxi’s out at the Palm Springs Airport. Shot with a Fujifilm X-T3 and Fujifilm 55-200 lens.

Lots Of Props


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.

 

 

 


Bunny Looking Good

Shooting this morning for the Palm Springs Air Museum. A flight of ” Bunny” the P-51 Mustang dedicated to the “Red Tails” of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. The actual “Bunny” was flown by Lt. Col. Robert J “Bob” Friend (February 29, 1920 – June 21, 2019).

Bunny-Takeoff_DSF1041

Photographed with my FujiFilm X-T3 and XF100-400 lens. Pilot Tom Nightingale.


Memorial Day 2019

Just some of what I did (shoot some video) on Memorial Day at the Palm Springs Air Museum

Aircraft start up for the flyover and flower drop, Memorial Day 2019 at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A World War II Mitchell B-25 bomber, F4U Corsair, P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”, Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, PB4Y-2 Privateer and T-33 jet “Shooting Star”.


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!

Kingman

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!


Reno Air Races Recap

Again I am honored to be part of the Palm Springs Air Museum. Here as photographer, content creator, social media manager and even in flight operations at the 55th National Championship Air Races in Reno for 2018. Thanks!

Col-Bunny-Flightline-20180916-_DM40059-2

Polly-Home_Pylon-20180913-_DM40537-2

Polly-JD-20180913-_DM40033

Col-Awards-20180916-DSCF2197

Bunny-Flightline-20180915-_DM40469

Polly-Flightline-20180915-_DM40369-2

The Palm Springs Air Museum again became the standout at the 55th National Championship Air Races in Reno this September. The most prestigious race in the fastest motorsport in the world saw our Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny” and our P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly” fly around the pylons in front of crowds estimated to be 150,000+. “Bunny” flown by pilot Mark Moodie took a Third Place “on the podium” win in the Silver Unlimited Race with a speed of 333.562, less than one mile per hour away from first place! “Pretty Polly” flown by pilot Jim “JD” Dale made for a crowd favorite in 7th Place in the Silver Unlimited Race with a speed of 307.781. We finished with both aircraft “in the money”!

We were most honored for the second year in a row to be joined by a man who is indeed a very special friend to the Air Museum, 98 year old Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Col. Bob Friend. With us everyday at the Races to meet people and sign autographs, we were most proud to have him start our airplanes and watch as they taxi’d out for the Finals. The honor even extended further as the Colonel joined us on stage for the Awards Dinner to accept our trophies as he was given an extended standing ovation by a hangar filled with 1,000 racers and crew and family and friends. A moment in time that brought many to tears as cameras and cellphones saved the moment for history.

Certainly “Bunny” stole the show in so very many ways. A Red Tail dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II and specifically to the aircraft flown by Lt. Col. Bob Friend, many would say she is the most beautiful of all P-51 Mustangs. But we had another very special girl with us, “Pretty Polly”. One of perhaps only four P-63 Kingcobras still flying, it has been forty years since a Kingcobra raced at Reno. Race fans, aviation fans, aviation photographers all greeted the news of “Pretty Polly” at Reno and her arrival and racing with huge enthusiasm and appreciation. Our Race Pit was continually visited by Kingcobra fans who specifically came to see her. Even a fan from Japan came by wearing one of our Air Museum ‘Pretty Polly” shirts! Pilot Jim “JD” Dale was on hand to talk with so very many and they were in luck because “JD” is a tremendously knowledgeable Kingcobra historian and of course one of the very few Kingcobra pilots.

The National Championship Air Races Reno gives the Palm Springs Air Museum the opportunity to bring our message of living history to expanding audiences around the world. Millions of people online will share in our adventure being there. We have endless numbers of people to Thank in getting us to Reno. Mechanics, pilots, the people who loaded the trailers, and so very many volunteers. And of course the individuals and sponsors who donated to funding our being able to make it happen. Everyone has their own reasons for being part of Reno with us. But to a person, it is unselfish and giving, whether through their money or labor. To everyone a huge and heartfelt Thank You! And an excited; see you in Reno for 2019!


Back From The Reno Air Races

Back from the Reno Air Races Monday morning September 17th, flying back with Tom Nightingale in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang to Palm Springs. Then jumped in this superb T-6 with Tom to make the flight back to Chino Airport to pick up our cars.

From Windy Point to Chino Tom put the airplane on “auto pilot”… translated that means he let me fly. Very Cool! Thanks Tom and Thanks Mark Moodie (it is Mark’s airplane).

t6

p51


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?”.

Sigma_P51-20180901-_DM40025

Sigma_C47-20180830-_DM40046

Sigma_C47-20180830-_DM40127


Sigma 150-600mm Lens

I have been trying out the the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S lens. On my Canon 1DMkIV. And a no fail serious camera strap from Vulture Equipment Works.

Just worked with it for the 2nd time. Yes it is sharp and the color fidelity is beautiful! You might look at the lettering on the prop and say it is blurry. Actually that is exactly how it is on the prop. This was at 150mm. The aircraft is at the Palm Springs Air Museum; a Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny” dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.

Sigma_P51-20180901-_DM40004

Sigma_P51-crop-20180901-_DM40004

Sigma150600


The Fastest Motorsport In The World

Hey everyone! This is for me… Off to the Reno Air Races very soon with the Palm Springs Air Museum. We are racing our “Red Tail” P-51 Mustang “Bunny” dedicated to the famed and heroic Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And… the very rare P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”, one of only four flying in the entire world!

This is the big one, the Indy 500 of air racing, the fastest motorsport in the world. And this is the last few days of my crowdfunding for it. Yes I am asking you for money. This has been really successful so far and I am very grateful. To be honest, it makes me look good too! But I am asking your help to make this finish with a big bang.

Thanks to so many of you who have jumped in so far. If you add on in, that would be wonderful too. For those of you who have been just watching, come on in! Join with me! There are great perks from team T-Shirts to actually flying!

We have group and business sponsorships too. Don’t see something that exactly fits what you might like for your company; just send me a note and we can chat. Ian@PalmSpringsAirMuseum.org

Anyway this is the last few days, so please jump on in. We are preserving a great part of history and it is fun! Or if anything else, do it for me! Thanks! Here is the link, check it out… https://igg.me/at/RedTailsReno2018


Kingcobra And Bunny

Hey everyone! I am part of the team with the Palm Springs Air Museum going to the National Championship Air Races in Reno in September. We will be racing two significant and historic aircraft.

First is our P-63 Kingcobra right here in my photo. “Pretty Polly” will be the first Kingcobra to race at Reno in decades! Alongside will be our iconic Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny” dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.

We are on our way but still need you to join our Red Tails Kingcobra Race Team. There are great perks and rewards from our team Shirts to actually flying. Our sponsorship levels gives you significant signage too in front of a huge audience in the most prestigious Air Race of the fastest motorsport in the world!

So please check it out. It will be great fun and excitement. Thanks and click right here… https://igg.me/at/RedTailsReno2018

05-29-17_PSAM-Memorial_Day_0183-sm