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.
Watching Airshows
This is a good view for watching an airshow. The P-51 Mustang “Bunny” from the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Man O’War Visit And New Home
The P-51 Mustang Man O’War in 2016 visiting the Palm Springs Air Museum. Now it makes it’s home here at the Museum for flights. And we raced it last year at the Reno Air Races.
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.
Facing Off A Mustang
Today, yet again, I faced off a P-51 Mustang and forced it into submission. At the Palm Springs Air Museum.
P-51 Mustangs Flying Back From Reno
Two weeks ago today, flying back from the Reno Air Races 2021 in the P-51 Mustang “Spam Can” with “Wee Willy II” alongside. They placed 3rd and 4th in the Unlimited Silver finals.
My Ride Spam Can
My ride up and back to the Reno Air Races this year 2021 was the P-51 Mustang “Spam Can” from Planes Of Fame.Although I am on the team for the Palm Springs Air Museum, we are one big family. Pilot was my buddy Mark Moodie who also flew “Spam Can” in the race. That makes the third Mustang I have flown in to travel to the Reno Air Races.
My Friday Morning
Doing the start up and watching the run up on the P-51 Mustang “Man O’ War” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Rob shot the photo, good call!
Mustangs In The Air
Flying back from the Reno Air Races a couple of years ago. Mark Moodie flying “Lady Alice” and Michael Pfleger flying “Lady B”. I was in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. It would have been great to have been in another aircraft to photograph all three.
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.
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.
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.
With My Hasselblad
A photograph that has almost become iconic and used endlessly for the Palm Springs Air Museum. I do not think it would have happened had I not shot it with my Hasselblad.
Happy New Year 2020!
My best to all of you in the New Year 2020! With a Happy New Year from the Palm Springs Air Museum with my photo of our P-51 Mustang.
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.
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.
I Was At The Reno Air Races
I have been absent here while I was at the Reno Air Races, doing most of my blogging on some of my own social media but mostly for the Palm Springs Air Museum, where I am also social media manager and photographer. I also work in flight operations and do get to fly in some very special aircraft.
So backing up some and working my way forward, I departed to the Reno Air Races on September 6th in a World War II P-51 Mustang “Lady Alice” as a flight of two with another P-51 “Wee Willy”. No question this was a pretty exciting way of getting places. Arrived in Reno 90 minutes later.
The National Championship Air Races in Reno is the most prestigious race in the fastest motorsport in the world. And this is the 3rd year I have been a crew member and photographer with the Palm Springs Air Museum race team.
Keep coming back for more posts from Reno. Thanks!
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).
Photographed with my FujiFilm X-T3 and XF100-400 lens. Pilot Tom Nightingale.
My Watch Raced At Reno
Looking a little beat up now. But it has the distinction of flying the finals of the Reno Air Races 2017, Unlimited Class, in the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. Back on my wrist it has done a lot of flying ever since. But for that race it was on the wrist of pilot Tom Nightingale who borrowed it from me.
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!
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!
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!
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