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.
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”.
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.
Air To Air And For Veterans Day
Honoring our Veterans last Saturday flying out to Veterans Memorial Park in Coachella. I was flying and photographing from the backseat of a T-28 Trojan. And lots more flying coming up on Veterans Day Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. More info below…
At the Air Museum, flight demonstrations going on all day. You will see our P-51 Mustang ‘Bunny” in the air along with our C-47 “What’s Up Doc”? and our T-28 Trojan. There will be a special appearance by a flight of six T-34 trainers too. Even more exciting you can watch and even go up in a Stearman Biplane trainer AND even fly in a World War II B-25 Mitchell bomber, both from right here!
Not to be missed! With us will be a very very special guest… Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend. A wonderful opportunity to meet and shake the hand of this true American Hero.
Also we are dedicating our newly finished Grumman F9F Panther which was the Navy’s first successful carrier based jet fighter. For that honor we will have with us another very special guest, a man who has been called “The Forgotten Hero”, Capt E. Royce Williams! On November 18th, 1952, then Lt. Williams in a carrier based engagement of the Korean War shot down four MiG-15s. Forty years later it was revealed that all four were flown by Soviet pilots.
There will be food and birthday cake celebrating the Museum’s 21st Anniversary. So much fun going on! You can reserve your flights on the Stearman Bi Plane trainer by calling us at 760-778-6262. For your seat on a flight in the B-25 Bomber call 805-377-2106 (please leave a message and you will be called right back). You can also fly on Sunday and next weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday. What a great opportunity! Thanks!
War Bird Flyover
Shooting video from the backseat of the Palm Springs Air Museum T-28 Trojan. Very Fun!
On the way last Saturday morning for a flyover at Veterans Memorial Park in Coachella. Our C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”, our P-51 Mustang “Bunny” and from the Commemorative Air Force in Camarillo, an F6F Hellcat.
Lots more flying coming up at the Air Museum on Veterans Day Nov 11th and for the Craft Beer Festival “Props & Hops” on Nov 18th. Check it all out at the Museum Events page at https://goo.gl/oFKfQN
Everyone Stops And Looks!
No matter what you are doing, when “Bunny” flies by you stop and look! At the opening for the “Wings Over Camarillo” airshow earlier this month. “Bunny” will be in the show opening again at the prestigious National Championship Air Races Reno, September 13th – 17th! And we are asking for your help today please!
JOIN OUR TEAM! The Red Tails Race Team by helping the Palm Springs Air Museum send the Tuskegee Airmen and “Bunny” the P-51 Mustang to participate in this huge honor. Be part of it along with our incredible “Bunny” pilot Tom Nightingale! Even Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend is going at the age of 97 years old!
Lots of cool stuff coming your way for helping and it’s great fun! Please check it out and you truly have our biggest Thanks! Right here at… https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/red-tails-race-team
Evening Run Up
A little evening engine check before we left for the Air Fair at Big Bear Lake this past Saturday morning. This is the historic World War II fighter, the P-51 Mustang. This one named “Bunny”, it is dedicated to the famed “Red Tails” Tuskegee Airmen.
I am personally asking you to help me and the Palm Springs Air Museum in sending “Bunny” and the Tuskegee Airmen to the National Championship Air Races Reno in just a few weeks! Do it for me! Please! Every few bucks helps!
You will be a part of our “Red Tails Race Team” and get some cool stuff too! Check it out and Thanks… https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/red-tails-race-team
It Was A Playboy Bunny When I Was A Kid!
Reno Bunny!
Thought this is pretty great! My photo of the P-51 Mustang “Bunny” used for the poster for the “Red Tails Race Team”! The Palm Springs Air Museum has “Bunny” entered in the huge and very prestigious National Championship Air Races Reno coming up September 13th – 17th. “Bunny” commemorates the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And actually you can join the “Red Tails Race Team” and help send “Bunny” and the Tuskegee Airmen to Reno! You can also get this poster and some really cool stuff! Check it out at “Red Tails Race Team“! Please do and Thanks!
Reno Air Races Here I Come!
I am going to the Reno Air Races with “Bunny”! Even I am excited about this! I am the photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum and we are taking “Bunny” to fly in the prestigious and exciting Reno 54th National Championship Air Races coming up fast next month September 13 – 17 2017!! YES!!
The Reno Air Race is the most unique air racing event and aviation experience in the world, combining the world’s fastest motor sport with spectacular military and civilian aircraft. Over 150,000 people each day will be watching pilot Tom Nightingale fly “Bunny” through her paces!
Our P-51 Mustang “Bunny” is designed to honor the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And in that honor, the Reno Air Racing Association will be joining us with some very special Tuskegee Airmen events!
You too will be able to join with us! Shortly we will have the details about Sponsorship Opportunities that could also put you right in the racing pits with us! Or you could also be a part of our “Red Tail Race Team” right from home!
So keep watching here and if you cannot wait to hear more ASAP, send me an e-mail to Ian@SecondFocus.com. Just WOW! Thanks!
Bunny Coming Home
Bunny is the P-51 Mustang “Bunny” who resides at the Palm Springs Air Museum. You find me there often, I am the Museum photographer and also manage their social media. Thanks!
The Very First!
The very first of a new monthly feature in the “Palm Canyon Paradise” newspaper! Brought to you by the publisher of the long running “The Sun Runner” with a print edition circulation of over 50,000. The “Palm Canyon Paradise” will cover the Coachella Valley. The monthly feature written and photographed by me! Great Fun and Thanks!
Bunny!
Not a Hugh Hefner Bunny! Memorial Day weekend was spent by me as photographer for the Palm Springs Air Museum. What incredible fun it was watching these warbirds take to the air doing flight demonstrations. Even had a chance to fly myself as well!
As one aircraft after another flew by with a crowd of 3000 people at my back, everyone applauded. But the biggest applause by far was for “Bunny”! Without question, the biggest airplane fan favorite, the P-51 Mustang from World War II.
This P-51 dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen “Red Tails” and specifically to Lt. Col. Bob Friend who flew over 140 combat missions in an identical Mustang.
So while a runway filled with Playboy Bunnies might be fun, they just can’t compare to this “Bunny”! Flown by the very exceptional Tom Nightingale who obviously did some of that really cool pilot stuff! Thanks!
Mustang And Zero
Not something you see everyday for sure! The P-51 Mustang “Bunny” and a Japanese Zero starting up and headed out for the El Centro Air Show. Leaving the Palm Springs Air Museum where “Bunny” calls home, dedicated to Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend.
Taking Off In Bunny
Taking off in the P-51 Mustang “Bunny” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. On the way to do flyovers in honor of Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend, special guest in the President’s Day Parade at the Riverside County Fair in Indio California. Pilot Tom Nightingale. Always something going on at the Palm Springs Air Museum! More photos and video coming this way shortly!
The Colonel’s 97th Birthday
Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Celebrating the Colonel’s 97th birthday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The P-51 Mustang “Bunny” flown by pilot Tom Nightingale doing flybys, restored as a replica of the famed Tuskegee Airmen “Red-Tail” P-51’s.
One Of Only One
Saturdays at the Palm Springs Air Museum brings us great programs and flight demonstrations. This last Saturday brought us the only still flying World War II P-51A Mustang. There are other still flying Mustangs but this is the early A version powered by 1200 hp Allison engine. It had a maximum speed of 409 mph and carried four .50 caliber machine guns. The plane was designed to be strictly an air to air combat aircraft. Now owned by Planes Of Fame in Chino CA. I had the pilot stop mid-air right in front of me so I could shoot this photograph. Ok maybe not.
Busy Day Flying
Last Saturday at the Palm Springs Air Museum. One of the Museum’s premier aircraft, piloted by the equally premier Tom Nightingale, headed out for takeoff. Waiting while the Stearman biplane comes back in to pick up another happy passenger.
“Bunny” is a P-51 Mustang restored and dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And specifically to Lt. Col. Bob Friend. To this day you can find the Colonel often at the Air Museum and many times in the back seat of this very special aircraft.
Bunny P-51
The World War II P-51 Mustang “Bunny” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Restored to the configuration of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and dedicated to Lt. Col. Bob Friend. Piloted by Tom Nightingale.
Tuskegee Airmen Heroes Of WWII
Off in the distance you see them, a P-40 Warhawk and a P-51 Mustang closing fast. No, not an old photo I found, but this last Saturday in the sky at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
P-40 Warhawk and P-51 Mustang
A celebration of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II and the 96th birthday of Lt. Col. Bob Friend, the oldest living Tuskegee pilot, having flown 140 combat missions over Europe. This is the Colonel sharing his times with some of the many visitors to the Air Museum. Tom Nightingale, the pilot flying the P-40 and often flying partner with the Colonel says that he remembers names and times and places of almost every photo that people can bring up to him. And that the Colonel can go hours on end, over and over talking to people, doing photographs and signing autographs.
Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend on his 96th birthday
The P-51 here is an airplane that has been restored in commemoration to the Colonel’s P-51, nicknamed “Bunny”, that he flew over Europe during the war. But this Saturday “Bunny” had another very special guest, Tuskegee Airman Rusty Burns! At 90 years old I can personally say this man got in and out of that airplane like a 25 year old. Even after a number of high speed passes down the runway, he was all smiles as he left the airplane off the front of the wing, not the closer to the ground back of the wing. Just like he said he always did!
Tuskegee Airman Rusty Burns getting ready to fly in the P-51 “Bunny”
Man ‘O’ War P-51 Mustang
Man ‘O’ War at the Palm Springs Air Museum. A P-51D Mustang WWII fighter plane. Courtesy of the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Truly amazing and exciting to see legendary airplanes like this flying close up.
Tuskegee Airmen Flies His P-51 Mustang Again!
Lt. Col. Bob Friend, 95 years old, flying in the P-51D Mustang made famous when he flew as a Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. “Bunny” has been fully restored and now flying at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Back on the ground, the Colonel was greeted by Air Museum Director Fred Bell, the man who made the restoration of this great aircraft possible over the last three years. The P-51 pilot for the Colonel and Bunny was Tom Nightingale.
Fly By Backyard
I will confess to just hanging around poolside in my backyard for some of yesterday. It was bright and sunny and 86 degrees. So I amused myself by photographing a few friends as they dropped by.
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