Pretty Polly
“Pretty Polly” the P-63 Kingcobra from the Palm Springs Air Museum, being flown by Patrick Nightingale. Taking off en route to the airshow at Naval Air Facility El Centro.
Our Reno Racers
At the Reno Air Races a couple of weeks ago. Our Palm Springs Air Museum three aircraft returning from a heat race. P-51 Mustang “Man O’ War”, P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”, and the P-51 Mustang “Bunny”.
Flying With “Doc” the B-29
An amazing experience the other day, flying alongside the B-29 “Doc” and aircraft from the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Returning From The Reno Air Races
Returning this past Monday from the Reno Air Races 2022 to the Palm Springs Air Museum. The P-51 Mustang “Man O’ War” and the P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”. I was in the P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. All three raced at Reno.
July 4 Weekend Flyovers
Flyovers for the July 4th weekend with the Palm Springs Air Museum. I went on one of them for the Independence Day celebration at Lake Arrowhead. On the return we flew over Big Bear Lake and Airport. For the other flyovers I ran the ground operations and shot some photos.
Pretty Polly Passes Mustang
The Palm Springs Air Museum P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly” passing up a P-51 Mustang. Ok yes the Mustang was on the ramp. Here at the Reno Air Races 2021.
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.
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”.
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!
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.
Was Headed To Reno
Saturday morning, Sept 8th I was en route to the 55th Annual National Championship Air Races in Reno! Flying in a P-51 Mustang along with the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang “Bunny” and this P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”.
Shooting air to air photos and video on A Fujifilm X-H1 camera secured to me with a very solid camera strap from Vulture Equipment. Watch for it! Thanks!
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
Pretty Polly
Great fun at the huge Planes Of Fame Air Show at Chino CA May 4th – 6th for me. With the Palm Springs Air Museum. “Pretty Polly” a P-63 Kingcobra, one of perhaps four or five still flying in the world.
Fujifilm X-H1 WOW!
The first use with a Fujifilm X-H1 camera body and I could not be more excited with the results! Photographed in less than optimum conditions. I was in the backseat of the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang shooting backwards over my right shoulder. I could just tilt the back screen of the camera around enough to just see that I was getting this P-63 KingCobra in the frame. Also I was shooting through the curvature of the canopy and the X-H1 still got focus. Wow!
“Pretty Polly” Air To Air
“Pretty Polly” as we flew back from the “Wings Over Camarillo” airshow this past weekend. So many Thanks to so many people for a great event but here especially to pilot Patrick Nightingale for his flying at the show and for here in front of my camera. A special Thanks to pilot Mike Nightingale flying the T-28 Trojan with me in the back seat.
“Pretty Polly” is a very rare P-63 Kingcobra, one of the very very few still flying in the world. Maybe numbering five or six. One of our aircraft that makes it to Airshows for the Palm Springs Air Museum. This coming Saturday to the Air Fair at Big Bear Lake California. You will also see “Bunny” our P-51 Mustang and perhaps our C-47 “What’s Up Doc”.
I am really appreciative that so many tens of thousands of you liked my videos and photos from the Airshow in Camarillo on the Air Museum Facebook page and also on my Facebook page. I will be showing you more. Also I will continue to shoot photos and videos at the Airshows coming up, and at the Reno Championship Air Races. So keep visiting the Facebook pages and here for the excitement and please tell your friends! And stop on in when you get to Palm Springs please!
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