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 Flyovers & Fujifilm GFX100
Honoring the people on the front lines of the pandemic, the Palm Springs Air Museum is doing flyovers over different facilities on Fridays through May. This is the three aircraft returning from the flight the other day. The World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc”, the iconic “Red Tail” P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, and one of only of the very few flying in the entire world, the P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”.
Photographed with the new Fujifilm GFX100 medium format camera and the GF110mm lens. I am just now shooting with it for the first time. Faster operating than I had expected, it was able to capture aircraft in flight from the ground. This is a 100 megapixel camera still capable of shooting five frames per second with continuous auto-focusing. I will be shooting with it some more, so keep coming back to see what else I do with it. Thanks!
What’s Up Doc?
The World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. Likely I have flown in this aircraft somewhere around a couple of hundred times or more. This when we were doing ride flights with Hangar 24 Brewery & Taproom at the Redlands Airport. Great fun! Thanks!
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.
NAF El Centro Not This Year
Last year headed to the airshow at NAF El Centro with the Palm Springs Air Museum. I was flying alongside in either a T-28 Trojan or P-51 Mustang, I don’t recall which. I have flown in this C-47 hundreds of times. Anyway the airshow this year of course was cancelled. Sheltering at home.
Tomcat with Hasselblad X
The Palm Springs Air Museum F-14 Tomcat. A favorite because of the motion picture “Top Gun”. Photographed with the Hasselblad X1DII 50c camera and XCD 21mm lens. Processed in Hasselblad Phocus software. Phocus with Hasselblad files always produces just amazing results.
A-7 Corsair II Arrives
It might not look like much now, but by the end of the year, those restoration magicians at the Palm Springs Air Museum will have it looking like it is ready to fly off a carrier. A Vietnam War era Vought A-7A Corsair II. The A-7 flew from 1965 through the Gulf War. It arrived this morning.
For my photographer friends; Sometimes I still use my Fujifilm x30. Very convenient to have around. These are Velvia film simulation jpg’s.
X-Pro3 Is Pro!
Getting some time shooting the new Fujifilm X-Pro3 Camera. Here with the XF23mmF2 R WR lens. It is a rangefinder camera with the rear screen hidden unless you fold it down. Just like shooting a film rangefinder. The photos here shot in Velvia simulation mode and jpg right out of the camera. The close up, just a crop of the other photo. This is a hugely impressive camera.
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.
Warbirds, Air Shows, Corporate Events
What can we bring to your airshow? We can also do something special for your corporate events? Warbird rides for your top execs or best clients perhaps? Send me a note or give me a call and we can talk.
Ian L. Sitren, Aviation Coordinator, Palm Springs Air Museum Ian@PalmSpringsAirMusuem.org 213-712-1929 cellphone & text
Video produced by ParkAir Vision
ICAS With Another 1500
I just returned from the ICAS convention, International Council Of Air Shows at Paris Las Vegas. I am the Aviation Coordinator (and photographer) for the Palm Springs Air Museum. “Delegates” numbered 1,501 and 247 exhibitors in the trade show. This Tuesday morning opening session hosted by “Good Morning America” David Hartman featured three World War II Veterans; Tuskegee Airman Colonel Charles McGee, B-29 gunner and Japanese POW Staff Sergeant Kargin Thomasian, and B-29 Pilot Lt. Col. Bob Vaucher.
I went to a hotel restaurant for lunch and ended up sitting next to Colonel Vaucher. The Colonel had flown the first B-29 strategic combat mission over Japan on June 15, 1944. And he flew as lead pilot in a massive 525 B-29 formation over Tokyo Harbor during the formal Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. As a Lieutenant with a total of 2.5 hours in the B-29 he took delivery as Pilot in Command of the first B-29 to enter service. His Second in Command was a Captain but with only 90 minutes of B-29 time.
I did invite Colonel Vaucher to come see us at the Palm Springs Air Museum. And I expect in the next few months he may do that. In talking with him, I think he finds where he has been in his life as amazing as we do.
Winner!
Just returned from the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) convention in Las Vegas. There as Aviation Coordinator for the Palm Springs Air Museum. A big Thank You to Greg Hiser, Air Capital Insurance (ACI), insurer of the Palm Springs Air Museum. A random drawing by ACI, and won by me, paid for a great dinner for myself and our two other Museum attendees. So a toast to Greg Hiser and ACI!
ICAS Next Week
Next week you will find me at the ICAS convention. At the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. The International Council of Airshows. I will be there as the Aviation Coordinator for the Palm Springs Air Museum. Why? Learning; and looking for opportunities and sharing ideas than can make us all successful. Will you be there too? My e-mail Ian@PalmSpringsAirMuseum.org and cellphone/text 213-712-1929. Thanks!
Quality Counts
Quality counts more and more. We went through a decade or longer being bombarded with bad photos and video in ads, features and social media. A few of the photographs I shoot for the Palm Springs Air Museum. Camera was my Fujifilm X-H1 with the Fujifilm XF 8-16mm f/2.8 lens. These are also used for print advertising. Thanks!
Buckling In Marilyn
Last night we taxi’d in with VIP’s for a corporate event at the Palm Springs Air Museum in the C-47. We even had Marilyn Monroe on board! I got to buckle her in too. We do a lot of corporate events.
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.
Mojave Air And Space Port
Quick trip the other day to Mojave. Made even quicker in the Palm Springs Air Museum T-28 Trojan.
On The Way Back
On the way back from a very fun Kingman AirFest Saturday in a World War II C-47. I had never stopped moving since 7am this morning. And this actually wasn’t a down time either; I was texting the Palm Springs Air Museum crew about our updated arrival time.
Journey To Royal Screening
Please join us at the Palm Springs Air Museum for an exciting Workprint Test Screening of the World War II docudrama, JOURNEY TO ROYAL followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers, on Saturday, October 19, 2019 from 1:00pm to 3:30pm.
The film tells the extraordinary true story of Lt. Royal Stratton and the 4th Emergency Rescue Squadron who, over the seas on an embattled South Pacific, flew over 800 rescue missions to save the lives of 576 men.
Over the last decade, the filmmakers have traveled the world locating and interviewing the surviving members of the Squadron, as well as other WWII veterans, who share their firsthand accounts of some of the most pivotal and consequential events of that War. Their goal is to preserve the values of, and celebrate the contributions made by, the Greatest Generation.
Producer Mariana Tosca and writer-director Chris Johnson will be doing a Q&A after the screening for anyone interested in giving audience feedback or learning more about the making of the movie. Thank You!
BMW & B-17 I Have Flown In Both!
A BMW from the BMW Performance Center and the World War II B-17 Flying Fortress “Sentimental Journey” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. I have flown in the B-17 and driven the BMW on the Performance Center race track!
They were both here at the Palm Springs Air Museum during the LuLu’s Catering, Events and Restaurant season opening reception to benefit the Boy’s & Girl’s Club of Palm Springs. It was truly a tremendous event!
Cobra Helicopter
Much fun this weekend with the Cobra attack helicopter flying riders at the Palm Springs Air Museum. From the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation. And yes I have flown in it too. An outstanding experience!
