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!
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.
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!
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!
Memorial Service For A Great Man
The Memorial Service at the Palm Springs Air Museum for a great man, Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Robert Friend. I am so very honored to have been part of planning, the flight operations, photographer, writing the story; and even more so, knowing him.
Personal big Thank You to the people who I reached out to help on the photography side things. It was too much and too important for just one person. Thank You to Rick Rowell and Ian Glover. And a huge Thank You to Scott Plummer and Lisa Plummer for their incredible video coverage and photography. Truly Thank You!
I Flew In The Cobra!
This was a first for me. At the “Wings Over Camarillo” airshow earlier this month I had the opportunity to fly in the front seat of this Vietnam War era Cobra Gunship. Wow I must say! Things that surprised me… much smoother than I expected, really comfortable seating with lots of room, and great air-conditioning! And yes I got some flying time too!
This was the Cobra as it landed at Camarillo after I arrived in the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” from the Palm Springs Air Museum. Just grabbed my iPhone just in time.
You can also fly in the Cobra. It will be at the Palm Springs Air Museum on September 28th & 29th (2019). Check it out on the Air Museum Facebook Events page or call the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation directly for more information and to make a reservation. This will book up really fast for sure. So do it now! Have Fun! I will be there too. Thanks! Call 480-217-1635.
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.
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.
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.
T-33 Beauty In Flight
There is beauty in flight. The Palm Springs Air Museum Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. A truly wonderful video production by ParkAir Vision. Pilot Michael Pfleger, myself in the backseat. July 4, 2019.
Honoring Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Bob Friend (February 29, 1920 – June 21, 2019), our T-33 will appear at the upcoming Reno Air Races. Please join with us in honoring the Colonel and there are some fun perks for helping us out. We do need you! Thanks and click here… https://igg.me/at/PSAMReno2019
Shooting from the backseat of the T-33. I was using my Fujifilm X-H1 and 50-140 lens. Mounted on the left and right canopy rail, I had a GoPro Hero6 Black.
