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!
Some more photos working with the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S lens. On my Canon 1DMkIV. The flying photos were shot at 600mm and only 1/200th shutter speed. It was mounted on an Induro monopod and a Foba ball head.
The slower shutter speed is to capture the prop blur. It is indeed a beast of lens and mounted to a I series Canon body makes for a big heavy package. Panning with this at 600mm will take some more practice. Also I will try it handheld. Right now I am thinking this has some real possibilities. Love the color fidelity and reach of this lens. At 600mm on that body it is the equivalent of 780mm.
The aircraft at the Palm Springs Air Museum; a Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny” dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. And the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”.
I have been trying out the the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S lens. On my Canon 1DMkIV. And a no fail serious camera strap from Vulture Equipment Works.
Just worked with it for the 2nd time. Yes it is sharp and the color fidelity is beautiful! You might look at the lettering on the prop and say it is blurry. Actually that is exactly how it is on the prop. This was at 150mm. The aircraft is at the Palm Springs Air Museum; a Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny” dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.
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
August 19th is National Aviation Day in celebration of the development of aviation. We celebrated with a “Flight OF Two” on August 19th returning from the Wings Over Camarillo Air Show. Aircraft that were pivotal in the history of aviation. Flying in our own World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” and across from us, the CAF Inland Empire C-53 “D-Day Doll”. Take a minute to watch and listen and enjoy some the experience of flying in these amazing 75 year old Warbirds.
The holiday was established in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with the Presidential Proclamation designating the anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday to be National Aviation Day. Orville Wright, born in 1871, was still alive when the proclamation was first issued.
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!
Yes I get to shoot fun video like this and fly onboard. Watch the video! I really enjoy being the Social Media Manager for the Palm Springs Air Museum and it gives me the opportunity to share some amazing history. The Palm Springs Air Museum, One Of The Best Air Museums In The World – CNN.
July 28, 1935 eighty three years ago, the B-17 Flying Fortress took it’s first flight. The giant four engine bomber that played a pivotal role in World War II and became an iconic symbol of American Air Power.
You can tour the inside the B-17 Flying Fortress “Miss Angela” at the Palm Springs Air Museum. See what it was like to fly a mission from the cockpit, across the bomb bay, to the guns in the back. In one of four fully air conditioned hangars of almost 100,000 sq ft of aircraft and displays. Great fun and history!
Just some thoughts on air to air photography. Flying with the Palm Springs Air Museum, we were doing July 4th celebration flyovers. Alongside the T-28 Trojan, I was in the backseat of the Red Tail P-51 Mustang “Bunny”. The Mustang is at best, somewhat short on room in the back. There is also a curvature to the canopy that lends itself to a lot of distortion. My choice of gear here made it all work out easier.
I was shooting the latest Fujifilm mirrorless camera, the X-H1 and the Fujifilm XF50-140 lens. The 5-axis in-body stabilization works in conjunction with the lens stabilization, perfect for this kind of shooting. It is also physically smaller and lighter than a full size DSLR which in tight quarters or pulling a couple of g’s makes a huge difference.
This time out I also especially appreciated my camera strap choice. From Vulture Equipment Works especially made for aviation use. A tougher strap does not exist. It is designed with carabiners connecting the strap to the camera. The ability to easily disconnect them helped in easily getting the strap out of the way of my headset cable. When you are getting in, you are buckling up your parachute, shoulder harness and seat belt, camera and headset, so wanting to change how you set things up from when you got in does happen.
At the same time, I was also running two GoPro’s. Each mounted inside to my left and right, pointed 45 degrees front. Got some great video I will show you later.
Anyway just thought I would share. It was great fun! Thanks!
Getting Ready To Go To Reno! For the National Championship Air Races for 2018! Join with us as part of our Red Tails Kingcobra Race Team as our P-51 Mustang “Bunny” again roars around the pylons. And this year along with our P-63 Kingcobra “Pretty Polly”. The first time in decades for a Kingcobra at the Reno Air Races!
We are reaching out to all of you, we are committed, but need your help. We have great perks for as little as $25 on up to our Platinum Sponsor Level. You can even fly in “Bunny” too. So please check it out and help us out! We promise you great fun as you are a Red Tails Kingcobra Team Member! Thanks! Click right here for our Indiegogo https://igg.me/at/RedTailsReno2018
Very much enjoy getting to discover and research these moments in history. As Social Media Manager for the Palm Springs Air Museum.
July 2, 1926 the Air Corps Act became law creating the United States Army Air Corps. A history which went on to become the United States Army Air Forces on June 20, 1941. Today as we know, it is now the United States Air Force created in 1947. A proud heritage of aviation and service from 92 years ago today.
Thank You to Palm Springs Air Museum friend Brooks Wachtel, Emmy Award Winner and Co-Creator of the History Channel series “DogFights” for this moment in history.
Mick Dawson talking about the Spitfire. Mick was a young man in England working at an airbase during World War II. One of the very very interesting people I get to meet shooting photographs and video and managing the social media for the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Climb in the cockpit of the Supermarine Spitfire yourself! This is an incredible opportunity! The British fighter aircraft that is a hero of the Battle of Dunkirk and the exciting motion picture “Dunkirk”!
Open Cockpit Saturday June 30th from 10:30am – 12:30pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Check it out!
Have you been watching all of my aviation photography and video work with the Palm Springs Air Museum. Here is the USS Missouri in Long Beach from the mid 1980’s when most of my flying was in a Cessna 172.
I really enjoy the purpose when my videos and photos get to share both excitement and history. Here with the Palm Springs Air Museum.
The Berlin Airlift 70 years ago started on June 24, 1948. From our Palm Springs Air Museum friend, Brooks Wachtel, Emmy Award Winner and Co-Creator of the epic History Channel series “DogFights”. More below…
“The Soviet Union began the Berlin Blockade. It was an attempt to gain control over the allied sections of the city by preventing food from reaching the inhabitants.
The allies answered with the largest airlift in history, flying in supplies on the gamble that the Soviets would not launch an overt and provocative attack on these aircraft.
By April, 1949, they were flying in more supplies than had previously been delivered by rail. In May the humiliated Soviets gave up and opened the land routes.”
In total, the USAF delivered 1,783,573 tons and the RAF 541,937 tons, nearly two-thirds of which was coal, on 278,228 flights to Berlin. The Royal Australian Air Force delivered 7,968 tons of freight and 6,964 passengers during 2,062 sorties. The C-47s and C-54s together flew over 92 million miles in the process, almost the distance from Earth to the Sun. At the height of the Airlift, one plane reached West Berlin every thirty seconds. Pilots came from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
The C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” is a veteran of the Berlin Airlift. And right now in the air-conditioned hangars of the Palm Springs Air Museum where you can watch “Doc” undergoing it’s routine annual inpsection. That is something you will not see everyday. Check it out!
Truly outstanding… The Fujifilm X-H1! I am really liking this camera the more I shoot it. Image quality is incredible, viewfinder is breathtaking! It does it all. I use it with a very serious camera strap from Vulture Equipment Works. I don’t get the idea of using those pretty straps unless you are shooting babies and weddings. Just not for me. I like my gear tough!
Yesterday I was shooting something simple enough but in not great lighting. Behind the scenes at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Michael Ripley was “Air Cav” and flew AH-1 Cobra helicopters 50 years ago in Vietnam. Here being interviewed by Dominik Radwanska from DIGICOM Learning. DIGICOM teaches teachers and here he was showing elementary and middle school teachers how to make movies with simple equipment. Skills that they then take back to their classrooms in the Fall.
Next I was off to the BMW Performance Center at the Thermal Club. An incredible facility where you learn and drive the “Ultimate Driving Machines”, high performance BMW’s. We drove various models all out on three different tracks and I had the chance to do some quick shots as our instructor Christopher Hill took some students on a very exciting run around a track. As Chris said; “If the tires aren’t squealing you are not going fast enough”. I did make them squeal myself and then some! The X-H1 camera did not squeal and handled it all!
It was Friday and Saturday night for me at the Palm Springs Air Museum. This was fun!
Thousands of people got a whole different look at the C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” for Splash House. People who had never seen incredible military aircraft like ours before got a look at many of them. The typical reaction… Wow this is great, we have to come back!
Splash House is a multi-venue music festival hosted poolside at hotel resorts in Palm Springs and right here at the Palm Springs Air Museum for their huge night time after-party. A great way to introduce people to the fun of Palm Springs and to the Air Museum. Thanks!
This is where you will find me on Father’s Day June 17th. At Hangar 24 Brewery & Taproom at the Redlands Airport. Flying with people in the Palm Springs Air Museum C-47 Dakota. Strapping people in the P-51 Mustang. Shooting photos and video. Then having some food and a beer myself too! Come on out…
This is a Father’s Day! Take a flight in our C-47 Dakota “What’s Up Doc?” and our P-51 Mustang “Bunny” and enjoy a Prime Rib or Chicken Brunch, great Hangar 24 Craft Beer and live music!
Father’s Day Warbird Rides and Brunch at Hangar 24 Brewery & Taproom at the Redlands Airport at 1710 Sessums Dr, Redlands, CA. Sunday June 17th
In our C-47 you will experience what it was like for Paratroopers to fly into battle behind enemy lines on D-Day. Even get right up in the cockpit with the pilots. Only $225 per person including one free Brunch. Five people on a flight so you can make it a family flight too.
Fly in our P-51 Mustang and you will experience one of the most iconic fighter aircraft ever built. Roar into the sky behind that powerful Rolls Royce Merlin engine. $1995 per person including Brunch for four.
To reserve your flight, give a call to Hangar 24 Brewery & Taproom in Redlands at the Redlands Airport at 909-389-1400. Or give us a call at the Palm Springs Air Museum at 760-778-6262.
You can also come and enjoy the day with Brunch for only $15.95. Buffet style with carving station. Rosemary Prime Rib or Chicken, Green Bean Almandine, Roasted Red Peppers, Rolls, Dessert and a Pint of Hangar 24 Craft Beer. Kids meal of Tenders & Fries. Live music starts at Noon. That is a great Dad’s Day Brunch!
Plan on approximately 45 minutes for your flight experience with wheels up to wheels down in the air flight time of 20 minutes. Flying will begin after 11:00am and will continue until sundown as demand requires. Some restrictions will apply. Children 13 years and older. Thank You!
I greatly enjoy putting these historical posts together for the Palm Springs Air Museum. Please take a moment and watch and also “Like” the Air Museum page for me. “One of the best Air Museums in the world” – CNN. I am the Social Media Manager so a big audience really helps me out. Thanks!
June 6th will be the 74th Anniversay of D-Day when the Allies invaded Western Europe in World War II in the largest amphibious attack in history.
Part of the preparation for the invasion was planning how to tow the Waco CG-4A combat glider carrying men, armament and cargo into battle. This original film shows the gliders being towed with aircraft from the P-38 Lightning to the mighty B-17 Flying Fortress, and even a PBY Catalina.
Come on in to the Palm Springs Air Museum and see our own Waco combat glider and D-Day exhibit. They flew into war with “no motors, no parachutes, and no second chances”. It is history up close and real. Thanks!
I am also the Social Media Manager for the Palm Springs Air Museum. And it is with great pride that I have the opportunity to share not only my own photographs and video created for the Air Museum, but also stories like this from very important times in history…
05:34 Japanese ships detected by a United States Navy Catalina PBY from Midway Island June 4, 1942, 76 years ago. And so began the most decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. You will soon be able to join with us in our ongoing restoration to flying of our own PBY Catalina. But for now…
The Battle Of Midway described by our Palm Springs Air Museum friend, Emmy Award Winner, Brooks Wachtel, co-creator of the iconic History Channel series “DogFights”…
The Battle of Midway began. It was the first major victory for America over Japan during World War II. The battle ended on June 6 and blunted Japanese expansion in the Pacific. The Japanese navy never recovered from the loss of 4 fleet carriers and their highly trained aviators. Walter Lord called it, “the incredible victory.â€
For the Japanese, losing the carriers and their irreplaceable pilots and aircrews was symbolic of the insurmountable problem that would doom them to defeat. The Japanese economy was less than 4% of the world’s industrial output while the United States was near 30%. It was estimated that the United States had 10 times the war making potential of Japan.
A war of attrition would be fatal to Japan.
Their only hope was a quick victory. Admiral Yamamoto, who had been to America, told his superiors that the Japanese Navy could run riot for six months and then he could promise nothing. Midway was six months to the day after Pearl Harbor.
Before Pearl Harbor the chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Stark – with great prophesy – warned the Japanese Ambassador, “If you attack us we will break your empire before we are through with you. While you may have initial success due to timing and surprise, the time will come when you too will have losses but there will be this great difference. You not only will be unable to make up your losses but you will grow weaker as time goes on; while on the other hand we not only will make up our losses but will grow stronger as time goes on. It’s inevitable that we shall crush you before we are through with you.â€
It was a blueprint of what happened in the course of the war.
Some of the fun I get to have with the Palm Springs Air Museum. Worried about it being too hot in Palm Springs for the Summer? Almost 100,000 sq ft of four hangars all fully air-conditioned. You really have to come visit.
So very outstanding to share Memorial Day with so very many thousands of people at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The day was filled with great fun and also honored those who have gone before us. Thank You!
It was a beautiful day for flying in “Bunny” the Palm Springs Air Museum Red Tail P-51 Mustang. You can too, Memorial Day Monday. Give a call for more information and to reserve your flight at 760-778-6262. $1895, It is a flight experience of history in the Red Tail Mustang dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. Thanks!
After a day of flying and fun at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Come on home to share a Betty IPA from Hangar 24 with Buster… call sign “Beer Buster” lol.
One of the fun things I get to do at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Taking people up in our C-47…
You could be saying, we went flying at the Palm Springs Air Museum! Today Sunday and tomorrow Monday come join us on board our World War II C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. Only $195 per person for a real Memorial Day experience like none other. Call us at 760-778-6262 for more info.
Lots of excitement coming up on Monday, Memorial Day! Tour the inside of the only flying PB4Y-2 Privateer in the World! The US Navy version of the B-24 designed as a long range patrol bomber in World War II. Later serving in the Korean War and then as a typhoon/hurricane hunter. So come on out Monday morning until 12:00 noon and share a true part of history.
Also on Monday, Memorial Day, flight demonstrations with our P-51 Mustang “Bunny”, P-63 Kingcobra, T-28 Trojan, C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”, T-6 flyovers, and the B-25 bomber “Pacific Princess”. Afternoon Missing Man Formation too with “Pacific Princess” dropping thousands and thousands of flowers right on our ramp.
Meet Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. Bob Friend and Captain Rusty Burns; WWII B-17 top turret gunner, 102 year old Mike Kovich, and 106 year old Kamikaze Survivor US Navy Veteran Marvin Cohn.
Fights also available in our P-51 “Red Tail” Mustang “Bunny”. A truly historical flight experience $1895. Call us at 760-778-6262 for more information and to reserve your flight today, Sunday and for Monday.
More on Memorial Day Monday, lots of music, lots of food including IN-N-OUT Burger, and lots of kids fun. Do not miss all this. Thanks!
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