USAF Thunderbirds
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Not my normal bird in flight shot however I thought it was worth sharing this photo of the Thunderbirds at one of the premier airshows in north America. Yes, I am a nature and wildlife lover but to be honest I've always been drawn to power and speed beginning with horses then muscle cars, NASCAR and air shows. It's been a long while since attending this or any social event for that matter so it was a welcomed change from everyday home life.
After the event I pondered the cost of such a demonstration and did a bit of snooping on the internet. What I gathered was: The average cost of jet fuel here is approximately $7 per gallon. The average time the Thunderbirds are in the air is 15 minutes flying at 700mph. There were 6 jets so approximately 1200 gallons of fuel were used in the air.
It's reported that this display is used to recruit enlistments and it must work otherwise moving from one show to another with complete ground crews, pilots, food and housing at such an enormous cost it wouldn't make any sense. That being said with the current push for electric vehicles to reduce oil consumption it struck me as being one of those little life oxymorons. Even with this info I must say I get a rush from the sights, sounds and admire the precision maneuvers these pilots do.
Another shot from September 2018 at McConnell Air Force Base here in Wichita. . .I've been working some old shots over for fun. But in less than a month we'll be having our first air show in several years. . .Looking forward to actually getting out from behind my computer and into the "real" world again!
Took this shot of the USAF Memorial (located in Arlington, VA) in the late blue hour. Found a spot next to the memorial grounds to get the monument. Decided to use a soft misting preset in Lightroom in this one and worked it out from there.
Took this shot on the memorial grounds at nighttime. There is a lot of interesting aspects to this memorial. I saw this statue and managed to get a plane flying into Reagan International and the DC Skyline in the background.
Experimenting lower shutter speeds on fast moving jets. Only a few keepers but I am beginning to like them.
United States Air Force 8th Special Operations Squadron 08-0051 Boeing-Bell CV-22 Osprey is pictured posing for the crowds at RAF Fairford during the 2019 Air Tattoo.
CadWest
Thanks to all who have visited, commented or faved (it would be nice if you left a comment too) my photos. It is very much appreciated. Constructive criticism welcomed.
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
92-0364
United States Air Force
USAF 48FW
Royal International Air Tattoo
RAF Fairford, UK
14 July 2022
From September 2018. . .or the world before COVID - 1984. McConnell Air Force Base Open House/Air Show in Wichita. The USAF Thunderbirds were the featured performers.
73-1677
Boeing E-4B Nightwatch
C/N: 20683
USAF 1st ACCS
Stansted (STN/EGSS) 15.04.2021
'TITAN 25' on approach to Runway 04 from Brussels/Zaventem (BRU/EBBR). Bringing US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to London to meet his UK counterpart.
2015 Air Force Graduation
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO.
With the 2016 Graduation Ceremony fast approaching, I decided to take another look at my 2015 archives ...
On finals to land at Prestwick airport in Scotland is this USAF HC-130J.
The Lockheed HC-130 is an extended-range, search and rescue (SAR)/combat search and rescue (CSAR) version of the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, with two different versions operated by two separate services in the U.S. armed forces.
92-1094 an LC-130H-3 from the New York ANG in the blue hour. Most noticeable of the H-3 upgrades are the Hamilton Sundstrand NP2000 eight-blade propellers.
USAF 48th Fighter Wing, 493rd Fighter Squadron 'Grim Reapers'. Now departed from the UK, this was one of their last flights through the Mach Loop. The LN logo (for Lakenheath) already being removed.
Thanks to all who have visited, commented or faved (it would be nice if you left a comment too) my photos. It is very much appreciated. Constructive criticism welcomed.
USAF F-16C Fighting Falcon
91-0413 '4'
57th Wing
USAF Demonstration Squadron Team 'The Thunderbirds'
Nellis AFB, Nevada, USA
With the Air Festival this past weekend at nearby Martin State Airport I was able to snap of some fighter plane captures in addition to birds along Middle River.
Captured here at slower shutter speed to show the props in motion.
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II
19-5475/LN
United States Air Force
USAF 495FS/48FW
Royal International Air Tattoo
RAF Fairford, UK
14 July 2022