A2A is an adrenaline-packed type of photography that is very dangerous! Dangerous to some extent, even when you do everything correctly. One extremely important aspect is visual contact between the two aircraft, which is why one plane is flying lead with the rest of the formation flying off its wing. The norm is that the photo platform (where the photographer is located) is the lead, and the other aircraft fly off their wing. To get the shot of going home, “entering the pattern” requires switching so that the photo platform is flying off the wing of the subject aircraft. Flying with the Pembertons, this is safe and fun as they have practiced doing it for years. They make it look so simple, and so fun, so more times than not the last shot I get is going home.

“I want to photograph planes, how do I get started?” I’m asked this question a lot, and it’s great to hear. One option I offer up to many is to check out your local CAF. The CAF operates around the country, restoring and flying old aircraft. They are mostly volunteer-based, and that’s where you come in. Whether a mechanic, sales person or photographer, they can use your help fulfilling their mission. You might start out pushing a broom with your camera over your shoulder, but with time, you will be just shooting. I know, it’s how I started out nearly twenty years ago with the Mesa CAF. They are good folks, check them out!

Eighty-three years ago today, 80 airmen in 16 B-25Bs launched from the USS Hornet to attack mainland Japan. Pearl Harbor was fresh in everyone’s memory and even though the damage from the raid was thought to be a token at best, the boost to the US morale was immeasurable. In Dayton, OH in 2017, eleven B-25 flew over the USAF Museum to pay their respect and tribute to the Doolittle Raiders and thank them for their sacrifice for our freedoms on the 75th anniversary of this event. Lt Col Dick Cole, 102 years old then, was the last of the eighty Raiders and was present for the ceremonies (he passed 8 April 2019). We owe all our vets a tribute and thanks for all they did, and do and the freedoms we enjoy because of them!! Lest we forget!!!

Not glamorous, in fact, it’s downright dirty, but the underside of an aircraft can still make a clean shot. Gesture is a big part of the photographic success for sure. The background even more so. Shooting up against a grayish sky can be risky because of the exposure range, but the mood created by the gray sky supports all the oil and grease you see. One other thing you can only see in this kind of photograph is the recognition lights on the wing tip. The pilot would have to have the day’s lighting pattern to land on a carrier. Next airshow, you might give it a try if conditions are right, try catching the oil and grease.

Flying is so weather dependant! I’ve lost count of how many commercial flights out of major airports have been delayed or canceled because of wx. When you add to the weather equation small planes and smaller airports, and on top of that formation flying, you’ve stacked the odds up against ever getting off the ground. Yet, we do it almost the majority of the time. This means that you have to be a pro and find the silver lining those times you don’t fly.

Being a weak person, forgive me for turning to some older images to drive home the points of a silver lining. But this C-45 that was the subject for the day’s A2A photo mission that ended up never flying for my camera. That is always the possibility. Knowing that doesn’t stop me from doing my thing and photographing the subject, to tell its story as if everything is a go. In this case, I used the drama of the massive afternoon storm as the backdrop in a simple metaphor for the dark skies of war. I might have to sit down, have some coffee as I regroup mentally to the moment, but that’s OK. I have found that with a little time, we all will learn that clouds have a silver lining!

The back of the truck was packed with all the gear for the weekend shooting. The drive over was glorious, blue sky dotted with puffies. I was psyched even with the forecast for the weekend. The phone rang and my mind said, “Scrub.” Rather, the call was to confirm the A2A flights and nail down some logistics. The skies opened up the next day, there was no flying and the quick-moving storm now placed doubt on the following day’s flying. With the snow / hail pounding the hangar’s roof, going out simply sounded like no fun.

“Wanna see my new project?” A smoker was being installed on one of the aircraft I was to do an A2A with the next day. A new Stearman to the owner, I clicked away as he worked away since it was “new” to him and me. But there are only so many shots of someone wrenching. So when I was asked, I piled into the car to check it out. I’d not been in Rod’s hangar before so when I stepped in a saw the PT-17 & Cub, it was a great surprise. And there tucked in the back corner was the new project. I never go into a new hangar with my camera. I always see what’s up first. For example, it might not be something I want to get involved with (which has happened) so with no camera, no commitment. If it is something I want to photograph, I ask permission and then go out and get the camera. This has gained me more access than you can imagine with quite often a “Thank you” being said after my asking. As it turns out, when I go back in a couple of weeks for the two scrubbed A2A missions, I now will have three aircraft. When you just show up, you can find opportunities when flight turns to hangar time.