Today promised to be a good day weather wise. The sun was out, the temps were perfect, the humidity was down — it was just a beautiful show day.

Manly engine — How does 600HP (500HP continuous use) of turbo-charged V8 oomph tickle your fancy? NIKON D70, ISO [...]]]> Second day of Airventure 2009

Today promised to be a good day weather wise. The sun was out, the temps were perfect, the humidity was down — it was just a beautiful show day.

Manly engine — How does 600HP (500HP continuous use) of turbo-charged V8 oomph tickle your fancy?

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/8.0, 1/1000sec, 42mm focal L., map

Avro Lancaster — from the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Ontario, Canada

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/4.5, 1/800sec, 28mm focal L.

Some info Andrew Mynarski if you re wondering why it’s flying the Canadian flag.

Steady Here — What exactly does that mean? Is that the Brit’s way of saying “don’t go past this line if you want to stay out of the props”?

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/8.0, 1/250sec, 92mm focal L.

White Night II

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/320sec, 50mm focal L.

When we arrived the White Night II was just a bustle with activity. Supposedly Sir Branson was there getting a lesson and systems overview so he could participate in the afternoon’s flight.

White Night II — There was a flurry of workers doing all sorts of stuff to it, for some reason…

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/400sec, 28mm focal L.

In the photo above, note the large aluminum I beams that form the tow apparatus. They can’t pull on the nose wheel like normal since each one is so far off centerline.

The area of the wing above the scissor lift is shown in the photo below.

After thought? — I can only hope that these have something to do with connecting to SSII. I can’t think of any other reason they’d be hanging on the outside of the wing like that. Maybe there’s a cover that they are supposed to hide inside of?

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/80sec, 210mm focal L.

Progression

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/200sec, 110mm focal L.

Vortex generators on the tail of the White Night II — With 600MPH aluminized “duct tape” holding them on. Last minute fix for some problem?

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/250sec, 70mm focal L.

Corporate whore

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/640sec, 60mm focal L.

Departing for the mass RV formation flight — More of this to come…

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/250sec, 120mm focal L.

Cessna 195

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/160sec, 28mm focal L.

Mass RV formation — They’re just gett’n warmed up…

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/9.0, 1/250sec, 155mm focal L.

Part gyro copter, part motorcycle — They Butterfly Super Sky Cycle

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/10.0, 1/125sec, 30mm focal L.

Getting it together

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/10.0, 1/100sec, 155mm focal L.

Safari Helicopters — Homebuilt chopper. The one on the right won the Lindy award.

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/10.0, 1/125sec, 28mm focal L.

Dialed in! — Now they’re just showing off…

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/10.0, 1/250sec, 300mm focal L.

Lots of practice to make that happen — They make it look easy to fly 37 planes in formation.

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/6.3, 1/320sec, 300mm focal L.

Turbine DC-3

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/6.3, 1/160sec, 28mm focal L.

Best look’n Albatross I’ve ever seen — Love that paint job.

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/8.0, 1/200sec, 28mm focal L.

Rows of Swifts — This one makes my elbows hurt just look’n at it.

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/11.0, 1/125sec, 110mm focal L.

P-51C

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/11.0, 1/200sec, 28mm focal L.

Venture Model 20 — Tiny little wings, yet 61 knot stall speed and and a scream’n fast cruise.

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/7.1, 1/500sec, 155mm focal L.

Predator — Never realized how big they were.

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/7.1, 1/400sec, 50mm focal L.

Buisness end of the Predator — why do I feal like, somebody’s watching me?

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/7.1, 1/320sec, 28mm focal L.

Just a small bomb — Also known as a “cookie”

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/7.1, 1/400sec, 28mm focal L.

P-51D ammo feed — Note that every 5th round is incendiary tipped (tracer)

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/9.0, 1/500sec, 28mm focal L.

Yours truly — Having a seat in a gorgeous P-51D

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/9.0, 1/500sec, 55mm focal L.

Panel of the P-51D — Fairl well equiped and IFR capable.

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/5.0, 1/500sec, 28mm focal L.

Rows of P-51Ds — Big frick’n prop that the Rolls-Merlin swings.

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/9.0, 1/400sec, 65mm focal L.

Rows of Boeing Stearmen

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/9.0, 1/640sec, 28mm focal L.

Not a real Zero — But, a pretty good likeness.

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/6.3, 1/1250sec, 92mm focal L.

Rows of T6′s / SNJ’s — The T6 category is my favorite at the Reno Air Races — the competition is fierce!

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/13.0, 1/200sec, 46mm focal L.

B-25 Mitchell — Can you believe it was found abandoned in Wilmington, DE in 1975

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/13.0, 1/80sec, 28mm focal L.

Get your graffiti on

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/13.0, 1/400sec, 135mm focal L.

Rows of T-28′s

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/13.0, 1/250sec, 42mm focal L.

Double-Decker — Airbus A380

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/13.0, 1/200sec, 300mm focal L.

Just a few tires to change — not exactly a shocker that they use Michelin’s…

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/13.0, 1/200sec, 300mm focal L.

Stunt it! — No camera tricks being played here. Note the hard left rudder deflection.

NIKON D70, ISO 400, ƒ/7.1, 1/1000sec, 300mm focal L.

On the binders

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/7.1, 1/500sec, 300mm focal L.

Like a sore thumb

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/7.1, 1/640sec, 220mm focal L.

Who says choppers can’t do tricks?

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/400sec, 300mm focal L.

Twin Beech Model 18

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/500sec, 300mm focal L.

This was truly an elegant show to watch. Very graceful maneuvers.

Twin Beech Model 18

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/800sec, 300mm focal L.

Look Ma, no hands!

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/800sec, 300mm focal L.

Arrr! Thar be a treasure that’away

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/500sec, 300mm focal L.

T6 team heads in to show center

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/10.0, 1/400sec, 300mm focal L.

Opposing loops

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/640sec, 300mm focal L.

The sound is awesome — You can hear the throttle adjustments being made as each pilot works to keep the same speed as their lead.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/640sec, 300mm focal L.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/7.1, 1/640sec, 300mm focal L.

T-28′s are look’n good — Thus, starts the hour of warbirds.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/640sec, 170mm focal L., map

A Mustang feels for the runway

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/6.3, 1/640sec, 300mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

Corsair flyby — All sorts of stuff during the warbird hour.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/7.1, 1/640sec, 300mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

Ford Tri-motor — Love the tail-cone on the landing light.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/11.0, 1/125sec, 42mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

Heritage flight — P-51, A-10, F-86

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/11.0, 1/320sec, 155mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

T-28 puts on an aerobatic show

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/9.0, 1/320sec, 300mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

Smoke rings — The T-28 was doing aileron rolls and left these behind.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/7.1, 1/640sec, 300mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

And so concludes our time at the show. It went on for another 4 days, but, that was all we’d get to see.

The next day we hit the road and started east.

I know you’re all hungry to see airplane pics, so, let’s just get to it…

Name that airplane — It’s the plane I shall buy when I win the lottery — the *big* lottery! Seats about 12 (depending on configuration). NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/4.5, 1/800sec, 48mm focal L., map

Opening day of Airventure 2009

I know you’re all hungry to see airplane pics, so, let’s just get to it…

Name that airplane — It’s the plane I shall buy when I win the lottery — the *big* lottery! Seats about 12 (depending on configuration).

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/4.5, 1/800sec, 48mm focal L., map

I wonder if she has to buy her own plane or does Cirrus write it off?

Indeed — Patty Wagstaff does kick ass.

NIKON D70, ISO 200, ƒ/22.0, 1/25sec, 27mm focal L. ~0ft from prev photo, map

Icon dubs this the “jet ski of aircraft”.

The new Icon amphibious 2 seater — with car-like interior.

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/9.0, 1/200sec, 55mm focal L.

F86 leading L39′s

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/9.0, 1/1600sec, 300mm focal L.

Dirty Wing on the DC-3 — All those rivets and bolts add drag.

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/16.0, 1/80sec, 35mm focal L.

I have a thing for flying boats. The Albatross has always been a favorite. This would be the second plane I’d get upon winning the lottery. You know, you need a well stocked hangar to properly support the mission for the day.

Grumman HU-16 Albatross — my other dream airplane

NIKON D70, ISO 320, ƒ/9.0, 1/125sec, 28mm focal L.

Grumman HU-16 Albatross — There’s literally a bed in the nose.

NIKON D70, ISO 250, ƒ/9.0, 1/160sec, 30mm focal L.

Grumman Goose — with turbine conversion — nice!

NIKON D70, ISO 250, ƒ/9.0, 1/200sec, 38mm focal L.

Retractable pontoons on the Goose

NIKON D70, ISO 250, ƒ/9.0, 1/160sec, 28mm focal L.

They aren’t joking about busiest tower. In 2000, I flew in with the Mooney Caravan that is fortunate enough to have an FAA sanctioned group arrival plan. During the arrival, the group “owns” 2 parallel runways (OK, one is actually a taxiway) for a few minutes time; long enough to get 70ish planes landed, two at a time with each group separated ~4 seconds apart. Sounds tricky, but, it’s better than the standard arrival.

The other way to fly in requires following certain land marks in until spotters on the ground call you on the radio a few miles away from the airport and space you out with other traffic doing the same thing. Nearing the runway, a different controller assigns a landing location on the runway and they land 2, sometimes 3 planes at a time on the same runway! They have giant colored “dots” on the runways and you are instructed to land accordingly to keep the traffic flowing. Typically, all this happens without the pilots talking to the controllers — it’s one-way communication to insure the frequency stays open for the controller’s usage. They often ask the plane to rock their wings if they understood the instructions. It’s a well choreographed ballet.

Worlds busiest control tower — At least for that 1 week period

NIKON D70, ISO 1000, ƒ/8.0, 1/200sec, 300mm focal L.

No appearance was made by SpaceShipTwo.

Scaled Composites White Night II makes a fly by — Was Burt on drugs when he designed this?

NIKON D70, ISO 1000, ƒ/8.0, 1/3200sec, 300mm focal L.

This was all we saw of the Thunderbirds. I’m not sure what the deal was or if they were schedule for later in the week.

The back seater appears to be having a blast — what a lucky bastard

NIKON D70, ISO 1000, ƒ/8.0, 1/5000sec, 300mm focal L.

Pull’n Gs — need more zoom for that distance

NIKON D70, ISO 1000, ƒ/8.0, 1/5000sec, 300mm focal L.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/7.1, 1/2500sec, 300mm focal L.

This was a bittersweet sight. More info here.

P-51C — “Red Tail” — I’m happy to see this very rare bird flying again. I’m sure Don Hinz would be too.

NIKON D70, ISO 1000, ƒ/8.0, 1/4000sec, 55mm focal L.

This looks like a hoot to fly

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/20.0, 1/400sec, 28mm focal L.

Got 25,000 pounds to hoist up to a remote location or a massive fire to douse? Give these guys a call…

Reborn Sikorsky Skycrane

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/7.1, 1/2000sec, 300mm focal L.

Ungainly contraption

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/8.0, 1/2000sec, 55mm focal L.

Just a few T-34′s — The Navy paint schemes are holding a tighter formation than those in Air Force colors.

NIKON D70, ISO 500, ƒ/8.0, 1/800sec, 200mm focal L., map

Unfortunately, the air show was cancelled for the day due to weather and we got rained on riding back to the hotel. First actual rain of the trip.

Contine on to the second day of the show…