The most Amazing Air-to-Air Moment in my Life

[p51]

One of the most gorgeous sights I've seen thus far in my life. A dream fullfilled. Something I never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd ever have the chance to photograph... but it happened last Friday. The Planes of Fame Museum staff always say they really appericiate the work I do and wish they could do more for me... but after something like this I feel indebted to them for the rest of my life. Definatly one of the most amazing moments of my life so far.

We took off in a Queen Air from Chino Airport in the afternoon, 1pmish on May 20th (The day before the big Planes of Fame airshow weekend). We flew over to Lake Matthews, not far from the airport and began our circle around the lake waiting for the aircraft to form up on us. First up was a US Navy Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat from late World War 2/Korean War. I knew ahead of time what also would be forming up with us... but I was in so much disbelief I didn't really believe that it was going to happen. I spent all the time as we were circling around the lake searching for the first glimpse of her... I wanted to see her from a new perspective. I've always een her fly from the ground.... but never been in the air with one. It was torture at first, I could hear the pilot talking to the Bearcat through our radio... so I knew she was out there, but I couldn't find her. Then... looking to the left (I was in the co-pilot's seat) I see her. She's way out there forming up on the bearcat. It will be an image I will never forget. The dull matte grey color and the distinctive shape let me know it was her. She appeared to just be floating in the air since we were turning around the lake as she was turning in the distance to form up with the Bearcat. I took a photo of that moment... she's really tiny in the photo, but still enough that I can look back and recall the first time I saw her from a much different perspective. So, we made a few more turns, and on the radio we heard the Bearcat pilot (Ray) say he was forming up on our right side. My window had a 'bubble' for photographers to stick the camera out and get photos, so I stuck my head in the bubble and looked back to the tail of the plane. From this vantage point, I could look directly behind us... and saw nothing. Suddenly, the Bearcat appeared from behind us racing up beside our plane really fast (in fact too fast at first! He almost overshot us and had to slow down and drop back). I knew she was somewhere behind the bearcat, but I couldn't see her. I was busy shooting photos of the Bearcat at the time anyway, so I really couldn't stick my head in the bubble again to see where she was. After about 3 minutes of shooting... something catches my attention in the corner of my eye... an object down lower heading towards us. It was her. My mouth dropped open as I continued to shoot, trying to stay focuses on getting photos and not going into a daze. I fired away photo after photo as she got closer and closer to us. Finally, she formed up on the Bearcat so we could get photos of her and the Bearcat together, a Legacy Flight as they call it. It was a rare sight indeed! Unfortunatly... she was just at the right angle to be behind the Bearcat for 60% of the time, and we kept having to signal the bearcat to lower down a bit so we could see both aircraft.

Finally, after the Bearcat was done, he dropped down bellow us and went to our left and pulled away... leaving her all by herself for us to photograph. To keep up with us, she had to put the aircraft into a 'high alpha'... or point the nose up a bit and put on the flaps and speed brakes so she could slow down. And she sat there formed on us for what seemed like forever. It was one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen in my life. I was seeing a dream come true. It was so unreal I have problems believeing it now still!

So... I'm sure by now you all are wondering what the heck 'she' was that I was photographing. Well... the aircraft that was on our wing formed up with us happens to be one of my all time favorite aircraft. She's the pride of the United States Navy, and one of the most advanced Fighter Aircraft to date.

'She' was a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet:

<img src="http://warbird-photos.com/temp/5-20-05-f18.jpg">

Here's a shot of the US Navy Legacy Flight... where old (WW2) meets new (Modern)
<img src="http://warbird-photos.com/temp/5-20-05-legacy-2.jpg">

<img src="http://warbird-photos.com/temp/5-20-05-legacy.jpg">

After we shot the F-18 Super Hornet, she dropped down bellow us and went under the Queen Air. I didn't see her again until about 10 minutes later when I saw her in the distance, and then the next time I'd see her was when we were doing an overhead over the airport before landing, she was on the ground at the show already. We had stayed out circleing the lake for a while longer to shoot yet another aircraft, this time a Russian Yak, so the F-18 had gone on after us to the Airshow and parked.

It was a day I will remember forever. I spent the rest of the day in a daze, not sure what had just happened! I still had the actual airshow, which is the GIANT Planes of Fame Airshow and by far the most important event of the year for me the next two days... and already I was dazed! It was quite the 4 days for sure. Two Air-to-Air Flights, photos unlike any I've taken before!

[hworth18]

Wow.. Beautiful shots P-51!!! You sure are a lucky guy...

[tmanthegreat]

Wonderful Pictures - as always!

You know, I thought I recognized the squadron markings on the F-18, did a little search, and sure enough its based at NAS Lemoore, which is no more than a 45 minute drive south from my hometown in Fresno, Ca! I see those F-18s (plus Air National Guard F-16s from the locally based 144 TFW) fly over all the time when I'm there.

Its pretty awesome, however, that you got to see one from an aerial vantage point!

[Teamski]

Wow! Beautiful, Britt. You definately deserved those shots. And, they look great! I couldn't imagine having that sort of machinery flying that close. Beautiful.......

-Ski

[aferguson]

Too nice.