Bombers! Bombers! Bombers!

[Daylon]

Went and saw these beautiful old birds take off yesterday. I don't have much in the way of skills in post-processing, but fiddled around in PS a bit..

#2 you can see the guy at the side machinegun in the window...

D.

[Davidtxs]

nice i am goin down this morning hopefully we well get some partly cloudy skies

[Daylon]

I was thinking about going back down this afternoon and finding a spot at the end of the runway to get some head-on shots when they take off again..

[Hogleg 44]

Very Nice Pictures.
I got them on the ground, but didn't know what time they made their flights.
Odd that they leave the gear down! B-17 Liberty Belle flew that way at Addison last year. Gear Down!
During the war, that meant the aircraft was disabled, and was surrendering!
I see the B-24 made it back? It was away for a replacement engine when I was there.

[mjdmike]

Great shots Daylon, thanks for posting.

[Daylon]

Well, this was about 10 seconds after takeoff...so they were probably in the process of raising the gear..

One thing I did notice, shoot at anything over about 1/500 or so and you freeze the props in flight... looks like it's crashing... ;-) I'm used to shooting little birds... not warbirds..

Anywhere between about 1/100 (if you have a tripod) and 1/250 gives you a decent prop blur.. IMHO..

D.

Went overkill on Witchcraft (1/1000 - looks like it lost power), slowed it down a tad with the B-17 (1/640).. and finally got close to right with the Tondeleo.. (1/200)

I think 1/160-1/250 is the sweet spot.... (at iso 100)

[Davidtxs]

they will probably be landing on 24 today its the primary for south winds you can park around the approach lighjts and get some awesome shots ok im off to check em out

[Daylon]

Little tighter crop of what I think was my best shot.. I was using an 80-400mm Nikkor that I rented for the weekend.

1/200, f/9, iso100, 270mm

"Boppo" Dick Alice at the controls

[KeithnFW]

Great stuff Daylon!

[bradh]

So that was the loud planes flying over my house... ahaha

[Big Dog]

I flew in the B-17!!!!!

(No, that's not me in the copilot's seat. )

top to bottom:
view of the the B-24 and B25 on the ground just as we took off.
the copilot
view out the nose with the bombsite

[Daylon]

How was it? I would think an old warbird like that would shake the fillings out of your teetch (and probably deafen you)..

D.

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by Daylon

How was it? I would think an old warbird like that would shake the fillings out of your teeth (and probably deafen you).

D.

Definetely something you do once, if you get the chance!

Yes, it was very loud. But it was also surprisingly smooth, especially considering how windy it was. We did not have to "remain in our seats with seatbelts fastened" except for take-off and landing. Otherwise, we were free to roam most of the plane. "Don't talk to or touch the pilots" "Don't go in the tail" (no floor!) "Don't hog the bombadier's seat" (too bad)

And "No hats and hold onto your glasses and camera and face the rear when sticking your head out the open top"

[Daylon]

HA! Wonder how many people climbed up there, camera first, only to have it sucked out of their hands at 200mph.. ..

Cruising speed on those planes is 230.. I'm sure they slowed it down a little for the tourists.. but still, getting hit in the grill with a junebug at 150mph can't be all that pleasant...

Oh, one other question, what was the Pilot's name? I contacted the Collings foundation (the people that own / run the planes) and they said it was probably Rob Collings.. I forwarded my #3 picture to them and asked them to send it on to the pilot with my thanks...

Originally Posted by Big Dog

And "No hats and hold onto your glasses and camera and face the rear when sticking your head out the open top"

[sdebenport]

Great shots! Wish I had that kind of zoom when I was out there on Sunday.