Yesterday I was in Mesa AZ to conduct a checkride to Santa Ana CA (The O.C.) and we were getting on the aircraft when we heard the tell tail sound of a radial engine. Not just one, but many in that rhythmic melody that makes the hairs on your neck come to attention. It was a Flying Fortress, a Boeing B-17G, S/N: 44-83514, it was Sentimental Journey in all its glory.
I had made its takeoff roll and I was not sure if it was going to be returning or if it was gone and I missed the opportunity. I got into my bak and put the EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS lens on the XTi and waited. We watched as it turned on what would be a right downwind leg (parallel to the runway but opposite direction) of the traffic pattern. Sure enough, he was returning for a landing and we had a front row seat.
I grabbed a number of shots that all really turned out but these two where the best composition. The one below was cropped to get a little closer but still was a good size file. She is in the landing phase after touching down on the main landing gear, for which it is called a wheel landing (rather than landing on all three wheels which is not the preferred method in larger convectional landing geared aircraft).
At this point I am very happy to have started carrying a DSLR when I am out on a tour as I would never have been able to get this level of photography out of the G9. As nice as it is, limitations still exist.
Don't know if you are going to watch the opening to the Winter Olympics tonight but lets hope the death of the luge rider today will be the only tragedy in Vancouver.
Enjoy your weekend and I'll be back on Monday.Cya... Doug
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