Viper on the tarmac

The F-16 is my favorite modern airplane, not just because of its sleek lines and unique profile, but also its performance and, oh yeah, the best combat flight simulator for PCs was built around this particular military jet, namely the Falcon series, most recently incarnated as Falcon AF. This image was taken at 18mm focal length with an exposure of 1/160 seconds at f/11, ISO 200 with a polarizer.

B-1 up close

You wouldn't want to have this view while the B-1 bomber was flying. This image was taken at 70mm focal length with an exposure of 1/125 seconds at f/8, ISO 200 with a polarizing filter.

Osprey in a cloud of dust

This VF-22 Osprey demonstrates its maneuverability as it turns in place, kicking up a huge cloud of dust which it almost disappeared in during the deomonstration. This combiniation helicopter/airplane can convert in seconds between modes of flight. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/200 seconds at f/11, ISO 200.

Pacific Prowler on display

A bonus picture for Tuesday: After it's demonstration flight, the Pacific Prowler returned to the viewing area, parked on the tarmac for visitors to take a close look at the old girl. In the spirit of it's glory days, I had fun making this B&W conversion of the original color image. This image was taken at 18mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/8, ISO 200 with polarizing filter.

Pacific Prowler

The Pacific Prowler B-25 makes a show turn past the viewing area at the X-Prize Cup air show. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/8, ISO 200 wtih polarizing filter.

B-25

This B-25 - named the Pacific Prowler - made an appearance at the X-Prize Cup Air & Space show. It is one of the few flying B-25's left from WWII. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/320 seconds at f/11, ISO 200. I lengthened the exposure with a moderate f-stop and slower ISO in order to blur the props.

Rocket Racer

If you like rockets and NASCAR, you'll love the Rocket Racing league. This is one of the planes that will be used in the Rocket Racing league when it starts up. Pilots will have to mix moments of high accelleration when the rocket is on with gliding as they zip through the skies. This image was taken at 18mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/8, ISO 400.

B-1 bomber

This B-1 bomber made some passes over the X-Prize Cup. It's hard to believe how old this airplane is already! I remember when it was first making test flights.... This image was taken at 263mm focal length with an exposure of 1/1800 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 400.

Meteors or skydivers?

These Air Force skydivers look every bit like entering meteors as they plunge towards Earth trailing smoke from smoke generators attached to their shoes. Shortly after this image, they executed a separation maneuver before opening their parachutes to continue their precision descent to an area in front of the air show crowds. This image was taken 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/600 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 400.

Falling skydivers

Airshows are fun also for the variety airborne spectacles. Skydivers jumped from C-130s in several groups. This jumper carried the U.S. Flag to the ground to begin the National Anthem. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/1000 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 400 with a polarizing filter to darken the sky.

Heritage Flight, X-Prize Cup

A couple different Heritage Flight combinations were flown at the X-Prize Cup Air & Space Show. Here, an F-4 Phantom leads a flight, from left to right of an F-22 Raptor, an F-117 Nighthawk, the Phantom and an F-15 Fighting Eagle. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 400.

Air Show

The X-Prize Cup at Holloman AFB was not just a space show - there was also a very nice air show with flights of planes like these two as well as static displays on the tarmac. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/500 seconds at f/5.6, ISO 400 with a polarizing filter.

Ares I model

This model of the Ares I rocket with an Orion spacecraft was on display at the X-Prize Cup. It was about a 1:10 scale model and was interesting to see. The Ares I consists of a 5 segment solid rocket motor modified from the 4 segment versions used on the Space Shuttle. Above the solid rocket motor is the orange colored second stage which will place the Orion into orbit around Earth. Above the conical Orion spacecraft is the launch escape rocket which would pull the capsule and crew away from a failing rocket during the first few minutes of flight. This image was taken at 45mm focal length with an exposure of 1/320 seconds at f/11, ISO 200 with a polarizing filter.

Armadillo Aerospace Lunar Lander

This is a view of the Armadillo Lunar Lander prototype similar to the one we saw fly on Saturday. This image was taken at 70mm focal length with an exposure of 1/200 seconds at f/11, ISO 100.

X-Prize Lunar Lander challenge

This is the lunar lander entry from Armadillo Aerospace which attempted to win the X-Prize Lunar Lander competition at the X-Prize Cup at Holloman Air Force Base on Saturday. The competition was for the lander to rise from a launch pad to a height of 100 meters, then translate about 100 meters hover for about 90 seconds then land on a simulated lunar surface. Then, within 2.5 hours, it was to be refueled and launch from the simulated surface and return to its original launch pad, reaching 100 meters altitude and hovering for 90 seconds again before landing. In this photo, the lander has reached altitude and has tilted to the side to begin its translation. The first leg was completed successfully, but a slight mishap with only seconds left caused it to fail to win the X-Prize competition. It was exciting to watch and disappointing to see the end of the flight. This image was taken at 300mm focal length with an exposure of 1/2000 seconds at f/8, ISO 200.