These guys are insane! (10 shots)

[Curtis N]

The pilots who fly crop dusting planes, that is!

These aren't the best aircraft shots ever made. I zoomed fairly wide to show how close he was to the ground, power lines, trees, etc. He was spraying wheat, but I don't know what for. It's rare to see crop dusting planes in Northern Illinois this time of year.

Just the other day I read in a thread here someone who claimed to have a lot of experience with prop aircraft said never go over 1/250 shutter or you won't get enough prop blur. So that's what I used here, and I wish I had used maybe 1/400. :p

Anyway, here are two series of 5 shots which show just how insane these guys are.

Descending for a pass
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4215.jpg

You can see how low he is.
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4216.jpg

Approaching the road
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4217.jpg

Pull that stick back!
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4218.jpg

Up over the wires (just barely).
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4219.jpg

Another approach
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4224.jpg

Turning the spray on
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4225.jpg

Coming closer
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4226.jpg

Nearing the end of the field
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4227.jpg

Oh no!
http://performancephoto.us/images/POTN/IMG_4228.jpg

I missed the shot of him clearing the trees by a few feet. :evil:

[iSpark]

Wow, those are some neat shots.
The last one leaves you wondering...lol

[flyb0y]

When an aircraft gets this close to the ground it actually makes pulling something like this off easier due to 'ground effect'. When the aircraft is at least 1.5 times the wing span distance from the ground 'ground effect' begins to happen. The aircraft will actually produce ALOT more lift due to less induced drag comming from the wingtip vorticies. Making it easier to stay out of the corn and much easier to clear those lines and trees in time.

Nice shots though. I like the last one.

[BIGTUFFGUY]

very cool series, would be interesting if you animated them in a .gif format :)

[PhotosGuy]

Nice series!
This is one of those (few) cases where Pekka would agree that more than 6 shots in a thread is OK. (So I don't want to hear from someone else that, "Well, Curtis did it, so why can't I!?" :D http://photo.klein-jensen.dk/smilies/tongue.gif

[bikerider]

Good series of shots, well captured.........I hope you had a good wash if any of that spray got you!
Roger.

[Curtis N]

Thanks, everyone. We came across the crop duster and happened to have the camera, so I grabbed a few quick shots. They were a bit overexposed and had to be adjusted. It was a learning experience at the very least.I hope you had a good wash if any of that spray got you!We were upwind, but thanks for your concern. :)

[Chris_G]

Great series of shots, personally i would of gone closer on the plane but the shots tell the 'story' nicely.