(Air) Eight From Tucson

[FlyingPhotog]

Spent the better part of Feb 9th down in Tucson hawking the airport (ANG flies here) and Davis-Monthan AFB (Home of the Hog):

UAE "Desert Vipers" Departing
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p309098256-4.jpg

AZ ANG Test & Evaluation Bird
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p227896481-4.jpg

"Absolutely .. Positively"
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p392377311-4.jpg

"Brother From Another Desert"
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p116494319-4.jpg

Its Barksdale Is Worst Than Its Bite
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v8/p502084760-4.jpg

Herc In A Hurry
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p370849670-4.jpg

RAF Tornado GR.4 (On a month-long "Snowbird" deployment)
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p400647968-4.jpg

"Centerfold" (Better not catch anyone "Herc-ing Off")
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v7/p121915912-4.jpg

Images captured with a mix of MkIII / 40D + 300mm f/2.8L IS + 1.4x TC / 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS
Comments Desired...Please

[Wellsy54]

Beautiful shots. I like em all especially the Tornado.

[Slimsphotos]

Very nice pics. What did you think of our constant noise, variable wing tonka toy :-)

Chris

[StanNJ1]

Nice job as always Jay. I especially like the A-10!

[PhotosGuy]

(And Yes, I realize this should read "Eight From Tucson"... Now it does. ;)

[asysin2leads]

Great work as always, Jay. As much as I love the military aircraft, I really like the FedEx bird.

[SuzyView]

Jay, beautiful shots. I love the 3rd one best, but they all are wonderful. I'd love a set if I had room to put them somewhere.

[ChasWG]

As usual Jay, great imagery from you. I love the Warthog shot. Those planes are simply amazing to me. We had one fly into Buckley AFB the other day. They have a unique droning sound. I've gotten so used to the sound that F16's make that anytime something else flys overhead I snap to attention. Of course I had my 24-70L on the 40D when the 'Hog flew over. :rolleyes:

[On_looker]

Awesome shots!

[FlyingPhotog]

Beautiful shots. I like em all especially the Tornado.

Thank You. Wish we'd have seen more of them.

Very nice pics. What did you think of our constant noise, variable wing tonka toy :-)

Chris

Thanks

The Tornado is an amazingly capable aircraft. Tornado crews took the highest casualties in Desert Storm. Ballsy Airplane .. Ballsier Drivers. 'Nuff said...

Nice job as always Jay. I especially like the A-10!

Thanks Stan. It's one of my personal favorites. I told girls in bars for years to "Go Ugly Early!" (Never worked quite right though.)

Now it does. ;)

Thanks for the assist. Brain faster than fingers...

Great work as always, Jay. As much as I love the military aircraft, I really like the FedEx bird.

It has a certain drama I guess. Thanks! :D

Jay, beautiful shots. I love the 3rd one best, but they all are wonderful. I'd love a set if I had room to put them somewhere.

Well I hope you get that room you want Suzy. Thank You! ;)

As usual Jay, great imagery from you. I love the Warthog shot. Those planes are simply amazing to me. We had one fly into Buckley AFB the other day. They have a unique droning sound. I've gotten so used to the sound that F16's make that anytime something else flys overhead I snap to attention. Of course I had my 24-70L on the 40D when the 'Hog flew over. :rolleyes:

Horses for Courses. Some folks like a WA zoom for walking around while others like "standard" focal lengths. My idea of a walking around lens is no less than a 70-200 (and I usually keep a 2X TC with me as well...)

Awesome shots!

Thanks!

[aviator.4.life]

Looks like a lot of fun. Amazing prop blur, something my non-IS can't do well.

[dpastrana]

Great pictures... Specially number 3.

[FlyingPhotog]

Looks like a lot of fun. Amazing prop blur, something my non-IS can't do well.

Thanks for the feedback.

IS certainly helps but it's not the be all and end all. I'm 1/125 @ 420mm (FOV = 670+ mm) so I'm going to allow my technique to take at least a little credit. I've captured similar with a 2X TC as well which is an equivalent FOV of over 950mm.

Great pictures... Specially number 3.

3 Seems to be the clear favorite. Much appreciated.

[A2EVOMR]

#6 stands out the best to me, but the catch of the day definitely goes to the Tornado!

[FlyingPhotog]

#6 stands out the best to me, but the catch of the day definitely goes to the Tornado!

Thanks. There are currently eight Tornados TDY at DM right now plus a TriStar tanker with another eight aircraft due in a couple weeks.

[Rivman]

. . . good ones Jay, nice prop blurrrrrrrrrrr on the hercs ! ;)

[RogerAylstock]

"Brother From Another Desert"
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p116494319-4.jpg

Jay, great stuff as always. Anyone know what the conformal pod is on the side of the fuselage here?

[ChristinaMae]

Its Barksdale Is Worst Than Its Bite
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v8/p502084760-4.jpg

I LOVE that plane! Wonderful series. Thanks for sharing with us. It's been almost 2 years since I was down there. I need to go back and shoot.

[TheBigDog]

Jay, great stuff as always. Anyone know what the conformal pod is on the side of the fuselage here?

I was just gonna ask that Roger...

Great shots as always Jay, that is one weird looking Viper...

[RogerAylstock]

Chris, that was bugging me. They are conformal fuel tanks.
http://defense-update.com/images/F-16CFT-hellenic.jpg

Block52/60 F-16 aircraft, currently procured for Israel, Greece and the UAE, have structural, plumbing, and wiring provisions for the Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT). These external, pod-like fuel reservoirs are attached on the upper surface of the F-16’s fuselage, with the tank’s lower surface conforming to the aircraft shape. The upper surface arrangement allows the CFTs to be relatively light weight because nothing is suspended from them. With an empty weight of 900 pounds, tank set holds 450 gallons (ca. 3,050 pounds, or 2,271 litres) of additional JP-5/8 fuel.
The extra fuel increases range, loiter time, and combat persistence as well as reduces the demand for tanker support. Range increase is on the order of twenty to forty percent, depending on the stores configuration and mission profile. The tanks have neglible effect on the aircraft agility, at subsonic speed, However, at supersonic speed, the drag is increased proportionally to the increase in speed. When fitted with CFT the aircraft retains almost the full handling qualities, flight limits, and signature. A complete set can be removed or replaced within two hours. The CFTs are built to Lockheed Martin's specification, by IAI as a sole source, as part of the Peace Marble V program offsets.

Link: http://defense-update.com/products/c/F-16-CFT.htm

[NicolasRubio]

GREAT pictures as usual Jay! Keep'em coming!

[planewinch]

re: Block52/60 F-16 aircraft, currently procured for Israel, Greece and the UAE

Singapore now has them as well. Apparently the Tuscon folks are training the foreign buyers since one of the jets in the first pic of the two F-16s has the AZ tailcode with the conformal tanks, but if u notice the foreign roundel also, not sure whether that's UAE or another. And the US doesn't fly with these tanks as far as I know. But it certainly beats slinging 'em under the wings.
Steve

[gkarris]

"Absolutely .. Positively"
http://jcbeckman.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p392377311-4.jpg

Comments Desired...Please

ABSOLUTELY... POSITIVELY ONE OF THE BEST AND FAVORITE AVIATION PHOTOS IN ALL HUMAN HISTORY...

(runs off screaming...)

[JWright]

Thanks. There are currently eight Tornados TDY at DM right now plus a TriStar tanker with another eight aircraft due in a couple weeks.

Think they might fly at the air show next month? I'm going to be there for sure.

re: Block52/60 F-16 aircraft, currently procured for Israel, Greece and the UAE

Singapore now has them as well. Apparently the Tuscon folks are training the foreign buyers since one of the jets in the first pic of the two F-16s has the AZ tailcode with the conformal tanks, but if u notice the foreign roundel also, not sure whether that's UAE or another. And the US doesn't fly with these tanks as far as I know. But it certainly beats slinging 'em under the wings.
Steve

There is a permanent Singapore F-16 training detachment at Luke AFB in Phoenix (just up the road from DM) but that doesn't look like a RSAF roundel on the aircraft in the first picture. I believe it's a UAE roundel...

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ae.html#rdl

It's certainly a UAE fin flash on the 3034 aircraft in the 4th picture.

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ae.html

[FlyingPhotog]

. . . good ones Jay, nice prop blurrrrrrrrrrr on the hercs ! ;)

Thank You!

I LOVE that plane! Wonderful series. Thanks for sharing with us. It's been almost 2 years since I was down there. I need to go back and shoot.

Thank You very much. Just say when and we can make a day of it!

I was just gonna ask that Roger...
Great shots as always Jay, that is one weird looking Viper...

Jay, great stuff as always. Anyone know what the conformal pod is on the side of the fuselage here?

Chris, that was bugging me. They are conformal fuel tanks.
http://defense-update.com/images/F-16CFT-hellenic.jpg

Seriously, how can you not love the depth of knowledge around here. Nice exchange of info y'all...! I just try to make them look good. The real knowledge, I leave to the experts! :D

GREAT pictures as usual Jay! Keep'em coming!

Thank Nicolas!!

re: Block52/60 F-16 aircraft, currently procured for Israel, Greece and the UAE

Singapore now has them as well. Apparently the Tuscon folks are training the foreign buyers since one of the jets in the first pic of the two F-16s has the AZ tailcode with the conformal tanks, but if u notice the foreign roundel also, not sure whether that's UAE or another. And the US doesn't fly with these tanks as far as I know. But it certainly beats slinging 'em under the wings.
Steve

Think they might fly at the air show next month? I'm going to be there for sure.

There is a permanent Singapore F-16 training detachment at Luke AFB in Phoenix (just up the road from DM) but that doesn't look like a RSAF roundel on the aircraft in the first picture. I believe it's a UAE roundel...

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ae.html#rdl

It's certainly a UAE fin flash on the 3034 aircraft in the 4th picture.

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ae.html

Apparently, the Luke birds will be relocating to Tucson in the near future...

ABSOLUTELY... POSITIVELY ONE OF THE BEST AND FAVORITE AVIATION PHOTOS IN ALL HUMAN HISTORY...

(runs off screaming...)

Yer Killin' Me... :lol::lol::lol: Thank You!! I think the emoticon you want is this one: http://www.thalagyrt.com/files/arms.gif

[Ramrod]

Great shots. Really like that bare metal Herc.

[FlyingPhotog]

Great shots. Really like that bare metal Herc.

Thanks...

They get about one or two "nekkid" Hercs a month down there headed for the paint shop.

[007]

What model F-16 is that "Brother from another Desert"? large hump on the left side of the body aft of the cockpit...??

[FlyingPhotog]

What model F-16 is that "Brother from another Desert"? large hump on the left side of the body aft of the cockpit...??

See Post #20 above...

[orinoco]

Fantastic pics, love the "Herc in a hurry"

[FlyingPhotog]

Fantastic pics, love the "Herc in a hurry"

Thanks very much Tony!

[adamsti]

Nice, who knew, F-16's with decent paint!!

[FlyingPhotog]

Nice, who knew, F-16's with decent paint!!

Something that struck me as interesting is that there wasn't a rank lower than Captain on any of the canopy rails of the AZ ANG birds. A lot of very high-time, combat-veteran Viper drivers down there in Tucson.

[SVTmaniac]

Jay it was fun shooting with you. I am in love with my pics I got of that FedEx bird. The Block 60's paint is not nice at all. It feels like 80 grit sandpaper.

[FlyingPhotog]

Jay it was fun shooting with you. I am in love with my pics I got of that FedEx bird. The Block 60's paint is not nice at all. It feels like 80 grit sandpaper.

It was nice meeting you as well. It's always satisfying to bag shots you really want to get. :D

[SVTmaniac]

It was nice meeting you as well. It's always satisfying to bag shots you really want to get. :D

I was going to post them up on here but they are similar to yours only yours are nicer :lol:

[FlyingPhotog]

I was going to post them up on here but they are similar to yours only yours are nicer :lol:

Go Ahead .. Start A Thread!

[jollyroger99]

Great looking pictures Jay, hard to pick a favorite, but having not seen the unpainted C-130 before, probably leaning towards that one, great prop blur.

[FlyingPhotog]

Great looking pictures Jay, hard to pick a favorite, but having not seen the unpainted C-130 before, probably leaning towards that one, great prop blur.

Thanks Roger! It was a good day down in Tucson. Wish we'd have had some more Tornado action but sometimes you just have to take what you can get when you're fence hanging.

[jollyroger99]

Beats the heck out of any fence hanging I've done in a while, and a real nice variety of aircraft.

[FlyingPhotog]

Beats the heck out of any fence hanging I've done in a while, and a real nice variety of aircraft.

We're pretty lucky out here.

If you dig up my Coolidge Fly In threads from last week (Two Parts) you'll see we really scored on some quality GA activity as well...

[jollyroger99]

We're pretty lucky out here.

If you dig up my Coolidge Fly In threads from last week (Two Parts) you'll see we really scored on some quality GA activity as well...

thanks, found them, PM sent

[rahal]

Awesome shots as always

[FlyingPhotog]

Awesome shots as always

Thanks a lot...

[JonMich]

Jay, great shots!!! I am wondering where around the airport you were when you took those pictures. I am in Tucson getting some training and I would love to find a place to go and get some shots on my free time.

[FlyingPhotog]

Jay, great shots!!! I am wondering where around the airport you were when you took those pictures. I am in Tucson getting some training and I would love to find a place to go and get some shots on my free time.

PM coming shortly .. Please Stand By :D