-= 1D MkIII Owners discuss =- and Post Your Pics

The even more exciting Blue Angels "Rush Hour Traffic" maneuver!

Thanks Markitos. I enjoyed every moment at the show.

Markitos wrote in post #10281800
^ Nice photos--that stuff is nuts!!

Methodical wrote in post #10281644
Here's a few pictures of the Blue Angels. More can be seen here: http://methodical.zenf​olio.com/p692635913

This is incredible.

The BA's claim 18" between the wingtips of the 2 and 3 ships in the diamond as well as 36" from the underside of those wingtips to the slot plane's canopy!

Skills? Yeah, they has them!

The Thunderbirds used to fly much tighter than they do now. Someone must have decided they needed to spread things out more.

Those guys are F'ing nuts, I always love watching them when they come to the bay area.

NorCalNomad wrote in post #10284084
Those guys are F'ing nuts, I always love watching them when they come to the bay area.

Nuts? Nah... Just well trained.

Aside from the more radical maneuvers (especially the one where the 1 and 4 jets are inverted inside the 2 and 3 .. the "Double Farvel" IIRC...) they are doing what naval aviators are trained to do.

Not to downplay their abilities, but once you learn the proper techniques for flying close formation and you know the entire demo cold, it eventually becomes second nature.

It takes immense concentration and stamina (imagine holding around 30lbs at a 90-degree angle for 45 minutes while your head is turned at a 45 to 90-degree angle the entire time!) but this is why the vetting process is a stone-cold b*tch.

If you ever get a chance to catch the Discovery documentary "A Year In The Life," it does a good job pointing out that flying ability isn't the highest thing on their Want List (most fleet-ready pilots are already outstanding flyers.) Team Player, Level Headed, Quick Study, Good Chemistry, etc are the key personality traits they look for. Remember that the Demo is only about 25% of the Blue Angels actual mission. The ability to meet and greet (ie, recruit!) is very high as is their PR work for the Navy/Marine Corps in the community.

(Sorry to get OT but as most of you know, I'll talk flying all day, every day given the chance...)

Carry On ...

Nobody's stopping ya!

Do you mind sharing some of your AF techniques to get these fast moving jets so sharp?

NOOOOooooo? ? ? LOL

Quote:
but as most of you know, I'll talk flying all day, every day given the chance

Really, Now you would not kid us , "Would You " LOL

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10284378
Nuts? Nah... Just well trained.

Aside from the more radical maneuvers (especially the one where the 1 and 4 jets are inverted inside the 2 and 3 .. the "Double Farvel" IIRC...) they are doing what naval aviators are trained to do.

Not to downplay their abilities, but once you learn the proper techniques for flying close formation and you know the entire demo cold, it eventually becomes second nature.

It takes immense concentration and stamina (imagine holding around 30lbs at a 90-degree angle for 45 minutes while your head is turned at a 45 to 90-degree angle the entire time!) but this is why the vetting process is a stone-cold b*tch.

If you ever get a chance to catch the Discovery documentary "A Year In The Life," it does a good job pointing out that flying ability isn't the highest thing on their Want List (most fleet-ready pilots are already outstanding flyers.) Team Player, Level Headed, Quick Study, Good Chemistry, etc are the key personality traits they look for. Remember that the Demo is only about 25% of the Blue Angels actual mission. The ability to meet and greet (ie, recruit!) is very high as is their PR work for the Navy/Marine Corps in the community.

(Sorry to get OT but as most of you know, I'll talk flying all day, every day given the chance...)

Carry On ...

I guess I meant more of the level of training and precision that they have is nuts.

NorCalNomad wrote in post #10284885
I guess I meant more of the level of training and precision that they have is nuts.

I prefer to think of it as a good return on investment...

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #10285037
I prefer to think of it as a good return on investment...

yes

A couple of shots of my neighbour's son. He was pretty stiff so I loosened him up a bit first.

dog rocket wrote in post #10284513
Nobody's stopping ya!

Do you mind sharing some of your AF techniques to get these fast moving jets so sharp?

There really are no secrets...

Get the fastest shutter speed you can get (bump your ISO if necessary, even in daylight), set your feet shoulder width apart, support your lens well (many folks work with their left hand in too close to the body .. get it out and down the barrel a bit) and one trick I do use is to move my feet so that the "shot zone" will fall right around the point at which I'm square to where my feet are pointing.

IOW, if the plane is flying left to right and I want a head on to profile shot, I'll face slightly left of center. If I want a profile to tails away, I'll face slightly right of center. This keeps me from having to shoot while too coiled up where I'd be shooting kind over one shoulder.

I usually shoot in three-shot bursts at 8 fps and I do use IS Mode 2. I figure if the technology is there, use it.

Above all else, practice. Shooting moving traffic is a good way to practice panning techniques.

I say we vote to change the good luck camera shot from a duck to a chick. Nothing wrong with that... camera.