Jets and Warbirds in Tucson Over the Weekend

I think we got Warbirds and Jets doing the airshow school this weekend in Tucson at DM. They are going to practice throughout Sat and Sun over the city. I was coming back from the store about 1:00 p.m today and I looked up and saw what looked like a P-51 and F-15 in formation tearing ass at what looked like about 2000 feet.

Over the weekend they will be flying low over my house. Damn! So it looks like a weekend on the 2nd story sundeck, about 1500 clicks on the old 1DIIDn with the 500 supertel and maybe a teleconverter or 2. Let the games begin.

Yeap, it is the Heritage Flight Conference where all the teams meet to work on the HF.

I'm usually on the birds forum, but yesterday I was on the roof, trimming some trees when I noticed some of the vintage aircraft. I grabbed my camera and got a few shots. I'm usually shooting birds or some other wildlife so these are marginal. I hope to get some better images this weekend as the aircraft are here thru Sunday...tom

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^^^ Very nice shots Tom.

Only nit: slow your shutter speed a bit more to increase the prop blur. Rule of Thumb:1/250 to 1/320 works fine when prop planes are flying at speed. You might need to drop as low as 1/60 to 1/125 for planes that are at idle or taxiing.

Just a general FYI...

Thanks for that Tip Harvey!
...tom

Airshow guys - prop freeze?

Hey Tom, good shooting, look forward to more...these are a lot bigger than the birds you usually shoot. steve

tom ryan wrote in post #5071911
I'm usually on the birds forum, but yesterday I was on the roof, trimming some trees when I noticed some of the vintage aircraft. I grabbed my camera and got a few shots. I'm usually shooting birds or some other wildlife so these are marginal. I hope to get some better images this weekend as the aircraft are here thru Sunday...tom

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LOL, outstanding shots. Number 1 looks like the guys I saw yesterday hauling A$$ straight southbound down Columbus crossing 22nd street about 350 mph and probably 1500 feet off the ground. Where in town do you live?

DId a little research and came up with the below cast of characters we should see this weekend:

Heritage Flight Conference 2008
Tucson
Arizona
United States
» 03/06/08 - 03/09/08
»

Davis Monthan AFB - Flying days will be March 7-9.

This event is not open to the public.


Performers:
AirPros
Dale Snodgrass
Ed Shipley
Lone Star Flight Museum
Mach1 Productions
Planes of Fame - Steven Hinton
Rob Reider - Announcer
Stallion 51
USAF A-10 West Demo
USAF F-15C West Demo
USAF F-15E Strike Eagle East Demo
USAF F-16 East Viper Demo
USAF F-16 West Viper Demo
USAF F-22A Raptor Demo
USAF F-4 Phantom
USAF Heritage Flight
Vlado Lenoch

If only half of these guys get into the air, it should be a total gas!

Here's a couple of shots that I took on Friday and a couple of lessons learned.

1. 200mm is WAY to short. Most of the in the air shots are 100% crop at least.

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Looks like you guys had a heck of a show.

Great shots in here. I'm getting excited about the airshow here this year also...can't wait. Blue Angels here for the first time in years.

tom ryan wrote in post #5071911
I'm usually on the birds forum, but yesterday I was on the roof, trimming some trees when I noticed some of the vintage aircraft. I grabbed my camera and got a few shots. I'm usually shooting birds or some other wildlife so these are marginal. I hope to get some better images this weekend as the aircraft are here thru Sunday...tom

Were you on the roof trimming trees with the camera??

Pworm: Where were you when you shot your aerials? I fired off about 750 shots today with 500 f/4 with a 1.4 TC. and plan to do the same tomorrow from my sun deck at Broadway and Columbus. They fly right over my house.

I learned to forget about the 2.0 TC on the 500, to slow to focus to catch the birds in flight.

One of my meager efforts. It was very cloudy and grey when I shot so the background turned out totally white when I hit auto curves very weird. Wish I knew how to do a mask in PS so I could fake a blue sky. I will probably reprocess it.

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Here's a few more from Saturday Afternoon...tom

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dfindr wrote in post #5076828
Pworm: Where were you when you shot your aerials?

dfindr,

I was out on the tarmac where the planes were parked. They had an area fenced off for spectators. Not open to the general public but, since I work on base and have ID, I was able to get in.

Wish I had your 500. There was a guy there with a 400 2.8/1.4x on a 1DsMkIII. I bet he got some great shots.