May 3, 2006

"Otto the Helicopter and the Lights over Lakeland"

Sparky Barnes Sargent of Washington, Oklahoma snapped this amazing shot at the night-time air show at this year's Sun 'n Fun.  (Once again, we're kicking ourselves for staying in and working every night of the show.  Next year, we're making it a point to catch that night-time air show, folks!)

A little info for  the camera buffs, courtesy of Mr. Sargent:  Taken on a Canon EOS 20D, shutter speed 1/250, aperture value 2.8, ISO speed 800, lens 70-200mm, focal length 85mm.

"Beereaucracy"

Brendan Searle of Kaleen in the Capital Territory of Australia sent us several great photos from this year's Canberra Balloon Fiesta.  (That's the Australian Treasury in the foreground, making those some very important bee-balloons.)

FYI, we also received more photos from three more readers who were at New Zealand's recent Warbirds over Wanaka air show.  What's the secret, guys?  Are the air shows in the Southern hemisphere really that amazing — or are we just sending us the cream-of-the-crop photos?

"Skydivers Exit Twin Otter over Rocky Point, Mexico"

Jeff Agard of Arizona City, Arizona writes, "When there is an open door, you just gotta get out of the plane!"

And people ask us why skydivers have such an adventurous, uninhibited reputation ... .

"Special Delivery"

Now that's an eye-catching paint job!  Christopher Neuhaus of Munich, Bavaria (Germany) explains that this EC-135 is a dedicated transport for newborn babies and pregnant women.  (Talk about traveling in style!)  Christopher's photo was taken at a recent open house at the Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona.

"Foggy Start to Sun 'n Fun"

Here's a part of Sun 'n Fun we didn't miss out on — the heavy fog that hung over the start to this year's show.  Dale Lenhert of Richardson, Texas was out and about slightly before we were on the first morning of the show (7am to be precise) and managed to snap this photo in the ultralight landing area.

A low-flying Spitfire would surely deter us from any monkey business at the Edinburgh Airport.  Thanks to Ronnie Bell of Livingston, Scotland (U.K.).

Hoo-boy.  Makes us nervous just looking at these clouds, but Ernst (Buddy) Toepfer III of Corpus Christi, Texas has the full story:  "I had been on a job assignment in Wichita Falls and was flying back to Corpus Christi," he writes.  "A late season cold front was coming through and we had to fly through it. We were flying at 36,000 feet [when] I found out that the local weatherman said the tops were 70,000 feet plus. The plane ride got rough to say the least. I took several pictures and thought this one turned out really special."

The Doolittle Raiders are together again in this photo from Brett Lohman of Geneseo, Illinois.  This time, the famous (and always gracious) Raiders were together for their 64th reunion.