This is my collection of aviation related photos…mostly U-2 and T-38. For more awesome U-2 pictures, check out my friend Ross’s website https://extremerossphotography.smugmug.com
I took this image(s) in June on 2002 while on my way back to Palmdale from the Langley AFB Airshow. This is a composite of several images since the exposure to get the mirror like reflection in the visor leaves the displays very dim. I took individual images of each display, then mirror imaged them and cropped and resized them to fit in the correct locations.
Flying low level in the mountains in a T-38
My last T-38 flight before I retired. Flying low level in the mountains in a T-38
My last T-38 flight before I retired. Flying low level in the mountains in a T-38
On a night mission over Iraq
My last T-38 flight before I retired. Flying low level in the mountains in a T-38
This was my last flight in the Air Force.
This is me climbing into the U-2 at Hickam AFB in Hawaii heading to Osan AB in South Korea. I ferried the first U-2S to Korea to start my first U-2 deployment, and logged my longest U-2 flight (11.4 hrs) at the same time! This is the only picture on my page that I didn’t take myself…my thanks to Rob “Crash” Creedon for the image. This was Oct 12, 1995.
This was my last flight in the Air Force
This was taken in 1995 over Korea at sunset. The purple wedge reflector in the visor is called then terminator and is the shadow of the earth. You can see it’s day behind me and night in front.
This was from my first deployment in the U-2 in 1995. It took me 4 rolls of film to get this because I would shoot a roll of film, get it developed to find my mistakes, repeat until I got a decent shot. Digital cameras made the process so much easier and faster!
A view of San Fransisco Bay from above 70,000 feet
Yosemite Valley with El Capitan in the foreground and half dome in the distance. This was taken from an altitude of about 12,000 feet
Yosemite Valley from the east end looking west
The Big Sur coastline looking south from above 70,000 feet. I really like the flag patch reflection.
A view of the Beale Air Force Base flightline shortly after takeoff.
U-2S Block 20 cockpit. I took this over Memphis while returning to Palmdale from the Langley AFB airshow.
The San Francisco peninsula.
This one was taken down low in a two seater TU-2S
Flying around the traffic pattern at sunset
Flying around the traffic pattern at sunset
This was taken over Iraq looking towards Iran as the sun was coming up.
The beginning of dawn with Bhagdad in the foreground and Venus above.
Typical pitch attitude on a U-2 takeoff from Beale AFB
A view of San Fransisco Bay from above 70,000 feet
A view of San Fransisco Bay from above 70,000 feet
Big Sur coastline looking south
A view of Mono Lake looking east from above 70,000 feet.
A view of Yosemite from above 70,000 feet
A view of Half Dome, Nevada Falls, and Vernal Falls. This was taken from about 12,000 feet.
A TU-2S on short final. This was taken with a wide angle lens and the camera on the ground at the edge of the runway. I won a couple of photo contests with this one!
Pogo crew putting the wheels (pogos) in the wing after landing to allow taxi
A view from the chase car during a U-2 landing
A two-seat trainer (TU-2S) flying around the pattern at sunset
On April 15th, 2020, I bought a 1976 Piper Archer II so that I could instruct my kids to get their pilot’s licenses. My son Brandon and I took four days to fly it from Hendersonville, NC to Lincoln, CA. These are pictures from our trip.
First stop to fuel up at Pickens County, SC after a short hop
Brandon flying on our first long leg to Jackson, TN. His first experience at a Tower controlled airfield. This was our longest flight of the trip at 3.4 hours.
At the end of a long day of flying, the aircraft is put to bed for the night, and we’re ready for some BBQ and a good nights rest.
Day two started with the FBO courtesy car, and ancient Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. We were both thinking Blues Brothers with the cop car, so we had to get the picture with the sun glasses!
ay two started with the FBO courtesy car, and ancient Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. We were both thinking Blues Brothers with the cop car, so we had to get the picture with the sun glasses!
The high terrain of the Oklahoma Panhandle
Flying by Philmont
Philmont Scout Ranch and the Tooth of Time. I had hoped to get more/better pictures, but we were fighting some nasty turbulence here.
Mesas west of Santa Fe
Safe and sound in Farmington, NM
Shiprock Monument, NM
Shiprock Monument, NM
Four Corners Monument where NM, CO, UT, and AZ all meet
Flying the border of AZ and UT along the 37 degrees north lattitude
Approaching Monument Valley, which was the best part of the trip!
Brandon enjoying his flight over Monument Valley
Monument Valley Airport. It’s private and I didn’t have the necessary paperwork to get permission to land there yet…maybe next time.
A rock arch at Rainbow Bridge National Monument
On the ground at Page, AZ. Ready to fly over the Grand Canyon
Glen Canyon dam and Lake Powell
This is just south of the Glen Canyon Dam and the northeastern end of the Grand Canyon
Where to Colorado River enters the Grand Canyon
Eagle Point and the Skywalk
Skywalk at Eagle Point
I flew the last leg home because of the weather, so Brandon decided to relax and enjoy the inflight entertainment.
We traveled about 2645 miles and flew for 25.9 hours for an average of 102mph.
We burned 219.5 gallons of 100LL fuel for an overall average burn rate of 8.5 GPH
