P-38 Lightning - up close and personal #3 by goodoleboy
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Description
Captured 4/4/09, at the semibeautiful Chino Planes of Fame Museum in the semibeautiful Chino Airport in semibeautiful Chino, California.
Oh, I can just picture many of the Renderosity ladies getting up and running for the exits vis-a-vis this subject matter. But, sorry, no pretty flowers this time! It's time to give the aviation buffs their due.
So, while you were sitting in front of your computers last Saturday, posting your stuff or reading the e-bots while placidly sipping your tea or sasparilla, I had driven many miles to attend a flyby and tribute to the Lockheed P-38 Lightning interceptor, one of the most beloved and venerated aircraft of World War II.
During my five hours at the museum, I snapped 471 photos, 123 of which are of the P-38, or of something in connection with the plane. Most are closeup fotos. In the picture above, the fighter had just returned from a crowd-pleasing flyover and was taxiing down the strip. The pilot cut power just moments after this shot. At least I was able to catch the blurring of the propellers, which is always picturesque. I was going to clone out the camera person on the right, but felt leaving him in added to the charisma of the Lightning. Incidentally, the plane was flown so high during the flyby that all I have to show for it in my shots are just specks. In fact, I could barely see it through my aim and shoot viewfinder.
There were a couple hundred attendees there, including several pilots that had flown and fought flying this nostalgic aircraft in WWII. Some of these men were in wheelchairs.
In addition to the Lightning, I also took photos of several other military planes, some in pristine condition, others but rotting corpses of themselves.
Anyway, here goes another series on RR, this time photos of World Wars I & II and Korean conflict aircraft. In addition, there is also a Rolls-Royce auto squeezed in the files of pics. More on my experience, observations and thoughts concerning the museum and crowd as the series progresses.
Thankx for dropping by, and have a monumental Monday.
Comments (22)
rawdodb
Gorgeous shot!!! I've seen the plane, while it was in the hanger there... A beauty!!!!! I understood they flew it every so often, glad to see you got the chance to see it. It's an Impressive museum. Will have to try and get back there one of these days.
bigdave1960
excellent photo and interesting info
bmac62
Alright Harry, I'm ready, sitting on the edge of my rickety rocker to roll with you into this new fabulous flurry of flight. Great shot of 23 Skidoo coming back in...Glad you left the photographer in the frame.
M2A
Superb photo my friend, with the propellers turning it looks so great. Thanks.
drace68
Superb image, and the guy standing next to you confirms it was a shot worth taking.
jocko500
going all the way with a lot of shots. cool shot too with this one
tigertim
Excellent photo!!!
neiwil
Hell's teeth!!, that is a beauty, this goes straight to Fav, so I don't miss any.Could be a texture coming here.Great shot, huge thanks.
whaleman
The P-38 was the only war plane I ever wanted to fly and it is nice to see one again, along with some very necessary prop blur!
morningglory
Terrific photo, cool plane, and I love all the info you post with your pics!
flavia49
Superlative shot!!
Tamarrion
The only person luckier than the spectators would be the guy in the cockpit. Great shot!
lizzibell
great capture...
dbrv6
Great shot! Sounds like you had a great day.
vkoontz
Oh Yeah!!!!! Some day I'll visit the museum
Biffowitz
Fabulous capture O'lboy, the spinning props look great!
debbielove
My goodness! Groin rubbingly beautiful! Panting with excitement at the thought of planes to come! Go for it, dude! I'm ready. Rob.
beachzz
I actually like this a LOT--love how you caught the propellers in motion!!
MrsRatbag
Harry, I never got the ebot for this upload... sorry I'm so late to the party! Well, it looks like it's quite noisy where you are standing, and also, you might want to back up a bit or the propellers might make mincemeat out of you! It's an excellent photo of a piece of machinery that I know nothing about...nice shapes, nice shadows, and it looks very efficient. If I were going to enjoy flying anything it looks like a plane I'd enjoy flying; I prefer something I can control myself and not trust someone else to pilot!
babuci
Pretty flower will follow I am sure,but this capture Harry is excelent in so many ways. First, the spinning prop is cool and a shadow of the plane on a hard concrete is a great dark pattern. A plane a bit far yet you captured a paint so well. I even like the other photographer in the scene. He is shooting what you did shot. Good job my friend.
anahata.c
It's not just the whirr of the propellers, or your usual fine composition against a runway & blue sky; it's the sheen still on the plane even though it's moving, the way it shines while it moves, its wonderful green, and the sense of it being nearly brand new. And I thank you for your history (whenever, however, it is always welcome from you). And for giving us the verbal snapshot of the veteran pilots now in wheelchairs. The stories I read & heard about the air-fighters in WWII were truly harrowing, and if I saw them there I'd feel great moment & gravity, not to mention great gratitude. You did this bird proud, a fine capture, and more history from your fine & integrity-filled gallery.
danapommet
OK Harry,I found the full view of the P-38. Wonderful capture. I did check out all 6 postings. Dana