JWilsonphoto wrote:
My 777 client sent me a note this morning to tell me that DHL has purchased nine 777-200's and has awarded my client the job of converting them to their state of the art freighter design. Job security for us all!
Wonderful image.
What astonish me is that airplanes have become so dependable, or at least seemingly so that one airline can fly in, get parked and within an hour or so fly off again with what seems at most a minimum of a maintenance overview. Clearly whatever the engineers and designers of modern flying machines have created is working to an extent that flying has become boring which of course is a good thing. Unfortunately flying has also become a 'sardine in a can' experience.
What astonish me is that airplanes have become so dependable, or at least seemingly so that one airline can fly in, get parked and within an hour or so fly off again with what seems at most a minimum of a maintenance overview. Clearly whatever the engineers and designers of modern flying machines have created is working to an extent that flying has become boring which of course is a good thing. Unfortunately flying has also become a 'sardine in a can' experience.
Many, many years ago I flew on our unit's C-54 (Douglas DC-4) from Panama City, FL (Tyndall AFB) to Houston (Ellington AFB). This aircraft had flown missions for the Berlin airlift. There were 4 beds up front. I had stayed up late the night before and got up early to load our logistics (tool boxes, bench stock and other supplies on the plane). I was pooped and found one of the beds available. I got up there around Biloxi, MS to take a nap. That was a 1940's era aircraft, but what a nice environment for a 4 engine aircraft. The drone of the engines was a nice relaxing background noise. Nothing like today, well, I have never, ever flown first class. Maybe I don't know.
I don't fly "First" very often, occasionally there is nothing else available and a client needs me there. Back a few years ago, well probably a decade, American used to bump me to first randomly because I was flying so much, those kinds of courtesies are a distant memory, now one is just happy if the flight actually leaves and arrives in a reasonable time window.
My flight to LBB a few weeks ago was one of the nicest flights I've been on in a long time, it was on an Embraer 175 (a baby 737), weather was great, flight was an hour, plenty of leg room. Worst flight was that one to DAY that was supposed to leave at 6:45 pm, actually left at 1 am, dropped me in Dayton at a completely closed airport at 3 in the morning. Needed to be on the job at 6:30, Divine Providence worked it all out in spite of AA.
What astonish me is that airplanes have become so dependable, or at least seemingly so that one airline can fly in, get parked and within an hour or so fly off again with what seems at most a minimum of a maintenance overview. Clearly whatever the engineers and designers of modern flying machines have created is working to an extent that flying has become boring which of course is a good thing. Unfortunately flying has also become a 'sardine in a can' experience.
You are right, it is amazing! Especially when you see these planes down to the bare bones for maintenance. Hat's off to guys like Ray who keep them flying no matter what the obstacles.
This is the airshow map for the coming show this weekend at Langley. I am glad I said "no" to my temptation of buying a reserved seat. Looks like the show center is wide open to the non-paying public. I just need to get my a$$ there early. Jim, if you remember, I paid $90 for a reserved seat at Barksdale on that Sunday and I never used it. The weather at Langley is looking good this weekend.
I will try to find the F-22 that shot down the Xi balloon.
Thank you Dan, yes we are ok, another case of suicide by cop. I'm amazed someone didn't double tap him long before the police got there. Tragic and senseless. JIII and I were playing in the pool when we heard all the sirens.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Thank you Dan, yes we are ok, another case of suicide by cop. I'm amazed someone didn't double tap him long before the police got there. Tragic and senseless. JIII and I were playing in the pool when we heard all the sirens.
Just got home from Langley and saw the news. Unbelievable time we live in. BTW, great show a Langley, quite a bit of vapor despite of the very low humidity. But my camera refused to focus when the F-35 was making the most beautiful vapor of the whole show, I got a few but missed the best one. 840mm is sometimes too long too when the jets get close.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
Just pulled the RF600 out of the box and unwrapped it. Honestly, one of my hesitations was thinking that the knot in my back from my old 600/800 versions would return as soon as I started shooting with it. When I got the Rf all unboxed this morning and pulled it out of the cordura case (no more deluxe hard cases), I was pleasantly surprised by how light and well balanced the RF600 is. I'm looking forward to getting to know it!
I got to lift Douglas' Sony 600 when we met at Conowingo, and I was shocked at how light it was. Much lighter than my EF 500LII. I was on a gimbal shooting with a 1.4x, and Douglas was hand-holding.
msalvetti wrote:
I got to lift Douglas' Sony 600 when we met at Conowingo, and I was shocked at how light it was. Much lighter than my EF 500LII. I was on a gimbal shooting with a 1.4x, and Douglas was hand-holding.
I imagine the Canon RF is in the same ballpark.
Mark
Mark, any photos of the Conowingo Couple?
Glad you met up. Sorry I could not make it for obvious reasons.
Dan
Bill Gass wrote:
Looks like the new Cirrus Vision Jet ?
Beautiful-
Hi Bill,
Yes, there are four of them in our hangar complex, that one belongs to a good friend who just happened to have saved my life when I had that little hiccup a few years back. My Doc, who I have nicknamed "Televisit", couldn't get back to me in 8 hours but Jeff jumped right on it, interpreted my AppleWatch EKG and ordered me to call an ambulance, well you know the story.
Jeff was in my hangar for several years until one came up for sale and he jumped on it.
