TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story

May 26, 2024 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 7 Image Stories, A-1 Skyraider, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, Aviation, Events, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3, T-33 Shooting Star, T-6 Texan, TBM Avenger Reunion 2024

5/26/2024 TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | TBM Avenger Run-upTBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story  This year’s TBM Avenger Reunion was graced with really good weather and a large crowd.  As usual, the event was a great way to start airshow season in the Midwest

TBM Avenger Run-up    The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber.  Those designated TBM were actually manufactured by General Motors.  It has a crew of three; pilot, gunner, and radio operator / bombardier.  Avengers are powered by a 1,900 hp Wright R-200-20 radial engine.  Its armament includes two .50-in. forward-firing machine guns; one .50-in. dorsal gun; one .30-in. ventral gun.; 2,000 lb. bomb/torpedo load.  Also it’s capable of carrying the Norden bombsight.  Developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, it entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway.  Although five Avengers were lost at Midway, it became one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of the war and remained in service until the 1960s after several modifications.

TBM Avenger Wings Retracted  The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber with folding wings for operations off of aircraft carriers.   DC-3 Landing  The airshow parachutists departed from this Douglas DC-3 to open the airshow at the TBM Avenger Reunion 2024.   A-1 Skyraider  The A-1 Skyraider was designed during WWII and entered service in December 1946.  It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft and as one of the Skyraider’s most famous roles: the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations.  Its pilots and crews bestowed many names on the Skyraider including Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Zorro, and Firefly.  T-6 Aerobatics  The T-6 Texan makes a nice aerobatic machine.  This image was captured looking straight up.  T-6/SNJ Texan  The North American T-6 Texan is a military single-engine aircraft primarily used as a trainer. Its first flight was on April 1st, 1935. Nearly 16,000 planes were built. The T-6 Texan was used extensively during WWII and the Korean conflict.   Canadair CT-133 Silver Star  The T-33 was the only jet at this year’s event.

TBM Avenger Specifications
Length: 40 ft., 11 in. Height: 16 ft., 5 in. Wingspan: 54 ft., 2 in. Wing area: 490 sq. ft.
Max Speed: 276 mph at 16,500 ft. Cruise Speed: 147 mph Climb Rate: 2,060 ft./min. Ceiling: 30,100 ft. Range: 1,010 miles
Empty: 10,545 lb. Maximum: 17,895 lb.

Each image from TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Reunion 2024.  I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.

Click any image below for a slide show.

Halloween 2023 | a 7 Image Story

Oct 29, 2023 | 1 VR 6.7-13mm f3.5-5.6, 7 Image Stories, Daily Image 2023, Halloween 2023, Nikon 1 V3

10/31/2023 Halloween 2023 | Grave DiggerHalloween 2023 | a 7 Image Story  Some folks go above and beyond in their Halloween celebration.  These images come from some of the best nearby displays.

Spider Cove Large spiders seem to guard the entrance to a Halloween graveyard.  Skeleton Stretcher Wonder if the two skeletons carrying the casket are EMTs.  Grave Digger  What a scary grave digger!  He seemed to be very enthusiastic about his job. Dead Swinger  Never know who might we using the graveyard swing.

Each image from Halloween 2023 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Halloween 2023.   Note: I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.

Click any image below for a slide show.

Pleasant Lake Kayaking 2023 | a 7 Image Story

Oct 8, 2023 | 1 VR 6.7-13mm f3.5-5.6, 7 Image Stories, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, Daily Image 2023, Nikon 1 V3, Pleasant Lake Kayaking 2023

10/08/2023 Pleasant Lake Kayaking 2023 | Into the WildernessPleasant Lake Kayaking 2023 | a 7 Image Story  Pleasant Lake can be fairly quiet of boat traffic.  With a calm wind and no boat traffic, the lake can get glassy smooth.

Into the Wilderness  The kayak provides a unique platform to enter the wilderness without disturbing the wildlife.  The winds were completely calm for much of the kayak excursion, which allowed for mirror like images.   Mirror Image Color  With a touch of color in the deep green reflection, this image exaggerates green meeting blue.  To capture this image on such a glassy lake, the kayak must approach the subject head on so that the waves it makes are behind it.  Tall Color Layers The color around the lake was quite diverse given it was probably a week or two before peak.  Highs Lows The high trees are on solid ground.  The low trees are on marsh land where the beavers have built numerous dams.  Blue Jay in the Wild The Blue Jay stands out against any background.  They seem to hang around a bird feeders in the winter.  This image is the first time I’ve captured a decent image of one in the wild. 

Each image from Pleasant Lake Kayaking 2023 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Pleasant Lake Kayaking 2023.  Note: I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.

Click any image below for a slide show.