Soft Sepia Aircraft | Spartan Executive This image was captured just before the last rays of sunset light faded on the first day of the AAA fly-in. Notice the line of sunset light reflection cutting through the fuselage. No, it’s not a wrinkle in the aluminum; it’s light reflection on the polished aluminum plane. For the whole story with all images, see Soft Sepia Aircraft | a 7 Image Story.
Soft Sepia Aircraft | Waco This beautiful Waco made several takeoffs and landings on Antique Field the day I was able to attend the AAA Fly-in. For the whole story with all images, see Soft Sepia Aircraft | a 7 Image Story.
Soft Sepia Aircraft | a 7 Image Story Some airplanes look really nice in B&W Sepia, some don’t. Weather and background also make a big difference whether a B&W will work for a given airplane at a particular location. My preferences tend to be sharp contrasts and a larger depth of field. Generally, I capture the images in color and convert to B&W in post; even if I know the finished image will be B&W.
Just like color aircraft images; bald skies are the pits. The bald sky tends to end up almost black. A few clouds make a big difference, particularly on flying aircraft.
Each image will be posted individually this week under category Soft Sepia Aircraft.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Trains, Planes & Automobiles | Spartan Executive This image was captured just before the last rays of sunset light faded on the first day of the fly-in. Notice the line of sunset light reflection cutting through the fuselage. No, it’s not a wrinkle in the aluminum; it’s light reflection on the polished aluminum plane. To see all images, see Planes Trains & Automobiles | a 7 Image Story.
Trains Planes & Automobiles | Waco Landing This beautiful Waco made several takeoffs and landings on Antique Field the day I was able to attend the AAA Fly-in. So, what is the Antique Airplane Association? The AAA was first formed in August of 1953 to “Keep the Antiques Flying”, which remains today as their main interest and primary function. The AAA has over twenty active chapters and a close working relationship with many of the type clubs which sometimes use Antique Airfield for fly-ins. The Antique Airplane Association is located at Antique Airfield near Blakesburg, Iowa. Membership is open to anyone interested in antique airplanes; it’s not necessary to be a pilot or an aircraft owner. The Annual Invitational AAA/APM Fly-In and Convention is held every Labor Day Weekend. To attend the fly-in, you must be an AAA member or join when you register at the fly-in. Then, it’s time to go back to the golden age of aviation! To see all images, see Planes Trains & Automobiles | a 7 Image Story.
Lake City Fly-in 2018 | Luscombe 8E This 1948 Luscombe has been beautifully restored and looks at home on a grass strip. It features a 85hp Continental C85 engine and an electrical system. See Lake City Fly-in 2018 | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
Lake City Fly-in 2018 | Boeing Stearman Model 75 A Stearman represents the true nature of a grassroots fly-in. The Model 75 was introduced to the US Army Air Forces as a trainer in 1934 and remained in production until the end of WWII. It’s relatively easy to fly and simple to maintain. After the war, the demand for Stearmans remained high; used mostly as agricultural crop dusters and aerobatic air show performers. Many are still airworthy today. See Lake City Fly-in 2018 | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
Lake City Fly-in 2018 | a 7 Image Story The Lake City grassroots fly-in attracts many local planes in beautiful condition. This Piper Cub fired up after a good breakfast at the fly-in/drive-in breakfast at the 2018 Lake City Fly-in held each year on the Sunday before Memorial Day. The Piper J-3 Cub is a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. It’s powered by an air-cooled engine and a fixed pitch propeller. Its fuselage is a welded steel frame covered in fabric with seating for two in tandem. It has a simple, lightweight design giving it good low speed handling properties and short field performance. The Cub’s standard chrome yellow paint known as “Cub Yellow” identifies it as one of the best known aircraft of all time. It’s simplicity, affordability, popularity, and performance make it a prized bush plane. Large numbers of Cubs are still flying today.
A Stearman represents the true nature of a grassroots fly-in. The Model 75 was introduced to the US Army Air Forces as a trainer in 1934 and remained in production until the end of WWII. It’s relatively easy to fly and simple to maintain. After the war, the demand for Stearmans remained high; used mostly as agricultural crop dusters and aerobatic air show performers. Many are still airworthy today.
The Sportsman 2+2, a modern replica of the Piper PA-14 Family Cruiser, is a cruiser with extra baggage area and increased fuel capacity. The Sportsman 2+2 has docile handling. It can also utilize large tires for off-airport operation and can hold an IFR instrument panel. Obviously, it can also be configured as a float plane.
The 1948 Luscombe has been beautifully restored and looks at home on a grass strip. It features a 85hp Continental C85 engine and an electrical system. And, In a fly-in with grass runways and taildraggers, the Cessna 172 still seems comfortable. Since 1956, more Skyhawks have built than any other aircraft; more than 44,000 airplanes.
For a photographer, the Lake City Fly-in represents the old grass roots fly-ins of aviation’s early years with beautiful backgrounds and grass runways. Unlike the backgrounds of most airports that contain buildings, roads, towers, etc., these runways run next to nature with trees and fields. In fact, did you ever wonder why sometimes airports are called fields? It’s because early airports where just that; large fields where the airplanes could always takeoff and land into the wind.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category: Lake City Fly-in 2018.
Click any image below for a slide show!
