2023 New York AirShow, Sunday 7/25 at Orange County Airport NY
After last year, this was my second time at the New York Airshow. The weather forecast was a little iffy all week, so I ended up buying the ticket last minute the night before. In my view the weather ended up being perfect, sunny, but with a good amount of clouds that make the backgrounds more interesting. I was also lucky to share the experience with my good friend Paul. Over the 3 hour event I took over 2,100 photos, of which the best are below.
After last year, this was my second time at the New York Airshow. The weather forecast was a little iffy all week, so I ended up buying the ticket last minute the night before. In my view the weather ended up being perfect, sunny, but with a good amount of clouds that make the backgrounds more interesting. I was also lucky to share the experience with my good friend Paul. Over the 3 hour event I took over 2,100 photos, of which the best are below.
See my blog post on how to shoot and edit an airshow.
A-10 Thunderbolt II
For good reason this airplane is called "Warthog", not very attractive and a bit sluggish looking, built in the 1970-80s. But looks can be deceiving, and I was surprised how maneuverable it really is.
For good reason this airplane is called "Warthog", not very attractive and a bit sluggish looking, built in the 1970-80s. But looks can be deceiving, and I was surprised how maneuverable it really is.
Aero L-39 Albatros Cold War Era Trainer Jet
This was built during the cold war in Czechoslovakia from the early 1970 up until 1996. Thousands are still in service today as trainers, and in the US they are popular to own by private pilots, costing between $200,000 - $300,000 to buy.
This was built during the cold war in Czechoslovakia from the early 1970 up until 1996. Thousands are still in service today as trainers, and in the US they are popular to own by private pilots, costing between $200,000 - $300,000 to buy.
Michael Goulian
He's a aerobatic national champion aviator, flying his yellow menace with speed, precision and accuracy, doing crazy twists and turns, upside down, spiraling up and back down towards the ground. I can't help to admire the spatial awareness that he must have to know at every moment where and in what position he's in. As a passenger, be sure to bring a heavy-duty barf-bag.
He's a aerobatic national champion aviator, flying his yellow menace with speed, precision and accuracy, doing crazy twists and turns, upside down, spiraling up and back down towards the ground. I can't help to admire the spatial awareness that he must have to know at every moment where and in what position he's in. As a passenger, be sure to bring a heavy-duty barf-bag.
F-15 Eagles
This cool-looking and extremely maneuverable fighter jet from the 1970s delivered an exciting performance. The cloudy white around the wings and tips is water vapor, or "Wingtip Vortices". It's formation has to with aerodynamics, collision of high and low air-pressures above the and below the wing, and humidity and dew point. Whatever the exact reason, I love it, because it makes photos more interesting. I also love jets from behind if the afterburner and the wash of exhaust fumes are visible.
This cool-looking and extremely maneuverable fighter jet from the 1970s delivered an exciting performance. The cloudy white around the wings and tips is water vapor, or "Wingtip Vortices". It's formation has to with aerodynamics, collision of high and low air-pressures above the and below the wing, and humidity and dew point. Whatever the exact reason, I love it, because it makes photos more interesting. I also love jets from behind if the afterburner and the wash of exhaust fumes are visible.
Kirby Chabliss - Redbull Air Force
He's a acrobatic and air race world champion, giving an exciting performance with this insanely maneuverable propeller plane. It reminded me of a muscle car doing donuts.
He's a acrobatic and air race world champion, giving an exciting performance with this insanely maneuverable propeller plane. It reminded me of a muscle car doing donuts.
Kent Pietsch
The pilot Kent Pietsch lands the "Jelly Belly" on a moving pickup truck, and takes off from it was well. Crazy bastard.. Some of these images are from a different airshow.
The pilot Kent Pietsch lands the "Jelly Belly" on a moving pickup truck, and takes off from it was well. Crazy bastard.. Some of these images are from a different airshow.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels
What an exciting and exhilarating show this was! The formation consists of six F/A-18E Super Hornets jets with 1-4 flying in a diamond formation and 5 & 6 as Lead and Opposing solo. In the diamond formation the jets wingtips are a mere 2 feet apart. And the two solo jets fly toward each other from opposing directions at speeds of up to 1,000mph, crossing each other in front of the audience.
What an exciting and exhilarating show this was! The formation consists of six F/A-18E Super Hornets jets with 1-4 flying in a diamond formation and 5 & 6 as Lead and Opposing solo. In the diamond formation the jets wingtips are a mere 2 feet apart. And the two solo jets fly toward each other from opposing directions at speeds of up to 1,000mph, crossing each other in front of the audience.
I think seeing the Blue Angels is akin to receiving a master class on team work, work ethic and dedication. Everybody in the formation has to be at the very top of their game, they have to rely on each other 120% that everyone does their task precisely and perfectly. There is no room for error, none.
AH-64 Apache Helicopter on the ground
You don't want to be on the wrong side of this mean-looking copter.
You don't want to be on the wrong side of this mean-looking copter.
Viper Demo Team during the open-house event at JBMDL Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ
Captain Aimee "Rebel" Fielder is taking the F-16 for a spin during the open-house event at JBMDL Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ open-house event on Sunday, 5/21/2023.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
This enormous cargo plane is used to transport material and troops around the world. Despite its size it can take-off and land on short runways with different surfaces.
Viper Demo Team
The below images are from the New York Air Show, which took place on August 28, 2022 at the Orange County Airport in New York. The weather forecast predicted some clouds, which I thought was great, because it would make the backgrounds a bit more interesting, than with just a clear blue sky. Unfortunately, I arrived a little bit late, and the Viper Demo team show had just started. The pilot, Aimee “Rebel” Fiedler zoomed the plane over our heads, demonstrating the speed and maneuverability of the F-16 Viper fighter jet. They’re really the equivalent of a super-car, just in the sky: fast, maneuverable, surely super-fun to fly, but also as expensive.
At the end of the show a WWII-era propeller plane joined the F16, and together they flew at the same speed, off “into the sunset”, kinda like father and son...
Thunderbirds are go!
The highlight of the afternoon was the final performance by the U.S. AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS, consisting of six F-16 Fighting Falcons. Four jets usually flew in a formation, while the two Opposing Solo jets moved around them, joining and leaving the team.. The show was really exhilarating and not for the faint of heart. When they are flying in formation they are incredibly close together, they have to be completely in sync with each other, and everyone has to know exactly what everyone else is doing at every second.
Or the opposing solo jets flew towards one another from opposite directions, crossing in front of the audience. Or you’d pay attention to the formation of the 4 jets in front of the audience, and all of a sudden one of the opposing solos thunders over our heads from behind.
The precision and team work with which these pilots are flying these planes is just incredible. I think there are lessons to be learned here for us land-lubbers as well... Suffice to say, I was blown away. The Thunderbirds have the perfect name.
B-25 “Panchito” - WWII-era bomber. It flew with the bay open at the bottom, from which 500 - 1000lb bombs would be dropped. What a beautiful plane, sadly there are only a handful still around that can still fly.
