Plane Photography

[sage cape]

Australia is also the only country the US has offered B-21s to 😃😃

[delicate silo]

Is there no gun on the actual plane?

I kinda remember something like that

[uneven fog]

Yea only the A has an internal gun

[sage cape]

The A has an internal gun

[delicate silo]

I'm sure Poland would buy some b21s haha isn't China trying to influence some of Australia

[sage cape]

ive touched it

[delicate silo]

Ah

[sage cape]

China’s tryna influence the world

[delicate silo]

Good point

[uneven fog]

So what I’m hearing is ur whole
Country depends on America 😭

Don’t piss us off or we’re gonna disable ur F35s 😭

[sage cape]

what I’m hearing is the British fucking stink

And our military is fucking hosted

Population of only 28 million and china would still struggle

Partly due to our geography but oh well

[sage cape]

Okay mr Israel

[uneven fog]

guarantee we can do it

They wouldn’t sell the most advanced fighter in the world without a way to shut it off lmao

[sage cape]

Yeh lol

[delicate silo]

F18s can use shorter runways and more reliability with dual engines

Probably a ton of other stuff but I can't name it

I asked the same question before though

[sage cape]

last time I checked f15s are also twin engine…

[delicate silo]

Oh I was thinking 35s even though it said nvm lol

Ignore me it's almost 12 and I need sleep

[uneven fog]

He’s right tho the F18 engines are more reliable than the F15 ones

[sage cape]

Carrier aircraft are a different creature

ive got a mate who used to work on classics for the RAAF

Even designed one of the special liveries

[uneven fog]

U mean legacies?

Same difference ig

[sage cape]

classics

A/B aircraft

[sage cape]

He designed this one

[delicate silo]

The f18 has some great liveries

[sage cape]

Our supers have a couple decent liveries

36 aircraft and two special tails

[uneven fog]

Jesus old ass fleet

[sage cape]

delivered 1975

They’re basically the same as your C/D’s after the first fleet upgrade

other than slight avionics differences there was no diff in the first place really

[uneven fog]

That’s true

I think the blue angels had a couple As and Bs sitting around until they switched

Like in with the Cs and Ds

That’s what I’ve heard atleast

[sage cape]

visually the only difference is a couple extra antennas along the rear of the fuselage

[delicate silo]

It'll be sad if the blues and tbirds go back to trainers

[sage cape]

All maintenance stuff is the same as well

[sage cape]

Supers aren’t going anywhere soon and 16s still have ten years at least I think

I think the US would be very stupid to go to a fifth Gen only fleet

Non stealth aircraft will have a place in combat for a long time

[uneven fog]

Yea they’ll be the last ones flying the viper

Once they move on from those I don’t really see where they’ll go

[sage cape]

T7 probs

EX would be too expensive

[uneven fog]

If the T7 program fully flourishes like they’re intending it I could see it

[sage cape]

It’ll come in eventually

it’ll have to

If not they’ll have to go with macchis or something

T50s maybe

[delicate silo]

Definitely

I doubt either will be retired.soon

[viscid elbow]

Dang interesting how we literally repeating the F4 mistake…( as in no internal gun)

[viscid elbow]

I don’t think Bs and Cshave internal guns

[delicate silo]

Fr

[uneven fog]

Eh I’d say it’s a little better now

F35 won’t be getting in many dogfights

[sage cape]

We also have missiles that work more than 15% of the time now

[delicate silo]

Ft

Fr

I think it was 12%

Not even 15

[viscid elbow]

True…

[viscid elbow]

Also true…

But then why does the f22 have a gun? As it is stealth in theory I should of taken out anything before getting into a dogfight

[sage cape]

True air superiority requires dogfighting

The F22 will be a frontline fighter, the F35 will not

The F35 will sit at the back shooting 100nm missiles, and then when it’s out of missiles it will still be there guiding older 4th gens onto targets with its ultra advanced systems

[uneven fog]

F22 will get the air superiority, F35s will maintain it

[uneven fog]

Had to make visual conformation with ur target before u could shoot at it too

[sage cape]

F35s can do electronic warfare, air to air warfare, and CAS all in one mission

F22 ain’t doing that

F22 is getting on the scene, clearing out the big bad guys, then letting the F35 stroll on through to bomb the dam

[grizzled spruce]

That's exactly why the Eurofighter is the best plane ever made because it was designed to do all those things

Checkmate Americans 😎

[sage cape]

Designed to be shot down by a 174B at 180nm

🤙

Super hornet 174B missile trucks with F-35C’s providing radar is a fuckin insane combo

Shooting J10s from the first island chain

[viscid elbow]

but we only have just under 200 f22s

We wouldn’t be able to use f22 as a spear for too long

( we meaning US)

[viscid elbow]

Wait the hornet a missile truck? I thought the f15 carried that title?

[uneven fog]

F-15EX is 12 I believe the store hornet is also twelve

But the 174 is only able to be carried by rhinos

[viscid elbow]

How come?

[sage cape]

Only the navy has them at the moment

[viscid elbow]

Ah

[sage cape]

Wonder if the Air Force would ever get them

Probably not

The F15 would be the only thing that could carry it, probably too heavy to put on the 16 and won’t fit internally in the 22 or 35

[brittle bridge]

maybe

[viscid elbow]

Wacky idea… put then on the rotary delivery system into bombers. ( like b1)

[sage cape]

B52 would be more likely

B1 too expensive to operate for that role

They actually have thought about doing it with B52s

[viscid elbow]

Don’t they already palet drop cruise missile… you know… so the bombers could stand their own 😂🤷‍♂️

[sage cape]

And the C17 is getting a rotary system that can drop 6 (I think) LRASM out of the back

[viscid elbow]

Only thing is the b52s will need a long range radar( to use them missiles I mean)

[sage cape]

no it would be a missile truck

They wouldn’t need a radar at all

That’s what datalink is for

[uneven fog]

Saw 2 F35s today

we had just done a stop and go and we got switched to dep when we heard a 11 flight

we keep flying along when we see him show up on our traffic screen

And then we saw him

1000 feet above opposite direction

Was pretty cool

[sage cape]

very cool

[delicate silo]

yeah today has been pretty active imo

at least for me even though I saw none lol

[uneven fog]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DCaZnmVMIpM/?img_index=3&igsh=bGVzODdvbG5iOTdn

Instagram

[tiny pecan]

Canada is still here using the legacy's, but very very small changes to the regular hornets

F-35's 2026 cause we kept trying to order them, then cancelling

[viscid elbow]

Your instagram?

[brittle bridge]

#1051365532785446922 message post that here

[uneven fog]

Only EA-37B in the world

[blazing bronze]

sick!

[delicate silo]

oo

[sage cape]

MC55 betta

[sage cape]

Wait shi they’re at Davis Monthan aren’t they

Hopefully I see it next month

[uneven fog]

Tried gradients

Think I’m gonna stick to minimal editing 😭

[delicate silo]

Could look fine I just dont like over edited personally

[rare vector]

The gradients is just too short, it would look better if you make it wider and maybe a little bit less dark

[sage cape]

Finally used the camera for the first time in a few weeks

PC21 going coastal near my local beach

[uneven fog]

I don’t hate this one

[delicate silo]

Antonov

underrated

[glass charm]

Scrumptious Prop Blur 😁

[uneven fog]

icas is in a little bit over 2 weeks

[uneven fog]

Caught Blue Angel 7 and 8 doing their winter visit

[delicate silo]

ah nice

[copper tree]

Wife took this the other day

[uneven fog]

You?

[copper tree]

Affirm

[sage cape]

Ur a t6 pilot?

That’s sick asf

[delicate silo]

Pilot training?

[copper tree]

In training almost T6 complete

[delicate silo]

Oh, nice! Military I'm assuming?

[copper tree]

Yes Air Force

[delicate silo]

Nice!! Usafa grad?

[uneven fog]

Going to fighters or heavies?

[sage cape]

Don’t forget drones 🔥

Also there’s a shit ton of other stuff that ain’t fighters or heavies

[copper tree]

ROTC and T38 will be this January

[uneven fog]

👎

[uneven fog]

Yea I think everything will technically fall into those categories

Cause you either end up flying the 38 or the T-1

[copper tree]

Exactly. Drone pilots know out of college when they go RPA. They also won’t fly the T6. Very rarely does a rated AF pilot go from the T1 or especially the T38 to a drone

[sage cape]

Really?

Damn

Don’t osprey pilots fly the T6

[delicate silo]

Ah

Honestly I don't know who wants to fly a drone

For the military

[copper tree]

Yes and yea very few exceptions between fighter heavy track

[uneven fog]

Doesn’t make sense to spend millions training a pilot to fly in real aircraft

To just hand him an Xbox controller and say have fun

(I’m sure drone pilots do more than play with an Xbox controller)

[uneven fog]

Is that like B-1 pilots and stuff of the likes? B-1s not a fighter but they can pull like +3

[delicate silo]

Did you consider USAFA? And if not, or if so, why did you go ROTC? (Just wondering as I want to try and go to usafa lol)

[copper tree]

I didn’t get in funny enough. In high school I kinda slipped with grades and such so rotc was the second path that allowed me to rebound academically and work to still make it here. USAFA is 100% a great way to make it as top 50% of class are offered pilot slots. Lots of dudes in the top 50% don’t even want to fly / not medical qual’d or have other ambitions so ultimately just being in top 60-70% of the class you’ll be able to take a slot to fly

And it is free. Anyway this chat is about photography but so sorry to derail the topic but feel free to ping me in other chats here

[delicate silo]

Ah, Yeah 🤞 Thanks

[sleek flame]

Seems to be a decent amount of interest in the gallery-comments channel, so here's a handful of airplanes:

[uneven fog]

you bring ur camera up or are those from a phone?

[viscid elbow]

You took?

[sleek flame]

Yes

[viscid elbow]

How??!

*like how do you get such opportunities?

[sleek flame]

I work in aviation.

[copper tree]

Amazing photos for sure

[sage cape]

just rock up to a base and ask

If you show them a Chinese passport you’re even more likely to get it

[rare vector]

Woah

Those are some sick pics

[uneven fog]

You guys ever bring ur cameras to a beach airshow? Worried about the sand and salt air

[delicate silo]

I bet youll be fine but I've never tried or researched it

[uneven fog]

Probably but I’m planning to get a new camera before it so I don’t wanna ruin it a couple months into having it 😭

[delicate silo]

you be fine as long as you dont dunk it in the ocean

[uneven fog]

That extra 5 feet closer to the show line is worth it though 😋😋😋

[delicate silo]

What are you getting?

[sage cape]

yeh just don’t swap lenses while you’re there

And you’ll be fine

And make sure not to drop it lmao

[delicate silo]

Depending on sand thickness, it won't be a huge problem if it's dropped, but if it's small sand, you're in trouble

[sage cape]

“Depending on sand thickness” ☝️🤓 just don’t drop ur camera anywhere lmao

[delicate silo]

Camera strap and he will be fine

[brittle bridge]

I dont use camera strap

[delicate silo]

Why...

What good does not using one do you

[brittle bridge]

Overrated

[delicate silo]

Crazyy

[brittle bridge]

annoying asf

[delicate silo]

Last airshow I went to I used a tripod

[brittle bridge]

weirdo smh

[delicate silo]

Was game changing until I couldn't track the aircraft above my head

[brittle bridge]

i handhold my sigma 150-600

[delicate silo]

7 pound camera for 8 hours isn't fun (I need to go to the gym or something)

[brittle bridge]

Real

[delicate silo]

What 3d printer do you have?

[brittle bridge]

bambulab a1 mini

sold my ender3

[delicate silo]

Ah nice bambu is the best

[brittle bridge]

fr

hoping to get p1s for christmas

🙏

[delicate silo]

Honestly the a1 probably does what most people need

[brittle bridge]

a1m build plate size

and a1 bedslinger

ew

I need an enclosed printer so i can print whatever i want

[delicate silo]

Pla cf is cool aswell as like pla wood or tpu ig

[brittle bridge]

fuck wood pla

i hate it

[delicate silo]

[brittle bridge]

clogged both my ender and my moms work’s afinia

[delicate silo]

never had any unsolvable problems with bambu

Probably the wrong chat for this gn and gl on the p1s

[brittle bridge]

yeah

i havent tried bambu wood pla

their matte pla strings

[brittle bridge]

alr gn

[delicate silo]

Neither have I only pla cf, abs, pla, petg, pla glow, and pla silk if those all count as different

[brittle bridge]

i just use pla

why tf u got abs on a1

bed temp doesnt go to 100c no?

[rare vector]

Just limits motion a looot, I never use my 200-600 without a strap but with something like a 24-70 no strap is infinitely nicer

[delicate silo]

odd never had any major issues with my strap

[rare vector]

Just gets in the way imo

[uneven fog]

^^

I’ll only throw the strap on when I’m gonna be standing around for a while outside my car

and if I’ve got my phone mount on it

[uneven fog]

Probably an R5

[delicate silo]

ah

[uneven fog]

Gotta keep my brand loyalty 😖

[delicate silo]

z8 on top :)

[uneven fog]

👎

If I was made of money I’d get the R5mkii but I’m not

I’ll take that extra 2k and spend it on a 200-800

[delicate silo]

Yeah not cheap

Rented it for an airshow it was great

[iron nebula]

Yes brought R7 and it was fine

100-400 got a little sandy in the crevices of the zoom ring but that’s easy

[flint smelt]

I didn’t even know this channel existed, lol. Anyways, here is one of the first pics of the AIM-174B in the wild. Taken during RIMPAC 2024.

[delicate silo]

BIGGG boy

[flint smelt]

Got to go on the Carl Vinson during open ship day, these things are massive in person.

[flint smelt]

I finally caught the U-2 today 🙏🙏

[sage cape]

Caught a RAF A400 while I was driving down the highway

First full day in the US today, and it’s a fucking weekend and I’ve seen four military aircraft

not even at a base

[uneven fog]

You lucky mfer

You like the R7?

[flint smelt]

I love the R7. I especially like how Canon has the control dial is right by the viewfinder, instead of where it usually is.

[flint smelt]

You thinkin of upgrading?

[uneven fog]

Affirm

[uneven fog]

You use back button?

[flint smelt]

Ye

[flint smelt]

Nice. Im tryin to save for either the 24-70 or 70-200 for low light.

[uneven fog]

70-200 will be my next purchase after the r7 and a bigger zoom lens

Looking at probably going for the sigma 150-600, just worried about the focus pulsing

Any experience with it?

[flint smelt]

Na. I was thinking of buying that at first, but my parents came in clutch and bought me the 100-500

[flint smelt]

In case your wondering what the quality looks like, here are my two best pics I’ve taken with the R7

The F-22 one was taken off my social cause I don’t keep my images saved on my phone lol

[uneven fog]

What’s the gram I’ll throw u a follow

[uneven fog]

I would get this it would just render my 100-400 useless

It’s also another grand

And 100mm shorter

Are your parents trynna buy me one maybe?

[flint smelt]

Matthk.photography

I get like 150 followers 😭

[flint smelt]

Na, after that they went broke, lol

[flint smelt]

Yea true, thats the only thing I hate about canon is that there prices are high as f. But they’re worth the price.

[uneven fog]

I wonder what their profit margins are sometimes

I mean cameras a pretty neash thing these days

Since everyone has em in their phones

[flint smelt]

Prolly still high, they have all the sports photographers, racing, etc.

[flint smelt]

True lol, prolly in the future will just use their phones to take pics

[uneven fog]

16:9

[viscid elbow]

Just followed. And you followed back. But I’m not that much of a photographer. . So not that a much to see, sorry

[flint smelt]

Appreciate the follow.

[glass charm]

idk what's so bad about it

[flint smelt]

What did I just see on google bru 😭

What is that 😭😭

[grizzled spruce]

Grand Theft Auto Online is one of the most popular multiplayer games in existence

[uneven fog]

I don’t think that’s what he was referring to…

[grizzled spruce]

the other one is clearly a plane

[uneven fog]

You must be fun at parties

[flint smelt]

Only shot I used 16:9 for.

[uneven fog]

I have a lot of 16:9s from when I was still new

I’m too lazy to go through and make em 3:2

Also have the rare opportunity where I am have to do 16:9 just bc of how I took the photo

Like this

[uneven fog]

You use mech or electronic shutter on the R7?

[flint smelt]

I use electronic first curtain.

[delicate silo]

@uneven fog Z8 😉

Only like double the price

[uneven fog]

I’d buy a Sony before a Nikon

[uneven fog]

You hit the buffer a lot?

[flint smelt]

Na, if I shoot short bursts I don’t really hit the buffer a lot. Sometimes I just hold the shutter button down on accident, and yea I hit the buffer quickly. So kinda depends.

[uneven fog]

gotcha

[delicate silo]

I don't think there's a better action camera than the z8 for around the same price

Basically limitless buffer 20fps full raw blackoutless preshot if you need or 120fps jpeg crop

[sage cape]

get the dock with it

[sage cape]

E7 mentioned 🔥

[sage cape]

The main worry about the 150-600 is it’s sharpness at 600mm, the focusing issues are very exaggerated ive found after having used three different copies.

My copy is a bit soft at 600mm, but really sharp still up to like 500mm

600mm still very useable though

[brittle bridge]

mine is stupid sharp at 150mm

[flint smelt]

Where was this taken at??

[flint smelt]

Cant wait for the U.S. to get some. But kinda sad it will replace the E-3.

[uneven fog]

Ol Smokey

[uneven fog]

Have u had variations between ur copies?

AF and sharpness

And are you on an EF or RF body

[sage cape]

Williamtown, there home base

[sage cape]

Little bit of sharpness difference. AF same.

And I’ve used EF and whatever the Nikon DSLR mount is

[uneven fog]

ACC demo team schedules drop tmrw fyi

along with blue angels and thunderbirds 2026 prelim schedules

[flint smelt]

Oh, nice.

[brittle bridge]

I think the f22 raptor demo one is soon

[delicate silo]

Yeah later today

[uneven fog]

ICAS schedule had 10:15 but historically it’s usually later in the day

Oh yk what

10:15 western

So 1:15

[delicate silo]

F22 is going to the UK and Canada great show if anyone is thinking about going highly recommended

Has the pilot been announced yet?

[uneven fog]

No pilot announcement yet

They typically wait till the heritage conference

I’ve got one raptor show and one lightning show

[flint smelt]

Im so happy there coming back bru..

[uneven fog]

Raptor is there also

[flint smelt]

Yea, I figured the 22 demonstration would be from the raptors based here. I guess not.

[uneven fog]

Wouldn’t be suprised if they used one of those jets

Last time the F-35 demo was in Europe they used a combination of Vermont jets and Lakenheath jets

Instead of the traditional hill ones

[flint smelt]

Probs. Trynna save money to go to aviation nation

[uneven fog]

Raptor deleted their schedule and posted a new one

Not sure what show got chopped

[brittle bridge]

dang no NE shows

and the raptor also

[flint smelt]

I don’t think there’s anything by in Nebraska.

[uneven fog]

Is tinker Nebraska?

Don’t they usually get a show?

[brittle bridge]

no

We had one at offutt AFB this August, and one at LNK in 2023

[delicate silo]

I've only checked raptor and thunderbirds

Got way to many thunderbirds

I think i could see them like 6 times if I tried

[uneven fog]

Ah okay I was thinking of offutt

I get all those strategic nuclear bases confused

[uneven fog]

I’d be going to 6 airshows

I’ve got 2 on the books this season

Both blue angels

[delicate silo]

Haha doubt i would or will lol maybe if there is something else interesting at them

[delicate silo]

They're cool but kinda ruin photos with their smoke

[delicate silo]

Wish I was there a week earlier or it was booked for a week in the future lol cause I was over there just a few days after

[uneven fog]

Just need some decent wind to keep it all moving away

one of my shows is a beach show so it should be no factor

[delicate silo]

Ah

[sage cape]

I love the Hawaiian raptors

They reposted my photo

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_PbuFDvAkA/?igsh=cXN1azlzcWZ3NzFm

Instagram

[flint smelt]

Get to see them every week. Perks of having a military base connected to a airport, and having a dad who works on base. 👍

[flint smelt]

I followed you.

Yo, any of you from Cali or Vegas? And if so, have you been to the sidewinder? Im trynna see if it’s worth my time, and whens the best time to go.

[sage cape]

Not from cali or Vegas but I know a whole lot about R2508. Best time of year is winter to limit heat haze, but there’s flying pretty much all year round. The best place for mountain views (that’s easily accessible) is along the kern river, near Road’s end, just climb the two hills on either side of the river depending on the lighting.

I don’t know as much about the east side but ive got a few other spots for the west side if you want them

[sage cape]

I’ll get you a couple examples of roads end shots

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDLIXngSt3q/?igsh=MXh6azF0ejlrazNtYw==

sactownavphoto

Watch me not be able to decide which airframe I want to shoot as a trio of Hercs from Dyess swing through the Sidewinder 😵‍💫

#c130 #c130j #hercules #c130hercules #lockheedmartin #sidewinder #lowlevel #usaf #aviationphotography #instagramaviation #avgeek

Likes

656

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDII2UkSHbi/?img_index=2&igsh=MTZhOHF0eWw0dHAwYQ==

sactownavphoto

Fall colors are coloring 🍁

#f18 #f18d #hornet #legacyhornet #boeing #vx31 #dustdevils #vx31dustdevils #coso #sidewinder #lowlevel #usnavy #flynavy #navy #chinalake #aviationphotography #instagramaviation #avgeek

Likes

1502

Instagram

[flint smelt]

Is this the path you take for climbing up the mountain or is there a different one?

[sage cape]

Go up this mountain

It’s reasonably easy to get up from what I’ve heard

Just with heavy camera gear might be a bit tough

[flint smelt]

👍

[sage cape]

https://www.instagram.com/point_mugu_skies?igsh=MTV1MnplN2oxZ3V3NQ==

This guy takes my favourite sidewinder photos

but he takes some really big hikes for most of his shots, very out of the way

[flint smelt]

Where do you park?

[sage cape]

For the roads end spot? Id imagine just down on the road near that camping spot

[uneven fog]

Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays typically the good days for it?

[sage cape]

Monday-Thursday best bet

As with all fighter flying

It is just luck though

Some days nothing will go through, other days you’ll get 20 jets

[flint smelt]

Island hopper 🏝️

[uneven fog]

Island boy 🎶

[flint smelt]

LETS GOOO, NAVY WON!!

[uneven fog]

Won the game

The uniform competition

The flyover

[sage cape]

hard to beat the navy’s flyovers

F/A-18A with four engines 🙀

[uneven fog]

@delicate silo Pretty sure I just saw ur shot get ripped off 😭

Unless it’s you posting it

[delicate silo]

What

[uneven fog]

Is that you

This was in there

[delicate silo]

you don't live in colorado

[uneven fog]

I’m jealous of the centennial spotters

[delicate silo]

Haha not that good

[uneven fog]

Better then out here

[delicate silo]

I ripped off that shot copied someone

[delicate silo]

It's just f18s

[uneven fog]

We get t38s dude 😭

I’d rather get f18s

But yall also have the Buckley vipers active out there

[delicate silo]

(If you wouldn't mind deleting that ss id appreciate it

[uneven fog]

oh yea

[delicate silo]

Kinda mid

[uneven fog]

I just knew I had recognized the shot somewhere lol

[delicate silo]

Yeah

Like the others? I don't post many of my shots here

[delicate silo]

Definitely lucky but, seeing stuff that isn't around often is more fun

[flint smelt]

Yo what are these drones flying over new jersey

[delicate silo]

Most reports are airliners or helicopters cause people are stupid but I don’t know what the real drones are

[uneven fog]

It’s scary from a pilot standpoint

Ppl shooting at what they think are drones

when they are actually planes

With human lives on them

only a matter of time before someone gets hurt

[jolly comet]

They call it freedom

[delicate silo]

Or pointing lasers at them

[uneven fog]

Yup that too

[flint smelt]

Morning sortie with the raptors

[sage cape]

meanwhile at Nellis

[delicate silo]

Which base?

[flint smelt]

Hickam AFB

Or, I guess you could say Daniel K inouye. Since thats where they takeoff from since Hickam has no runways

[delicate silo]

Ah

Hawaii

[flint smelt]

Yup

[flint smelt]

I wanted to go to vegas for Christmas, but im to broke rn

[delicate silo]

Does Nellis always have 22s?

[flint smelt]

I think they have some based there from other afb

[delicate silo]

Might have to visit

[flint smelt]

You should, they have all the cool stuff and bombers

[delicate silo]

Id like to see a night hawk

[flint smelt]

Same

[sage cape]

yes

[sage cape]

weapons school always has them

[sage cape]

R2508 is your best bet, impossible to see from TPTR

[delicate silo]

Qhat

[sage cape]

those who know

[sage cape]

the sidewinder is your best bet, they’re impossible to see at their own base

and even then they rarely go to the sidewinder

only went a few times this year

[delicate silo]

Where is my best bet ?

[sage cape]

the sidewinder

[delicate silo]

I don't know what that is

[uneven fog]

Canyon

Don’t go to nellis randomly go during a red flag

[delicate silo]

when/what is a red flag

[flint smelt]

Go during the weekdays. Best time is around noon/afternoon. During red flag best bet is to go during the night.

[flint smelt]

Kinda scary tho at night.

[uneven fog]

Big gathering of multiple squadrons branches and countries. Not sure exactly when but there’s typically 3 a year

[flint smelt]

You know of any other spots besides the race track?

[uneven fog]

I got banned from the r/canon discord for pissing too many ppl off on purpose

[uneven fog]

There might be spots on some of those streets to the south of the 3s but I’m not sure

Just looking at Google maps looks like maybe

I’ve never been, just some of the guys I know from my local have gone out there

[flint smelt]

Alr thx, im trying to find a spot for when they takeoff towards the mountains or the city. Idk

[flint smelt]

Oh fr? You should go

[uneven fog]

Not exactly in the budget + I can’t travel on my own

[sage cape]

there is

But they don’t use those runways when they can

[sage cape]

3 at Nellis 3 at elmendorf Richardson generally

[uneven fog]

Noise abatement? Or to avoid the Vegas bravo?

[viscid elbow]

Is it open to the public? As isn’t sidewinder alike training grounds?

[brittle bridge]

pretty sure its like mach loop

never been myself

[viscid elbow]

Also where is the sidewinder?

[brittle bridge]

usa

california desert

iirc

[viscid elbow]

Ah ok thank

[brittle bridge]

I wanna go to nellis but i dont live near there

Im all the way in nebraska 🤣

[flint smelt]

Shot I took during July’s red flag 24-3.

[brittle bridge]

Kinda like a practice time

iirc

[viscid elbow]

At least your closer to Oshkosh

[viscid elbow]

What do IIRC mean?

[brittle bridge]

if i recall correctly

iirc lmao

[flint smelt]

The 55th wing is based at offutt yea?

[brittle bridge]

No idea

[uneven fog]

Who tf is OT

Is OT the flash for nellis?

[flint smelt]

OT is for “Operational Testing” since the 44nd is a TES. They are based at nellis.

[flint smelt]

OT is on of the flashes for Nellis. The most common one at nellis is WA

[flint smelt]

Flash codes can be confusing. TBH.

[sage cape]

LV, OT, WA

LV = Nellis tail
OT = Operational testing
WA = Weapons School

they’re the main three tails at Nellis

[flint smelt]

Yea

[delicate silo]

All right thanks

[uneven fog]

Ah this makes sense

[uneven fog]

Yea some of em make zero sense

At face value atleast

When you look into em they make sense

The ones we got up here are easy

MA and VT

[sage cape]

The ANG ones are easy, it’s just their state code

[uneven fog]

Even like the SJ and LN Streagles

[glass charm]

Down with the lads at SydSquad for their Christmas Eve Livestream

[flint smelt]

In hawaii theres only one lol.

[sage cape]

Australia doesn’t have tail letters, each tail has it’s squadron ensign

[uneven fog]

Soon we won’t even have tail flashes

AMC is trying to move away from it

Marking-less herc

[sage cape]

bring back fuckin camo paint jobs bro

needa go to war over a jungle so they’re needed

[flint smelt]

Yes bru

[rotund heath]

Why would they be needed then? Dogfighting died with Vietnam

[brittle bridge]

I never see u in here

[rotund heath]

Been here since I joined the server basically

This and the bird forum

[brittle bridge]

huh I have never seen u in here before

[rotund heath]

Don’t talk in here that much

[sage cape]

cargo aircraft

And also I wouldn’t count on that take

[rotund heath]

Yeah and?

[sage cape]

the camo looks so much fucking nicer

the greys more versatile, but if they think there’s enough demand for a camo scheme they’ll use it

possibly

[rotund heath]

It’s just simply not needed anymore

[sage cape]

The US probably could cause they’ve got enough money

[sage cape]

yeh in most cases

[rotund heath]

They can look cool I don’t disagree

It’s just for it to serve a purpose many things need to go wrong and it’s now such an outlier of a situation it’s not worth the time, money and extra weight.

[flint smelt]

all the AMC aircraft are like that now. It’s sad because the flash and designs are what I look forward to the most. But I get why they’re doing it.

[uneven fog]

True and not true

All the pilots had missiles then, and that became the name of the game

Slinging missiles

Then they all forgot how to dogfight

All got shot down

Navy and Air Force were like “shit we needa do sum”

And they make TOPGUN and fighter weapons school

And then we got good at dogfighting again

But yea you’ll never see dogfighting in a modern engagement

[uneven fog]

If it was the whole Air Force I’d get it. I don’t get why only AMC is doing it

Plus half of em aren’t even doing it

[rotund heath]

So it died in Vietnam

I’m not following what’s ’true and not true’ in what I said. You gave a long winded thing just to end up where I did. I didn’t say we can’t dogfight.

[flint smelt]

I ment to say the AMC. There are probably multiple reasons shy only the AMC is doing it and not the ACC or the entire airforce

Why*

[uneven fog]

Yea pretty much

Merry Christmas

[rotund heath]

Merry Christmas

[viscid elbow]

Well Then why do nations Make aircraft with guns ? ( a YouTuber called growling sidewinder) he made a point that dogfighting not dead. Since nations still make Aircraft with guns pointed slightly up ( to help get lead)

[uneven fog]

Contingency

The early phantoms struggled in Vietnam bc of reliance on missiles

The F35B and C don’t have an internal gun either

but they both suck compared to the A

[sage cape]

calling the F35 a fighter jet really sells it short

[viscid elbow]

Wdym? It a multi role?

[sage cape]

it’s a lot more than a fighter jet

it’s a sensor fusion plane that does everything

Every fighters role, every awacs role, every interceptors role, every bombers role, every interdiction role

Every jamming role, every sensors role

it fucking does it

[sage cape]

Pierre Sprey propaganda

[viscid elbow]

Then why is/was the US armed forces tryna replace it? ( for example with NGAD and F/A-XX.)

[sage cape]

they’re not?

They still want specialised air superiority aircraft

The F35 isn’t that

It can perform that role though, and perform it very well

Just not quite to the efficiency of the F22, which is the aircraft they’re replacing with the NGAD program

F/A-XX is a super hornet replacement/F35-C supplement

[viscid elbow]

Oh

So… f35 jack of all trades master of none?

[sage cape]

no

Jack of all trades and still better at them all than pretty much every fucking aircraft out there

It’ll beat F15s in a dogfight then go and provide ground support to troops and then once it’s out of weapons it’ll still provide help to any and all coalition forces with its sensor fusion

[brittle bridge]

the f35 wouldnt beat an f15ex a dogfight

[sage cape]

The EX is the biggest fucking waste of money in a very long list of wastes of money

and yes, yes it would

fat Amy got moves, a lot more than people think

[uneven fog]

Master of some not all

[uneven fog]

This is very true

[sage cape]

all I’m saying is ten F16s vs three F35s, put em 75 miles apart and those F16s are not coming home

[uneven fog]

when she’s heavy she’s a bit of a brick but light I’m pretty sure it’s got a higher than 1 thrust to weight

Might be spewing bull

[sage cape]

Nup ur right

43k ftlb of thrust does that

[uneven fog]

only thing that holds fat amy back is it’s only able to hit like Mach 1.2

[sage cape]

the public number is 1.8 for the A model

most likely a bit faster than that though

Same as the hornets and the F16 tho

[uneven fog]

B gets held back by barely being a able to be supersonic, having a shitty range, and external gun.

C is limited by the 7.5G but I’m sure it could get overridden in combat. And external gun

More range and hard points tho

[uneven fog]

What’s the B and C?

[sage cape]

B is a bit lower at like 1.6 and same for the C

Extra weight for the B and extra drag for the C

[uneven fog]

The Bs and Cs had issues with some of the stealth coating when they were supersonic for extended periods of time

[sage cape]

so they say

but they’ve got to the point where they’re putting coloured stealth coatings on jets now, so I’d assume that’s pretty much fixed

then again half the F35 hate is from Pierre Sprey going on some Russian media site and spewing bullshit because his little perfect f16 is getting retired for a better jet

[uneven fog]

who

[sage cape]

Pierre Sprey, military analyst who worked for the DoD on the F16, A10, and F15 project

[uneven fog]

Ah

[sage cape]

He did jackshit on all of them except write one paper about how the US needed to be better dogfighters then other that he just took credit for other peoples work

If it were up to them the only fighters would be the F20 and F16

[uneven fog]

I think if it were to go to war they’d just datalink a bunch of aim120s to the F-35 radar and let em fly

[sage cape]

And the A10 would never retire

[sage cape]

Exactly

[uneven fog]

the f20

Guy sounds like ur average war thunder kid

[sage cape]

Just put 20 aim174s in B-1s and let F35s guide em to migs a fucking continent away

[viscid elbow]

Why not a b2/b21. that way stealth locks and stealth shoots ( as in the one who would carry the aim120s)

[sage cape]

B1 got a much bigger payload and the aim174 can be fired from far enough away they’re out of range

the B52 would work as well

Even a C17 or C130 could carry crates of them similar to rapid dragon

[rotund heath]

lol

[uneven fog]

@flint smelt what sd cards do you use w ur r7

[flint smelt]

Right now I’m using

I also have the Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-II SDXC

[flint smelt]

🔝

[uneven fog]

Is this the really expensive one

[brittle bridge]

no

[uneven fog]

Expensive for an sd card atleast

[brittle bridge]

the sandisk extreme pros are very affordable

i have one

@uneven fog

its only the UHS-I

[brittle bridge]

the UHS-II is more expensive

[uneven fog]

Yea the 2 is dummy expensive for a tiny piece of plastic

[brittle bridge]

idk what R50 accepts

[uneven fog]

yea I’m getting an r7 that’s why I was asking

R50 is uhs 1

[brittle bridge]

ohhh

yeah R50 is UHS-I

[flint smelt]

Cause its better

[brittle bridge]

UHS-II V60 or V90 for R7

[brittle bridge]

for the faster cameras yes

[flint smelt]

V90

[brittle bridge]

B&H says either

[uneven fog]

Im gonna try my slower UHS 1s in the r7 when i rent it and then see how much im hitting the buffer

[flint smelt]

The 256gb is 160 i think

[brittle bridge]

i would just get a UHS-II

[uneven fog]

Yea that’s lowk criminal

[uneven fog]

I’ll probably cave eventually

[brittle bridge]

just do it now

[uneven fog]

Big fan of shooting down at aircraft

First time doing it today

[delicate silo]

After burner

Wow

[sage cape]

Top Aces unrestricted at Luke AFB

[viscid elbow]

Wait marines participated in aggressor things? Or this just an aggressor inspired livery?

[uneven fog]

Yea

Based at Yuma

[sage cape]

VMFT-401 are aggressors at Yuma and there’s another squadron of F5s at Key West

[uneven fog]

Are the key west guys Navy though?

[sage cape]

good question

I think they’re marines still

The one at Key West is navy, there’s another marines squadron at MCAS Beaufort

It’s VFC-111 at key west

And then the navy also has VFC-204 in new orleans

[delicate silo]

Oo

I feel like some of these photos are getting far more upvotes than they deserve, but maybe the server is just growing, and more people are voting

[sage cape]

yeh kinda

#🚗・vehicles message

this is NOT a ten upvote post

[glass charm]

People just like that angle ig

[uneven fog]

Sum of the voters are not very intelligent

[viscid elbow]

And what’s wrong with liking photos?

[delicate silo]

Like pictures of just a plane with decent lighting 30 upvotes

nothing else special about it

[delicate silo]

no offense to anyone who took these they arent bad just dont deserve that amount unless the bar has moved

[rotund heath]

that first one has some funky shit going on with it

[delicate silo]

I guess this server has gained so many active members interested in aviation posts get far more upvotes

[rotund heath]

the bar is low enough sometimes that if it's in focus and it's not sitting on a runway I will usually toss an updoot their way

[uneven fog]

Glad I wasn’t the only one that saw that

[uneven fog]

Half the time the votes are more for whatever aircraft it is and not for the actual photo quality

[sage cape]

didn’t he say it was an error with the exporting when it’s clearly him not knowing how to use defringe lmao

[uneven fog]

Sum like that

[rotund heath]

did they check the hidden 'fuck my shit up' export option or something

[flint smelt]

Yo @sage cape you from Australia yea?

[sage cape]

Yup

[flint smelt]

My friend is planning one trip to Australia. He wants to know what RAAF base he should go spot at and what time would be best.

[uneven fog]

Ow

something doesn’t exactly sit right with me abt this one

No hold to try to trouble shoot the issue

Lightning fast touchdown speed

[rotund heath]

Please don’t post the video is all I ask. People can find it on their own if they desire.

[uneven fog]

Only thing I can see it being is like a complete hyde failure

[uneven fog]

Wilco

[sage cape]

Williamtown, February - November Monday - Thursday

You’ll see 20 F35s and a bunch of BAe Hawks and a couple E7s

It’s very predictable

That’s if the weathers fine obvi

It’s an easy day trip to Sydney as well, just try and get to the base before 9am

And it’s very easy to spot as, there’s a museum called fighter world that opens at 10am with a really good viewing deck, then there’s a road called Medowie road which you can spot from as well outside the museum

If you just stick to those two places you won’t have any issues at all with security and you’ll have really good views of whatever’s happening

[flint smelt]

Alr, thank you

[uneven fog]

Rental

But we’ve upgraded for now ‼️

[flint smelt]

Rahh❗️

[delicate silo]

What are you using it for in winter?

[uneven fog]

Airplanes…

the same thing I use it for in the summer

[uneven fog]

Rahhh

underestimated how big of a help ibis is

Never fuckin up a pan ever again

Weather at my local rn

[spice shadow]

Taken at the Military History Museum in Berlin Gatow back in September

[uneven fog]

Not a fan of the vignetting

Personally

[spice shadow]

I think that comes from the lens I used in combination with the CPL. I just forgot to remove it in LR

[delicate silo]

Commercial ?

[sage cape]

🤮

[uneven fog]

Not usually

Usually general aviation or military

But if I’m bored or there’s sum special I’ll go

[delicate silo]

Do you get military aircraft during winter? It seems to slow down at least for me

[uneven fog]

Depends

We get a lot of guys that come up for lobster

They typically don’t during the winter bc it’s not lobster season

But stuff that’s going across the pond is usually year round

and then local squadrons training is year round

[flint smelt]

135 passing by me at HNL 🤙

[delicate silo]

That's cool

[uneven fog]

How about a T-38 guy

Mask on on the ground with the canopy up is negative sty tho

[flint smelt]

Heres an F/A-18, lol

[flint smelt]

He’s just a chill dude.

[delicate silo]

I have one of f18 pilots at an airshow but unsure if the ones I saw not at an airshow did anything

[flint smelt]

ENEMY AC-130 ABOVE!!

[uneven fog]

Anyone guess the airport?

[flint smelt]

Boston Logan intl

[uneven fog]

Ding ding

[sage cape]

enemy heat haze above 💔

[uneven fog]

Yea that might be the one condition I have up on bro

[sage cape]

it sucks so bad in australia summer time as well

[wind horizon]

a while ago from sf fleet week

[jolly comet]

Damn. I know it’s not but why does the United look like it’s been photoshopped in.

[uneven fog]

Gentleman

Peep the name

[delicate silo]

Have no knowledge about cannon but it says r7

[uneven fog]

Yes

I bought it

[brittle bridge]

Wait it says R7

[delicate silo]

[wind horizon]

it looks like a game lol

[jolly comet]

Damn

[jolly comet]

Yeah

[pine summit]

I was there and I don’t remember the blue sky looking that way. Not sure what happened to your shots (pre or post edited), but I definitely prefer colors closer to what naturally occurred.

Too warm? Too blue (tilted toward aqua?)?

[wind horizon]

oh idk i lwk like it more like that ik it doesnt look natural tho

[delicate silo]

Sky looks weird yeah

[quiet python]

boeing 737- 800

[glass charm]

All the good plane related photos from my NZ trip

[delicate silo]

C130 and plane head on are cool

I wanna see them in black and white lol

[uneven fog]

Ski 130

Notice the holders for JATO bottles by the rear door

First pic is one of the skis they use

[glass charm]

look pretty nice B&W tbh

[delicate silo]

Not as nice as I expected

Cool tho

[sage cape]

I had a very good day

Editing these photos is going to be peak

[uneven fog]

Zoom out like 10 millimeters 💔

[vernal lion]

I cut off the wings and cropped to the tail-tip deliberately - it feels a bit too clinical and "proper" if I cropped for a gap

Plus the pilot preffered the tight crop after being given both options

[uneven fog]

Fair enough

[delicate silo]

Love these headons

[vernal lion]

I'm a total sucker for a head-on

[delicate silo]

Wowe

You don't happen to work at the base do you?

[vernal lion]

Not strictly, no - I'm a media communications officer for a completely unrelated airfield where I also fly

But all of these are on my own time

[delicate silo]

Impressive angles

[delicate silo]

How'd you get this one?

[vernal lion]

Planning

A fair bit of math, and equal amounts of luck

[delicate silo]

Unsure if I even have any decent head ons

[vernal lion]

Hell yeah

[delicate silo]

I guess I have some F18 sunset head ons

Not a head on exactly but

[delicate silo]

Yeah I dont think I have any more

I guess I have a couple from an airshow

nothing special though

cant find the others

[uneven fog]

Head on for all head ons

[delicate silo]

Nice

[blazing bronze]

not a good photo but it is interesting to see an alpha jet smoking

[blazing bronze]

new paint job on the skyhawk

[flint smelt]

Where was this?

[blazing bronze]

CFB Cold Lake

[uneven fog]

Smoking or Is it snow?

[blazing bronze]

I'm pretty sure it is smoke you don't often see blue snow

[delicate silo]

Aren't those really old

[blazing bronze]

Yeah

They are pretty old. they are used by Top Aces to play the enemy aircraft in this case

[delicate silo]

Ah

[flint smelt]

Ah, thank you 👍

[blazing bronze]

Yeah it's a nice place but sadly they will be destroying the viewing area in the future

[delicate silo]

Why

[blazing bronze]

To build hangars for the new f-35s

[delicate silo]

Oh

Worth it ig

[flint smelt]

Goofy ahh nose

[glass charm]

bit breezy

[delicate silo]

LOL

That funny

[uneven fog]

Did they scrap the catfish and switch to a regional

[flint smelt]

Are you talking about the 757 catfish? If so that is owned by boeing. The modified crj700 in the picture is owned by northdrop grumman.

[uneven fog]

Ah

[azure grove]

Hello! I'm planning on going nightspotting for my first time! I'm going to be using an A7r III and a Sigma 100-400mm, unfortunately there is a problem though. My lens has a faulty Image Stabilization, and i'm not the most stable person and even struggle panning.... Any tips? Thanks!

[brittle bridge]

Tripod, high shutter speed

[azure grove]

what shutter speed approx?

i guess widest aperture

and what iso

auto?

and my tripod half broken but ill try if needed 😭

[brittle bridge]

Yeah auto

[azure grove]

I’ve put max 10k iso

[delicate silo]

gl

[rare vector]

Daaamn

Sick af

[delicate silo]

[sage cape]

Got to have a good talk with the pilot a couple of time

I’m on holidays and staying right next to the helipad

[uneven fog]

My ass thought the p51 was making prop vortices

And then I realized it’s ur watermark 😭

[delicate silo]

ignore it

just how i exported

lol

[uneven fog]

That one’s so faint I wouldn’t hate on it

It’s just when they’re massive and bold and the picture is shit when I start hating

[delicate silo]

Lol

[flint smelt]

Yo @sage cape do you know why RAAF super hornets are in Hawaii? I caught a couple of em leaving today.

[sage cape]

Red Flag presumably

Heading up for RF-25-1

Starts next week I think?

[flint smelt]

Ah i figured.

[flint smelt]

Ye, the 27th

[sage cape]

Cool as tho

Do u know what callsigns they were using

[flint smelt]

Sadly no

[sage cape]

Aight

[sage cape]

what date was the Stuart demo

Cause I’m pretty sure it wasn’t

[delicate silo]

nov 10th

[sage cape]

Ah cool

I though they did their last on the 2nd at Davis Monthan

[delicate silo]

when was that

ah

didnt read

[sage cape]

Was that Mad flying it?

[delicate silo]

yeah no they annouced stuart a few months before it happened

[delicate silo]

yeah

[sage cape]

nice

[uneven fog]

Valid except watermark

[delicate silo]

too bad :)

[uneven fog]

That’s a good one tho so can’t hate it too much

You have the color version?

[delicate silo]

yeah

looks better bw

two downvotes and of course on is seth hes a #1 hater lol

ig the shot looks bland in black and white

idk just how I exported it

maybe it looks better non black and white

ill post the other one later ig

[uneven fog]

Yea there’s a lack of contrast in BW

[delicate silo]

Yeah

I think i reedited colored a little bit ago

Looks better now

It's a massive crop tho

Lol

[uneven fog]

Yea I can tell lol

[delicate silo]

Even on 48mps 600mms

It was farr away

[quiet jasper]

I'm not a hater, it was just shit edit

needs way more contrast

[delicate silo]

I realize thag

I'll post colored soon

It's better

[delicate silo]

Also its kinda hard to give contrast to a blue sky and blue moon

it was literally taken during the middle of the day

[uneven fog]

Any way to mask the moon?

[delicate silo]

I did

if you have any tips lmk

pulled out all the detail I thought I could

[uneven fog]

Nah I really can’t mask for shit 😭

[delicate silo]

[flint smelt]

Bro 😭😭💀💀

[glass charm]

what the actual

[modern stirrup]

why tf u send this

[stable sky]

Tf

bigger than the hawk too

[worn tusk]

Say that again

[stable sky]

hawk..

HAWK TUAH

[sage cape]

wait…

[uneven fog]

So much potential 💔

Shit light + really high up

[delicate silo]

yeah

[sage cape]

Nellis lighting is shit epic photos

[pine summit]

Agreed. I abhor that lighting, but the opportunities are pretty much unmatched.

Anyone else going to Aviation Nation? Got my time off request approved, so I’ll be there Thursday-Sunday.

[sage cape]

Yeh it’s a sick place, can imagine how epic it’d be to get airside or even be there when it’s overlast so the lights not as harsen

[delicate silo]

I Haven't heard of that?

[pine summit]

Nellis airshow. April, first weekend

[delicate silo]

Looking it up rn

U2 demo o:

[pine summit]

Yawn. See that thing quite often here at shows near the Bay Area. Too close to Beale. 😆

[delicate silo]

I really wanna see f117s tbh

[pine summit]

The show is all about the flares, mountain backdrop, and bad lighting

[delicate silo]

makes sense seeing the same stuff over and over again gets boring

[delicate silo]

Oo first two things are great last one is expected for an airshow ig

[pine summit]

Especially in the west, where most airports are facing south

[delicate silo]

Ah yeah