We were then satisfied that, with proper lubrication and better adjustments,
a little more power could be expected.
- Orville Wright
As a child in Dayton, Ohio, I was surrounded by aviation. The US Air Force Museum and Carillon Park were field trip destinations, and cargo planes roared overhead from Wright Patterson Air Force Base while we flew high on the swings at recess. My Uncle Gordon shared enchanting tales of sitting with Orville Wright, listening to stories on the porch at Hawthorn Hill. We enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Kittyhawk, North Carolina for the coveted title of "First In Flight," and the Dayton International Airport kept us connected to faraway lands.
After college, I moved to Jacksonville, home of two Naval bases, and then San Diego, a hotbed of military aviation with Coronado, Miramar, and Pendleton within striking distance. Returning to the Miami Valley, I continued the annual tradition of watching aerial acrobats perform in our world famous Dayton Air Show each time summer came around. As many as 80,000 spectators watched the show from the official grounds every year, but most of us in Tipp City chased airplanes from our backyards just a few miles from the runways.
And yet . . . I had never photographed a plane at close range until last week. May as well start with the best, right? The Blue Angels were in town, and thanks to Mike McDermott and the savvy social media staff of TippNews.com, I was granted a working credential for the show. With a warm welcome from the men and women of the US Navy and Marine Corps, I went from simply photographing the performances to literally defying gravity.
The Blue Angels arrived Thursday, kicking things off with flight line photos of the F/A-18 Hornets and one-on-one interviews with the pilots. When asked whether I wanted to tag along on "Bert" during one of its show performances, I agreed, having no idea what that actually meant. Say yes first, ask questions later.
For the next four days, the Blues rolled out the red carpet and were as gracious as could be from top to bottom. Every member of the team went out of their way to show us a good time, teach us about their respective roles, and give us a glimpse into life on the road. From monitoring the oxygen levels and ejection seats in the cockpits of $21 Million planes to flying 18 inches from each other at close to the speed of sound, the officers and crew approach every angle with both precision and enthusiasm.
Being tapped to join the team is a high honor and privilege, but it's also demanding work. They practice as often as possible, and their only day off each week is Monday. As many as seventy performance flights per year are scheduled with three hundred days away from home. Depending on the time of year, that "home" can either be NAS Pensacola on the Florida Panhandle (during show season) or NAF El Centro near San Diego (in the winter). Blue Angels are sky gypsies.
The "ride on Bert" turned out to mean soaring over Dayton aboard Fat Albert Airlines. We didn't have time to be scared, as the Marines we dubbed "rockstar flight attendants" kept us too busy laughing. They secured the cabin for takeoff, passed out ear plugs, and distributed handy bags (just in case). What they did not offer were in-flight magazines, peanuts, Coke, pillows, or duty free liquor. I'm normally a fan of prop planes, as they lull me to sleep with the reverb, but there would be no zzzz's on this flight.
Bert is a C-130T Hercules cargo plane taking the term "nimble flying machine" to a new level. It takes off at a steep 45 degree pitch (three times that of a 767) and lands at a 25 degree dip (as opposed to a commercial airliner's 3). Despite its weight, Bert can come to a screeching halt within 1200 feet during landings in adverse terrain (i.e. the mountains of Afghanistan).
C-130's have dropped paratroopers into combat, refueled jets in midair, and delivered aid supplies in remote regions during both war time and as a response to natural disasters. As part of the show, Bert's dedicated pilots and crew took us through many of those actions, simulating a JATO rocket-supported takeoff, executing low passes over the crowd, holding a 60 degree bank turn around the airport, and shocking audiences with a nose-dive landing.
The best memory? Bert took us to new heights, literally sending us to zero-g weightlessness three times. Yes, just like on the space shuttle. Although we were strapped in, our cabin crew wasn't tethered. They put on quite a show of their own by floating upside down.
What goes up must come down, but the show wasn't over when the planes touched the runway. Each pilot we spoke with made it clear: meeting kids in each community they visit is an honor. Navy Lieutenant C.J. Simonsen (Blue Angel #7) explained, "I'm a normal guy. But I put this blue suit on, and kids think I'm Superman." In the photo above, Marine Captain Ben Blanton (our pilot on Fat Albert), met fans at the close of Sunday's show. "Without a doubt," he said, "that's the best part."
I've covered pro athletes, musicians, and politicians, and I have yet to encounter a group so dedicated to their craft as the Blues. Seeing people with such a positive attitude about their jobs was a rare and refreshing experience.
Dayton and the surrounding areas have been hit extra hard by the economic downturn. The losses of DHL in Wilmington, GM's plant in Moraine, and NCR world headquarters downtown have all left an indelible impression. Many of those stationed at WPAFB are deployed, leaving families to carry on at home. Dayton needed a pick-me-up, and the return of the Blue Angels provided it. It's easy for kids to see a bright future ahead when they have such inspiring role models up in the sky.
To see the Blue Angels in your region, check their 2010 show schedule.
To browse more shots from the show, please find my galleries at the following links:
News Edits (vivid color)
Art Edits (adjusted with a vintage look celebrating the history and drama of flight)
Images were all captured with a Pentax K20D. Most photos used a Tamron 70-300mm 4-5.6 lens. Editing was completed with a combination of PhotoScape and Photoshop Elements 7. Special thanks to Ree Drummund for her "Colorized" Action for PSE. High fives are also due to the Vectren Dayton Air Show staff and volunteers for getting us in exactly the right place at the right time to capture the best scenes.
Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 8:47AM 
