Great shots on this section of the boards. My preferences for subject matter are of the winged-variety.

 

Great shots. Back at you........from the roof of our office building .......

 

Does this count? I did use some sort of wing.

 

Wow, these are some excellent shots. Thanks for sharing Gents!

 

Here's my late brother and his flying machine

 

That's, bad ass!

 

Three aircraft, an observatory, and a spaceship.


Same day, minus one aircraft and one observatory.

 

Ditto!

I can't even imagine the g's involved...it's gotta be upwards of 10.

 

Griffith Observatory. An icon. James Dean scene is a classic.

 

They used to pull up to 14 negative, and not nearly that much positive, although on acrobatic (non racing) they do pull positive G's till they bleed (literally).

The amazing thing is on the first years of the red bull air-race they did not wear any type of G Suit. They limited the "official" g counts but a few of them did touch 14. For years these pilots have fun making military pilots through up 9true story (even though a couple of them themselves are or where military)

For this reason NASA took a few of the pilots, including Alex (my brother) to do G force analysis and training programs. He also tested commercial and non commercial prototypes being licensed to pilot anything from a Helicopter to a 747.

I have seen videos of pilots, including Alex, passing out mid maneuver on acrobatic flight (not on the race as at the low altitude that would be fatal) and recovering on air to continue maneuvers. The reflexes on these guys are astonishing. Imagine waking up from a deep faint and having seconds to correct course at those speeds and mid air. also on the race and at their speeds the distance equivalent between pilons would be equivalent top fitting the aircraft between pilons at inches distance of your wing tips

Some close calls on 2009 and 2010 did end up on changing the course designs to have less angles on the turns, vary slightly the altitude limits and wear G suits. All these changes where starting to take place right when Alex passed on a training accident, he was one of the designated pilots to consult on the new security measures, which is very ironic.

After he passed the race was cancelled (to note he did not have the accident racing nor training for the Air Race but for a different competition/ exhibition) they cancelled the races for a few years to address all issues at once and have recently started racing again on a much toned down but still very challenging format.

I admire these competitors and their family-like camaraderie. they compete hard, but the best of them are also noble friends and humble men.

Alex was amongst the best of them, although he (like me on martial arts and boxing) did not have a good competitive mindset. He actually trained 2 of the pilots that ended up being champions years on end. He simply either over compensated on competition or didn't care enough and had a pragmatic approach that made him too understanding of his defeats...although they still hurt.

If you have one minute tonight tip your glasses to these men...and have a sip at least for Alex whom I miss terribly, although he most likely is enjoying himself tremendously in whatever place he ended at; a little like Jonathan Livingston Seagull. (that is the tattoo he has on his arm, which I gave him for his birthday)

Cheers!!

 

Those pilots are the best. Sorry for your loss. Tip my glass to him.

 

Done! I don't drink alcohol (recovering alcoholic) but I can do the DD. I'm truly sorry for your loss, Nobel Prize.

Toast...

 

Thank you all

 

That will do!!

 

My glass too has been tipped. Great pictures, moving story, what a guy!

 

Blades.......
....

 

Avalon Airshow 2015 ( me in the Sabre, with the F8 Meteor and F/A-18), and the RAAF Sabre across the Temora Aviation Museum, Australia.

Buster

 

Excellent photos Buster! I can only dream about flying the likes of that.

 

great photos of the sabre!

 

She let's you know that you're alive, and it's a great feeling!! it's even better displaying to an appreciative public and especially the kids.