Buddy Holly, J.P Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and their pilot Roger Peterson passed into aviation history one cold night in Iowa. Another famous flier Amanda Franklin passed on Saturday May 27th, 2011 at 10:10PM CST, joining the ranks of Marilyn Monroe and Lady Diana as very special people who left this earth well before their time had come. As we all know Amanda and Kyle were involved in a tragic ... Read More

The Joint Services Open House (JSOH) at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland is held every May around Armed Forces Day. The event showcases the personnel, aircraft, and other hardware from seven major American military operators, including the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Homeland Defense/Customs and Border Patrol, and the Civil Air Patrol. The show on the whole is outstanding, but there are always a few ... Read More

As we all know Amanda and Kyle were involved in a tragic fire and forced landing several months ago in Texas.  Tragic is a word that is overused in our language, but it really fits here; there are few other ways to describe what has happened.  Kyle suffered burns and some traumatic injuries.  Amanda was severely burned, and has undergone heroic treatment and care since that time.  She has ... Read More

The County of San Bernardino Planes of Fame Airshow is an annual event and one NEVER to be missed. Joe and I have been making this trip for the past three years and it just keeps getting better. This year was special as it was celebrating the "100th Anniversary of  U.S. Naval Aviation". Planes of Fame in conjunction with the County ... Read More

A three day Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) Symposium and Reunion, themed "Honoring the Past...Forging the Future", occurred at NAS Jacksonville Florida April 4-6, 2011.  Special activities included an opening day Centennial of Naval Aviation (CONA) fly-in, the display of current and future technologies in maritime patrol, and social events like dinners and a golf tournament.  Key speeches were given by Vice Admiral Allen G. Myers, Commander, Naval ... Read More

The 2011 North American air show season is already upon us.  One of the biggest attendance draws at an air show is a headlining military flight demonstration team.  Around the world there are dozens of teams - some well-known here in the United States, some more obscure.  Their jobs are many: symbols of national pride, recruitment tools for a country's military services, a showcase for aviation prowess, and the ... Read More

On April 14, 2011 VMA 214 Black Sheep hosted a historic squadron reunion at MCAS Yuma. The reunion was attended by three of the five remaining original Black Sheep Squadron members (Ed Harper, Jim Hill, and Harry Johnson). In addition to these legendary figures, other past and present squadron members, and other VIPs attended the event. Several books have been written about this famous squadron, its pilots, and it’s Commanding ... Read More

Yuma Arizona's main airport is a joint-use facility that's home to a busy Marine Corps base and an interesting mix of civilian operators.  In fact, the Marines say that MCAS Yuma (on the south side of the main runways) is their busiest flying base, in part due to excellent training airspace and air-to-ground ranges nearby.  Yuma International Airport encompasses the north side of the airport, containing general aviation hangars, ... Read More

Thousands came out to celebrate the annual Beale Air Force Base open house which brought out several of the top tier teams in the United States from The all Civilian Patriots team to the United States Air Force Ambassadors in Blue Thunderbirds. On the first day spectators were treated to the B-2 which was on the schedule but the base surprised everyone including those of us in the media pit ... Read More

As I get older, it takes more to get me out of the house.  It takes a lot more to get me and 150+ pounds of camera gear to move cross country 2200 miles to California.  The Chino Airshow can motivate me to do that. Frank Mormillo invited me to the pre-show press conference last year.  I couldn’t make it, but I did cover the airshow.  It was the 5th ... Read More