Sports

Jackie still flying strong

by ChrisMichaelStudio | November 9, 2009 at 11:30 am

149 views | 30 Recommendations | 5 comments

Jacqueline Cochran ( Thermal ) Airport Palm Springs California, named after one of the most distinguished female pilots of all time held more speed, altitude, and distance records than any other pilot, male or female inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame back in 1971. She was a long-time resident of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Coachella Valley near Thermal Airport which she used over the course of her long aviation career. The Six Annual show in her name was once again a total success and a big crowd pleaser!! Viper West , West Coast Demonstration Team from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah is home to the F-16 aerial demonstration team. The F-16 Fighting Falcon, the “Viper”, is a compact, extremely maneuverable multi-role fighter aircraft. As the headliner Viper West put on one incredible show at one part going almost supersonic past the crowd. Other performers included the Red Bull Mig with Bill Reesman captivating the crowd with his low level passes at full afterburner. The Planes of fame came out with the P-38 lightning doing a heritage pass with the Viper – plus another one a kind pair up of the WWII era planes a restored flying Japanese Zero and a U.S. Navy Bearcat fighting it out. Wrapping up the show was the C-17 Globemaster performing like a fighter forgetting that it’s as tall as five story building, cruising over the crowd in near silence and able to land and then back up like no other aircraft!! Looking forward to Jackie next year

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Mary Richard

at 14:05 on November 9th, 2009

Wicked pictures, thanks for sharing!

On another note, I come from an airport town, with the streets named after pilots. Of course it has a Cochran Street.

ChrisMichaelStudio

at 14:27 on November 9th, 2009

Thanks so much for checking out the shots!! It was a great show and the weather was perfect.

Jackie was the first female pilot to break the sound barrier -- of the many first's in her life and an incredible career -- a great name to have for your town!!

ChrisMichaelStudio

at 20:35 on November 9th, 2009

Thank You-- I shoot with a Canon100-400 F4-5.6L lens and the Canon 50D with a 1.4 converter. Image quality shot in RAW developed in Canon dpp and post processed with LM2.3 in Tiff output high Jpeg low file 1500 pixel long side for posting.