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Wednesday 2 March 2011

On the edge... growing pains at D-M.

You know how you feel when someone tells you things will be uncomfortable but later on life will be much, much better? You know, that little sick feeling in your tummy?

Well, that's how things are right now for the local (and visiting) spotter to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson. DM is preparing to re-surface their 12,643-foot runway next month and to get ready for that they're shortened the runway by 3,000 feet. Still a nice long runway but the end they shortened was on the end where the best photography is for aircraft landing on runway 12. Aircraft now come in higher (bad) and break much earlier for final (bad as well) making for, well.... less than flattering images. Unless you like bellies, then this will be the place to be!

Now normally I'm a roll-with-the-punches kind of guy but this is no ordinary weekend. This is Heritage Flight Conference weekend. Heritage Flight is the coupling of current Air Force jet aircraft with older jet or prop aircraft and they meet annually to practice their routines and work out the kinks for the upcoming airshow season. This will be my first and last Heritage Flight Conference. Last year I was on the runway at NAF El Centro, California (love you guys!) and next year I'll be in Japan.

So enjoy a collection of undersides. I'm sure it will all be worth it when it's over. Right?


A-10C Warthog landing with an engine malfunction and the emergency crews on alert.


Colorful Navy trainer.


Eglin A-10C that can fly on biofuel. Note probe on nose.


Viper West demo team bird diving for the runway.


If you have to shoot a belly-shot, this is the one to do it on! QF-4E in SE Asia colors from Holloman AFB.

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About Me

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Fairfield, California, United States
James O'Rear is an avid photographer specializing in aviation imagery (but anything in front of his camera is fair game). He currently lives in breezy Fairfield, California. He is a member the Arizona Aviation Photographers and the International Society for Aviation Photography. He is also the author of "Aviation Photography: a pictorial guide". More of James' photography can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/james_orear