LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

May 21st was the first public flight of the re-created Spirit Of St Louis at Old Rhinebeck. Actually, this was the 12th flight, there having been 11 test flights and 5 hrs of total flying since the plane was completed last Fall. It would have been nice to have had some blue skies, but that didn't happen. Photographing a gray and silver plane against gray skies leaves a bit to be desired! So do my skills, so we'll just make the best of it, OK? I was trying for a pleasant prop blur, but the prop of the Spirit is chrome. It tended to disappear.
The Spirit was built and is flown by Ken Cassens, an extraordinary craftsman and pilot. The Spirit was built to exacting detail for historical accuracy. Notice the lack of any forward visibility. During my ten yrs or so as opening act for the airshows I flew with him many times. Great guy. The plane will continue to be flown, at Ken's discretion, during the regular season airshows.
I usually shoot both JPEG and RAW but forgot to check that particular setting and ended up shooting only JPEG. Except for the flyby shot of the Spirit these are all straight out of the camera. The first shots are of some of the other aircraft that were flying that day.
The Tiger Moth and D25 are two of my favorites. During my time as the show skydiver I made hundreds of jumps out of those two airplanes. Fond memories. Bill King owned and flew the Tiger Moth. He's gone now but his son David keeps it in the air. Ken Cassens flew me in the D25. He was the rides pilot back then.

Dave King & his DH82A Tiger Moth

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Ryan Robin Landing

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D25 New Standard Rides Plane

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Spad VII

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Albatros DV.A

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Ken Cassens

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Rollout

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Getting Ready

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Start Up

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Lift Off!

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LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Here are the rest of the photos. I may post more later, if anyone is interested.

Flyby

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Touchdown! (Well, almost!)

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Rollout

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GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

Love the pilot in the last photo!

Keep 'em coming :-)

GT

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

Lfinger, Nice shots all! Thank you for posting them. What shutter speed did you end up using?

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

You did an excellent job mister, looks like you got a grip on the prop blur. Thanks for sharing the results of your hard work.

Phil

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Thanks! I'll try to post some more tonight or tomorrow.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Thank You!
The first 5 photos were at 1/400. The takeoff of the Spirit was 1/60, flyby was 1/200, and the remaining two were at 1/160.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Thank You!

nospambob Loc: Edmond, Oklahoma

Great photos, and wonderful inside story. I didn't know that plane was so close to being flyable. And May 21st was the 89th anniversary of Lindbergh's 1927 landing in Paris -- what a tribute. Thank you SO MUCH for posting. Cool beans, Bob

lightandshadowjourney Loc: Virginia

Now that is a curiosity. I presume he could look out the side window for ground contact? Thanks for posting these wonderful images.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Great shots and very very interesting! Not sure I'd be brave enough to go up in one of those though? Thanks for sharing.

LennyP4868 Loc: NJ

very nice set love the bi wings so colorful and pretty to see

orriebarber Loc: Stratford CT.

My wife and I have been there. They put on a great show. Nice shots.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You're welcome and Thank You!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Side window, a rudimentary periscope, as well as side-slipping were all used when necessary, primarily during the landing approach. Once in flight the lack of forward visibility was not a big deal. Provided you knew where the mountains were! Not many of those when crossing the Atlantic though!