jcspics

I was in Tulsa driving towards the airport a couple of days ago when I noticed three F-16 Fighter Jets in formation circling the airport. I looked at my girlfriend and she said, "Well let's go!" so I pulled off the highway and headed to the access road at the end of the main runway. This process took longer than I thought and we saw them descending until they dissipated below the treetops. I thought I might at least get some taxiing shots as the headed to their hangers but nothing.

So disappointed I half threw my camera into her arms and pulled onto one of the main roads when I see two of them in the distance and vectoring in for a landing. I find a paved but long abandoned entrance and swerve in as the first F-16 roars past less than a block away across the street. I throw the lens cap to my trusted 70-200mm VR lens and get the WB, Aperture, and Exposure adjusted from pure muscle memory to get these awesome shots...

Aim High right?? The location was pure luck but the rest I chalk up to experience...

Thanks!
Jim

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Jim, Great story and the second image is a prize winner.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

I sure am glad they are on our side.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Cool!

pumakat

They look armed to the teeth. Nice work.

CWGordon

Great shots, all

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Your shots turned out cool, especially the second one. Yes, worth the effort.

I once had a very different encounter with a fighter jet. Some years ago, 1995, my wife and I had rented a 4-wheel drive vehicle for a more or less off-road photo expedition to photograph a rare plant out in the desert. This was for a field botany class I was taking. We were on this dirt trail between the Orocopia Mountains and the Chocolate Mountains. This area is located South of the Joshua Tree N.P. but really now where. We did find our plants. And I took a few ektachromes of the mountains as well. We packed the camera away. At this point in my life I was not as interested in photography per se as I had been and would be again in retirement going digital. So we packed the camera up. As we drove through a pass traveling east between the two mountain ranges, looking ahead and a bit upward we could see a fighter jet flying straight in our direction. It was moving FAST and LOW. As it passed us I could see the pilot and then we were hit with a Sonic Boom. Time seemed to freeze as all of this happened in an instant. I expected military planes to be around. It was probably from the Twenty-nine Palms. Though the Marines, Navy and others use the Chocolate Mountains as a Gunnery Range. Yes, to that side of the road is a fence and warning signs. This part of the California desert is near where General Patton trained his troops at one time. There are now unused rail road tracks that parallel the trail back to the I-10. Your photos reminded me of this adventure.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Nice set.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Nice shot especially the second one.

/George

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

I like the first, minus the tree, because of the bankings. Real action to imagine completed. Good get!

trainspotter Loc: Oregon

Looks like "FREEDOM" shots to me.......great job! God BLESS America!

jcspics

Thank you! I think the second one is the best shot too! I think these shots justify always having your camera with you everywhere right?

jcspics

Thanks so much for the glowing comment it is very appreciated!

It was serendipitous to say the least because, I was told after posting on Facebook that they just got back from a six month deployment overseas.

Annie-Get-Your-Gun Loc: Byron Center, Mi

Great capture, Jim. They are indeed awesome shots. It must have been thrilling to see them.