Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

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PaulBradley
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Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by PaulBradley »

I've not felt like modelling for a couple of weeks now, but I did get to enjoy the Nellis AFB Aviation nation airshow last weekend in Las Vegas. I obtained a commission from Model Aircraft magazine for a photo report, and that will appear in a few months. I attended the media day on the Friday and also went to the public days on Saturday and Sunday; I took over 9,000 photos.......! Lighting at Nellis is not ideal - the sun faces you virtually all day, and Friday was particularly bad as there was a heavy haze to wash everything out. Added to that was the performers' smoke, which lingered forever in the unusually still conditions - there were times when you could barely see the Thunderbirds through their smoke! Still, I managed to get some keepers!

I am saving the best for the magazine, but here's a small selection of the best of the rest:


F-22 Raptor

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Where'd he go?! A-10

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Geronimo! C-130 at 3,000ft disgorges Special Ops parachutists:

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A-10 close support of an HH-60 rescue helo:

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F-15E Strike Eagle:

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Smile! F-16 close-up:

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Wraith! The first airshow appearance of this specially-marked Aggressor F-16:

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Lizard! Another Aggressor F-16:

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Smile! II - F-35A close-up:

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F-35A - Looking into the inferno:

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Smile! III - EA-18G Growler close-up"

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Another Growler view:

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A-10/HH-60 Ballet:

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USAF Heritage FLight - F-86 and F-35A:

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P-51 Mustang:

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Thunderbird 5 - MAJ Michelle Curran, USAF:

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Thunderbird formation loop:

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How many aircraft in this photo?!:

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I'll sort out some more to post over the weekend as I process more. Enjoy!
Paul

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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by iggie »

Superb shots Paul, if they are the best of the rest, then the magazine shots will be fantastic 8-)
Answer to your question, four :grin:
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by JamesPerrin »

Wow Paul wow! The F-35 cockpit shot could be air to air
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by general rocket »

Great pictures.
Thanks for sharing.
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PaulBradley
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by PaulBradley »

Cheers, guys!

iggie wrote:Answer to your question, four :grin:
Yup! One a/c was a little out of position for this pass, otherwise it would have been a perfect shot! The whole team seemed a little 'off' all weekend - end of season fatigue?
Paul

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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by Gregers »

Great shots Paul. Especially the Thunderbirds. I got to meet the ground team and some of the pilots when they were at RAF Waddington. They borrowed our company mascot (a 6ft Tiger plush figure in a flight suit and life preserver) as they wanted a few team pics with it.

All the best.

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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by ShaunW »

A simply superb set of photos, Paul and if these are the ones that didn't make the grade for the magazine commission then those that did must be something else! I could easily believe that some of those shots were taken air to air. What's happening in the A-10 shot? (photo under the F-22), it looks like it is in the process of being shot down by Flak!
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by Clashcityrocker »

Excellent pics. The magazine shots must be excellenter, and well worth seeking out :)

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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by PaulBradley »

Thanks, chaps!
ShaunW wrote:What's happening in the A-10 shot? (photo under the F-22), it looks like it is in the process of being shot down by Flak!
It was the Combined Arms Demo, where the good guys had to fight off the bad guys - lots of blanks, pyros and fake explosions. The A-10 flew close to one of the rising clouds of black smoke, and his exhaust roiled the smoke on the way by - I think it's a cool look even if the photo isn't the greatest.
Paul

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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

Good photos, Paul - thanks !
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by Eric Mc »

Lovely pics.

Lovely weather too.
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by ShaunW »

PaulBradley wrote:Thanks, chaps!
ShaunW wrote:What's happening in the A-10 shot? (photo under the F-22), it looks like it is in the process of being shot down by Flak!
It was the Combined Arms Demo, where the good guys had to fight off the bad guys - lots of blanks, pyros and fake explosions. The A-10 flew close to one of the rising clouds of black smoke, and his exhaust roiled the smoke on the way by - I think it's a cool look even if the photo isn't the greatest.
They certainly know how to put on a show stateside!
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by PaulBradley »

Thanks, all!
ShaunW wrote:They certainly know how to put on a show stateside!
It's similar to the RAF's role demos, but larger. Helps if you have more, and a greater variety of, assets......
Paul

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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by wokka »

Fantastic photos and you say your saving the better ones?
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Re: Nellis AFB Aviation Nation Airshow 2019

Post by Stuart »

A really amazing set of shots Paul, I bet you had fun filtering through 9000 shots! (Is that individual shots or were you doing a lot of bracketing?)

If I had to pick a favourite out of that selection it would this one - love that composition!

Image
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