04Aug
Here's another panorama image I just cobbled together. This is a view of Monaco and the harbor as viewed from Monaco-ville. I took these images on my last day in town before heading to Nice and then home. Unfortunately, most of the days I was there were cooler and rainy – not warm and sunny as pictured here. Off to the left you see some of the old fortifications of Monaco-ville, moving to the expanse of the city-state of Monaco (the most densely populated country in the world) and then the bright waters of the Mediterranean.
03Aug
Over the walls of the 16th century Spanish fortress of El Morro looking toward Old San Juan. I was playing with some images and a new photo stitching program and decided to give the panorama view a shot. The image didn't turn out too bad, I only see one real error in it, but it's still a pretty cool image. This was the view that Spanish defenders inside El Morro saw if they were facing an attack from land.
26Jul
As EAA AirVenture 2011 steps into high gear, I re-discovered my images from last year's AirVenture. So if you didn't make that show and if you're not in the position to come to the 2011 AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI. sit back and enjoy these images.
I visited AirVenture 2010 on Friday, July 30 mainly because Friday is Warbird Friday, when the veteran military aircraft take part in the afternoon's airshow.
Hope you like the images!
27Mar
Earlier this month, I traveled on business to Europe – Monaco specifically. I was looking forward to it, but when I got there the weather was less than spectacular. I was able to venture around the small principality and took some pictures. Due to work and the resulting problems that arose during the short time I was there, I really didn’t see much outside of the Fairmont Monte Carlo and the Le Meredien hotels. Although the walk between the two was beautiful – against the Mediterranean water front – it was soggy some of the time due to the rain.
During my short stay, I saw Monacoville – where the Prince resides – the Monte-Carlo Casino, and the marina. It’s truly a beautiful area of the world. And if you do go, stop by McCarthy’s Irish Pub for a Guinness!
25Aug
B-24 bomber from WWII
The deep thrum of the four engines, the cramped, tight spaces, walking across the bomb bay on a 10 inch metal strip, sticking your hand out the window at the waist gunner position – these were experiences I had on my flight aboard “Witchcraft” a WWII B-24 Liberator bomber. I was able to experience this thrilling flight when the Collings Foundation brought the Wings of Freedom tour to Chicago Executive airport in July.
I had always wanted to fly on one of these vintage aircraft, and I’m glad I got the chance. Witchcraft is the only flying B-24 in the world, and the flight made me appreciate the sacrifice that the airmen made during WWII. In many places within the aircraft, there was literally no place to turn around. And you had to watch were you stepped – the nose wheel doors and the bomb bay are designed to give-way to weight – not a nice thing to happen if you’re a few thousand feet up.
B-24s over Polesti
I was able to move along the length of the plane in flight – from the tail gunner’s position to the nose gunner’s turret. This was not your normal flight experience – I mean there was a three to four inch gap between the fuselage and the retracted ball turret – looking down I could see houses, roads and trees passing below. When you get to the waist gunner’s positions – with the 50 caliber machine guns still in place – you get a feeling for what it might have been like fighting for your life and your crew mates as you fended off Axis fighters. These planes weren’t pressurized – crewmen had to wear special suits and needed oxygen masks to survive the frigid temperatures at altitude.
The ride on Witchcraft was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I won’t soon forget. Who knows how long this plane will keep flying – it did see actual service in China and Burma with the RAF, and spare parts and expertise are dwindling away. Enjoy the pictures below or check out the Flying in a B-24 video page.
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