Fast Photos and the First America Astrojet
Photographs from Wings Over Houston and a 707 makes history.
Air control can be established by superiority in numbers, by better employment, by better equipment, or by a combination of these factors.
-Carl Andrew Spaatz
On the Radar
Lots of photos in this issue - as well as some photo tips.
Capturing the Skies: The Thrill of Photographing an Airshow
Imagine standing on the tarmac (ramp), camera in hand, as the deep rumble of jet engines fills the air. Overhead, the sky becomes a canvas of roaring metal and contrails, painted by pilots with nerves of steel. Welcome to the adrenaline-pumping world of airshow photography!
The Story Behind the Lens
Let me take you back to an experience that left an indelible mark on me. Picture this: It's the annual Wings Over Houston Airshow, and I'm one of the fortunate few to get a photographer's pass. Just being among the pilots and crew feels like stepping into a living museum of aviation history and technology.
As the aircraft line up for the aerial ballet, I position myself. I aim my camera lens towards the heavens just as a formation a P-51 Mustang with and F-35 Lightning passes by show center. The symmetry is breathtaking—the timing, the discipline, it's awe-inspiring. I press the shutter, and in that split second, I capture more than just a photograph; I capture the very essence of aviation. It's the culmination of years of technological prowess, decades of history, and moments of incredible human achievement.
Why It's a Photographer's Dream
Airshows are a playground for photographers for several reasons:
1. Variety of Subjects: From modern military jets to vintage biplanes, airshows offer an unparalleled array of aircraft. It's like a buffet of flying machines from different eras, that you get to see and hear.
2. Dynamic Action: Where else can you capture the high-speed maneuvers, tight formations, and jaw-dropping aerobatics that define airshows? Every moment is ripe for an iconic shot.
3. Technical Challenge: The fast-paced environment pushes your photography skills to the limit. Mastering the art of panning, understanding the exposure triangle, and quick decision-making are all put to the test.
4. Emotional Impact: The thrill of the crowd, the roar of the engines, and the sheer spectacle of human and machine working in perfect harmony—it all adds an extra layer of emotional depth to your photos.
Tips for the Aspiring Airshow Photographer
1. Lens Choice: A telephoto lens is essential. Something in the range of 200-600mm will give you the reach you need to fill the frame with distant subjects. Basically, you almost can’t have too much zoom for the performances. However, for the static displays that you can get up close to, a 24-105mm lens is ideal.
2. Settings: Fast shutter speeds are crucial for freezing fast-moving aircraft in the frame. You're often looking at speeds like 1/1000th of a second or faster, unless you are shooting propeller driven aircraft then the settings will depend on the number of blades in the prop and the engines rpm setting (take off, cruise, landing, etc.) Typically 1/80 can work well.
3. Position: Consider the sun's position. Shooting with the sun behind you will light the aircraft well, whereas backlight can create dramatic silhouettes.
4. Patience: The key to great photography is waiting for the right moment. Sometimes that means letting a few passes go by while you gauge the flight patterns. This is why I always recommend attending both days of an airshow if you can, the weather can also be very different from one day to the next. You’d be surprised how different airshow routines are when the weather presents lower cloud ceilings.
Capturing an airshow through the lens is like capturing lightning in a bottle. It's challenging, it's exhilarating, and most importantly, it's rewarding in a way few other photographic subjects can match. So, the next time the roar of jet engines fills the sky, why not grab your camera and join the adventure?
Fly High and Shoot Sharp,
-Tog
One last note about the airshow, it is organized by the folks at the Commemorative Air Force, who work to keep warbirds flying and educating future generations about the airplanes that changed the world, you can visit their site here:
This week in aviation history
23 October 1959: A watershed moment occurred in American aviation when American Airlines took possession of its inaugural jetliner, a Boeing 707-123 registration number N7501A. Its maiden flight had been just a few weeks prior, on October 5th. Named the Flagship Michigan, American Airlines heralded its newest acquisition as the "Astrojet."
Let's rewind a bit to understand the lineage of the Boeing 707. The 707 was the commercial iteration of Boeing's earlier prototype, the Model 367–80 or "Dash Eighty." This pioneering aircraft featured four turbojet engines, a streamlined design with wings and tail angled at 35 degrees, and a crew of four—a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and flight engineer. Designed for maximum utility, the plane could accommodate up to 189 passengers.
From a technical standpoint, the 707-123 stretched 145 feet and 1 inch in length, and its wingspan measured 130 feet, 10 inches. Far from today's "wide-body" planes, its fuselage width was a mere 12 feet, 4 inches. It weighed in empty at 122,533 pounds and could take off at a staggering weight of 257,000 pounds. Its first renditions were powered by Pratt & Whitney Turbo Wasp JT3C-6 turbojet engines, capable of generating thrust ranging from 11,200 to 13,500 pounds.
Maximum takeoff weight required a runway of at least 11,000 feet, and the plane could reach top speeds of 540 knots, covering a range of 2,800 nautical miles.
In 1961, N7501A underwent an upgrade to become the 707-123B. This upgrade involved swapping out the original turbojet engines for the Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1 turbofan engines. Not only were these new engines quieter, but they were also more powerful and efficient, producing up to 17,000 pounds of thrust with water injection. The modified version also adopted design changes from Boeing's 720 model, including a more extended tailplane.
The final chapter of N7501A's operational life came to a close when it was sold to Tigerair in April 1978, and later to Cyprus Airways in March 1979. Tragically, the aircraft met its end when its nose wheel collapsed during a landing at Bahrain International Airport in August 1979, rendering it too costly to repair.
This evolution of the Boeing 707—particularly N7501A—shows how the aircraft industry continually adapts, enhancing both efficiency and safety. It's a compelling illustration of aviation history, where each modification and upgrade stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of perfection.
In case you missed it
The photos and video from the Wings Over Houston airshow:
Photo Outlet
One more pic from the WOH Airshow of the Thunderbirds:
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading! If you know a fellow aviation enthusiast that would enjoy these weekly newsletters, then please forward this along. Now you know!
-Tog