Welcome Aboard! Your window to history in the making.
October 3rd, 2009 | Navy Gold Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
Over the next 12 months, I will be putting together an epic picture book commemorating 100 years of Naval Aviation. In order to capture the pinnacle achievements that demonstrate how far the Navy has come in a century, I will be traveling around the world to chronicle all systems serving in naval aviation with still images and video. I am proud of this partnership with MilitaryTimes.com who has graciously offered to host this BLOG so I may share with you, the incredible travels and amazing people I have already started experienced on this project.
The results of this effort will culminate in a grand, coffee-table style book that will be released in January 2011 at the official US Navy Centennial observance ceremonies in San Diego. With sections on each of the current aviation communities in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, this book is certain to be the ultimate collection of modern and historic aircraft imagery ever assembled.
Some of you may already be familiar with some of my previous titles including ANYTIME,BABY! : Hail and Farewell to the US Navy F-14 Tomcat. or BLUE WATER OPS: On the Frontline of US Navy Carrier Aviation.
PREVIEW ONLINE: http://www.vulturesrow.com
For those of you who are, you can expect even more of the same insider access and impossible photographs from both inside the cockpit and aboard ship. If you are new to this sort of thing, I hope you will find these postings interesting and informative. My goal has always been to bring back the curious details of carrier life and the rigorous demands of operating tactical aircraft. This BLOG is a two-way radio, so if you want to know about something I have not yet covered, feel free to chime in and help drive the direction of this book over the next year.
Thanks for checking in, and get ready to launch! This BLOG is now LIVE!
Erik Hildebrandt
The launch of Navy Gold!
August 26th, 2009 | Navy Gold | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
Thank you for checking in for the latest news and progress reports about this incredible new project that is currently underway out in the Fleet. Photographer Erik Hildebrandt will be updating this site regularly with results from his most recent photo missions around the globe as he races to capture every single Naval Aviation community and aircraft platform in time to release this next book by 2011, the 100 year anniversary of Naval Aviation.
Starting with Erik’s re-qualification courses for water survival and aero-medical flight physiology, this site will track his journey throughout the Fleet over the next 24 months as he creates the imagery that will constitute this unprecedented historic record of the United States Naval Air Forces.
Get ready to get wet the next time you log on in Mid- March to read about the Helo Dunker and other aquatic torture devices designed to induce panic and weed out the sinkers from the floaters. The first stop on this journey starts in the pool at NAS Norfolk to get the quals for the next two years of back-seat photo chasing in everything from fast-moving Rhinos to the cushy airline seats of a C-9 and anything in between.
If you like seeing it from the inside and appreciate the chance to ride along, then saddle up and snap a salute to the shooter, because WE are going for not just one, not just two, but a boat load of incredible rides that will throw you back in the seat and make you scream into your mask as you are hurled down the deck and into the adventure of :
FLY NAVY!