Where’s the Hook?
January 11th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
It is the question everyone asks when they first look at pictures of the F-35C carrier variant of the new Joint Strike Fighter…. where’s the hook? Well, in these two shots, you need to look closely to see the much smaller, albeit beefier, arresting hook that is normally stowed inside the skin of the Navy’s version of the Lightning II. Primarily due to the comparatively steep angle of attack approaching the carrier for the F-35C (12.3), the shorter tailhook does not need to be nearly as long as the Super Hornet which comes in on a flatter AOA of just 8.1 degrees. It is simply a matter of geometry.
Erok
E-6B Mercury Continued
January 11th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
One of the few publicly known capabilities of the “doomsday plane” is it’s role communicating with our fleet of nuclear submarines. In these 2 images, you can see the red and white conical fairing at the aft point of the fuselage. This device is the drag stabilizer for the trailing antenna wire for the VLF transceiver used to send and receive message traffic to our submerged subs. It has been said that when the antenna is deployed, several thousand feet of wire can be payed out to create a nearly vertically hanging RF conductor as the host E-6B orbits around a fixed point.
More to come.
Erok
E-6B Mercury Mystery Ship
January 10th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
On the same sortie that I was able to capture the “Blue Rhino” from VFA-122, we also managed to steal a glimpse of the uber-secret E-6B TACAMO (Take Charge And Move Out) serving with VQ-3′s Ironman unit. In this first shot, USAF exchange pilot Capt. Kaercher literally shadowed the mighty Boeing 707 based doomsday plane as we flew low and slow over the Owens Valley of central California. More shots to follow as they clear the OPSEC review.
Erok
Here’s to the Enlisted Corps
January 9th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
F-35C Joint Strike Fighter
January 4th, 2011 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
If you are interested, you can also preview all the main chapters online at
http://www.flynavybook.com
Erok
Pulling the Trigger!
December 7th, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
OK… I know it has been a long time since you checked in and found a fresh post, but it is finally official: FLY NAVY is going to press! After over two years of shooting, and what has seemed like a lifetime at the computer laying out the book, I have finally achieved “page-lock” and sent the massive 378 page volume off to be printed. If everything goes as planned, I will be able to air-strike a case of the special leather bound edition to San Diego in time for the kick-off Centennial events scheduled for February 10-14. In the mean time, as a reward for your patience, here is a preview of all 22 chapters and a few of the sub-chapters. In the coming weeks, I will follow up with more in-depth postings of the final photo missions which were amazing.
Thanks for following this incredible project and stay tuned.
Erok
FLY NAVY PREVIEW SLIDE SHOW FROM TAILHOOK 2010
September 14th, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
E-2D ADVANCED HAWKEYES OVER PAX RIVER
August 9th, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
Last week I had the distinct pleasure of flying with the Navy’s latest Airborne Early Warning platform, the Northrop Grumman E-2D. During a unique mixed crew photo flight that included VX-20 Navy pilots and NGC company co-pilots, I was expertly flown around the PAX range airspace in the photo lead C-2 Greyhound also owned by VX-20. The following shots depict the 2-ship section of Hawkeyes as they flew formation behind the open ramp of the C-2. Thanks to VX-20 Skipper CDR Tom “OJ” Santomauro, Dave Adams and PEOT PAO Shonshona Pilip-Florea.
FLY NAVY CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
July 1st, 2010 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
I am happy to announce the production of a 16 month FLY NAVY calendar, a companion piece to the nearly 400 page coffee table book that will be released in January. The calendar is a preview of the book and will be unveiled at the Tailhook Convention this September in Reno.
For a short time (up until the press run on July 15th), I am offering this calendar to the followers of this BLOG. You can order one of these the very limited edition FLY NAVY Calendars by e-mailing me directly at erik@vulturesrow.com.
As I mentioned, it kicks off with September 2010 and runs all the way through to December of 2011. Centennial of Naval Aviation specific events and historic markers appear throughout each month.
The price including domestic shipping and handling is $25.
PayPal orders or personal checks by mail only please.
This is just a taste of what’s to come.
Erok
