Colonel Jill Long was initially a KC-10 aerial refueling tanker pilot in the US Air Force.  Later, she became a decorated A-10 Thunderbolt pilot who flew over 50 combat missions in Afghanistan.  She then moved on to become a squadron commander in Germany, and is a recent graduate of the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Joe Shepherd is "the man".  A retired Northwest Airlines Captain with over 30 years experience, his aviation roots began in General Aviation, where they remain.  He was a CFI for a while before signing on with Northwest.  After retiring, he quickly returned to General Aviation.  I'm told this is a bit of an anomaly, as many retired airline pilots hang it up altogether, preferring not to go back to the little airplanes.  Not so with Joe...

In a short period of time, the Lockheed 12A Electra Junior has become one of my favorite aircraft to photograph.  The elegant lines with a subtle yet distinctive touch of "art deco" renders it irresistible in my eyes.  I believe "eye candy" is the current phrase that sums up my feelings about this aircraft...it just seems "right".

Recently we had the opportunity to appear as a guest on the simpleflight.net internet radio program, hosted by Al Waterloo and Marc Epner. The archive version of the show is available below, in case you missed it.  I come in at about the 28 minute mark, and the interview lasts for almost an hour.  Enjoy!

Larry King, aerobatic pilot, A&P, AI, CFI and ICAS member, with his Pitts Model 12. Shot at LZU, Lawrencevile, Ga.

The empennage of the #4 (slot) Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornet. Naval Air Station Pensacola.

We are pleased to report that we had the cover image to the 4 March issue of GA News, as well as a full page spread on page 14.

One of the toughest things any photographer can be called upon to do is to create an image of a large group of people. I'm not talking about five or six people, but of several hundred people...the ultimate group shot.

Another Airventure has come and gone. This year the reported attendance was up to 575,000 for the week, the “North 40” campground was full on the first day, and there were more RV’s than Cessna’s for the first time ever. Some attribute the record breaking attendance to the poor economy, as there is some historical evidence that suggests when the economy is ailing, airshow attendance increases. Haven’t heard any definitive evidence, but there seems to be enough of a correlation that there might be some truth to that belief. In any event, the week was an overwhelming success, despite the economic doldrums.

For those in the know, just the mention of “Oshkosh” brings an instant glimmer of recognition. It is simply the “Mecca” of aviation, at least in the United States. The largest General Aviation (GA) show in the country, it is said that at any one time, 10% of the GA fleet in the USA is at Oshkosh during the week of the fly-in. It is a fly-in, a trade show, an airshow, but it is also much more.

I’m pleased to say that I had the chance to spend an hour with him last summer, at the invitation of a mutual friend.