Paul Bradley Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 (edited) I've not felt like modelling for a couple of weeks now, but I did get to enjoy the Nellis AFB Aviation nation airshow last weekend in Las Vegas. I obtained a commission from Model Aircraft magazine for a photo report, and that will appear in a few months. I attended the media day on the Friday and also went to the public days on Saturday and Sunday; I took over 9,000 photos.......! Lighting at Nellis is not ideal - the sun faces you virtually all day, and Friday was particularly bad as there was a heavy haze to wash everything out. Added to that was the performers' smoke, which lingered forever in the unusually still conditions - there were times when you could barely see the Thunderbirds through their smoke! Still, I managed to get some keepers! I am saving the best for the magazine, but here's a small selection of the best of the rest: F-22 Raptor f22-06 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Where'd he go?! A-10 A10-05 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Geronimo! C-130 at 3,000ft disgorges Special Ops parachutists: c-130-01 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr A-10 close support of an HH-60 rescue helo: cad01 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr F-15E Strike Eagle: f15e-16 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Smile! F-16 close-up: f16-01 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Wraith! The first airshow appearance of this specially-marked Aggressor F-16: f16-13 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Lizard! Another Aggressor F-16: f16-14 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Smile! II - F-35A close-up: f35-01 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr F-35A - Looking into the inferno: f35-03 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr F-35A turning and burning: f35-13 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Smile! III - EA-18G Growler close-up: fa18-03 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Another Growler view: fa18-07 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr A-10/HH-60 Ballet: h60-01 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr USAF Heritage Flight - F-86 and F-35A: heritage04 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr P-51 Mustang: p51-04 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Thunderbird 5 - MAJ Michelle Curran, USAF: tbirds05 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr Thunderbird formation loop: tbirds12 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr How many aircraft in this photo?!: tbirds17 by Paul Bradley, on Flickr I'll sort out some more to post over the weekend as I process more. Enjoy! Edited November 24, 2019 by Paul Bradley Baad Speeeeling..... 15 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spruecutter96 Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 A superlative set of shots, my friend. Very jealous, to be honest. We have light that good at UK airshows (maybe) once every two years. Thanks for sharing with us. Chris. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 Great set. I love the Black Hawk with the A-10! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 Lighting or not, those pictures are superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st george Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 Completely spaced out on last weekends event and missed it. I did see the Thunderbird's in the sky on the Friday but still never clicked what was going on. Oh well always next year. Great Pic's though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 An airshow this late in the year, well it is warmer were you are. Great pictures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted November 24, 2019 Share Posted November 24, 2019 Great photos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted November 24, 2019 Author Share Posted November 24, 2019 Thanks, everyone! It was an interesting weekend, full of firsts and lasts. It didn't match Nellis shows of years past, but was a good show when taken in isolation. There won't be a show next year, and rumour is possibly not in 2021 either - the decision has apparently yet to be made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted November 28, 2019 Share Posted November 28, 2019 Nellis is probably one of the worst places to take pictures, so very well done on that excellent set. Smoke hiding the Blunderbirds was a blessing Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted November 28, 2019 Author Share Posted November 28, 2019 Cheers, Andy! I have to say that the T-Birds didn't seem at the top of their game - their formations were a little untidy on both days I watched them. Still, the 'general public' probably didn't notice that much and they went down well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 WOWZER !! those are blooming FANTASTIC set of photographs.. LOVE them.... BEAUTIFUL photograph. thank you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 Cheers, I appreciate it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 Some stunning shots here Paul I can almost feel the sunshine despite the -1 temperature here right now,I have a Revell Thunderbird's F16 in the stash that just might get started tomorrow now! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacificmustang Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 Nice set of photos Paul, although your description of the conditions for photographing is a little concerning. A mate and I have been formulating plans to get over there, or Yuma. I think Yuma's place on the list has just been elevated!! Bruce 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted December 1, 2019 Author Share Posted December 1, 2019 Cheers, guys! Bruce - Yuma would be a good choice, with the added advantage that their show is annual. Also, the Luke or Davis Monthan AFB shows (alternate years) are usually around the same time of year, so its possible to combine for a better 'bang for buck' experience. Give me a shout when your plans firm up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calum Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 1 hour ago, Paul Bradley said: Cheers, guys! Bruce - Yuma would be a good choice, with the added advantage that their show is annual. Also, the Luke or Davis Monthan AFB shows (alternate years) are usually around the same time of year, so its possible to combine for a better 'bang for buck' experience. Give me a shout when your plans firm up. Bruce still needs to get a heap more points up with his better half before he can even think of going. 🤣🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacificmustang Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 (edited) 18 hours ago, Calum said: Bruce still needs to get a heap more points up with his better half before he can even think of going. 🤣🤣 He's right you know. I think you've mentioned combining Yuma with the Luke show before Calum 19 hours ago, Paul Bradley said: Cheers, guys! Bruce - Yuma would be a good choice, with the added advantage that their show is annual. Also, the Luke or Davis Monthan AFB shows (alternate years) are usually around the same time of year, so its possible to combine for a better 'bang for buck' experience. Give me a shout when your plans firm up. Thanks @Paul Bradley looking like 21/22 at this stage. I'm really keen to get to Yuma before the harriers retire. Is Yuma better than Nellis for photography? I also like the Miramar show, but again, sun is in your face Calum and I hit AZ a couple of years ago and took in Pima and DM Boneyard. Love that part of the US. Absolutely, we'll give you a yell Regards Bruce Edited December 1, 2019 by pacificmustang 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted December 2, 2019 Author Share Posted December 2, 2019 Yuma is certainly better for photography, as the sun is behind you for part of the day - although it starts to get awkward towards mid-afternoon, the show ends quite early anyway given that sunset is around 6:30 at that time of year. If the rotation holds 2020 and 2022 will be Luke, 2021 will be Davis Monthan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Great shots, really nice work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 Thank you, sir! I've almost sorted out what photos I'm sending to the mag, so I should be able to post a few more soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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