Issuu

Aviation photography from around the world Airshow Reviews Camera Gear Reviews ISAP Member’s Showcase and more!

Tom Spanos

WELCOME TO THE 2026 OCTOBER ISSUE OF AIRSPEED! Panther Shield Marc Schultz

A Call To Gather Larry Grace

Terre Haute Air Show Brian La Fetra

Barnstorming Carnival Brian La Fetra

Duluth Air Show Larry Grace

Wings Over Batavia Kevin Hong Larry Grace

My First Oshkosh Again Andy Lay

ISAP Member’s Showcase Bryan Turner Kevin Hong

Back In Time Brian La Fetra

Front Cover Air to air with F/A-18E Super Hornet from VFC-12. Photo by José Ramos

AirVenture 2026 Jeff Krueger Kendall Hammond Maddy Hammond Griffey Bostock Field Test: Delkin Devices Valor Pro Larry Grace Field Test: Delkin Devices Power 512 GB Larry Grace Remembering Tom Spanos Bob Driver Tamron Tales José Ramos German Air Power Marc Schultz

Camera: Nikon Z9 Lens: Tamron 35 - 100mm f/2.8 Shutter speed: 1/1000 ISO: 320 Exposure: f/9 Image processed in Adobe Camera RAW and Photoshop Back Cover Head on with the P-47 at California Capital Airshow. Photo by Rob Tabor Camera: Nikon Z9 Lens: Nikkor Z 180 - 600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR Shutter speed: 1/100 ISO: 32 Exposure: f/10 Image processed with DXO PureRaw and Adobe Lightroom

Aviation Photo Crew

NEW AND RETURNING ISAP MEMBERS Griffey Bostock Mark Chiolis Alan Forshee Bruce Fortelka

Matt Geleske Michael Jackson Peter Keller Liam Nash

Ricardo Campos Padovese James Reeder David Rizzico John Sepp

Haoliang Tian John Maloney

The goal of International Society for Aviation Photography (ISAP) is to bring together our members who share a love of aviation, and want to preserve its history through their images. Through our organization, members can seek to enhance their artistic quality, advance technical knowledge, and improve safety for all areas of aviation photography while fostering professionalism, high ethical standards, and camaraderie. ISAP continues to help our members to better their photography skills, workflow, and set up resources to help with business questions that our members have. Updates are being made to the ISAP website and member portfolio section, and we are showcasing ISAP members’ images and accomplishments on our social media pages. The new Airspeed magazine will highlight ISAP members and their photography, experiences, and their passion for aviation from around the world. From military and commercial aviation, you’ll be able to see it all while learning about aviation photography, post processing tips in Lightroom and Photoshop, aviation history, air show reports, aviation museums, and more. We look forward to sharing our members’ images and articles with everyone. Enjoy this issue of Airspeed! Sincerely, Larry Grace, ISAP President Kevin Hong, Airspeed Editor International Society for Aviation Photography www.aviationphoto.org • www.facebook.com/ISAPorg Airspeed magazine will highlight ISAP members and their photography, experiences, and their passion for aviation from around the world. From military and commercial aviation, you’ll be able to see it all while learning about aviation photography, post-processing tips in Lightroom and Photoshop, aviation history, air show reports, aviation museums, and more. We look forward to sharing our members’ images and articles with everyone.

PANTHER SHIELD DISPERSED OPERATIONS 2026 PRACTICING FOR A CRISIS – GERMAN AIR FORCE USES HAMBURG AIRPORT Article and photos by Marc Schultz / www.flugsicht.com

The exercise drew massive coverage from both regional and national media outlets.

The Zeitenwende (turning point) in airspace is taking concrete shape. From June 8 to 12, 2026, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) was breaking with a decades-long practice of concentrating strictly on protected military airbases: During the maneuver “Dispersed Operations 2026 – Panther Shield,” six PA-200 Tornado fighter jets from Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann” were utilizing the civilian infrastructure of Hamburg Airport. Behind this lies NATO’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept—a radical overhaul of operational logistics forced by the threat scenarios of modern conflicts. Anyone visiting the observation decks at Hamburg Airport (HAM) could experience an acoustic and visual turning point in the otherwise strictly timed rhythm of civilian scheduled and holiday flights. Operating between Airbus and Boeing aircraft, the six Panavia Tornado fighter-bombers were flying directly out of Fuhlsbüttel. What might superficially look like a spectacular airshow or a logistical disruption was, in reality, the practical implementation of a profound doctrinal shift within NATO air forces.

The choice of Hamburg’s major airport as the exercise location underscores the high level of realism driving “Panther Shield.” The soldiers of the “Immelmann” wing were not operating within the protected confines of a fictional training ground; instead, they were plugging directly into a high-frequency civilian hub. This required meticulous integration into the existing infrastructure. “The Panther Shield exercise is an important contribution to strengthening our defense capabilities and our cooperation with civilian partners. I am aware that this exercise will have an impact on the public and the airport. However, we live in a time when we must strengthen the defensive capabilities of Germany, Europe, and NATO. We are grateful to Hamburg Airport and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg for their support and trusted cooperation. This lays an essential foundation for a successful exercise and thus serves the defense alliance.” — Colonel Jens Schumacher, Commander of Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann”

A total of six PA-200 Tornado aircraft from Tactical Air Wing 51 ‘Immelmann’ based in Jagel took part in the exercise at Hamburg Airport.

Marc Schultz

A short journey: The Jagel airbase is located just over 100 kilometers north from Hamburg Airport.

Marc Schultz

Immediately following the arrival of the six jets, the maintenance crews took over and prepared the aircraft for their first afternoon mission.

Marc Schultz

Impressive Line-up: A rare sight at civilian Hamburg Airport.

Marc Schultz

In high demand: Colonel Jens Schumacher, Commander of Tactical Air Wing 51 ‘Immelmann’”.

Marc Schultz

Still a key component of air defense in Germany: the PA-200 Tornado.

Marc Schultz

The official patch of the ‘Panther Shield 2026’ exercise.

Marc Schultz

TERRE HAUTE AIR A SHOW FOR WARBIRD LOVERS Article and photos by Brian La Fetra

The most recent iteration of the Terre Haute airshow started in 2024, and it was a warbird lover’s dream. 2026 continued that theme, with some significant changes, all for the better. The timeslot shifted several hours later, which resulted in a true evening-night airshow, with flying beginning at 5:30pm and ending in a spectacular fireworks display around 9:30pm. The show, lead by locals Jordan and Nicole Brown and produced by Dunbar Airshows, drew 24 warbirds for the flying display with several more on static, and several aerobatic displays as well. The Thunderbirds “headlined,” but in a rare twist for evening shows, they did not open the flying display, instead flying about an hour in, around 6:30pm. Most notably, the ground show that historically took a very long time was completely absent, with engine start and smoke test occurring while Matt Younkin was still flying. Typically, there is a “thou shalt not fly” requirement during any type of Thunderbirds operations, so whatever waiver got signed significantly helped the flow. However, the true headliners were the warbirds. The total flying count was as follows: Eight P-51s, six T-6s, four C-47/DC-3s, and one each B-25, C-45, P-40, F4U, F8F, and the highlight for most, the ultra-rare Bf-109. Static displays added a PBY, TBM, T-37, BT-13, and F-100, which was originally scheduled to fly but ended up being not quite ready. The hot ramp was open for spectators through the first hour of the flying display (four hours total), allowing everyone to get up

R SHOW

close to the aircraft. The flying segment was scheduled right during golden hour, which made for spectacular light on the flying aircraft, and equally gorgeous sunsets for the statics. We were treated to all types of formation and individual passes, from the left and right, topside and belly-up. While “high” winds kept the Bf-109 on the ground on Saturday (it has a 5 knot crosswind limit, for good reason), on Sunday Dr. Bruce “Doc” Winter took up his immaculate aircraft for an aerobatic demo, followed by a tail-chase with P-51D “Gunfighter.” This was the first airshow Doc had flown with the Bf-109, with hopefully many more to come. There’s a lot of things that are “Only at Oshkosh,” but it appears the spectacular night show finale is not one of them. While scaled down for a regional airshow, the Terre Haute finale was produced by the same crew as AirVenture’s, consisting of fireworks, pyro, drones, and both Redline and Ghostwriter Airshows performing their night demo throughout. I was not expecting to see that again and was very pleasantly surprised to see an extremely similar extravaganza. There is no better warbird show in the Midwest than Terre Haute. Run by warbird pilots, they bring out the right people to put on an amazing display with a wide variety of aircraft. The only downside is it isn’t every year, but whatever date it is in 2028, I’ll be there.

Brian La Fetra

DULUTH AIR SHOW Article and photos by Larry Grace / ISAP President

The 2026 Duluth Airshow, held at Duluth International Airport, was a remarkable weekend event featuring captivating aerial displays and ground activities. The airshow commenced on Saturday, July 11, and concluded on Sunday, July 12, with the support of local businesses Essentia Heath and Members Cooperative Credit Union. The primary attraction was the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, followed by performances from the Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing Bulldogs, C-17 Demo Team, KC-135 Demo

Team, KC-46 Demo Team, P-38 Lighting II, USAF Wings of Blue, MiG-17, T-33 Ace Maker, Melissa Burns, Britt Lincoln, Carol Pilon, wing walking, Craig Gifford, Bob Richards, B-25 Rosie’s Reply, B-25 Miss Mitchell, Cirrus Aircraft, P-51 Mustang, FG-1D Corsair, and TBM Avenger. Images for this article were captured using the following equipment: Nikon Z9, Nikon 180-600mm, and Tamron 35-150mm, on the Delkin Devices Valor Pro 1TB CF Express B card.

Larry Grace

MY FIRST OSHKOSH… AGAIN Article and photos by Andy Lay

I thought I knew how to prepare for Oshkosh. Before leaving for AirVenture 2026, I was thinking about flight schedules, photo locations, equipment, light, and all the other things that go into photographing one of the busiest aviation events in the world. Once the flying started, my attention would narrow even further. I would be looking for the instant when vapor formed over a fighter’s wings, an afterburner came alive, aircraft crossed in just the right place, or an aerobatic performer gave me the fraction of a second I had been waiting for. My wife, Donella, was preparing for Oshkosh, too. I just hadn’t realized how differently. This was her first AirVenture, and while I was thinking about what would be happening over the runway, she was studying everything happening around it. She went through the lectures and forums. She researched the vendors. She investigated the different foods available and where to find them. In other words, I was preparing to photograph an airshow. She was preparing to experience Oshkosh. There is a difference. I’d already decided before we arrived that photography wasn’t going to dominate this trip. My priority was showing Donella AirVenture. I wanted to take her to as

many of the different areas and attractions as possible and give her some sense of just how enormous and varied Oshkosh really is. That meant I did things differently, too. We attended lectures I probably would have passed up in previous years. We crossed the grounds because there was a particular food Donella wanted to try. Instead of spending every possible minute positioning myself for the next photograph, I found myself exploring parts of AirVenture that ordinarily might have lost out to another afternoon on the flight line. One stop was particularly important to her. Donella is a former FAA employee, and when she saw a “Meet the Administrator” forum on the schedule, it immediately went onto hers. She wanted the opportunity to meet FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau and have her picture taken with him. So that became part of our Oshkosh. It wasn’t something that would have appeared on my normal photographic checklist. But then, that was becoming the point. For those of us who have been doing this for a while, an event like AirVenture can become strangely focused. Put a camera in your hands and that focus gets narrower still.

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/4000; Aperture: f/2.8; ISO: 320; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/4000; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 800; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

You begin measuring the day in opportunities. Where will the sun be when this aircraft flies? Which direction will it approach from? How slow can I take the shutter speed and still keep it sharp? Where do I need to stand? When will the vapor appear? Is the next pass going to be better? And, most importantly: Did I get it?

She loved the sound of roaring jet engines. To her, that sound represented safety, freedom, and America. While I might have been tracking the aircraft through a long lens, waiting for a particular bank angle or burst of vapor, she was simply enjoying the noise and power of the thing. Although “simply enjoying it” doesn’t quite give her enough credit.

Donella’s questions were different. What presentation should we see next? What haven’t we walked through yet? Who is speaking today? What’s over in that part of the grounds? And occasionally: Where was that food we read about?

Donella is a talented artist in her own right, and she began using her phone to record video of the performances. In fact, she came home with more video of the flying than I had ever thought to capture myself. I was looking for individual fractions of seconds. She was capturing the movement between them.

Neither of us was doing Oshkosh incorrectly. We were simply attending the same event from two different perspectives. Somewhere during the week, I began to realize that I was seeing my first Oshkosh again. Not because the airplanes were new to me. Many weren’t. Not because I had forgotten what happens at AirVenture. Quite the opposite. Familiarity is useful for a photographer. Knowing roughly what is about to happen is one of the things that allows us to capture those critical moments. But familiarity can also become a filter. Through a camera, an extraordinary moment can quickly become a photographic problem to solve. A fighter pulling hard enough to disappear beneath a cloud of its own vapor becomes an exercise in tracking and timing. An afterburner glowing against the sky becomes exposure and shutter speed. A formation of warbirds becomes an arrangement of shapes that you are desperately trying to keep inside the frame. You press the shutter, look at the result, and think, Got it. Donella didn’t experience the flying that way. When the jets came over, she grinned.

Watching that happen reminded me that photography can become such an integral part of attending an airshow that it starts determining how we experience one. We anticipate, frame and capture. We look through the viewfinder. We check the back of the camera. Then we start anticipating the next pass. There is nothing wrong with that. It’s why I was there, and the photographs accompanying this story are very much the photographs I hoped to make: the dramatic passes, the vapor, formations, crossing aircraft, afterburners, and those fleeting moments when everything comes together in the viewfinder. The strange thing is that this was the year I had deliberately decided not to put so much emphasis on getting the photographs. And I took more photographs than during any previous trip to Oshkosh. Maybe that shouldn’t have surprised me. By spending less time worrying about maximizing every photographic opportunity, I was seeing more of AirVenture. By taking Donella from one end of the grounds to the other, I was putting myself in places I might not

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/160; Aperture: f/18; ISO: 200; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

otherwise have been. By attending something because she wanted to see it rather than because it offered a photograph, I was allowing Oshkosh to dictate more of the experience. The photographs still happened. Perhaps I was just giving them more room to happen.

By the end of the week, we had endured the things anyone who has spent several days at Oshkosh knows well: warm weather, long days, miles of walking, and plenty of time standing on hot pavement waiting for something to happen.

AirVenture is an airshow, certainly. But describing Oshkosh as an airshow is a little like describing an airplane as a way to get from one airport to another. Technically accurate, but somehow inadequate.

I wondered how much enthusiasm would survive once we got home. It didn’t take long to find out. At some point I mentioned that I was interested in attending Sun ‘n Fun in Florida. Donella didn’t hesitate. “Well, I want to go too.” That may have been the best review of Oshkosh I heard all week.

There are forums and demonstrations. There are vendors and exhibits. There are conversations with people you might never encounter anywhere else. There are aircraft representing generations of aviation parked within walking distance of one another. There are things to learn, things to buy, things to eat, and countless places where an intended five-minute stop turns into an hour. And then somebody starts a jet engine. Everybody looks up. For a photographer, looking up usually means raising the camera. This year, sometimes I raised mine. Sometimes Donella raised her phone. Sometimes we just watched. And every time another jet thundered overhead, I could pretty much count on looking over and seeing that grin.

I’ve been to AirVenture before. I knew what to expect. I knew where to point the camera and, much of the time, I knew what was about to happen. Donella didn’t. Seeing Oshkosh alongside someone experiencing all of it for the first time reminded me how much of the place exists beyond the next photograph—and, strangely enough, helped me take more photographs than ever. I went to Oshkosh intending to show my wife why I keep coming back. Instead, she showed me how to see it again.

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/4000; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 1000; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A7R VI, Lens: FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS, Focal Length: 100mm; Shutter: 1/125; Aperture: f/13; ISO: 125; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A7R VI, Lens: FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/4000; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 640; Exp. Comp: 0 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/3200; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 800; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/3200; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 640; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/320; Aperture: f/14; ISO: 320; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/3200; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 125; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A7R VI, Lens: Sony FE 400mm F/2.8 GM OSS, Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter: 1/350; Aperture: f/9.5; ISO: 125; Exp. Comp: +0.5 EV

Andy Lay

Camera: Sony A1 II, Lens: FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS, Focal Length: 333mm; Shutter: 1/3200; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 640; Exp. Comp: +1.0 EV

Andy Lay

AirVenture needs no introduction. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to Oshkosh every year for a week to see more airplanes in one spot than anywhere else in the world. It’s famous among aviation photographers for the target-rich environment and some of the consistently best light of any airshow in the United States. I attended for my first time in 15 years, and thought, “One camera doesn’t feel like enough…let’s bring four.” In addition to digital, I shoot a non-trivial amount of film, something that’s much less rare than one might expect in the year 2026. At almost every airshow or fly-in I attend, I see at least a couple other film shooters. I couldn’t decide which of my film cameras to bring, so I bought all three I rotate between: Minolta SRT-101, Kodak Senior Six-20, and Polaroid SLR 680SE. The Minolta is my 35mm workhorse, the Kodak is both the smallest form factor and largest frame size, shooting a medium-format 6x9 frame and then folding up to fit in my pocket, and the Polaroid is the crowd pleaser, I’ve never met someone who doesn’t love it.

of the ever-reliable Kodak Gold 200, and one each of Portra 400 (my first time shooting it), Ektar 100, and my favorite black and white film, Ilford XP2 400. I’ve learned so much more about photography since picking up film. The answer can’t be “just fix it in post,” exposure and aperture and shutter speed all matter. The Kodak in particular requires an external light meter, estimating distances to the subject, and determining focus settings based off that and the aperture setting since there’s no way to see focus through the “viewfinder.” The Minolta is fully manual except an through-the-lens light meter (it even has a very early form of matrix metering), so panning, focusing, zooming, and adjusting exposure on a moving aircraft is a much greater challenge than a digital camera with priority modes. The results were exactly as I’d hoped. Over 150-ish frames, I expected a few light leaks, bad pans, overexposures, and clipped subjects, and I was rewarded with all those. However, in between those were the

Lens wise, I used four with the Minolta: MC-Rokkor PF 58mm f/1.4 (the workhorse), Tokina 28mm f/2.8, MC-Rokkor PF 135mm f/2.8m, and Tokina 100-300mm f/4, frequently paired with a Toyo 2x teleconverter. As for film, I only brought three rolls for the Minolta given I didn’t want to carry it every day. Heavily inspired by the legendary books The Cutting Edge and Super Blue, two of those rolls were Fujichrome Velvia, with the other being Kodak Ektar 100. The Kodak I expected to carry most of the week, so it got one roll a day for five days: Two rolls

BACK IN TIME:

AIRVENTURE 2026 ON FILM

Article and photos by Brian La Fetra

photos I’d hoped to shoot. Despite being almost 90 years old, the medium format frames remain as sharp as ever, and Velvia absolutely lives up to its saturated, better than life colors. Unfortunately I can’t project the slides into your computer, so scans will have to do. I of course shot digital as well, but capturing so many of these aircraft on cameras designed at the same time, if not before, the aircraft I saw through the viewfinder added a whole new dynamic angle to the week. Maybe someday I’ll shoot a whole airshow on film…maybe.

Reformed Film Lab in Ormond Beach, FL, has been my go-to lab since picking up film in 2023, I cannot recommend them enough. They did all development and medium format scans, while the 35mm scans were done myself. Each image has the camera, lens, and film notated in the caption. Unfortunately I don’t work fast enough yet to keep detailed notes on shutter speed and aperture for each shot.

Minolta SRT-101, MC-Rokkor PF 58mm F/1.4, Velvia 50

Brian La Fetra

Minolta SRT-101, MC-Rokkor PF 58mm F/1.4, Velvia 100

Minolta SRT-101, Tokina ATX 100-300 F/4, Velvia 100

Brian La Fetra

Kodak Senior Six-20, Ektar 100

Brian La Fetra

Brian La Fetra Minolta SRT-101, Tokina 28mm f/2.8, Velvia 100

Kodak Senior Six-20, Ilford XP2 400

Brian La Fetra

Brian La Fetra Minolta SRT-101, MC-Rokkor PF 135mm F/2.8, Velvia 100

Kodak Senior Six-20, Gold 200

Brian La Fetra

Kodak Senior Six-20, Portra 400

Brian La Fetra

Minolta SRT-101, MC-Rokkor PF 58mm F/1.4, Velvia 50

Brian La Fetra

AIRVENTURE 2026 Article and photos by Jeff Krueger

This was my 50th year attending EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. Over the years, I’ve been able to see some great shows and unique aerobatics. 2026 was no different. NASA Administrator, Jared “Rook” Isaacman led a fantastic fleet of 250th USA anniversary painted NASA aircraft, as well as his own MIG-29. The RAF Red Arrows, whom I had never had the privilege of seeing in person put on 3 days of outstanding flying. Some of my personal favorite World War II aircraft, a newly restored Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina and SBD Dauntless were there and did some fantastic golden hour flights together.

before the event. I can vouch for that as I spent the week ahead of the event in Madison visiting family. There were times we couldn’t go outside. To me however, the actual attendance appeared to be close to or a record over the whole week of the show.

Add to that some amazing civilian aerobatic pilots and planes, MIGS, a ton of beautiful warbirds from all eras. How can you not be overwhelmed. As a photographer, the targets of opportunity in the air and on the ground were endless.

I came home with thousands of images. As you all know, it took a month plus to sort through them. It was well worth the trip and the editing time however. If you haven’t been there, you need to at least once. If you have, you know what I mean.

It didn’t appear to have quite as many fly-ins as in the past, attributed to the dense smoke throughout Wisconsin the week and weekend

As is past years, there were many opportunities to meet up with photographer friends I’ve made. Hanging out with ISAP president Larry Grace is always an adventure, and at times, an expensive visit to Camera Casino in downtown Oshkosh.

Jeff Krueger

KENDALL HAMMOND

The wall of fire serves as a backdrop for the Ghostwriter at EAA Airventure - taken with Canon EOS RP with the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM.

Thunderbird 8 does a few passes before going on static display - taken with Canon EOS R5 with the RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM.

Kendall Hammond

The F-22 demo team arrives at Wittman Regional Airport - taken with Canon EOS R5 with RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM.

Kendall Hammond

The wall of fire serves as a backdrop for the Ghostwriter at EAA Airventure - taken with Canon EOS RP with the Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM.

Kendall Hammond

MADDY HAMMOND

A B-1 makes a pass over Airventure Tuesday during the airshow - taken with Canon EOS RP with RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM.

NASA’s F-15 takes off Sunday before the airshow - taken with Canon EOS RP with RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM.

Maddy Hammond

Bob Carlton dazzles the audience in his FoxJet during the Saturday night airshow- taken with Canon EOS R7 with RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM.

Maddy Hammond

GRIFFEY BOSTOCK

Griffey Bostock

FIELD TEST

DELKIN DEVICES VALOR PRO 1TB CF EXPRESS 4.0 TYPE B Photos by Larry Grace / ISAP President

When you’re photographing aircraft at 300 knots, the last thing you want to think about is whether your memory card can keep up. Airshows are a demanding environment for both photographer and equipment. The action can go from waiting to shooting hundreds of frames in just a few seconds. Add high-resolution RAW files and high-bitrate video, and the memory card becomes a critical part of the camera system. For this field test, I used the Delkin Devices Valor PRO 1 TB CFexpress 4.0 Type B in a Nikon Z9, shooting at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. Built for Speed The Valor PRO is designed for high-performance professional cameras. The 1TB card offers a maximum read speed of 3,700 MB/s, maximum write speed of 2,800 MB/s, and a minimum sustained write speed of 1,840 MB/s. It also carries a VPG800 rating for demanding video applications.

For an airshow photographer, sustained write performance is particularly important. When an aircraft enters the frame and the shutter stays down through a maneuver, the camera is generating a tremendous amount of data. A fast card helps the Z 9 clear that data quickly and keeps the camera ready for the next sequence. Still Photography The Nikon Z9’s 45.7-megapixel sensor produces large RAW files, and a full day of aviation photography can easily generate thousands of images. During my field testing, the Valor PRO handled the demands of high-speed still photography without becoming a limiting factor in my workflow. Formation passes, aerobatics and fast action sequences are exactly the situations where a high-performance CFexpress card earns its keep. The 1TB capacity is also significant for airshow work. It provides enough storage to spend an entire day shooting without constantly thinking about changing cards.

Designed for Professionals Performance is only part of the equation for professional photographers. Delkin backs the Valor PRO with a limited lifetime warranty, free image and video recovery, individual serialization, and a 48-hour replacement guarantee. The company also emphasizes controlled chain-of-custody manufacturing and compatibility testing across CFexpress Type B cameras. Those features don’t make the card faster, but they provide something equally important to a working photographer: support when something goes wrong. Price and Value At the time of this review, the 1TB Valor PRO was selling for approximately $590, although street pricing can change. That’s a significant investment for a memory card, but professional photographers need to consider more than capacity and price. The cost of lost images or lost shooting time can be considerably higher.

Field Assessment The Delkin Valor PRO CFexpress 4.0 Type B is designed for photographers who demand high sustained performance from their storage media. For airshow photography with the Nikon Z9, its combination of high write speeds, sustained performance, 1TB capacity and VPG800 video certification makes it well suited to a workflow that includes both high-speed RAW stills and high-resolution video. More importantly, it stays focused on what a professional photographer needs from a memory card: fast, consistent performance and confidence when the action starts. When the next aircraft comes screaming down the runway, the memory card should be the last thing you have to think about.

Larry Grace

FIELD TEST

DELKIN DEVICES 512GB POWER 4.0 CF EXPRESS TYPE B

A FIELD EXPERIENCE AT EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH Photos by Larry Grace / ISAP President

A real-world experience raises an important question about memory-card reliability when shooting in demanding conditions. When photographing an event like EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, memory-card reliability is critical. A full day can mean thousands of images, and the last thing a photographer needs is a problem with a card—especially when that problem involves removing it from the camera. During the first day of this year’s AirVenture, I encountered an issue with a Delkin Devices Power 512GB memory card in the #1 slot of my Nikon Z9. During the day, I attempted to remove the card to replace it with a fresh one. The card became stuck in the slot. Rather than risk damaging the card or camera, I made several careful attempts to remove it. Because the card contained a full session worth of images, I powered the camera back on to verify that the images were still accessible. Fortunately, they were. After turning the camera off again, I tried to remove the card once more. It remained difficult to release, but with a

small amount of additional pressure, I was eventually able to remove it. Unfortunately, dealing with the problem caused me to miss part of the concluding airshow. Testing the Problem To determine whether the issue was specific to my Z9, I placed the same Power 512GB card into a second Z9. I experienced the same difficulty removing the card. As a comparison, I had a Delkin Devices Black 64GB card in the second slot of my primary Z9. I have used this card and other Delkin cards extensively without experiencing similar problems. The fact that the Power 512GB card exhibited the same behavior in two different Z9 bodies was enough for me to temporarily remove it from my professional shooting rotation.

Delkin Responds I reported the problem to Delkin Devices, and their service department responded quickly. After I explained the issue, Delkin overnighted a replacement card to me, allowing me to continue shooting during AirVenture. That level of customer service was particularly appreciated given the demands of the event. Delkin’s memory cards are backed by a lifetime warranty, and the Power series is covered by the company’s 48-hour replacement guarantee. In this case, Delkin went beyond simply acknowledging the problem—they acted quickly to get me back to work. The Bottom Line While I experienced no data loss and was able to recover all of the images on the Power 512GB card, the difficulty removing it from two different Nikon Z9 bodies was a concern.

I’ve used Delkin Devices memory cards for years without experiencing this particular issue, so I remain interested in determining what caused it. However, the company’s response to the problem was impressive. For professional photographers, reliability isn’t just about recording images. It’s also about having equipment that performs predictably when you’re working under pressure. Based on my experience, Delkin Devices stood behind its product, responded quickly, and provided a replacement that allowed me to get back to work. That level of support is an important consideration when choosing equipment for professional photography, and I will continue to use Delkin products in my own workflow. The replacement card has operated perfectly and no problems with the removing of the card in additional photo sessions with both of my Z9 bodies have worked great after EAA Air Venture.

Larry Grace

TOM SPANOS JULY 8, 1955 - JULY 19, 2026

We are deeply saddened when we are informed an ISAP member passes away. We received the news from fellow ISAP member Bob Drive, and close friend of Tom Spanos. When Tom Spanos and Bob Driver first joined the organization I called them the dynamic duo. Bob and Tom submitted photos and articles together. They shared their experiences going to airshows. I always looked forward to the photos Tom sent especially living on the West Coast. In this section Bob Driver shares an obituary about Tom and photos some photos he submitted in past issues of Airspeed. To Tom Spanos’ family and friends, ISAP members, I hope that we all remember the great times spent with him. Blue skies and tail winds.

Larry Grace ISAP President

Kevin Hong Airspeed Editor

REMEMBERING

TOM SPANOS Obituary by Bob Driver Photos by Bob Driver and Tom Spanos

A true gentleman if there ever was one. Tom immersed himself in photography while he was the Chief Engineer at the Skunk Works. Being in that line of work, he was a man of few words, but who listened intensely, although it may not have seemed like it. He was a highly analytical engineer who carried it over to his photography. Tom had spreadsheets galore whether it be the qualities and specifications of a new lens he was thinking about purchasing, the pros and cons on the latest Canon body, he was a stickler for key words, anything that could be analyzed would be, and he enjoyed every minute of it. An avid collector of aviation patches and Challenge Coins from every air show and Red Flag event he attended. Tom was a very generous

man, if he knew you were interested in a particular team, squadron, or event he made sure to pick up a patch or a coin for you. Even being on the quiet side, he always made friends everywhere he went. He was a very talented, but humble photographer who always complemented others and showed genuine interest in the success of others. His integrity was beyond reproach and always kept his commitments to others. The aviation community has lost a very talented photographer, but an even greater man.

Bob Driver

Tom Spanos

Bob Driver

Some of you may remember from last year (Airspeed, May 2025) that I became reacquainted with Tamron’s lens lineup at Sun ’n Fun, where they were a sponsor. It was my first real hands-on experience with them since my camera sales days literally decades ago, and my lord, have they come a long way. The 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD certainly impressed me with the results from the air-to-air shoot I had with Thom Richard and the FM-2. Just as a recap, it’s a solid, beefy lens that, coupled with the Z9, proved to be a solid platform in the bumping, vibrating, open cockpit of a T-6 on a warbird shoot. The shots were easily some of the best I had gotten in this type of environment. But what about my other work? I am more often found shooting from the back seat of high-performance tactical aircraft like the F/A-18F Super Hornet or F-5F Tiger II, and this “office” is much more restrictive.

Let’s start with the obvious: you’re shooting through the plexiglass canopy, which will affect image quality. You’re also strapped into an ejection seat at eight points. The main four shoulder and hip fittings are extremely restrictive and limit movement, just like they’re designed to do. Then there’s space. Jets do not have glove boxes; they are not designed for bringing big, bulky gear into the cockpit. You must also factor in the aircraft’s performance. High-G forces are par for the course on any flight, and the weight of whatever gear you bring into the cockpit multiplies. I’m a big believer in the right tool for the job, and, well, the Tamron 35-150mm wasn’t that tool. To be fair, I had been looking for an alternative to my Nikkor 24-120mm, as I felt it was a bit much for the cockpit as well. I made it work, but was open to alternatives. I took a look at the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2, which was announced in 2024. Focal range, size, and weight were comparable

TAMRON TALES Article and photos by José Ramos

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, they say, so I sent an email to Tamron to see if I might borrow a copy of the 28-75mm for a shoot at Oceana in October of last year. They were happy to loan me one based on the work I did with the 35-150mm at Sun ’n Fun, and it was time to put it to the test. I coupled the 28-75mm with the Nikon Z8 that my friend Matt Geleske was kind enough to loan me, also trying to see if it might be a better alternative to my Z9 in the cockpit.

The build of the 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 is exactly what I came to expect from Tamron: the same rugged exterior, solid but smaller, and so much lighter than the 35-150mm. A good sign for what I wanted to do. It has one customizable focus set button that can be programmed via the USB-C port. It is dust- and weather-sealed and features a 67mm filter thread, like most of the Tamron line. At Oceana, I was working with VFC-12 again. Great squadron and a great mission: adversary support. Their specially painted aircraft were definitely a great subject. We briefed a multi-jet hop with a variety of formations on a midday go—not the best for lighting, but in this business, you take what you can get and make the best of it. My pilot for the event was Cdr. “Tootsie” Cox, a former Blue Angel, so I was in good hands.

José Ramos

with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/4. The Tamron beat it out on the f/2.8 aperture and the price. I wasn’t concerned about the lack of vibration reduction built into the lens. Neither of the Nikkors have it, plus, with built-in in-body stabilization getting better and better on the latest Nikon mirrorless systems, it’s not really a factor for this focal range.

In the cockpit, I felt very comfortable with the rig. The 28-75mm and Z8 combo was light and easy to manage under G. Its small size and short zoom extension meant I didn’t have to crane my neck back as it backed the camera away from the canopy. Best of all, it all looked good on the Z8’s monitor, but the true test was yet to come. Upon landing, I made my way to the ready room and began my download via Photo Mechanic. This allowed me to give in to my impatience and look at the embedded JPG in the RAW file, even as the app continued to download the rest of the card. I was delighted. The XO, across the table, commented, “Good stuff.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement based on the smile on my face. The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 had delivered more than I expected.

I must reiterate that shooting through a plexiglass canopy degrades image quality, yet the images were tack sharp, the color vibrant, and the contrast exceptional. My Nikkor 24-120mm had delivered this level of quality on occasion, even on the same event. The Tamron 28-75mm G2 had delivered through most of the flight. There were a few that weren’t perfect; that’s due to bad spots, smudges, and scratches in the canopy. But overall, I was sold. Seriously. I bought it. It’s my go-to lens and practically lives on the Z9 now. And yet, I wanted more. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the Tamron 28-75mm G2. Not. One. Thing. But I guess it’s just human nature. I wanted that little extra reach. I lamented as much to Kris Bosworth, the Tamron rep and an old NPS alum whom I’ve worked with many times over the years. We were discussing my air-to-air work, and while the 28-75mm range covered about 80-85% of my needs, the 80-100mm range was still something I felt I needed for that 15% of the shots where getting close physically may not be practical.

José Ramos

After takeoff, we captured images of the Skipper and XO in Ambush 00 and 03 as a section. We covered a six-plane delta and an echelon formation, got a great view of the underside of 00 and 03 that was only possible thanks to Tootsie’s Blue Angels-honed skill, and then finished off with a transonic dash out of the warning area.

It was just a pipe dream. No way could someone design something in the 28-105mm class with a constant f/2.8 that was small, light, didn’t extend over half its length again, and was actually affordable, right? Right? On February 19, 2026, Tamron announced the 35-100mm f/2.8 Di III VXD, less than three months after that conversation with Kris. My head exploded. Here Tamron was, touting a longer focal range in basically the same-size package as the 28-75mm G2, with a shorter throw from 35-100mm. They weren’t just touting it—they delivered.

via USB-C with a direct connection to a computer or via Bluetooth and the Tamron Lens Utility attachment. It also has a three-position switch, which lets the user have multiple customizations programmed into the lens. Honestly, I have not had the time to really delve into those features, but it is the future, so I guess I better start learning. Holding it in my hand and playing with it on the Z9 at their booth, I was already salivating at the possibilities with the 35-100mm. Unfortunately, I’d have to wait to put it to the test.

I got my hands on the 35-100mm f/2.8 at Sun ’n Fun in April, where once again we were lucky to have Tamron as a sponsor. First impression was disbelief. It was practically the same size and weight as the 28-75mm G2, with the difference measured in single millimeters and grams.

Tamron came through again with a loaner and I joined VFC-12 in Key West in mid-August for an SFARP det. That’s Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program, a three-week air combat exercise to prepare deploying aircrew for threats they may face while underway.

To go from 35 to 100mm was a short throw and extended the barrel only by about an inch. It has a focus set button that can be programmed

I again was scheduled for one flight, but this was to be an operational hop, so photo opportunities would be limited. The plus side was that

José Ramos

my main subject would be Ambush 02, VFC-12’s newly painted adversary F/A-18E Super Hornet in the Arctic Splinter scheme, emulating the Russian Su-35 demonstrator. We were also joined by a couple of other VFC-12 aircraft for the return to Key West. The 35-100mm performed exceptionally. It felt like the 28-75mm G2 in my hands but gave me that extra range when I needed it, just as I’d hoped. I was even able to hold the rig one-handed when shooting Ambush 06 in a turn coming back to the field. The performance was the same as the 28-75mm G2: sharpness, color, contrast, speed—exactly as I’d come to expect. Tamron had taken the best of the 35-150mm and fit it into the same-size package as the 28-75mm G2. I had found my new air-to-air lens, and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted. So, I’ve gotten a few questions recently. Why? Why the switch? Why the excitement? The truth is, it’s a lot of factors. Yeah, I’m extremely impressed by what this company is doing. They not only make lenses for everyone as a third party manufacturer, but Tamron also manufactures many lenses for the big brand camera

companies directly. The image quality is amazing. It’s also bringing professional lenses in portable form factors at affordable prices to the everyday shooter. I’m a single dad and, as a photographer, I’m a one-man band. That means all those things are extremely important factors my gear needs to meet. I made a career of delivering more with less in this field, shooting with kit and prosumer lenses. Now I’m delivering more with more, and I’m not sacrificing quality, my back or the bank for it, while operating more efficiently and safely in the confines of the cockpit. I am eternally grateful to fellow ISAP member Carolyn Hinton for reintroducing me to Tamron lenses, as well as Staci, Kaitlyn, and Kris at Tamron for facilitating the loans and my conversion. If you’re at Sun ’n Fun next year, I strongly urge you to go visit them and you might even see me there as well. Have A Bandit Day. - Fuji Out

José Ramos

NORDHOLZ Naval Air Station, Germany — On Saturday, June 6, 2026, Nordholz Air Base opened its gates to the public for the nationwide Tag der Bundeswehr (Armed Forces Day). The event, hosted by the Marinefliegerkommando (Naval Aviation Command), attracted nearly 30,000 visitors and featured a comprehensive ground and air program highlighting the modernization of Germany’s strategic aviation capabilities. Morning Program and Public Show Debut of the P-8A The flight demonstrations were conducted in two main blocks. The morning program opened with a joint tactical display featuring an NH-90 NTH “Sea Lion” transport helicopter from Marinefliegergeschwader 5 (MFG 5) and paratroopers from Fallschirmjägerregiment 31. A key highlight of the day was the first major public air-show presentation of the new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Assigned to Marinefliegergeschwader 3, the aircraft

performed a takeoff followed by several low flypasts, marking a significant milestone in the fleet’s transition to this new platform. Afternoon Tactical Displays and Joint Formation During the afternoon block, the Marineflieger demonstrated littoral and tactical capabilities using the NH-90 and Sea Lynx Mk88A helicopters. This included a “Fast Roping” demonstration performed directly in front of the flight line audience. The flying program concluded with a joint formation flight comprising all primary aircraft types of the German Navy, supplemented by a flyover of the Jagel-based Heron TP reconnaissance drone. The 2026 Armed Forces Day in Nordholz provided a realistic overview of the current capabilities and ongoing restructuring of the Bundeswehr’s aviation branches, demonstrating the base’s role as the central hub for German maritime air operations.

GERMAN AIR POWER 2026 ARMED FORCES DAY IN NORDHOLZ Article and photos by Marc Schultz / www.flugsicht.com

C-130J Super Hercules: A flight demonstration by an aircraft from the bi-national Franco-German transport squadron based in Évreux, France.

LUFTWAFFE AT ITS BEST The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) supported the event with a series of spectacular flyovers and performance displays: • A400M: A three-ship formation flight by Lufttransportgeschwader 62. • Eurofighter Typhoon: A solo flight performance by Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 74. • PA-200 Tornado: Tactical flypasts by Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 “Immelmann”. • C-130J Super Hercules: A flight demonstration by an aircraft from the bi-national Franco-German transport squadron based in Évreux, France. • A330 MRTT: A low pass by a multi-role tanker transport aircraft belonging to the MoD’s Special Air Wing (Flugbereitschaft).

“The Panther Shield exercise is an important contribution to strengthening our defense capabilities and our cooperation with civilian partners. I am aware that this exercise will have an impact on the public and the airport. However, we live in a time when we must strengthen the defensive capabilities of Germany, Europe, and NATO. We are grateful to Hamburg Airport and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg for their support and trusted cooperation. This lays an essential foundation for a successful exercise and thus serves the defense alliance.” — Colonel Jens Schumacher Commander of Tactical Air Wing 51 “Immelmann”

German Air Force AIRBUS A319CJ on static display. The aircraft is operated by the Federal Ministry of Defense’s Special Air Mission Wing (Flugbereitschaft) and is used primarily for VIP transport.

Marc Schultz

German Air Force PA-200 Tornado of the Tactical Air Force Wing 51 ‘Immelmann’ in a special Panther livery.

Marc Schultz

Eurofighter close-up: The aircraft belongs to the Tactical Air Force Wing 71 ‘Richthofen’ based in Wittmund.

Marc Schultz

A true classic in the static display: civilian contractor “Top Aces” also operates from Nordholz Naval Air Station (Sea-Airport Cuxhaven/Nordholz). With its fleet of McDonnell Douglas A-4N Skyhawks and Alpha Jets, the company provides modern air combat training (target towing and adversary/aggressor training) for the German Armed Forces and other air forces.

Marc Schultz

Air Transport Wing 62 from Wunstorf presented a spectacular 3-ship formation with the Airbus A400M “ATLAS”.

Marc Schultz

CLOUDS & THUNDER: German Air Force PA-200 Tornado of Tactical Air Force Wing 51 ‘Immelmann’ in a fast flyby.

Marc Schultz

FAREWELL COLORS: Time is running out for the Sea Lynx Mk88 of Naval Air Wing 5. With the aircraft set to retire at the end of the year, it was reason enough to sport an impressive farewell livery.

Marc Schultz

LOW & LOUD: Certainly one of the highlights of the day: Eurofighter Solo Display from Tactical Air Force Wing 74 based in Neuburg/Donau.

Marc Schultz

The first three P-8A Poseidons of Naval Air Wing 3 have arrived at Nordholz. In their role as maritime patrol aircraft, they replace the legendary Lockheed P-3C Orion. One Orion is already on display at the nearby AERONAUTICUM museum.

Marc Schultz

“A CALL TO GATHER” 2026 ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Article and photos by Larry Grace / ISAP President

On 15 August 2026, My wife and I had the pleasure of attending the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at the magnificent Edinburgh Castle. It was truly a memorable evening and an experience.

One of the most moving moments was the appearance of the Lone Piper. Hearing the haunting sound of the pipes beneath the Castle walls was something we will remember for a very long time.

We attended a dinner before the 9:15 performances with 200 other attendees after dinner our group had a bagpiper escort us to the castle afterward we took our seats and watched the performers take their places, we were both struck by the incredible atmosphere. With the Castle beautifully lit before us, the sound of the pipes, drums and military bands filled the air and made the evening feel very special.

What made the evening particularly special was seeing so many different nations and traditions come together through music and performance. It was a wonderful celebration of Scotland, friendship and shared tradition.

The 2026 production, “A Call to Gather,” brought together performers from Scotland, across the United Kingdom and around the world. We particularly enjoyed seeing the Royal Air Force bands, the United States Army Field Band, New Zealand Army Band, German Army Band Koblenz, and the Qatar Police Academy Band and Drill Team. The Massed Pipes and Drums were, for us, one of the highlights of the evening. Hearing so many pipers and drummers playing together against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle was simply breathtaking. The dancers, fiddlers and other performers added even more color and energy to the show.

We feel very fortunate to have been there on that August evening. The dinner, flyby, music, the performers, the atmosphere and the magnificent setting combined to create a truly unforgettable experience. A wonderful evening, a beautiful memory, and a night we will cherish. Images for this article were captured using the following equipment: Nikon Z9 w the Tamron 35-150 mm f2-2.8 lens and using the Delkin Devices CF-Express B 512 GB card.

Larry Grace

BARNSTORMING Article and photos by Brian La Fetra

Every July, the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, about 20 minutes east of Dayton, OH, hosts the Barnstorming Carnival. Organized by Dewey Davenport, the fly-in is focused on vintage general aviation. Straight-tail Cessnas are far more common than their swept-tail counterparts, with everything from Navions to Aeroncas to WACOs to Rearwins represented by the local community. Obviously anyone is welcome so a variety of modern and homebuilt types all show up as well, but the majority of aircraft generally fall within the vintage bracket. Dewey’s Goodfolk & O’Tymes Biplane Rides provides the barnstorming for the event, with his New Standard D-25 flying near constantly all weekend taking folks young and old for flights around the Springfield and Yellow Springs area. For the families, there’s pedal planes, various performers, food trucks, and on Sunday, a car show. Weather unfortu-

nately kept Saturday minimally attended, but Sunday was back to the bustle of normal. Every year there’s something truly special that shows up, and there’s never any guessing what it might be. Past years have hosted the Stinson Model A tri-motor, radial-powered Monocoupes, and the Grimes Flying Lab Beechcraft 18. This year’s rarity was an ex-Yugoslavian UTVA 66, an aircraft designed for their military and generally similar to a Cessna 180. There’s less than a dozen airworthy in the United States, and not something I ever expected to see in Ohio. But that’s the beauty of the Barnstorming Carnival, it’s not a massive event, but the aircraft that show up are always special in some way. It’s a low-key, no hassle, purely good time to be had, and has helped me truly appreciate the general aviation community of the Midwest.

CARNIVAL

Brian La Fetra

WINGS OVER BATAVIA Article by Kevin Hong / Airspeed Editor Photos by Kevin Hong and Larry Grace / ISAP President

Three years ago ISAP President Larry Grace and I started working this twilight airshow called Wings Over Batavia in upstate New York near Buffalo. Little did we know the event would turn out to be such an amazing show saluting America. It’s not just about the performers and the fireworks. The community comes together to celebrate the hard working farmers of the area and the freedom we have in this great country. I’ve come to not just only appreciate the night shows but all the elements that make up the orchestra in the sky. We had lasers, drones, pyro, flying acts, skydivers, and the music with fireworks for a 20-minute finale.

The weather was great. Temperature was under 80 the entire weekend and the rain cleared out. Even though the clouds could have stayed away as the sun set I would take this weather any day over the sweltering heat in Texas. This year we had a great autograph session with all the performers meeting kids and their families. This small airshow reminded me what it was like when I was a child meeting my heroes. I hope some day these kids will become the next generation of airshow pilots and this airshow continues for many years to come.

Kevin Hong

LARRY GRACE / ISAP PRESIDENT

Larry Grace

ISAP MEMBER’S SHOWCASE Article and photo by Bryan Turner

I had the rare opportunity to photograph the USAF Thunderbirds practice from the Lakeland Linder IAP control tower catwalk during Sun N Fun 2026. I was able to capture this breathtaking 150’AGL perspective of the Diamond Trail Pass-in-Review. Camera: Nikon Z8 Lens: Nikkor Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ISO: 280 Shutter speed: 1/2500 Exposure: f/8 RAW image processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic

The Blue Angels land in sequence after the 2023 Crossroads Airshow in Indianapolis, IN.

ISAP MEMBER’S SHOWCASE Article and photo by Kevin Hong

After showcasing a newly painted AC-47 Spooky Gunship to the AC-47 Spooky brotherhood Vietnam veterans, I was able to take some photos on a hot day at JBSA-Lackland. It’s the newest addition to the Commemorative Air Force Gulf Coast Wing. She is a work in progress and hopefully will be completely restored by next year if not sooner with three miniguns sticking out the windows. Camera: Canon R6 Mk II Lens: Canon 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM ISO: 100 Shutter speed: 1/40 Exposure: f/22 RAW image processed in Adobe Photoshop

w. m

hi r. c o m

na tu

f tg

en ga

TH CA E R R CH w YI OIC w NG E w. th SO OF in LU WO kt T I RK an O N IN kp S G F O PR ho R OF to CA E .c M SSI ER O om A NA G E LS AR

| where photography clicks

KelbyOne is an online education community for creative people to help them create the type of images they’ve always wanted.

We are driven by a passion to provide incredible training, with over 800 courses.

kelbyone.com

Our HD-quality lessons, are available to stream 24/7 and taught by world-class industry instructors. Online Access also includes digital editions of Photoshop User magazine and Lightroom Magazine, guided learning tracks, a community forum, brushes, presets and so much more.

Visit kelbyone.com/pricing to view membership plans

Jim Wilson Photography International Distributor for Kenyon Stabilizing Products 214-796-9743 jw@jimwilsonphotography.com

The Professionals Source Professionals in the world of imaging rely on the professionals of B&H for their equipment needs. We have experts ready to give courteous service with a phone call, a click of the mouse or a personal visit. Our SuperStore We pay tribute to the wealth of possibilities available for photography, videography and other media industries. We make the wonders of technology available through our complete lines of photo, video, audio, lighting, pro accessories, computers, data storage, optics, entertainment, projection and surveillance devices, to which we add a wonderful, personal experience for professionals, hobbyists and consumers alike.

History We opened our original storefront in 1973. Our reputation for extensive inventory and intelligent conversation about photography began with our first customer. We grew from a small photography shop in Manhattan’s Financial District to a major supplier of photo, video and audio equipment on 17th Street, with customers returning again and again for our low pricing and high reliability. The new millennium’s explosion of affordable technology for pros and consumers alike brought new lines of computers, home entertainment, and consumer devices at our location or online at www.bhphotovideo.com We continue to expand to meet your needs with showrooms, classes, educational and social media, and more.

onal Soc iet nati r e y nt

io n

Pho

ap togr

www.aviationphoto.org

WWW.KELBYONE.COM

WWW.REDRIVERPAPER.COM

WWW.FULLCOLOR.COM

WWW.THINKTANKPHOTO.COM

WWW.BHPHOTOVIDEO.COM

WWW.DELKINDEVICES.COM

WWW.PAULSPHOTO.COM

WWW.AIRSHOWS.AERO

ISAP Board Members President and Board Chairman

Larry Grace

Vice President and Vice Chairman Jim Wilson Treasurer Gary Edwards ISAP Board Member Kevin Hong ISAP Staff Member John Sepp Chairman Emeritus Jay Miller Airspeed Editor Kevin Hong

Airspeed is a periodic publication of the International Society for Aviation Photography (ISAP) and is used to communicate news, functions, convention information, and other information of interest on the local, regional, and national scenes. The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and should not be construed as the views or opinions of the International Society for Aviation Photography (ISAP). Please contact us at info@aviationphoto.org

Airspeed is a publication to showcase our members’ work capturing aviation.

Airspeed - The Magazine for Aviation Photographers