I liked this vantage point the night I took this shot. There is no special meaning, no great oratory to describe the meaning of the light on the awaiting combat aircraft, just a nice shot.  I waited for a while to get it,  seeing the sun decending into the horizon, hoping it would turn out half-way decent, iso I waited for it to be just right, then fired off about 50 pictures to get just the right one.  Honestly, I can’t tell if #30 was the best or was it number 49, then again maybe it was 50, either way, I like this one, hope you do too.

It’s Friday night, late and I got nothin interesting to say.  I just thought I would post a beautiful picture.  Have a good weekend.

Almost, not always, but almost  every time I fly, every time I get in an airplane, no matter what the mission,  I see something that routinely amazes me.  On this day we dodged a bunch of small thunderstorms and rain-shafts not more than 2-3 miles across as we crossed Wyoming at about 15,500 MSL,  heading eastbound toward the Crazy Women VOR to fight a small fire.  

Mother nature can kill you quicker than you can sometimes reasonably react and respecting it is a must in this business.  Knowing the airplanes limitations, but more importantly your own is what separates a long life of safe effective flying from a farm that the wife buys when your gone.  

This storm was small on the RADAR but packs the same deadly punch as its larger cousins that may illuminate red on the screen.   …

MEDEVAC Helo’s have been used in combat since the Korean war, while maturing during the war in Veitnam.  This was taken in Afghanistan where they are used extensively to transport wounded from the Forward Operating bases to the larger hospitals in Baghram and Kandahar Airbases.   They fly all day and night, always with an escort and are always given priority. Their operations and Help Pad are directly next to the base hospital, within 100 yard of the Emergency Room entrance, as it should be.  I had the opportunity to sit next the commander of this unit every day at the Commanders meeting, I had the honor of getting to know the intricate details of how this unit operates and what dangers they face every time they fly.

This may seem trite or trivial, but the only description I can think …

I was raised to be a God fearing Catholic, fearing had a lot to do with it, but what I gravitated to the most is the ritualistic part of the ceremonies.  I enjoy the order and discipline of the faith, not sure why, personality thing I guess.  My Grandmother was insistent about a lot of traditions associated with the church and it importance on a long, happy, healthy and prosperous life.  I don’t say this because I am, in anyway proselytizing; just a reference to my upbringing and a how I came to the conclusion of the naming this Photo.

I have no idea, like everyone else on the planet what the gates of heaven look like. But If I were to imagine what I would hope to see when I arrive, it would be this view.  The entrance,  I would …

Tomorrow,  the crew of MAFFS 7 will be eulogized in Charlotte by their  squadron mates, remembered by their Air Force aerial fire-fighting brethren and grieved for by their families.  This is a small community of men and women who come together whenever the nation calls, to help save the lives of people they’ve never met and homes they’ve never seen.  They come when called, without hesitation, bringing skill, courage and fortitude to a fight against mother nature.  They leave their families and friends, communities and colleges to come as a crew, laying down a line of retardant, to protect what’s not theirs.  These men did not immediately think of the possible consequences, or hazards that might await them.  They meticulously train in the winter and when the call comes they rely on years of experience to guide them through the dangers …

It is a devastating loss, for all of us.  Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to Charloette.

Happy Fourth of July, America is 236 years old, if you count from 1776.

For the last 34 years and change,  MSgt Rick Kinnan has been serving his country with distinction.  He has traveled to almost every continent on this planet and served in more combat zones than most people could even imagine or be considered reasonable.  He has never waivered from his professionalism,  nor from his duty.  I have known Rick for a long time, flown with him on multiple deployments, numerous rotations and plenty of local training missions; professional is the best word to describe his character.  We will miss you, chapter 2 belongs to the Grandchildren.

In honor of his long and distinguished service to the country I created this portrait of him using what I learned from Joel Grimes.  I watched and studied his techniques on Kelby Training.   This is my first attempt at a composite and hopefully it turned out …