Air-to-Air Photography is one of the most sought after types of photography for aviation photographers. Showcasing aircraft in their natural form from the air, it captures the essence of flight while conveying the characteristics of the subject aircraft. Many aviation photographers strive to be an air-to-air photographer, but the number of factors involved makes it difficult to do often. Here you'll find air-to-air photography of warbirds from another time, mostly World War 2 aviation.
• MAY 8, 2019
17 IMAGES
A part 2 epic photoshoot with the Collings Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour aircraft including the B-17G Flying Fortress 'Nine O Nine', B-24J Liberator 'Witchcraft', B-25J Mitchell 'Tondelayo', TF-51D Mustang 'Toulouse Nuts', and new TP-40N Warhawk down the Southern California coastline. Thanks to the Collings Foundation and my photopilot, Daniel Wotring.
• MARCH 10, 2017
39 IMAGES
A short air to air hop featuring Planes of Fame Air Museum aircraft on their way to the 2017 NAF El Centro Airshow. The museum's Lockheed P-38J Lightning '23 Skidoo', North American P-51D Mustang 'Spam Can', and Curtiss P-40N Warhawk accompanied the North American B-25J Mitchell photoship (named 'Photo Fanny') during this journey from Chino to El Centro.
• FEBRUARY 22, 2016
25 IMAGES
Special aerobatic air to air shoot with a beautiful North American T-6G Texan (former Harvard) as a collaboration with Aviator Flight Training based out of Cable Airport, California. The pilot/owner being trained to fly this T-6G Texan had yet to have photos of him at the controls of the Texan with Daniel Wotring, instructor, in the backseat. Aviator Flight Training's T-6 photoship pilot was Tim Potter.
• OCTOBER 10, 2015
31 IMAGES
Various Planes of Fame Air Museum aircraft along with Palm Springs Air Museum's P-51D Mustang 'Bunny' travel from Chino Airport to the Apple Valley Airshow 2015. Planes of Fame aircraft included the Vought F4U-1A Corsair, P-51D Mustang 'Wee Willy II', Yak-3, P-40N Warhawk, and the photoship which was the B-25J Mitchell 'Photo Fanny'. the route took us over Big Bear, Lake Matthews, and more.
• SEPTEMBER 6, 2015
20 IMAGES
Special air to air photoshoot with Palm Springs Air Museum's beautiful North American P-51D Mustang 'Bunny' in Tuskegee Airmen colors of Lt. Col. Bob Friend and the Bell P-63 Kingcobra 'Pretty Polly' during a special flyover of a wedding in Temecula, California. Tom Nightingale is piloting the P-51 while Pat Nightingale is piloting the P-63. Michael Nightingale is at the controls of the T-28 Trojan photoship.
• APRIL 24, 2014
68 IMAGES
Air to Air shoot with Lyon Air Museum's beautiful Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Fuddy Duddy' over Orange County, California. The SNJ Texan photoship is piloted by Mark Foster during this special shoot as the B-17 was travelling to Chino Airport and back as a flight test for the 2014 Planes of Fame Airshow where the B-17 would be performing.
• MARCH 10, 2014
30 IMAGES
Air to air shoot with Lyon Air Museum's newest addition: a pristine 1945 North American SNJ-6 Texan. This Navy Texan is immaculate as the interior has been completely made to stock. You'd be hard pressed to find a difference between this SNJ and one that rolled off the factory floor in World War 2 minus a couple of modern radios. SNJ is piloted by Lyon Air Museum President Mark Foster.
• SEPTEMBER 8, 2013
34 IMAGES
Impromptu air to air photoshoot with Aviator Flight Training's beautifully restored Boeing E75 Stearman Kaydet over Fullerton, California right at the beginning of sunset.
• MAY 4, 2013
71 IMAGES
A historic flight of SIX Lockheed P-38 Lightnings over Riverside, California as part of the Planes of Fame Airshow 2013. Also includes a long shoot with the P-51C Mustang 'Boise Bee'. Photos were taken from a B-25J Mitchell bomber.
• MAY 2, 2013
34 IMAGES
Planes of Fame's Republic P-47G Thunderbolt 'Spirit of Atlantic City, NJ' and two Lockheed P-38 Lightnings; P-38L Lightning 'Tangerine' and P-38J Lightning '23 Skidoo', over Chino Hills before the 2013 Planes of Fame Airshow at sunset.
• MAY 1, 2013
36 IMAGES
Photoshoot with the Planes of Fame Air Museum's Curtiss P-40N Warhawk and P-40C Warhawk flown by Steve Hinton and Steven Hinton Jr over Chino Hills before the 2013 Planes of Fame Airshow.
• SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
36 IMAGES
Air to Air Photoshoot with the Planes of Fame Museum's Focke Wulf FW-190 A8-N and North American P-51C Mustang 'Boise Bee' over Chino Hills. Photos taken from a North American T-6G Texan photo plane from Aviator Flight Training.
• JULY 7, 2012
25 IMAGES
Memorial Flight over the opening ceremonies for the USS Iowa Battleship featuring a three ship formation of a North American B-25J Mitchell, North American P-51D Mustang, and Curtiss P-40N Warhawk from the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. Photos were shot from inside the B-25.
• MAY 21, 2012
33 IMAGES
Impromptu air-to-air photoshoot with the CAF Inland Empire Wing's North American Harvard II / T-6G Texan over Lake Matthews shot from a Douglas C-53D Skytrooper known as 'D-Day Doll.'
• MAY 3, 2012
36 IMAGES
Air to Air photoshoot with the North American B-25J Mitchell 'Guardian of Freedom' from Lyon Air Museum located at John Wayne Airport, California on it's way to Chino, California for the 2012 Planes of Fame Airshow.
• APRIL 25, 2012
38 IMAGES
Air to Air shoot with a Curtiss P-40N Warhawk and Lockheed P-38J Lightning '23 Skidoo' from the Planes of Fame Air Museum in promotion for the 2012 Airshow over Chino and Saddleback, California.
• DECEMBER 10, 2011
58 IMAGES
Air to Air shoot with Lyon Air Museum's Douglas C-47B Skytrain 'Willa Dean' and a Cessna O-1E Bird Dog photographed from a North American T-6G Texan/Harvard II over Orange County, California.
• MAY 4, 2011
41 IMAGES
Air to Air shoot with three WW2 Naval Aircraft from the Planes of Fame Air Museum including a Grumman TBM-3E Avenger, Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, and Vought F4U-1A Corsair over Chino, California.
• MAY 5, 2010
18 IMAGES
A Mustang Heritage air to air photoshoot flight featuring a North American P-51C Mustang 'Princess Elizabeth' and Planes of Fame Air Museum's P-51D Mustang 'Wee Willy II' over Chino, California in prep for the 2010 Airshow.
• MAY 15, 2009
34 IMAGES
A Warbird Gaggle air to air photoshoot featuring a very rare formation of FIVE Grumman F8F Bearcats; a formation of the North American P-51D Mustang 'Lady Alice', two Curtiss P-40N Warhawks, and Bell P-63A Kingcobra 'Pretty Polly'; and a two P-40 Warhawk formation over Lake Matthews, California.
• MAY 6, 2009
14 IMAGES
Air to Air photoshoot with a Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat over Chino, California during a media flight for the 2009 Planes of Fame Airshow.
• MAY 7, 2008
30 IMAGES
Air to Air photoshoot with the Planes of Fame Air Museum's Curtiss P-40N Warhawk and Vought F4U-1A Corsair over Chino, California as part of the Media Flight for the 2008 Planes of Fame Airshow.
• DECEMBER 1, 2007
21 IMAGES
Air to Air photoshoot with the Planes of Fame Museum's original flying Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero 'Zeke' over Chino, California during the December Pearl Harbor event at the Museum.
• MAY 18, 2007
14 IMAGES
Warbird Gaggle air to air photo flight featuring the Planes of Fame Museum's Vought F4U-1A Corsair, Palm Springs Air Museum's Bell P-63A Kingcobra 'Pretty Polly', and a special formation of THREE Lockheed P-38 Lightnings including the famed P-38 'Glacier Girl' over Chino, California.
• MARCH 31, 2007
41 IMAGES
Warbird Gaggle air to air photo flight featuring two Lockheed P-38 Lightnings including the P-38L Lightning 'Glacier Girl' and Planes of Fame's P-38J Lightning '23 Skidoo'; Plane of Fame's SNJ-5 Texan; POF's Vought F4U-1A Corsair, and formation with the P-38J '23 Skidoo' and North American P-51D Mustang 'Wee Willy II.'
• JANUARY 6, 2007
25 IMAGES
Planes of Fame Warbird Gaggle air to air shoot featuring two North American P-51D Mustangs 'Wee Willy II' and 'Spam Can', Curtiss P-40N Warhawk and Supermarine Spitfire MK IXe, Boeing P-26A Peashooter, Vought F4U-1A Corsair and Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat, and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt 'No Guts - No Glory' over Chino, California.
• MAY 19, 2006
39 IMAGES
Warbird Gaggle featuring a rare Navy Formation consisting of a Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat, Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, Grumman F4F-2 Wildcat, and Vought F4U-1A Corsair. Also includes a North American P-51A Mustang 'Mrs. Virginia', Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXe and Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero, F8F-2 Bearcat, and US Air Force Heritage Flight with a F-16C Viper, Mustang, and Lightning.
• MAY 18, 2006
9 IMAGES
Historic Formation: Representing less than 15 years of amazing advancement in technology beinning with a early Boeing P-26A Peashooter, Seversky AT-12 Guardsman, North American P-51D Mustang 'Wee Willy II', and North American F-86F Sabre all from the Planes of Fame Air Museum.
• MAY 10, 2006
18 IMAGES
Air to Air photo flight with Planes of Fame Air Museum's Boeing P-26A Peashooter and Seversky AT-12 Guardsman over Chino, California in the morning during the 2006 Airshow Media Flight.
• MARCH 4, 2006
8 IMAGES
Air to Air photoshoot with a beautifully restored Curtiss P-40E Warhawk over Chino, California during a Planes of Fame Air Museum monthly event.
• DECEMBER 3, 2005
47 IMAGES
Special air to air shoot with three World War 2 combat veterans featuring Planes of Fame Air Museum's Curtiss P-40N Warhawk (Shot down a Japanese Weather Balloon), Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless (Served on a Allied Carrier), and the world's only Original Flying Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero (Captured on Saipan by the US Marines).
• SEPTEMBER 3, 2005
18 IMAGES
Quick air to air photoshoot with Planes of Fame Museum's Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless WW2 dive bomber over Chino, California and flown by Mark Foster.
• AUGUST 19, 2005
21 IMAGES
Special historic air to air photo flight with what used to be the Costa Mesa Police Department Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE) EC-120B Eurocopters stationed at John Wayne Airport, California. The CMPD ABLE program has since been disbanded due to budget cuts. This was the only time all three of the helicopters flew together.
• MAY 20, 2005
1 IMAGES
Rare air to air photoshoot with a US Navy Legacy Flight featuring a Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat and Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet from VFA-103 'Jolly Rogers' over Lake Matthews, California.
• MAY 19, 2005
9 IMAGES
Air to Air photoshoot with a Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat and RAF Hawker Hurricane Mk X over Chino, California as part of the Media Flight for the 2005 Planes of Fame Airshow.
• MAY 7, 2005
8 IMAGES
Air to Air photoshoot with Planes of Fame Air Museum's Republic P-47G Thunderbolt 'Spirit of Atlantic City, NJ' and North American P-51D Mustang 'Spam Can' over a gloomy Chino, California.
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