F-104 Starfighter Three Ship photo and more...

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 12:46 am

sdennison wrote:

Brig.Gen. Steve Ritchie in one of the Starfighters...

How many Blue Angels would like to be Brig.Gen. Steve Ritchie? Fly by wire? :wink:

Is it me, or does he look like Steve McQueen?

RickH · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 6:02 am

I'm surprised to see him there at all. Someone told me he lost his license.

Mustangdriver, please step away from the pedestal.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 6:16 am

Ha HA He does. Any way, it is cool to see a legend flying an F-104.

TAdan · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 7:38 am

Jerry O'Neill wrote:

Richard;
Thank you so much for posting those wonderful photos!
I LOVE the Starfighters shots!
Again a first rate job!

BTW the shot you have of "Spooky"'s Tail (AC-47) reminds me that it will be at Brainard Airport (5/21-5/22) in Hartford for a dedication fly over of a new wing of the State Veterans Hospital. Looks like she already made it in!
Jerry

My buddy spotted it there on Monday

(He sent me a cell phone pic)

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

RickH wrote:

I'm surprised to see him there at all. Someone told me he lost his license.

Mustangdriver, please step away from the pedestal.

Did he lose his license or his medical? They both have vastly different implications!

If it was his medical, then obviously that could be genetic or age-related things out of his control, i.e. - diabetes, heart condition, etc.

If it was his license, then that is far more serious and means he failed a checkride somewhere or was deemed unsafe or had major violations busting FAR's.

Big differences here. What exactly did you hear?

RickH · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 8:00 am

You're right of course Warbird. Should have said medical. Reason given wasn't physical.

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 9:23 am

magazine quality pics!!! excellent job!!

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 11:13 am

P51Mstg wrote:

Richard

Super nice pics......... Very impressed.......

You need to go test drive a 1Ds Mark III, That will really blow you away (I've got one along with the 1D Mark III). Would you happen to be a member of ISAP?

Mark H

Many thanks indeed. I had been planning on upgrading to the 1Ds MkIII, but I had read some conflicting reviews about it, and wasn't sure whether it was time to do so yet. I know I've had some focusing issues with my 1D MkIII, which gave me some pause for thought. However, the 1D MkIII has some wonderful qualities which I really appreciate (wonderful noise profile, super fast, dust removal/reduction ... a major pain previously, high ISO, super quiet mode too, plus I really appreciate the bigger rear screen, skin tones are fantastic as well, and wonderful overall image quality).

Did you move up from the 1DsMkII to the MkIII, or just go straight in to the MkIII? I love my MkII, but the dust problem drives me up the wall!

Not a member of ISAP yet. I've considered it, but wasn't sure what benefits were involved.

Cheers,
Richard

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 11:21 am

RMAllnutt wrote:

Did you move up from the 1DsMkII to the MkIII, or just go straight in to the MkIII? I love my MkII,

You folks talking cameras or Spitfires. :wink:

Rich

Tim Adams · **Joined:** Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:17 pm **Posts:** 301

Awesome F-104 shots. I have some shots from when they did the two ship in Reno, but I was still using film, and did not know what the heck I was doing. Plus I think I only had the cheap Canon 75-300. Now that I got the good stuff I need to see them again.

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 11:56 am

51fixer wrote:

RMAllnutt wrote:

Did you move up from the 1DsMkII to the MkIII, or just go straight in to the MkIII? I love my MkII,

You folks talking cameras or Spitfires. :wink:

Rich

Sorry! You are correct sir... too much camera talk for this end of the forum. Here's a spit or two for your troubles....

Mike Potter in SL721...

Jerry Yagen in MJ730...

Cheers,
Richard

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

RickH wrote:

You're right of course Warbird. Should have said medical. Reason given wasn't physical.

Thanks for the clarification, Rick!

DaveG · **Posted:** Wed May 21, 2008 7:51 pm

Geez...I don't know why I even bother to take pictures anymore. :shock:

Those are simply awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Bloke · **Joined:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:41 am **Posts:** 8

RMAllnutt wrote:

Yes, the F-4 was on its takeoff roll. Such a wonderful noise! Three J-79's in close formation made quite a sound too!

Cheers,
Richard

PS. As far as I know, only essential aircrew are allowed to fly in civilian aircraft during airshow performances in the US. Sometimes an "observer" is allowed in formation routines. That would explain the empty rear seats. The F-15E did have a back seater though. I don't know what the rules are for military aircraft performers.

We have had many people fly in the "trunk" during demo's, with both the FAA & the insurance company's blessings... myself included.

Waving To My Dad!

FYI,
Steve Ritchie, is not only one of the greatest pilots i've had the priviledge to know & fly with, but he posses an ability to fly that almost all of us can only dream of.

To dispell the rumour mill, he has NEVER lost his Medical nor his License.

Flyin Illini · **Joined:** Tue May 13, 2008 2:38 pm **Posts:** 148

To add a little bit to the *backseater*. The F-15E and F/A-18F require theyre backseater for demos. Its theyre wso, rio, whatever you would like to call it. Civilian backseaters are a tad bit different. Either you *know* someone who will give you a ride, or your media and get a ride(good luck). during airshow performances however, ive only ever seen performers at the airshow fly with them. the F-15C demo pilot flew in the legacy flight in the back seat of the T-2C. i think he also got a ride with the starfighters at battle creek, not totally sure, looked like him though.

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F-104 Starfighter Three Ship photo and more...

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