Out the Door, Off the Rails

I recently had the opportunity to fly in the camera plane to photograph a Douglas A-26 Invader, a fast medium bomber of late World War II. The aircraft was fueled with Ada-based General Aviation Modifications, Inc.’s new aviation gasoline, G100UL, the first-ever 100-octane unleaded aviation gasoline.

This is the team posing for a for a picture prior to our air-to-air photo session.
This is the team posing for a for a picture prior to our air-to-air photo session.
This is my perch before takeoff.
This is my perch before takeoff.

I sat on the floor in the back of a Beech Bonanza A36, N59CT. I wore a harness, which I mention because people who saw pictures of me kept asking if I was “strapped in,” not, I guess, realizing the straps of the harness I am visibly wearing in the photos are holding me safety in the aircraft.

My view out the door on departure shows one of Ada's most-recognized landmarks for both people on the ground and people in the air, the big red barn of the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex. On clear days, you can see this from 5000 feet 30 miles away.
My view out the door on departure shows one of Ada’s most-recognized landmarks for both people on the ground and people in the air, the big red barn of the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex. On clear days, you can see this from 5000 feet 30 miles away.
We flew down to Atoka Lake, about 45 miles southeast, where we formed up with the A-26.
We flew down to Atoka Lake, about 45 miles southeast, where we formed up with the A-26.

The Commemorative Air Force owns and the A-26, and only flies it when they can afford it, and when they have a pilot with the type rating to fly it. I wrote the story for my newspaper when the aircraft moved to Ada in January 2022 after losing the lease for its hanger in Guthrie.

In this view, the A-26 pilot is banking slightly into us, holding some left aileron and right rudder so he holds his position relative to us, allowing me to photograph more of the aircraft than an edge-on view might provide.
In this view, the A-26 pilot is banking slightly into us, holding some left aileron and right rudder so he holds his position relative to us, allowing me to photograph more of the aircraft than an edge-on view might provide.

At one point a four-foot piece of trim came un-velcroed from over my head. I didn’t want to lose it or pitch it overboard, so I pinned it to the floor with my right foot.

Since it was a bit gloomy, my images of the green aircraft against the duller-green of the lake weren't ideal, but will work for client.
Since it was a bit gloomy, my images of the green aircraft against the duller-green of the lake weren’t ideal, but will work for client.

The flight was reasonably smooth, but we didn’t get sunshine, and the CAF has a 500-foot minimum air-to-air formation rule, so, though I shot with my 300mm f/2.8, a lot of my frames were trash, and overall they weren’t as beautiful as some of the commercial air-to-air work I’ve seen.

On descent back at Ada, I asked John to deploy the speed brakes, an aftermarket accessory for faster airplanes that help the airplane descent faster without risking an overspeed.
On descent back at Ada, I asked John to deploy the speed brakes, an aftermarket accessory for faster airplanes that help the airplane descent faster without risking an overspeed.
I am all smiles in the back of the airplane and behind my 300mm. It was a warm day, but once we got the wind rushing in, I was very comfortable.
I am all smiles in the back of the airplane and behind my 300mm. It was a warm day, but once we got the wind rushing in, I was very comfortable.

It was a lot of fun, and I hope GAMI and the CAF call on me again to do this kind of work for them.