The past month and half have been a bit crazy with travel and shooting aerials on both coasts and in the deep south. Yesterday I added seven hours to the log and I am just shy of thirty-six flight hours in over the past six-weeks. The aircraft have been a mix of turbine machines (Hughes 500C, Bell Jet Ranger) and recips: three different Robinson R-44′s and the wonderful fuel injected Enstrom FX.

Yesterday morning I shot several two projects in the Memphis area with a pilot I have flown with several times before. He understands and appreciates photography. Working with him is a joy because he is an absolute professional about keeping us safe and not outside the flight envelope plus knowing how to get me into the right position to create the image the client needs. Not every pilot understands photography at this level. Once you fly with someone who respects photographers and knows how to fly for the camera you’ll understand the difference between the local flight instructor who is building time versus a true professional. There is a difference and it can keep it you safe versus wishing you had never flown or worse.

Hover taxi in Arkansas.

Later that day we flew to Northwestern Arkansas to shoot an airport project and to beat a front that came through late yesterday. The original plan was to fly in my clients Mooney to the airport and shoot today with a Jet Ranger Pilot I have worked with before. The WX forecast killed that option, so we launched the Enstrom and chugged our way over the mountains in Arkansas. Our return trip back to Memphis we climbed to 7500 feet and caught a tail wind that took our speed up to 112 knots. Flying in a helicopter over 1000 feet above the surface is an unusual feeling of not being connected to the earth. Two years ago, this same pilot and I took his Enstrom up to 12,600 feet to photograph a series of bends in the Mississipi River.

Next week I will write about LTE – a nasty partner in the aerial business. Loss of tail rotor effectiveness can kill you in seconds if not handled properly. I’ve experienced it and you will see your life flash before you eyes if you recover from LTE.

For the last twenty years I’ve shot shadows of many of the aircraft I have flown in. Yesterday the flights were flown in an Enstrom 280FX.

Landing in Memphis.