Developed in 1958, the de Havilland C-7A Caribou was known for its short takeoff and landing capabilities (STOL). Able to deliver 26 paratroopers or three tons of equipment over or on to short, improvised airstrips, the Caribou was developed just in time for the unique requirements of jungle warfare in Southeast Asia.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
This is one of the best public decommissioned aircraft hangars in the world. Take a look around and you'll see a Thunderbird F-16, MH-53M "Super Jolly" Pave Low, F-111 Aardvark, RQ-4 Global Hawk, U-2 reconnaissance plane, and the pièce de résistance, an SR-71 Blackbird. Not just "any" SR-71 mind you, THE SR-71 that set the world speed record of 2,193 miles per hour! In 1976. And the record still stands. It even flew from New York to London in under 2 hours. Take that, Concorde! See all of the people in the hangar? They're listening to the pilots from those eventful flights sharing their war stories, beneath the nose of their aircraft.
If you're thinking about planning a trip to the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB to check out this hangar, it's worth mentioning that there are several other hangars and an entire field full of amazing aircraft, including an A-10 Thunderbolt, AC-130A Spectre Gunship, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, B-29 Super Fortress, B-52 Strato Fortress, B-1B Lancer, C-130E Hercules and a whole lot more! It's definitely worth the visit!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
This is one of the greatest weekends of the year — Chicago's Air & Water Show!
We religiously attended the air show every summer when I was a kid and I still love going back to watch it whenever I'm able to. If you've never been to Chicago before, don't go in February. Go on air show weekend and you will leave certain that Chicago is the greatest city in the world. Not only is the city literally buzzing with amazing aircraft all weekend long but the weather is almost always perfect and everybody in the city is out enjoying the weekend. It's payback for the long, grey, slushy winters.
If you don't have access to a roof deck or a high-rise condo along the water, check out North Avenue Beach or the viewing deck at the Hancock building for some of the best views.
This photograph was captured with a Nikon D90.
Nearly 4,000 B-29s were built from 1943-1946 at a cost of $640,000. Two of the most defining moments — for better or worse — of WWII were carried out by B-29s as they dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This example sits at the excellent aviation museum at Robins AFB.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.