Aviation Warrior Song

Well, after a very long break from videos I have finally finished the next one. The Aviation Warrior Song is a tribute to all the men and women fighting in the armed forces both past and present. There is more information in the video description as well as the meaning of the song used. Hopefully it inspires more people to purchase the song for the good cause!

Aviation Warrior Song

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Half Million and Counting!

Well, at 0541 this morning, the Airventure 2009 video had 503, 050 views! Another big milestone passed! Who would have thought that just another one of my airshow music videos would have become so popular? I never expected more than maybe 200 views originally...if it were even good enough. Then all of a sudden someone found the video, and spread it around...then it got spread around even more...kind of like that movie "Pay It Forward". The views just took off! It won #77 most viewed on youtube the second week after posting, and #86 most viewed during the month of August. Another interesting fact is that between 2300 last night and 0500 it had been viewed 500 times. Thanks for everyone who has watched the video! If you've missed it, or want to see it again, here is a link:

Airventure video

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Home for 24 hours...

Back home from school for about 24 hours. Just a little bit of an update. Currently my desktop is in the dorm without any sort of video editing software or camera hook ups...not that I would have any time right now anyway, but video editing is on somewhat of a hiatus. However, on the weekends when I am able to come home, I would be able to edit video if the desktop were here...so...I should be getting a laptop for school soon and the desktop will be back and videos will once again start showing up on youtube. I'll let everyone know when the next video comes out! Keep checking!

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Not goodbye, but until next time.

This weekend is rather sad or bittersweet, because not only do I leave for college, but our very good friends and neighbors Cassie, Mark, and Clair Harrison unfortunately moved away today. I'll be back with more video, picture and blog updates in the future...and we plan on seeing the Harrison's again as well. It's all for the better. So, this isn't goodbye from updates, but rather.."Until next time!"

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Few and Far Between

With college coming up the posts on here will become few and far between....as if they weren't already pretty sparse. Anyway, just a bit of an update on the Airventure stuff. The Airventure 2009 video is still doing very well. It currently has 141,803 views...I guess that's pretty good. Because of the video's success the other videos on the channel have been doing very well.

Youtube Channel Link

Also, I have just finished my EAA Airventure 2009 Pictorial Review. The entire review as well as comments can be found here.

Thanks all for looking. I'll try to keep up with this as much as possible...but I can't make promises until I know what to expect.

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Video...only a tad more popular than I thought...

***UPDATE***At the time of writing this I have just received a youtube honor...something that's fairly close to impossible unless it was shown on TV, someone gets hurt, or it's a music video. This week, thanks to everyone viewing the new Airventure video, it ranked #83 of the top 100 viewed videos for youtube. That mean, out of every video viewed on youtube, the new Airventure video is #83. Thanks again for everyone who watched!

It's been five days since I've uploaded the Airventure 2009 review video, and the view count...ratings...and comments are off the charts. It has exceeded expectations twenty fold! At the time of writing it has 21,633 views. THAT IS INSANE! I was not expecting anything more than maybe 1,200 views...maybe. To quote my father, "It just keeps feeding itself."

The video's fame has also brought the attention of some veteran videographers, XCOR (creators of the "Rocket Racing League"), and AVweb, which plan on hosting the video on their website Thursday.

Thanks again to all those who have taken the five minutes out of their lives to watch the video!

Also, I've been writing a photo essay for each day of the Airventure trip. You can check that out here.

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EAA Airventure Video and Picture Review

Well, tis year's music video is finally completed! I guess I could talk all about the video but I'll just post some of the comments others have left me:

"Slick, you make tears come to the eyes with this video! Great editing, music, everything is awesome!

-Jim"

"Slick,

You're getting REALLY good at your videography !

Well shot and edited !

Great subject too ...

Thanks and I'm happy you had such a wonderful time ...


Gregg"

"Slick,

WOW! Fantastic video and exactly what I need and will need to get thru the POD (Post Oshkosh Depression)...great memories of what is always the best week of the YEAR! "

Now, without further ado, here is the 2009 EAA Airventure music video.

Also, I have started a pictoral review of the entire 10 day trip which can be found on the model site at this link....LINK

Let me know what you think!

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10 Days gone, 356 to go!

To say that this year's Airventure trip was a success is a massive understatement! I don't like picking favorites, but it was one of the best! Throughout our ten day adventure plans changed, surprises were to be had, new friends were made and old ones were reacquainted. Over ten days I took nearly 1400 pictures and shot just short of 6 hours of HD video...nearly 11 gigs worth per tape!

After only a nine hour flight we were tied down at Oshkosh by 1330 on Friday July 24, 2009! Because of some weather we had to skip Brodhead this year...maybe next time. Later that day, through the typical airplane talk, we met our camping neighbor Richard Epton. We also caught up with Larry and Jim, whom we met at Airventure 2008. All week we had an excellent time causing trouble with the "Burn Line Nazis", eating at the Vintage Grill, and enjoying an outstanding week at one of the best places in the world! And with only 51 weeks left until next year (can you believe it's that close?) we're already planning our trip!

I'm going to try to have the pictures and vids up as soon as possible. 6 hours of HD video is a bit difficult to work with so bear with me. For now, here are some teaser pictures!



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1 Day Remaining!

There is only one day remaining until our Airventure 2009 trip. The excitement is becoming too much, especially since we've added one extra stop on our journey this year; the Brodhead Pietenpol and Hatz fly-in. Two fly-ins during the 10 day trip makes for an excellent end of summer vacation! I can not wait!

I'll try to post some updates during Airventure!

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GoPro Montage

I just recently completed my newest "GoPro Motorsports Hero Wide Angle Pitts Montage"...say that five times fast. I used five different on board camera angles, three of which are new. Check it out!

Pitts Montage

Also, the Pitts annual is complete...hopefully there will be some excellent flights this weekend. It looks like we're going to get some rain, so maybe I'll get some VAPOR!

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First Annual

The Pitts is currently undergoing its first annual condition inspection. The inspection started out fine until we found some tubing that was put in to reinforce the grove gear had broken the weld at the top end. This will need to be fixed before we put the plane back together. When it's all finished, there will be a new weld at the top and a brace attached to the piece.

Some pics of the annual and problem areas...




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Super Stallion!

I've been working on this for a little over three weeks now, but I suppose I can finally add the link to my latest model build...the Academy 1/48 CH-53E Super Stallion done up in the markings of HMT-302 "Phoenix" courtesy of MAW Decals, along with after market interior and exterior photo etch sets by Eduard. Basically, I'm going all out on one of the last builds I will be doing for a while. Just to give you an idea of the size of this monster...


A link to the build on ARC is located here:
http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=186177&st=60&gopid=1751711&#entry1751711

I've been getting a ton of help from the awesome people who are part of ARC. So far the build has been a blast!

Also, as a side note, keep watching for updates with video and pictures from the 2009 Old Kingsbury Aerodrome Air Fair.

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1st Anniversary

Today (with two minutes to spare...one minute on the computer clock) marks the 1st Anniversary of flying the Pitts. After a two year restoration, on Friday June 13, 2008 (Friday the 13th!) Pitts N599JW flew again. If anyone is interested, here is "The Pitts Story" video I put together last year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ1p0SFGIF8...re=channel_page

I took the plane out for a quick 30 minute routine this morning. It was a blast..and a year has gone by really fast!


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LIGHTNING!!!

Tonight we had another awesome storm that spit out some awesome lightning. Of course, the only response to that is to try and capture it on film...digits..? Anyway, here are nine of my best shots from tonight.



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Graduation Weekend Review

This past weekend was pretty exiting! Graduation brought in relatives and a lot of fun times. I was able to fly the Pitts four times in the past six days and finally show relatives and neighbors my airshow routine at the graduation party. It was a blast! I also flew some other airshow routines for Aunt Mikey, Aunt Angie, Uncle Todd, Grandma Gail, and Janine. Thanks everyone for coming out. I had a great time and I hope it's not too long before we all get together as a family again.

Just as a side note, I added some new maneuvers to these routines that, for the time being, will be kept a secret here at SLICK Aviation.

On the last night that Janine was here, we had some pretty gnarly storms pass through Central Texas. So what better than sit outside from 10:30PM until 1:00AM attempting to take pictures of lightning. I never got a perfect shot, but here are some of my better pictures.

Today I was able to start up work again on the Hog Bibe. I neglected to take any pictures, but tomorrow I will post some of the major progress that was made today.

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AVENGER!

Today marks the end of the TBF-1C Avenger build. The third completed model of 2009. I ran out of light for taking pictures, so this will have to do until I can upload more tomorrow.



I did have enough light to take this twilight hangar shot though.


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Ranger Fly-in and Airshow

On May 23, 2009 Dave, Mark, Randy, and my father and I flew up to the Ranger Fly-in and Airshow for our first X-wing Flyout of 2009. The flight was a blast! The relatively poor weather on the way up caused us to make a quick stop in Hamilton, only to be pleasantly surprised with a few restoration projects of some antique aircraft - Travel Air 5000, American Eagle, Curtiss Junior.

The Ranger Fly-in and Airshow had an excellent set up and an equally excellent turn out. The event was really successful with a large number of aircraft arriving even though the weather threatened storms all day. The airshow was great, with performers such as Spanky Gallaway, Jason Newburg, David Martin, and the Texas Twisters formation team all flying out of the grass strip. I have put together a quick promotional music video of the Ranger Fly=in and Airshow that can be found at this link:

Ranger Fly-in and Airshow

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3 Airshows in a month...

...and still more to come. Today we attended the 2009 Central Texas Airshow in Temple, Texas. This as the third year in a row that I have attended this airshow and the fifth time overall. This year Temple went all out with some performers. They were about to get the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team as well as Matt Younkin flying the twin beech. Not only were these out of state civilian performers flying in this years small town show, the A-10 West Coast Demonstration Team also put on another awesome display. Temple was even able to get flybys by the B-2 and B-52.

We were originally scheduled to fly up to the airshow tomorrow, but things changed and we were able to attend today's show. Good thing to! Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be pretty bad, so we lucked out!

The next airshow will be the Ranger Fly-in and Airshow in Ranger, Texas. This airshow is on May 23rd, and we will be attending for the first time this year. It's going to be an awesome little airshow, and my first airshow from a grass strip. This means great performances by Mike Gallaway, David Martin, and others all close to the crowd. It's going to be great!



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UHU! (Eagle Owl) Tamiya 1/48 Heinkel He219

While I'm waiting for a trip to the hobby store to get paint for my Avenger, I figured I would start another build. I've been waiting to build this one for a while because the subject is interesting and seldom seen. I saw the last remaining He219 at the National Air and Space Museum a few years ago and really liked the look of the aircraft.

I haven't completed very much yet, but here is the first update.



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NAS Corpus Airshow Music Video

Just completed the 2009 South Texas Shootout music video two nights ago. Check it out:

Music Video

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2009 South Texas Shootout

***UPDATE 4-29-09 - The Horsemen will fly the Bearcat routine one more time for the Planes of Fame Air Show in Chino, California. The POF theme this year is "Salute to Grumman Aircraft"...so it seems only fitting. Looks like the Bearcats are turning out to be as popular as the Mustangs...maybe even more popular.***

The 2009 South Texas Shootout at NAS Corpus Christi (April 18-19, 2009), the 5th airshow for the Blue Angels this season, was very special. The airshow was unique in that the "Horsemen" formation team flew a three ship Bearcat routine. This was the first time an F8F Bearcat had been used in a formation aerobatic team of this magnitude (Corky Fornoff and his son flew a two ship routine in the 60's) since the Blue Angels during the 1946-1949 timeline. The routine was incredible and very rare. This was the only time the Horsemen team flew/will be flying the Bearcat routine this year. It was a very special treat! Below is a link to the Horsemen video I filmed at Sunday's airshow:

Horsemen Sunday Demo

This airshow was also the second to last show for the F-15C Demo Team. Their final airshow was this weekend in Langley, Virginia. The team is now retired from service. This airshow season is also the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Knights U.S. Army Parachute Demonstration Team.

Also, here are a few Bearcat formation team pictures from over the years (none of these pictures are mine). The first is a picture of the Blue Angels flying the Bearcat (notice the numbering system. #5 lead, #3 left wing, #4 right wing, #2 slot):


This next picture is of the Fornoff's flying their Bearcats in formation with Blue Angels 5 and 6 in F-4 Phantom II's:


This final picture is from the 2009 South Texas Shootout with the Horsemen team flying with Blue Angels 5 and 6 in F/A-18A Hornets.



Here are a few pictures from the show on Sunday:





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Steamer...

I started assembling the Avenger today, but as I was doing that my father assembled his first steam engine...and I must say it's a very cool little thing! With the new mill and lathe he plans on machining his own style of dust collector.

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Only Airshow in the U.S.

Today my father and I flew into the 2009 Blue Bonnet Airshow in Burnet, TX...supposedly the only U.S. Airshow this weekend. The weather could have been better...fairly low overcast forcing everyone to fly a low show, but the rain held off. All the acts flew and there were even a couple surprises in the form of a P-40 we had never seen before (the pilot put on an amazing display), and the A-10 West Coast Demonstration Team put on a really rockin' display despite the weather...they even included pyro this time.

If you would like to see pics and video clips just check out the link below:

Airshowbuzz

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AVENGER!

I recently signed up for the WWII Carrier Aircraft Group Build on ARC, and to start things off I will be building George H. W. Bush's TBM-1C Avenger. I haven't done any work yet, but here are some crappy box shots.

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Aerobatic critique...

...not quite, but the little event still ended up being pretty fun. Joel and Cathy Utz (spelling?) were the only people from the IAC chapter to fly in yesterday. We also had quite a few neighbors over to watch the flying as well as some friends from school. I flew the Pitts twice - one 30 minute flight consisting of the intermediate known and free, and then once more on a 20 minute airshow style routine that is oriented more towards those who don't know how competition aerobatics work. My father took some friends flying in the Clipper and then I took Abbie and Marc for a ride, followed by Rhys and Marc once more.
Although the event didn't turn out anything like last time (pictures from last time here: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=162563&hl=aerobatic ) we all still had a great time.

Thanks to Joel and Cathy for coming out.

Some pics from yesterday:


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