What Did I Do Today?

[Lawreston]

I'm tired. 1.9 flight hours(for the pilot); approximately 170 photos of various parts of Harpswell(Cribstone Bridge, Mackerel Cove, Land's End); Mere Point(Brunswick), Birch Island, over Brunswick(Bowdoin College, Fort Andross); Topsham(Highland Green, Municipal Building, Roller World and the big white athletic(?) building, Lee Nissan, Topsham Toyota; over various parts of Bath; Taste of Maine Restaurant from various angles(and ate there later and showed the raw images to Candy Gregory who said, "Oh, you got it with our brand new paving job in the parking lot and white lines."; Wiscasset and Edgecomb waterfronts. As noted above, I'M TIRED. John Gatti: sorry, didn't get that far away from the Kennebec River on THIS trip(where I DID get The Hampton Inn Hotel on the waterfront. It was SO good to be able to tell the pilot, "Lift the wing; drop the wing; do a 360 to the left and track this same route again," while I could just concentrate on shooting from either side of the rear seat positions. On one occasion, while tracking Brunswick's Maine Street at about 1200'msl - - -

 

[Lawreston]

Majority of that area is Bowdoin College. The facility in upper right corner is Farley Field House athletic facility. It was built via grant$ from William Farley; think Fruit of the Loom as one of his lines of merchandise from Farley Industries. The tall building was at one time Maine's tallest building. Coles Tower -- commonly referred to as the Senior Center -- was named after Bowdoin's former President James Coles.

 

[HighFlyingA380]

When I did some flying for a property photographer, I was always jealous of him being able to take a nap on the way to/from the site. My longest day was 9.7hrs in the air shooting, with another 3.4hrs of flying to/from location while he napped. You shutter-bugs have it easy...

 

[Lawreston]

High FlyingA380: Moving from side to side in the the rear seat of my Skyhawk(see avatar) I didn't sense anything unusual - - - - - until I arrived home. There was a sensitivity about flexing my right elbow. After several hours of not handling somewhat heavy gear its discomfort is just starting to wear off. But HOW I admire my buddy who for 26 years did the Bath Iron Works Shipyard aerial photography, most often in a Bell Jet Ranger. Hovering MUST be a blessing.

HR

 

[HighFlyingA380]

High FlyingA380: Moving from side to side in the the rear seat of my Skyhawk(see avatar) I didn't sense anything unusual - - - - - until I arrived home. There was a sensitivity about flexing my right elbow. After several hours of not handling somewhat heavy gear its discomfort is just starting to wear off. But HOW I admire my buddy who for 26 years did the Bath Iron Works Shipyard aerial photography, most often in a Bell Jet Ranger. Hovering MUST be a blessing.

HR

Yeah, shooting while hovering is nice, because you can line up the shot exactly how you want it. With the wing strut and the right wind, it would sometime be impossible to get the shot while crabbing/banking to stay at the proper distance. And my photographer shot out of the front-left seat and window of a 172, so we were both sitting sideways looking out the window as we did 30* turns around the buildings at 600-800'agl.

 

[HighFlyingA380]

But the practical use of a helo for what we did just wasn't worth it since we moved all over the midwest. They're great for city/urban settings near the departure airport, but not going a couple states away...

 

[Lawreston]

I've usually done it solo(if I couldn't find a right seat pilot friend), having removed the bracket(?) from the pilot's window so it opens to the bottom of the wing. I, sitting behind the pilot today, he was seeing what I was seeing; thus my instructions re maneuvers made more sense. I'll be glad to get the LP Aero photo window for the rear position.

HR

 

[BillTIZ]

Busy day and great picture.

I logged 1.7 today introducing a new pilot to the area the valley, the class b and landmarks, and how approach really does not want GA aircraft inside the class b.

 

[LDJones]

High FlyingA380: Moving from side to side in the the rear seat of my Skyhawk(see avatar) I didn't sense anything unusual - - - - - until I arrived home. There was a sensitivity about flexing my right elbow. After several hours of not handling somewhat heavy gear its discomfort is just starting to wear off. But HOW I admire my buddy who for 26 years did the Bath Iron Works Shipyard aerial photography, most often in a Bell Jet Ranger. Hovering MUST be a blessing.

HR

I've shot aerials from airplanes for 40 years. I recently was hired to photograph a bridge construction project and they paid for the chopper. It was heavenly....and way more efficient. And expensive. But I got 1.5 hrs of dual to/from the construction site!

 

[HighFlyingA380]

I've usually done it solo(if I couldn't find a right seat pilot friend), having removed the bracket(?) from the pilot's window so it opens to the bottom of the wing. I, sitting behind the pilot today, he was seeing what I was seeing; thus my instructions re maneuvers made more sense. I'll be glad to get the LP Aero photo window for the rear position.

HR

Yeah, we took the bracket off the window, and since it was on the left side, the prop slip-stream would keep it pushed up against the bottom of the wing.

I've shot aerials from airplanes for 40 years. I recently was hired to photograph a bridge construction project and they paid for the chopper. It was heavenly....and way more efficient. And expensive. But I got 1.5 hrs of dual to/from the construction site!

Yeah, I'm sure a big construction company would have the resources to pay for that to ensure the highest quality/layout. The one I flew for was run by a couple guys that focused on quantity, so getting that perfect shot every time just wasn't feasible/efficient...

 

[Lawreston]

Hi, Bill; it was a fabulous day here in Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and Lincoln Counties. When we landed back at Wiscasset there were flight crew from Pease awaiting arrival of one passenger to board their Pilatus PC-12 in which they gave me a tour. Wow!

HR

 

[BillTIZ]

Hi, Bill; it was a fabulous day here in Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and Lincoln Counties. When we landed back at Wiscasset there were flight crew from Pease awaiting arrival of one passenger to board their Pilatus PC-12 in which they gave me a tour. Wow!

HR

PC-12 is a nice bird.

Been great out here but summer has arrived. 102F today, but it's a dry heat.
Flying power you want to be on the ground before noon, flying sail planes we're just getting started.

I'll be in Maine in late June, but only one weekend to check on Mom and my brothers. No time to fly. We may take a day in Boothbay.

 

[Lawreston]

The PC-12 panel surely is a far cry from my 44 year old panel(except for the 430w) in the skyhawk. But I'll live with it.

HR

 

[Lawreston]

PC-12 is a nice bird.


I'll be in Maine in late June, but only one weekend to check on Mom and my brothers. No time to fly. We may take a day in Boothbay.

Boothbay is always a treat. (Image #1)

Or you could cross the world's only bridge of its type, take in Morse's Restaurant or Cook's Lobster House, on Bailey Island. If I'd had a helo I could have dropped in to see Sheldon Morse or see the gang at Cook's(both are in Image #2).

HR

 

[BillTIZ]

Boothbay is always a treat. (Image #1)

Or you could cross the world's only bridge of its type, take in Morse's Restaurant or Cook's Lobster House, on Bailey Island. If I'd had a helo I could have dropped in to see Sheldon Morse or see the gang at Cook's(both are in Image #2).

HR

It's been years since I've been down to Bailey Island. Mom always liked going down to the end when a winter storm was churning to watch the waves crash on the rocks.

I learned my Aunt is at her summer cottage (camp) on Cobbosseecontee, True's Cove. So most likely a stop by there. Need to contact my brother about a family burger burn at his place. He's just north of the YMCA Camp. I spent a few pre-teen summers there.

 

[Lawreston]

It's been years since I've been down to Bailey Island. Mom always liked going down to the end when a winter storm was churning to watch the waves crash on the rocks.

--- and speaking of Bailey Island "going down to the end," here you are: The end of Bailey Island; you can see Land's End Gift Shop on the further shore, and the two observation towers that were built during WWII - had to keep watch for those pesky German submarines that might come prowling along the coast, you know. The outer portion of Mackerel Cove is at the left.
And whereas we'll round the "End," let's get it head-on. Remember when, before the Blizzard of '87 when Land's End Gift Shop was to the left, got washed out to sea and was rebuilt BIGGER where it is now, and used to have a nice restaurant on the 2nd floor? It was one terrible storm. Small businesses in New England were in trouble because UPS Watertown, MA headquarters for N.E. was shut down, the snow was so deep. No deliveries for a week or more.

HR


HR