in October I had the pleasure to spend 3 days in the famous Rainbow Canyon.
It takes a few hours to get there by car, but once you're there it's fairly easy. Just be sure to miss the warmer seasons, mid-October was a comfortable 25 degrees, summers go up to 40+...
Please don't forget you're in the desert, bring plenty of drinks and food and let the rangers or hotel staff know where you are
The flying started before 8am and ended right after sunset, around 6.30pm. You'll have to vigilant all day to spot the incoming traffic in time. With luck you'll hear them 10 seconds in advance, when not so lucky only 2 seconds...
1. From the parking lot you mainly get belly shots as they dive in and go around the corner. Straight entries into the canyon go high over the top. Lucky me got this colorful beauty within a minute after parking my car
[/url]2. Growler coming around the corner, seen from about 250m further towards the exit.
[/url]3. From this point, you mainly get side-ons
4.
5. after 3pm the light gets more challenging
6.
7. the Eglin boys were very active in the low-level. 6 through the Canyon and 3 more passes high or through other canyons
8. going East another 1.5km, the planes start banking towards the exit
9.
10. Leveling out over the big valley
11. The Edwards boys tend to drop in straight, you'll only hear them a couple of seconds before they're in reach for a photo
12. Taking the exit, with the big valley in the background
13. If they drop in straight, not all photos are land-locked, even at the exit
[/url]14. The National Guard had some other ideas and came around the corner the other way round
[/url]15. a well known frame for most Europeans. This former Lakenheath Eagle ended up in a slightly warmer climate
[/url]16. When you're there, don't forget to stick around for the evening display....
[/url]17. Just a few stars...
[/url]regards,
Koen
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