Victor Archer!

[King]

You have a photo of the Thunderbirds doing a cross manuever and it appears they are very close together (almost a mid-air).

What is the story behind this picture. Are they really that close?

PS - The only photo I could find is a .bmp and I could not up-load it here.

[Victor Archer]

Re: Victor Archer!

In the photo are Thunderbirds No. 5 & 6.
The photograph was taken at the 2003 Reno Air Races on Saturday. I was waiting to take that photo having missed it on Friday. I remember people around me saying "did you see that" and "I hope you got that shot." They looked close but I didn't know how close until I got my prints back. I have been told that there was a very unpleasant conversation in debriefing after the show. The very next day No. 6 crashed in Idaho .
This photo was copied from this web site and spread over the Internet with all kinds of stories attached. Some of them are very funny. One site said the Airforce told them that picture was wrong and that one plane was going up and the other down . Another site said that the planes cross in front of each other for safety reasons .
I've seen photos of this maneuver several times but I have never seen the trailing plane with the air brakes fully open.

[King]

Re: Victor Archer!

Thanks Victor,

If you don't mind, I am going to copy your reply and post it on another site for explanation.

King

[jarrodeu]

Re: Victor Archer!

Is that a phony picture? It looks like they would not have been able to to avoid an accident.

[Victor Archer]

Re: Victor Archer!

King, no problem but I'd just like to know where it's going this time. the photo was found on about 20 diffrent sites so far.
There was a lot about it on F16.net

The photo was not faked or altered in any way and I have the neg to prove it. Some of what you are seeing is compression of distance from the use of a telephoto lens, aprox. 750mm.

[jarrodeu]

Re: Victor Archer!

In that case they were pretty lucky....that time.

[Bill@Interstell]

Re: Victor Archer!

They looked close but I didn't know how close until I got my prints back.

Don't you hate that. Somtimes I think I should leave all my gear home. You spend a week at the air races and later realize you watched most of the event through a viewfinder. At least one has the film and or digits to reflect on later as the brain cells wear out.

[King]

Re: Victor Archer!

King, no problem but I'd just like to know where it's going this time. the photo was found on about 20 diffrent sites so far.
There was a lot about it on F16.net

The photo was not faked or altered in any way and I have the neg to prove it. Some of what you are seeing is compression of distance from the use of a telephoto lens, aprox. 750mm.

I did not post your photo, just your comments on the photo. Someone else, had posted the photo.

[Victor Archer]

Re: Victor Archer!

I did not post your photo, just your comments on the photo. Someone else, had posted the photo.

King, I don't realy care who posted my photo I would just like to see where it is and what people have to say about it. Could you please send me a link to where you have seen it.

I think the funniest posting of it so far was at truthorfiction.com.
They have the story as one of the planes is supose to fly straight into the ground as reported by someone at Thunderbirds HQ. They don't cross over unless one has a problem.
Man what airshows do these people go to?

Thanks,
Victor

[T. Adams]

Re: Victor Archer!

Straight into the ground huh?? What a novel concept. That would be one hell of an airshow act!!

[Victor Archer]

Re: Victor Archer!

Tyson, someone sent you one of my photos , lol, does that make me famous or notorious.
Just having fun with this .
I was a little frustrated because I knew that I had really missed them in the crossover the day before and I wanted to nail the shot. So I was waiting and being very patient, one of those shots where time slows down for you. Even though it was pre-digital (for me) I knew I got it.
Never thought that this photo would get spread all over the net the way it has. Now I wish I would have made my name twice as large on the original post, lol.

[John H]

Re: Victor Archer!

Straight into the ground huh?? What a novel concept. That would be one hell of an airshow act!!

Unfortunately rehearsing the Straight into the ground show is a big problem, as the T-birds found out in 1982.

John

[mayday51]

Re: Victor Archer!

Ty,

My brain is pulling 5 neutrals lately...(lots of grinding too!)...

.........can ya help with the "victor Archer" ? (define, for an old man)

[speeddemon]

Re: Victor Archer!

[QUOTE=mayday51]
.........can ya help with the "victor Archer" ? QUOTE]


What's your vector, Victor? We have clearance, Clarence. Uh, roger, Roger. Over.... HUH?

[Victor Archer]

Re: Victor Archer!

[QUOTE=speeddemon]

.........can ya help with the "victor Archer" ? QUOTE]


What's your vector, Victor? We have clearance, Clarence. Uh, roger, Roger. Over.... HUH?

Hey Speedy, haven't herd that one in a long time.

Mayday, what's your question?
I'm just a humble photographer that captured an interesting moment in time that was spread over the vast planes of the Internet.
-Or-
My vector is the center of the target which makes me the "winning Bowman" the Archer who has won the prize, beaten the competition and won the heart of the fair maiden.
I'm still waiting for the check and the fair maiden to be delivered