Gallery Review: New Year's Montage 2014

Happy New Year! Another year gone! That means it's time for another gallery review consisting of a montage of the best photos I've taken throughout the year 2014. Unlike last year, this year was a far more eventful because even though I spent half the year studying at school, I still kept my aviation buzz alive by volunteering at the Legacy Flight Museum, meaning I was actively engaged in aviation-related activities all throughout the year; that also means the majority of my photos were taken in Idaho this year. This time, rather than categorize my photos, I'll just go in general order of events that happened to me throughout the year so it can be easier to go through all my photos from this year. In addition to that, I'll make this montage a little longer by featuring multiple favorite shots of certain air show routines I enjoyed this year as well. Enjoy!

While school was in session in Idaho (and elsewhere):

At the start of the New Year: My uncle's Mooney M20 (N9716M) parked by the fuel pumps at St. Anthony Airport (U12). The reason I like this photo is because of the spectacular lighting conditions presented in the first place.

A unique angle on one of Allegiant Air's McDonnell Douglas MD-83, departing Idaho Falls (IDA). Unfortunately for me, this angle prevents me from identifying the aircraft's tail number.

The most famous P-51 Mustang out there, "Ole Yeller" (N51RH) with an American flag appropriately in the background on the day she returned to the Legacy Flight Museum.

My uncle and a student pilot practicing touch and goes (or in my uncle's case, "Bounce and Goes") at St. Anthony in an experimental Piel Emeraude (N5TX).

Dassault Falcon 2000EX (N515PV) taxiing to the FBO at McNary Field (SLE) after arrival. I snapped this photo during my week break in between semesters for school when I went home to visit family.

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk (NX94466) "Sneak Attack" on display at the Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa, ID.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21F Fishbed (NX1011E) on display at Warhawk Air Museum, Nampa, ID.

Ex-Jordanian Air Force Lockheed F-104A Starfighter (56-0778) on display at the Warhawk Air Museum, Nampa, ID. This aircraft was formerly part of the Merle Maines private collection in Ontario, OR.

Easter Sunday: Allegiant Air McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (N427NV) departing Idaho Falls.

The Legacy Flight Museum's North American SNJ-3 Texan (N676JD) slowing down upon landing in Rexburg (RXE) after doing a fly-over for a funeral.

A North American SNJ-5 Texan (N6900C) known as 'Lil Ashlee' taxiing after a test flight around Rexburg.

Memorial Day Weekend: The Legacy Flight Museum's newly acquired Grumman S2F-1 Tracker (N8115M) rotating into its first flight after a little more than a year's work to getting it back into airworthy condition.

SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CL-600-2D24 CRJ-900 (N809SK) in Delta Connection colors departing Idaho Falls bound for Salt Lake City.

Ameriflight Beechcraft C99 Airliner (N106SX) clearing the active after arrival into Rexburg from Salt Lake City.

SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CL-600-2B-19 CRJ-200LR (N441SW) in Delta Connection colors beginning take-off roll from Idaho Falls bound for Salt Lake City.

Endeavor Air Bombardier CL-600-2B24 CRJ-900 (N902XJ) flying as a Delta Connection flight getting ready for departure from Idaho Falls bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul on the inaugural day of reinstated flights between IDA-MSP. 

2014 Legacy Air Show Favorites:

The "main attraction" of the Legacy Flight Museum sitting on the ramp the day before the 2014 Legacy Air Show: on the left is the P-51D Mustang "Ole Yeller". On the right is the rare Bell P-63C Kingcobra.

Father's Day Weekend: Beechcraft D18S (N90552) arriving into Rexburg the evening prior to the 2014 Legacy Air Show.

The evening before the 2014 Legacy Air Show: Gary Rower in the red and white Stearman and Buck Roetman in the yellow Pitts doing a team-routine during the practice session/V.I.P. exhibition show.

Lee Lauderback of Stallion 51 in a high-speed photo pass in "Ole Yeller" the evening before the 2014 Legacy Air Show.

2014 Legacy Air Show, Fathers Day Weekend: John Bagley taking the Legacy Flight Museum's rare P-63C Kingcobra (NL163FS) into the air.

Kent Pietch landing on top of a platform (dubbed the shortest runway in the world) mounted on a pick-up truck in his Interstate S-1A Cadet (NC37361) at the 2014 Legacy Air Show.

Gary Rower waving to the crowd as he makes a photo pass at the 2014 Legacy Air Show in his Stearman PT-18 (N212PC).

John Bagley bringing in the P-51D Mustang known as the 'Mormon Mustang' in for a landing after flying a routine at the 2014 Legacy Air Show.

Three P-51D Mustangs flying in formation to close out the 2014 Legacy Air Show; from left to right is 'Section Eight', the 'Mormon Mustang', and "Ole Yeller."

'Section Eight' (N2869D) landing after the 2014 Legacy Air Show concluded.

Air Race Season 2014, 51st National Championship Air Races:

McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II (64-1022) on display at the Veterans Memorial Park next to the Susanville Airport in Susanville, CA.

Cessna 195B (N195BT) parked on the ramp at Carson Airport, Carson City, NV. Always appreciate seeing an older model aircraft, especially one with a radial engine.

A beautifully restored Grumman HU-16C Albatross (N7025N) parked at Carson Airport.

Something rare and unique was these four Lancairs from the Sports Class Division of the air races flying in formation in honor and memory of Sports Class President, Lee Behel, who was killed during a qualifying run prior the races.

A good representation of what the Reno Air Races are all about, I call this photo "Battle of the Sea Furies." Two Hawker Sea Furies owned by Sanders Aircraft, Inc. duke it out during a Silver Heat Race.  Brian Sanders flying #924 (N924G) and Korey Wells in #114 Argonaut (N195SF).

One of the sexiest racing P-51 Mustangs out there, Bill "Tiger" Destefani taxis #7 Strega (N71FT) for a Gold Heat Race.

The other hot P-51 Mustang in the air racing circuit is #5 Voodoo (N551VC) piloted by winner of Reno 2014, Steve Hinton Jr.

The most modified P-51 Mustang designated as the XR-51D Mustang is #38 Precious Metal (N6WJ). The PM team came a long way to be where they were only to have controversial disqualification dash their dreams for 2014. Let's hope 2015 will be a better year for them.

Air racing would not be the same without the legendary #77 Rare Bear (N777L). At the controls of this highly-modified F8F Bearcat is Stewart Dawson. This is one of the best photos of Rare Bear that I have taken.

A rare, silver Grumman F7F-3 Tigercat (NX747MX) called La Patrona parked in the pits and getting some love from the pit crew. Tigercats are usually blue, but this silver one has to be one of the more beautiful Tigercats I've seen.

SIAI-Marchetti S.211 (NX270CJ) from the Jet Class pulling up to the hot ramp after racing.

Hawker Sea Fury, #71 Sawbones (N71GB) getting towed out onto the ramp from the pits.

This one was special: A Pitts S-1S Special Biplane Class #31 Tango Tango (N180TT) owned by Tony Higa. Tony and his wife are from Japan and since I'm half-Japanese and was in Japan when the 2011 earthquake and tsunami struck the country, I really appreciated the sticker applied on the engine cowling. Tony Higa's plane is an important reminder that problems still persist in Japan in the aftermath of the 2011 disaster.

Hawker Beechcraft AT-6B Texan II (N630LA) on static display in the main pits.

Another rare airframe that can only be found at Reno: A one of a kind replica of the Martin-Baker MB-5 (N445MB) tucked away among some hangars in the main pits.

Replica Granville Brothers Gee Bee R-6H QED (N14307) on static display.

Another rare warbird survivor: the Grumman F3F-2 (N20RW) on static display.

Staring down the barrel of an Idaho Air National Guard Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II's  GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling Cannon. Don't worry, I'm sure the gun was empty!

Now I present some of my best shots of the F-22 Raptor and United States Air Force Heritage Flight at Reno:

First time photographing the Raptor from this angle.

So close and so loud, but it was oh-so worth my tax-dollars to see the F-22 up-close!

After editing, this photo turned out really well! Here's the F-22 taking off with burners lit.

Burners are lit. Need I say more?

Internal weapons bay opened.

Photo pass.

Formation with the P-51D Mustang known as "Wee Willy II" (NL7715C).

Formation split.

One week after Reno, it was back to Oregon in time for the Oregon International Air Show:

Vicky Benzing's beautiful red Stearman (N63529).

North American P-51K Mustang "Fragile but Agile" (NL98CF) on display.

North American P-51D Mustang "Val-Halla" (N151AF) on display.

A Royal Canadian Air Force Lockheed CP-140 Aurora (140110) on static display.

Snowbird #1, a Royal Canadian Air Force Canadair CT-114 Tutor (114109) of 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds.

Some of my favorite shots of the Westcoast Ravens in a six-ship formation of Van RVs:

Favorite shots of the Bremont Horsemen flying 3-ship with North American F-86 Sabres led by Steve Hinton:

Much to my disappointment, this would've been my best shot overall but it was blurred...

Steve Hinton landing "Hell-er Bust X" (NX1F). This airframe is actually Canadian-built, designated as the Canadair CL-13B Sabre 6.

Steve Hinton taxiing NX1F back to the ramp.

This airframe is a genuine North American F-86F Sabre (NX186AM), with Dan Friedkin at the controls.

Another F-model of the F-86 (NX860AG), with Ed Shipley at the controls.

United States Marine Corps Harrier:

From VMA-214 out of Yuma, AZ. Famously known as the Black Sheep which has it's roots since World War II.

High-speed pass.

View of the weapon hard points.

Hovoring

Smokey thrust!

Accelerating away.

Alaska Airlines and its sister carrier Horizon Air making an appearance:

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 (N558AS) arriving at the air show.

"Dirty Pass" by Horizon Air's Bombarier DHC-8-401 Q400 (N407QX).

Final photo pass of N407QX.

N558AS back-taxiing on the runway.

Sporting the Boeing/Aviation Partners Split Scimitar Winglet.

N558AS on take-off roll.

United States Air Force F-22 Raptor demo and Air Force Heritage Flight:

Screaming into Hillsboro with burners lit.

High-speed pass with burners lit.

Burners lit

Internal weapons bay exposed.

Photo pass

Low-speed pass

Joining up for the Heritage Flight formation

First pass

Second pass

Third and final pass overhead.

Formation break of one of the best United States Air Force Heritage Flights I've witnessed to date.

The crown and legacy of North American Aviation!

Steve Hinton in the Sabre

"Val-Halla"

"Fragile but Agile"

Steve Hinton in "Hell-er Bust X"

Royal Canadian Air Force 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, the Snowbirds:

Hillsboro Airport Air Fair:

Learjet 60 (N600LJ) arriving into HIO.

Erickson Aero Tanker McDonnell Douglas MD-87 (N293EA) being converted into a aerial firefighter parked at HIO.

Robinson R22 Beta (N8340S) landing at HIO after taking a passenger on a sightseeing flight.

And to close out the year, I got some spotting done at PDX as well as a museum visit:

Compass Airlines Embraer E-175LR (N608CZ) flying as Delta Connection taxiing for departure to LAX. 

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330-243 (N382HA) taxiing for departure to Honolulu.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 (N527AS) with Boeing/Aviation Partners Split Scimitar Winglets taxiing for departure.

Horizon Air Bombardier DHC-8-402 Q400 (N437QX) in Boise State University Broncos colors on push-back for departure.

Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-890 (N560AS) in special "Spirit of the Islands" taxiing for departure.

Horizon Air Bombardier DHC-8-402 (N443QX) in University of Alaska at Anchorage Seawolves colors slowing down upon arriving.

Ryan Navion (N4799K) on display at the Pearson Air Museum.

Replica Voisin LA-III (N176V) on display at the Pearson Air Museum.

Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-332/ER (N16065) adorned with "Andrew Young Atlanta's Ambassador to the World" sticker adorned on the nose departing for AMS.

Happy New Years everyone! This past year has been a great year for me. Three air shows, getting an opportunity to volunteer at the Legacy Flight Museum, and several other museum visits throughout the year made for an active year. But throughout the world, this year was among one of the toughest, not to mention tragic year in aviation. The year 2014 was the deadliest year since 2010 in terms of fatalities, with over 600 souls lost in about 20 accidents and incidents worldwide. In particular, this year has been a hard one for Malaysian-based carriers, with the disappearance of MH370, which has yet to be found, the loss of MH17 when it was shot down over war-torn Ukraine, and just recently before the turn of the year, the loss of QZ8501 which crashed into the Java Sea. We don't want see these accidents where there's loss of life happen but when they do happen, we do all we can to learn what went wrong or exactly what happened and then prevent it from happening in future. Flying has been and will continue to be safer. Here's hoping to great things for the year 2015.

Regards,
Michael with a "K"