A B-17F Flying Fortress flies low over Santa Maria, California, at the Central Coast Airfest. Photographer Charlee Smith described his adventure to find the perfect spot near an executive aircraft hangar outside the Santa Maria airport: "Every gate and door I checked was locked, but on my fourth try, a locked gate that hadn't been closed completely gave me access to a large parking lot," Smith said. "The hangar reflected and amplified the roar of piston and turbine engines, which sent chills though me as I circled my body to follow the aircraft while taking the photos."
Credit: Scott Slingsby/Francestown, New Hampshire
Pilot Bernie Vasquez performs a formation takeoff with this P-51C Mustang at the Minot International Airport, Minot, North Dakota. Photographer Scott Slingsby took this shot from the photo aircraft, so it is properly an Air-to-Air photo.
Credit: Preston Smith/Milltown, New Jersey
A gleaming P-51 Mustang's engine cowling reflects the blue sky on a clear day.
Credit: Maciej Hatta/Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
The venerable Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum Avro Mk. X Lancaster bomber "VeRA," one of only two existing airworthy Lancasters, flies by the tower and the crowd at the Quinte International Air Show at Canadian Forces Base Trenton.
Credit: Bob Driver/Santa Clarita, California
A rare sight of two de Havilland DH.98 Mosquitos flying in close formation, doubling the roars of their Merlin engines at the Central Coast AirFest in Santa Maria, California. Mosquito PZ474 is owned by Charles Somers, and NZ2308 is owned by Lewis Air Legends.
Credit: Kyle Peterson/Kaysville, Utah
The photographer captured this photo of the B-29 Fifi after an airshow. Fifi is one of only two remaining flyable Stratofortresses.
Credit: Karen Powell/Fort Worth, Texas
The B-29 Superfortress "Doc" performs an overhead flyby at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.
Credit: Alastair Robertson/Davie, Florida
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress "Doc" flying on its recent visit to Camarillo, California, where it was hosted by the Southern California Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. The aircraft is owned and operated by Doc's Friends, a not-for-profit based in Wichita.
Credit: Dave Clemmer/Arlington, Virginia
The B-29 Superfortress "FiFi" gives a show for the crowds at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024.
Credit: Stephen Wolf/Antony, France
A P-40F Warhawk takes off during the "Tora, Tora" setpiece at the Le Temps de Hélices airshow in Ferte-Alais, France, with an explosive background. The "Tora, Tora" demonstration recreates the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
Credit: Steven Hayes/Sammamish, Washington
A Grumman J2F-6 "Duck" amphibious airplane, one of only three airworthy J2F-6 Ducks today, flies over the 2024 Bremerton Air Show in Bremerton, Washington. The first flight of the JF Duck was in 1936, with the type seeing service during World War II. A total number of 584 were built for all variants, of which 330 were the J2F-6 type. Ducks performed transport, patrol, anti-submarine and rescue missions.
Credit: James Knauf/Rolling Hills Estates, California
Commemorative Air Force B-25J Mitchell, named "Maid in the Shade," starts up for a flight demonstration at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.
Credit: Ricardo von Puttkammer/New York
Scott Yoak, in his P-51D "Quick Silver," turns into a corner marker at the 2023 Warbirds Over Monroe Air Show in North Carolina.
After spending their working lives defending their country, these warbirds now perform for crowds all over the world. These are the best warbird entries from the Aviation Week's 2024 Photo Contest.
