My World Tuesday #40 - Fearless Flyers & Others

One of the big events around here each year is the Arlington Fly-In. Every July for five days, the skies are busy with aircraft of many shapes and sizes.

Working across the street from the airport, I hear their practice sessions in the days leading up to the airshow. I'm not able to see much, but I know they are having fun.

On Saturday, we parked in the lot at work with the two dogs in the back of the truck and watched the afternoon's show. It was a nice warm day, a bit on the breezy side, and not a cloud in the sky...except for the ones made by the flyers.

Rennie Price and his Russian built Sukhoi SU-29

Royal Canadian Air Force Plane

Ken Fowler & Eric Hansen

How do you describe this flying position?

Bud & Ross Granley were perhaps my favorites. Two different aircraft, yet their synchronization and close flying skills were amazing. I was enthralled by their performance.

Brothers at Play

I drove back to the airport later in the evening for the Hot Air Balloon Night Glow. I imagined an evening launch with the balloons glowing in the night sky. Was I going to be pleasantly surprised!

I found a nice spot across the runway from where the balloons where scheduled to be and set up the camera. While waiting for the sun to set, Mother Nature put on her own display with lightning streaking across the western sky.

We rarely have lightning in Western Washington. This was fun to watch but hard to capture with the camera. I just wasn't fast enough. I captured one picture with a little bit of lightning squiggle, but it wasn't worthy of posting.

Around 9:30 pm, five balloons began to take shape. They remained tethered to the ground as each filled with warm air.

Taking Shape

Then wham! The balloons glowed as the burners were fired. Oh, what a wondrous sight to behold! I felt like a little kid again.

Evening Enchantment

I was mesmerized as they took turns lighting up their balloons, sometimes in a pattern, at other times seemingly randomly, and then all together. You can bet I will go again next year, hopefully better trained in nighttime photography to capture the beauty of this evening glow.

Beauty at Night

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