Leap Frog...

[rpcrowe]

I fooled you didn't I? This jumper is a member of the Navy's Parachute Team, The "Leap Frogs" at the Marine Corps Air Station Air Show today.

[Shadowman]

That you did, after viewing the image I was still expecting some version of the activity. Nicely captured.

[bje07]

Great shot

[DigitalScape]

well done, Richard - you nailed the composition.

[madcrow]

Richard, some frog, but great image, well captured

[LePetomane]

Richard, thanks for the shot. We had a disabled vet do the same thing at the Sheridan Rodeo last year. Pretty moving.

[Dave A]

Wonderful image.

Dave

[Sergio M.]

Richard,

A spot on and terrific shot.

Sergio

[rpcrowe]

The Leap Frogs are normally selected from the Navy Underwater Demolition Teams which have always been nicknamed "Frog Men". Thus the "Leap Frogs" name for the jump team.

[rpcrowe]

But they placed the box seats so that this unit was directly in front of us obscuring any low flying aircraft or just about anything else. IMO, not great planning

[bnnrcn]

Very nice shot Richard

[rpcrowe]

This is a simulation of a retrieval of a Marine Reconn Team from a hot area. Those are real guys swinging on the end of the line, not mannequins or sensor dust spots



The problem shooting an image like this is that there is such a long distance between the helos and the men being hoisted that I had to use a rather short focal length (100mm on my 100-400mm II lens) that resulted in the choppers and the men being tiny spots in the frame...

I think it would be a lot of fun to be picked up like this. I made numerous drops and pickups by line from helicopters to Navy ships at sea and I always enjoyed the experience. It was especially exciting when the ocean was fairly rough and the ship was bobbing up and down. Of course, I was a young guy at the time. What is exciting to a young guy is pretty darn scary to an older geezer like me

I don't think that this would be fun; for me at least...



No, they didn't collide in the air, this was part of the demonstration...

Here is a shot of a Marine Corps F-35 Lightning II aircraft in a virtually still hover. This aircraft has all sorts of uses and is in the inventory of the Marines, Navy, Air Force as well as foreign military.

[Shadowman]

Nice follow-up images, some dramatic maneuvers there.

[FootLoose]

Well, I was expecting to see two frogs

Good work on the parachute shots, Richard.

[John 2]

Your usual high quality images Richard. Yes we have two Queen Elizabeth class Carriers in build that will be hosting this version of the F-35.

[rpcrowe]

Thanks friends...

Here is a modern F-16 flying alongside a 70-year old P-51 Mustang...



The Miramar Air Show never has the best lighting direction. The light is coming from 3/4 to the rear image right...

Another shot of the F-35

[madcrow]

Richard, fabulous series, then again this what I come to expect from you.