Down in Lakeland, FL every april they have a huge "Fly-In" called Sun N' Fun. It is a big event with a three day airshow and all. This year the U.S. Navy Blue Angels made the trip down from Pensacola to perform.

I received a call from a buddy of mine who owns a Dodge Viper GTS. This call came a week before heading down for the airshow on Saturday about a rare opportunity, a chance to do shoot 10 vipers in front of the Blue Angels. I loved the idea and told him I was in. Now for those who don't know, Thursday we we hit with some pretty hard storms here in the Central Florida area. A tornado ended up hitting the Lakeland airport area overturning some 45 planes, collapsing a hangar and causing other destruction around the airport. As expected the Angels delayed their arrival and flew in late friday which cancelled the shoot. Lakeland airport crews worked around the clock and everything continued as usual with the event for the rest of the weekend.

So as I was in the car departing the airshow Saturday evening, I get a call from my buddy who informs me the shoot is on for Sunday morning. I again am all for it even if it means sacrificing sleep. Sunday morning rolls around and on the road we go to Lakeland. We arrive at the designated location, meet up with the other 9 vipers and then get our police escort onto the airport. We are driven out onto the tarmac and staged in front of the planes. The shooting and admiring began and went on for about 35-40 minutes we were allowed. I will tell you it seemed too short but I'm sure their time constraint was due to security reasons and the whole on going event happening.

It was an experience I won't soon forget. I grew up going to airshows every weekend and have seen the Angels perform countless times, but never have I been able to mix two of my most loved things into the same shoot. A fighter jet, which I wanted to be a pilot just like every young boy and a dodge viper(my dream car when it first came out) together in front of me, up close and personal.

I thank everyone involved in this, as you read this for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of this.

Now here are a few of the photos:







The Angels were parked right near two F-22 Raptors, what an amazing plane!

the rest of the set is here: Flickr: brandonconnellyphotography's Photostream

 

Sweet pics. I was there as well. I will post up some pics soon.

 

American muscle at its finest

 

Massive respect! Knew about it but being Lakeland I never wanted to go. So thanks on two things.

 

no breasts?