Early Morning Airshows

By Jason Gore

Let’s be honest, the days at events like RIAT are long enough. Most people are queuing up long before the gates open at 0730, and some are still walking about when they’re reminded to “get out!”. So what would you say to being able to get in 2 hours before everyone, walk the statics and then do a day on your feet. Not once, but 3 times.

Surely the phrase would be you daft bugger! But that’s what drives my creativity, that waiting for the sun to lift and clear the night. This year Kieran, who was also helping on the COAP stand in FRIAT, opted to join me, now there’s a silly bugger if ever there was 😀 Not knowing what he was getting himself into, he ventured into the dawn hour with me and I think rather enjoyed the adventure of seeing the airframes.

What I like about this time of day are the endless possibilities of colour and shadow, the sunlight picking that fine detail that you may not have noticed, then taking that shot. If you do it right there is peace, a time to relax into yourself and truly enjoy a moment alone with these beautiful aircraft, because very soon they’ll be showing their other side, the side that dances and sings to you.