Aerial Photographer and Latitude Image partner, Dave Cleaveland, scored a dream ride in the back of a WWII TBM Avenger airplane and has the pictures to prove it!
Fans of WWII vintage warplanes took to the tarmacs of KIWI Municipal Airport in Wiscasset, Maine this week to attend the air-show extravaganza featuring the Texas Flying Legends. Dave Cleaveland, hot off a three-day celebration of his ‘milestone’ 50th birthday, attended the show to shoot a video for the town of Wiscasset. Though there to work, Dave admits, “I love military aircraft, and especially vintage military aircraft, so I would have been there anyway.”
The day’s events, which included live music, an antique autos showcase, and a fireworks display, were capped off by the flying talents of the Texas Flying Legends. Dave says, “We were just finishing up a short briefing about a flight that was about to happen with an Avenger TBM-3E (a WWII torpedo/bomber), when Dennis, the guy in charge of the event, asked if there was anything we needed.” Still “basking in the glow” of his birthday weekend, Dave says, “I told him I'd like to be in the back seat for the flight. The rest, as they say, is history!”
From the TBM Avenger, to the P-51D Mustang, the FG-1D Corsair, and the P-40K Warhawk, Dave honors the strength of the machines as they speed through the skies in the light of day and as they stand impressive on the tarmac under the night sky. “After learning that the vintage WWII aircraft ... were to be left on the tarmac for me to shoot, I [waited] 90 minutes for the crews to break down and truck off the staging and lights from the night’s musical show. When I was finally the last one on the tarmac, alone with four beautiful, vintage, WWII aircraft, I went to work.” The result? A testament to the Texas Flying Legend’s motto “To Inspire the Young and Honor the Heroes.”