Prose: James Woodard
Photography: James Woodard, Ryan Kelly, Ryan Tykosh

How do you have a good weekend? For aviation geeks, any time spent around flying machines is absolutely one way to achieve that. How do you turn that good weekend into a great weekend? Add some friends into the mix. How do you turn a great weekend into an amazing weekend? Add some vintage combat aircraft, then mix in some spectacular photography opportunities. If any of that sounds appealing, then it is safe to say that Father's Day weekend 2021 was beyond amazing. 

Alongside two of my FDA brethren; Ryan Kelly and Ryan Tykosh, we attended this year's Warbird Weekend hosted by the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach. We have experienced this event in previous years, so what made this one special? Our good friend and all-around good dude Douglas Glover of 3G Aviation Media (you may remember FDA Podcast Episode Four with Doug) was hosting a ground workshop that we all signed up for. 

This workshop gave us exclusive access to shoot from the Goxhill control tower, an authentic WWII-era control tower from RAF Station Goxhill in Lincolnshire, England, where it was disassembled, shipped across the Atlantic, and rebuilt, brick by brick. This alone was a pretty special experience. Other events for the workshop included some reenactor opportunities and a sunset/evening shoot. But the biggest draw was the air-to-air flights 3G had organized. Three flights were scheduled: a TBM/Wildcat flight, a Spitfire/BF-109 flight, and a PBY Catalina flight as the evening approached. 

The photographer shooting from the photoship (which was really more of an oven, because that sh*t was HOT) with a plethora of feelings running through them can be considered the “end user” with the final product being the images we all hope to come away with. We all appreciate and understand that there is much more going on behind the scenes prior to us even knowing about the flights, but what are some of the major hurdles that go into setting up a successful photo flight? We spoke to Doug about the intense work and planning that goes into organizing such an event.

How far in advance did you start planning the MAM event?
DG: This one was a "shorter fuze" event than usual. We were brought into the planning for the Virginia Warbird Weekend about two and a half months prior to the event, which for us is late in the game! We usually have our events scheduled nine to twelve months in advance, so that by the time we announce our workshops, photographers still have room in their personal schedules and can find reasonably priced plane tickets and hotel reservations.  

Is it a group effort within 3G as to what potential targets you go after for A2A, how do you determine what subjects are involved?
DG: Most of the time it starts with a museum, collection, or aircraft owner that we want to work with contacting us, usually because we have spent time getting to know them at aviation events around the country over the past few years. Once an organization approaches us to schedule a workshop, we then take a look at the aircraft available and have a detailed planning meeting. Our planning always starts with what aircraft the organization wants (or needs) to be photographed, and then we build from there. We also try to look at the costs to fly the various subjects so that we can offer photographers a variety of aircraft and price points for the air-to-air events. We know how expensive it can get to put together a shoot, so we do our best to offer lower cost flights for photographers to experience first.  

What is the biggest hurdle, aside from the money, that had to be cleared to make the event a success?
DG: The biggest hurdle to an event like this is almost always getting the approval and buy-in from the museum's pilots. Aviation Photographers do not have a good reputation as a group in the warbird community, and as a result, you have to realize that there is always a great deal of "massaging" on the part of the 3G team to highlight why we want to fly with and photograph the aircraft, and more importantly, that we are going to be good stewards of the aircraft committed to the event. All too many times photographers act like they have little appreciation for the cost in time and money for the operation of the aircraft. That is why we firmly reject the notion that the so-called "Pay to Play" model is bad. In fact, we have found that it helps the aircraft collections put some money back into their organization, while providing them photos and video of their aircraft, and helping the photographers involved to build positive relationships with those collections, opening the doors to future photoshoot opportunities.  

As we have seen in the past, you must be flexible in the planning process due to mechanical issues, how do you deal with such changes?
DG: Be flexible, be relaxed and realize that they aren't your aircraft! As anyone who has spent time in and around aviation knows, aircraft will break, and they pick the least favorable locations or times to do it. The key to being relaxed and flexible is to build a plan that isn't tied to one specific aircraft. Even if you have your heart set on flying with one particular aircraft, if your attitude is right, and you're supporting the museum or collection you are flying with, then you will build in a prioritized list of backups. Those backups may be YOUR priority or they may be the collection's priority, but hopefully those two align somewhat and the swap-out of aircraft still gives you an opportunity to help tell the story of the collection via your images. 

What advice do you have to aviation photographers looking to get into the A2A world?
DG: Be Patient. Be a Good Person. Wipe down aircraft. Help tow or push them into position. Buy gas. All the same rules that you would follow if you went out on your friend's boat for the weekend. None of the opportunities that Tony and I have had over the years came to us on the quality of our photography alone. More often than not, the opportunities were extended to us based on trust and mutual respect established through personal relationships over time.  

What is the single biggest thing that you hope every photographer takes home with them after a 3G event, beside great images?
DG: If I had to boil it down to one word, it would be camaraderie. In fact, I think that is more important than great images in the overall scheme, as everyone will have off days as a photographer, and there will be days that weather and aircraft conspire against you. But at the end of an event, if you have a core group of professional friends that you enjoy working alongside, and sometimes even competing with, then you'll have a support network to get you and your photography through the tough times that will inevitably happen. 

What's next?
DG: I wish I knew! Tony and I are trying to be patient, as there is so much international travel that is prohibitive in time and cost right now, and we don't want to fly too many events before our overseas photographers have a chance to participate. We may offer one or two more events in the October to November timeframe, but we are really turning our attention to 2022 and where we can offer unique opportunities after the start of the year. Either way, 3G Aviation Photography Workshops are back. We have a lot more work to do in the coming months to rebuild, but we are excited for what the future holds and look forward to linking up with our aviation friends in the coming months.

Looking back at the event and going through the images, the sense of awe has not yet dissipated. Witnessing WWII-era Navy warbirds flying over the sea from this perspective is something very few people will ever get a chance to experience. It gives you a small sense of stepping back in time, looking out over a couple of patrolling WWII aircraft in beautiful formation, with the glorious blues of the ocean glistening below them. It was an experience worth treasuring for many years to come. 

Many thanks to Douglas Glover and Tony Granata of 3G Aviation Media, as well as Keegan Chetwynd, Director of Military Aviation Museum, and all the Staff at MAM for making the weekend a success that will not be forgotten.