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Ed Greenberg | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Flying with the Red Baron Squadron tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Flying with the Red Baron Squadron

Once in a while, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes a-knocking. When it does, it's wise to heed the call. This was one of those special opportunities. Judy has always been something of a sweepstakes junkie and entered for -- and won -- a ride for her and a guest (me!) with the Red Baron Squadron. This is an aerobatic team that has been flying 1940s-vintage open-cockpit Stearman biplanes since 1979, and this sweepstakes was a 25th anniversary promotion. We had a wonderful time flying with two excellent pilots in their beautiful, fully-restored aircraft, including being treated to a selection of their favorite aerobatic maneuvers. It was truly a ride to remember for a lifetime.

We managed to take several short videos while aloft. They can be accessed by clicking HERE. Note that these clips are fairly large and will take a while to download, even via a broadband Internet connection. To view thee videos, you must have the Apple QuickTime player on your computer.


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This is the real deal!
This is the real deal!		 We arrive at Marana Airport, north of Tucson
We arrive at Marana Airport, north of Tucson		 Inside the Skyrider Coffee Shop
Inside the Skyrider Coffee Shop		 This wall hanging seems appropriate for the day
This wall hanging seems appropriate for the day
The Red Baron Pizza Squadron
The Red Baron Pizza Squadron		 Pilots prepare for takeoff
Pilots prepare for takeoff		 Taxiing away
Taxiing away		 The media was hosted on this flight
The media was hosted on this flight
Toward the runway
Toward the runway		 Throttle up!
Throttle up!		 Ready for takeoff
Ready for takeoff		 Returning from the media tour
Returning from the media tour
Judy hangs out with the Red Baron team
Judy hangs out with the Red Baron team		 John Bowman is the lead pilot for the Red Baron Squadron
John Bowman is the lead pilot for the Red Baron Squadron		 The other sweepstakes winner and guest return from their flight
The other sweepstakes winner and guest return from their flight		 They look none the worse for the experience
They look none the worse for the experience
Red Baron pilots and red sports car
Red Baron pilots and red sports car		 It's our turn to fly!
It's our turn to fly!		 Judy is escorted to her plane
Judy is escorted to her plane		 Up close and gorgeous
Up close and gorgeous
Jim Keller, Ed's pilot, readies our plane
Jim Keller, Ed's pilot, readies our plane		 View from Judy's plane
View from Judy's plane		 View from Ed's plane
View from Ed's plane		 Erick Nodland, Judy's pilot, is readying their plane for takeoff
Erick Nodland, Judy's pilot, is readying their plane for takeoff
Not the Red Baron
Not the Red Baron		 Jim is busy strapping himself in
Jim is busy strapping himself in		 Vital statistics
Vital statistics		 Rolling away
Rolling away
Taxiiing out
Taxiiing out		 That's Judy's plane in the lead
That's Judy's plane in the lead		 We're on our way
We're on our way		 Taking off in tandem
Taking off in tandem
Up and away!
Up and away!		 Close formation
Close formation		 Looking back at the airport
Looking back at the airport		 The joy of open cockpit flight
The joy of open cockpit flight
Not your usual flying experience
Not your usual flying experience		 Judy enjoys the spectacular view
Judy enjoys the spectacular view		 Flying away from the airport
Flying away from the airport		 Heading east, crossing over I-10
Heading east, crossing over I-10
Time to do some twists and turns
Time to do some twists and turns		 Judy at two o'clock high!
Judy at two o'clock high!		 Judy and Erick do some rolls...
Judy and Erick do some rolls...		 ... and wind up on our port side
... and wind up on our port side
We also did some loops
We also did some loops		 Looking back toward Ed and Jim
Looking back toward Ed and Jim		 We also did a hammerhead maneuver
We also did a "hammerhead" maneuver		 And Judy and Erick did a Cuban eight
And Judy and Erick did a "Cuban eight"
Jim kept a watchful eye on Ed
Jim kept a watchful eye on Ed		 Judy is kind of hunched down in the cockpit
Judy is kind of hunched down in the cockpit		 Judy looks back at us
Judy looks back at us		 Did I say CLOSE formation?
Did I say CLOSE formation?
Great view!
Great view!		 Judy watches Erick watching Judy
Judy watches Erick watching Judy		 These Stearmans feel very solid
These Stearmans feel very solid		 Judy and Ed are busy photographing each other
Judy and Ed are busy photographing each other
Back across the Interstate
Back across the Interstate		 Do we really have to go back?
Do we really have to go back?		 Erick says that the cables sing during flight
Erick says that the cables "sing" during flight		 Judy's view through the windshield of her plane
Judy's view through the windshield of her plane
Final approach
Final approach		 Landing
Landing		 Parking by our hangars
Parking by our hangars		 Getting turned around
Getting turned around
We're back!
We're back!		 Judy and Erick debrief
Judy and Erick "debrief"		 Jim Keller strikes a pose
Jim Keller strikes a pose		 Stearman-sized hangar
Stearman-sized hangar
Proud pilot
Proud pilot		 Tucked away for the night
Tucked away for the night		 This makes it official!
This makes it official!		 Jupiter approves of this Red Baron Pizza
Jupiter approves of this Red Baron Pizza
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comment | share
Rick Barter 29-Nov-2009 08:00
I am based at Marana since 1992 and had come to know most of the Baron pilots including the late Sonny and Randy whom I'll always miss. I had lunch at the DM show with them a week before their accident. I hope all the ex Baron pilots are doing well. They did best aerobatics I have ever seen.
mark 03-Jun-2009 23:06
Great shots of the Barons! I've been up with them several times and am a Squadron collector. My office looks like a museum. Do you have any Red Baron items you'd sell?
Thanks,
Mark Steffen
Dave's Supermarket
Fairbury, IL
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