Description

P-51D Mustang Flyby.  In this horizontal composition, a strikingly painted red, white, blue, and black on silver WWII fighter flies by, set against a cloudless blue sky.  The shot is exceptionally close, and combined with a fast shutter speed freezing the motion of the airplane, and lot of detail is preserved– the pilot is clearly visible in the cockpit.  Just a little motion blur is evident in the spinning propeller, helping to preserve the sense of motion.  The airplane is banked slightly towards the viewer, giving a good view of the upper surfaces of the aircraft.  The strong, direct sunlight provides good contrast and color saturation.

The P-51 Mustang was built by North American Aviation and was used in World War II and the Korean War and other conflicts.  It was designed as a long range fighter, its primary role originally escorting heavy bombers, and as a fighter-bomber.  As the war progressed and air victories against German fighters mounted, the role of the fighter switched to taking on ground targets with its six .50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns and (later) rockets.  With an engine developing over 1500 hp, the P51 could attain a speed of 437 mph and an altitude of nearly 42,000 feet.  Nearly 10,000 of the P-51D variant were built, this variant having a bubble canopy.  This P-51D was photographed at the 2015 Oregon International Air Show at Hillsboro Airport, near Portland, Oregon.  See my other photos of P-51 Mustangs (both the P-51C and the P-51D), and many other military, classic, and stunt aircraft. Prints, greeting cards, and iPhone cases featuring this image can be purchased from me through FineArtAmerica.  Stock photo.