Air-to-Air Aerobatics with Josh Wilson

In early August, I was given the opportunity to get some air-to-air video of Josh Wilson and his Yakovlev Yak-50. Josh is an F-16 pilot for the 177th Fighter Wing out of Atlantic City and when he's not flying the F-16, he's flying his Yak. The aircraft is amazing - when the conditions are just right, Josh can have the airplane off the ground in under 100 feet! In the video, you'll see Josh fly some aerobatic maneuvers as I try my best to film it from the cockpit of a Starduster SA-300, owned by Josh's good friend Barry Straga. I apologize in advance, as the video from the air will be all over the place, as the Starduster is an open cockpit biplane and coupled with the fact that I had the HC52 with me, things did not go the way I had hoped they would. Josh, on the other hand, saw about 95% of the video and liked what he saw, despite the conditions and the warnings I threw at him.

As part of our preflight briefing, Josh stated he wanted to get some video that he's seen everywhere else except with his airplane, and we agreed to get that video. You'll see me get his ground start, follow him out to the taxiway, then the takeoff. Following the flyby, Barry and I jumped in the Stardancer for the air-to-air stuff while Josh held out over the airport waiting for us. The footage you see in this video is somewhat edited, but you will see it pop up in a promo video that Josh intends to put together. I told both Josh and Barry that a reshoot will need to be done with another camera!

I would like to thank Josh Wilson for allowing me to get to do this project as well as Barry Straga for letting me ride in the front seat of the Starduster and to get this video.

You can visit Josh's website at http://www.greasysideup.com .

If you are interested in purchasing DVDs of specific aircraft and/or of airshows, interested in anything and everything related to airshows (where the jet teams will show up, all airshow performers, airshow reports from airshows I have attended, previews of airshows I will be attending, etc.), a much more easier to navigate "version" of all of my videos, and/or everything there is related to aviation - including spotting guides to my favorite airports and military bases and aircraft factfiles, please take the time to check out Steve's Airshow World at http://www.stevesairshow.com .

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Josh
• Wilson
• GreasySideUp
• Greasy
• Side
• Up
• Aerosports
• Aerobatics
• Yakovlev
• Yak-50
• Air-to-Air
• A2A
• Flight
• Starduster

[darrellparkhill]

6:05 That's a lot of rudder!

[leonscottkennedyre4]

love all his videos,lucky bastard gets too go everywhere

[GelandnaleG]

3:19pm Friday (CDT) -TimenMississippiMrMomonii

9:13 15:51Did you just hear Prop Fly Over?Maybe.

3:19pm Friday (CDT) -TimenMississippiMrMomonii

[MrMomonii]

haha I saw u at the 2010 airshow. :) Nice Stuff

[darrellparkhill]

Yup!

[SaberTanker22]

was that his parachute he was putting on in the aircraft.

[JManGuitar5150]

Josh was performing at the AC air show today, even though it wasn't on the program.

[sergeant137]

Josh looks like a good pilot... i look forward to seeing him at Lancaster in a few weeks

[nj4x4fever2]

You definately have some great camera skills, how are you holding the camera(What camera mount are you using?) and what type of Camera are you using for all these cool videos?

[SuperUrocks]

what airport was that

[airshowfansh]

Haha thanks! I wouldn't consider myself lucky...