Curious on the backstory behind the photos? This is the place. You'll find not only write ups on local outings, but also reviews of major events I’ve attended.
Burning The Midnight Oil
Burning the midnight oil! The men and women of both the USMC and USN stay busy day and night, as seen by the tremendous amount of action at this small southeastern Californian airport
When I visited Naval Air Facility El Centro earlier this year, I noticed an impressive number of USMC and USN helicopters passing by El Centro, instead of stopping at the nearby Imperial County Airport, which is roughly a 15-minute drive away. On one of the few days I was in the area, I decided to head down there and see what nightfall would bring. No more than five minutes after I arrived, three massive CH-53E Sea Stallions from MCAS Miramar arrived, and the festivities began.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have my tripod with me on this trip, so I found the flattest surface I could—the roof of my rental Dodge Ram. While this actually worked out fairly well, the immense CH-53s shook the entire ground even while parked and at idle power, remaining running as the crew chiefs hot-refueled their machine. This sometimes caused some of the night exposures to be unusable, as the shake would result in blurry photos. Not to be deterred, I kept adjusting my settings to account for this and managed to get satisfying results.
As I snapped away, I had to be conscious of my limited photo opportunities with these incredible machines. As quickly as they arrived, they departed into the darkness, with only faint slime lights visible and the thunderous sound fading into silence. Minutes later, I’d hear the noise pick up again as more helicopters approached—Vipers, Venoms, Seahawks, Ospreys, and even more Super Stallions.
It was an incredible amount of nonstop action, and to think this is a regular occurrence! Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how busy the men and women in uniform stay—training day and night—while many of us are already in bed, fast asleep. It definitely reminded me of that and only deepened my appreciation!
January 30, 2025 - Imperial County Airport (Imperial, California)
VERTICON 2025
The world’s largest vertical convention and trade show comes to Dallas!
Calling all helicopter enthusiasts!
Last week, I made my way to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas to witness the arrivals for the 2025 edition of VERTICON, the world’s largest trade show and conference focused on vertical aviation. Formerly known as the Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo, the event was rebranded last year to better reflect the evolving landscape of vertical aviation.
The array of helicopters on display was nothing short of impressive. From the compact Guimbal Cabri G2 to the heavy-duty Super Puma, a wide array of vertical markets was covered. One highlight for me was spotting a rare classic—the Bell 214ST, which filled the area with its unmistakable "Huey sound" long before it came into view. Alongside these impressive aircraft, we saw a diverse lineup of operators, including QuikTrip's Bell 429 and VHI's freshly restored Sikorsky S-92.
As the helicopters arrived, I was captivated by the VERTICON team, who expertly and swiftly disassembled the blades from many of the helicopters, making them fit through the convention center doors before reassembling them inside, where they could be displayed safe from the elements.
It was truly enjoyable to see VERTICON take place in an area with such a rich heritage in the rotorcraft industry. Looking ahead, the next event is scheduled for March 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia!
March 2025 - Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (Dallas, Texas)
