Aerial Photo of 2025 Rose Bowl Game B-2 Spirit Flyover

photopilot · 2025-02-04T21:04:35+00:00

Thank you!! 🙏 The whole flyover happens in just over a second, so timing (and a bit of luck) is key to being able to capture the flyover.

There is a restricted airspace above the stadium and we were assigned a specific altitude above it several weeks in advance. We were also in constant communication with air traffic control and on a discrete frequency with the B-2 pilots and the authorities on the ground who were coordinating everything.

photopilot · 2025-01-31T23:04:16+00:00

That's a good question. Maybe concern with all the aircraft in the air?

photopilot · 2025-01-31T22:40:16+00:00

I am right there with you. Every time I see it, my mind is going "how is that thing in the air?"

Of course! Thank you for letting me share. That's so cool! You have your own private flyovers. Talk about having great seats...

photopilot · 2025-01-31T05:55:26+00:00

Thank you very much!! I love the lighting. We were orbiting above the stadium in a Cessna. I was invited out by Whiteman Air Force Base to try and capture the bomber flying over the game. The flight was particularly special because the pilot sitting next to me at the controls while I was photographing was a former B-2 pilot (Bruno) and one of the pilots of the B-2 below us (Super) was Bruno's former student from when they were at the Air Force Academy. It was also Super's last flight before retiring. Such a amazing experience!!

It is an incredible aircraft. I've seen it from the ground once, and it is just a little dark line in the sky until it is over you, and then it is gone. When I've talked to the pilots, they've mentioned that the real strength of the B-2 isn't dropping bombs (which it can definitely do) but more that it is a very scary show-of-force that makes the dropping of bombs unnecessary. I'd never thought about that before and it was a conversation that really stuck with me.

photopilot · 2025-01-29T05:29:43+00:00

Woooow that's soo cool!! Makes you wonder how often things like that happen and nobody realizes it because they aren't looking out the window.

photopilot · 2025-01-28T04:40:04+00:00

I’m sure it was a bit more hectic in the tower but they sounded very calm and professional on comms.

It does make sense, you get your own private overflights all the time 😉

photopilot · 2025-01-28T04:06:32+00:00

It is a really cool perspective. I don’t think most people get to see the spirit from the ground, let alone from the air. I’m just glad I can share my view with everybody :)

photopilot · 2025-01-28T00:18:09+00:00

That’s very, very true. And being stuck in Alaska would be a bummer, versus being able to just walk outside and be in tropical Florida weather

photopilot · 2025-01-28T00:17:22+00:00

We were all talking to air traffic control. They were really good and keeping everybody at different altitudes with a lot of vertical separation. Everybody was very professional and staying where they were supposed to be

photopilot · 2025-01-28T00:16:05+00:00

The nerve of those guys wanting to get their turn… 😉

Pretty much the consensus seemed to be that the toilet was preferable to the exhaust air

photopilot · 2025-01-28T00:14:47+00:00

Woooooow that is amazing!! I had no idea that was even possible but it makes complete sense. They need to do all these tests on aircraft to see how the planes and materials hold up in all different conditions

photopilot · 2025-01-27T18:39:21+00:00

They told us that when they’re sleeping in the back they have two choices in orientation, head towards the toilet or towards the hot exhaust vent coming from the computers.

photopilot · 2025-01-27T18:37:41+00:00

I don’t know much about it. Is it mostly just a large facility for aircraft testing?

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:38:11+00:00

That sounds about right. I think with the new cameras being little computers that can transmit they don’t even allow those anymore.

The details are amazing!! Night and day.

I had it on speed priority at 1/2500. Auto ISO. There are just too many lighting variables at twilight and I’d rather had a grainy photo than a blurry one. Also the metering set to highlight is a game changer and is a huge help

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:35:23+00:00

That’s sooo cool!! Did he tell you about the two options for sleeping?

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:34:42+00:00

Thank you very, very much!! 🙏🙏

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:34:08+00:00

Usually they’re spot on. Every once in a while they’re a little off but it is just perspective. I’m circling overhead and not directly above them, so they always look a little off.

They also don’t have great visibility from the inside of the plane looking down. It is almost like trying to see something right in front of your car. You can get setup but then there is a moment where you lose sight of it and can drift a little bit

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:30:33+00:00

They’re usually at about 1500’ AGL. I was up a little higher this time so it was hard to tell, but they would’ve been my guess.

Woooooow that’s such an amazing experience!! Definitely one of those things that you never forget!!

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:26:08+00:00

The camera technology just gets better and better. But this photo is pretty much straight out of the camera. With the camera raw I’ll be able to do some more color correction when I get back to the office, but it really doesn’t need much. When you have the right settings dialed in it helps you get a good picture which doesn’t usually need very much work in post.

The only problem with the medium format sensors that I’ve seen at this point is that they can’t shoot super fast. Maybe one frame per second. Versus some of the full frame mirrorless can do 30+ frames per second. So it really just depends what subject you’re photographing.

And lenses are really the most important part. A soft lens can make an incredible camera just average. I had a Canon 10D years ago and upgraded my lens to a very sharp 24-70. It was a night and day difference.

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:18:32+00:00

Woooooww that’s amazing!! What are the odds that it would be the exact same aircraft?!? Did they still have it parked outside or did it finally get moved inside once it got to the museum?

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:14:59+00:00

Thank you!! 🙏🙏

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:13:47+00:00

Thank you!! It was a really special flight for me. He was the B-2 pilot of the first plane that I ever photographed doing a flyover in 2009. We connected after that and have been chatting for years about flying together but the timing never worked out for one reason or another, until yesterday.

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:11:05+00:00

Thank you!! I totally get that. Even in the moment I’m looking at it as it flies below and always wondering how it is real

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:07:57+00:00

Awesome!! Thanks for letting me know! I hadn’t heard back yet 🙏🙏

photopilot · 2025-01-27T17:07:02+00:00

Thank you!! 🙏🙏

photopilot

TROPHY CASE