Welcome to the home hangar of Rick Charles Aviation Photography: Imagery of Flight and Red Air Military Aviation Images. All my life I have been drawn to the majesty of flight. Naturally, creating imagery of magnificent machines in the air, especially helicopters and float planes, has been a passion of mine since the 1980s. Unfortunately, aircraft in flight can't wait to be posed. There are no do-overs. That's the challenge...and the fun. While modern photographic technology is wonderful and can fix photographer errors, there is no substitute for understanding aviation and knowing where and when to be at that right spot in order to capture that great image.
This page showcases some of the imagery I have taken over the years. This site is a continuous work in progress so come back often. I hope you appreciate my images as much as I enjoy sharing them. -- Rick
HELICOPTERS
Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)
A Johns Hopkins University STATMedEvac Airbus EC-135 (MBB BK-117C2) lifts off the rooftop helipad at Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, VA, January 2021.
"To Dare is to Do". Dare County (NC) EMS' "Dare MedFlight", an Airbus Helicopters EC-145, on short final to its base at Dare County Airport (KMQI), Dare County, North Carolina, July 2020.
Virginia Commonwealth University's "Life Evac 1", an Airbus Helicopters EC-145, lands on the rooftop helipad at Chippenham Hospital, Chesterfield County, VA, December 2020
Airbus Helicopters EC-135 of Phi Air Medical "AirCare 1" landing at its base at Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF), Manassas, VA, November 2020.
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital operates their "Nightingale" MEDEVAC service with this Airbus Helicopters EC-145 helicopter from its Downtown Norfolk rooftop helipad, Norfolk, VA, March 2019.
PHI Air Medical "AirCare 2", a Bell 407, lifts off backwards from its base at Shannon Airport (KEZF), Fredericksburg, VA, March 2019.
Law Enforcement
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Sikorsky S-76 overflies Shannon Airport (KEZF), Fredericksburg, VA, June 2020.
OK, so its a boring image of a Blackhawk taking off...or is it? This isn't just any old Blackhawk which is why this image is special. This very camera-shy Sikorsky UH-60M supports the FBI's elite domestic counter-terrorist unit, the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). This Blackhawk is assigned to the FBI's Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) Tactical Helicopter Unit (THU). Image captured at Stafford Regional Airport (KRMN), Stafford, VA, October 2020
Fairfax County Police Department's Bell 429, "Fairfax One", on short final to its temporary base at Manassas Regional Airport (KHEF), Manassas, VA, Npvember 2020.
Virginia Beach Police Department's MD Helicopters MD530F ready for action at its base in Virginia Beach, VA, December 2019.
Virginia Beach Police Department's Bell 206 and MD Helicopters MD530F at their base in the Princess Anne Community, Virginia Beach, VA, July 2019.
New York Police Department's Bell 412EP conducting diver insertion drill, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY, April 2019.
New York Police Department's Bell 429 conducting ESU (Emergency Services Unit) operator rappelling drill, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, April NY, 2019.
New York Police Department's Bell 412EP launching from its base, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY, April 2019.
"Sic Semper Tyrannis"--Thus Always to Tyrants--of the Virginia State Police patch on the fuselage of their Airbus Helicopters EC-145, Chesterfield Airport (KFCI), Chesterfield County, VA, July 2018.
Red Air Military Aviation Images: Military Helicopters
U.S. Air Force Bell UH-1N of the 1st Helicopter Squadron landing at the South Capitol Street Heliport, Washington, DC, August 2020.
U.S. Navy Sikorsky MH-60R from VX-1, NAS Patuxent River, sits on runway 06 while crew member takes care of lunch at Shannon Airport (KEZF) while doing some pattern work, Fredericksburg, VA, December 2020.
U.S. Navy Sikorsky MH-60R from VX-1, NAS Patuxent River, lifts off from runway 06 at Shannon Airport (KEZF) while doing some pattern work, Fredericksburg, VA, December 2020.
Civilian
"Who's looking at Who?" A Bell 407 used by New York City's WABC-TV "Eyewitness News", Channel 7, with its nose camera pointed at me, lands at the fuel pit after the morning news mission, Linden Airport (KLDJ), Linden, NJ, April 2019.
Another "Who's looking at Who?" A Bell 407 used by New York City's WNBC-TV, Channel 4, also with its nose camera pointed at me, departs from the fuel pit after the morning news mission, Linden Airport (KLDJ), Linden, NJ, April 2019.
A Bell 206 used by New York City's WPIX-TV, Channel 11, departs from the fuel pit after the morning news mission, Linden Airport (KLDJ), Linden, NJ, April 2019.
FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT
Commercial - Passenger
American Airlines Boeing 787-900 on short final to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) Runway 18R, Grapevine, Texas, October 2018.
Former Tiger Airways (now Scoot) Airbus A320 on short final to Runway 07L, Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok International Airport (VHHH), March 2014.
British Airways "Queen of the Skies" (Boeing 747-400) on short final to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) Runway 18R, Grapevine, Texas, October 2018.
Close up of the Queen. British Airways "Queen of the Skies" (Boeing 747-400) on short final to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) Runway 18R, Grapevine, Texas, October 2018.
China Eastern Airline's Airbus A330 lands on Runway 07L at Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok International Airport (VHHH), March 2014.
An American Eagle Embraer E170 regional jet is caught on short final to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) Runway 18R, Grapevine, Texas, October, 2018.
The American Flag, which adorns Terminal E, reflects on the chrome of an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 parked at a gate in Terminal C at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), Texas, October 2018.
A JetBlue A320 arrives at Orlando International Airport (KMCO) in between summer Florida thunderstorms, Orlando, FL, Summer 2018.
A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER lands on Runway 18R at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) flying in from Hamad International Airport (OTHH), Doha, Qatar, October 2018.
An American Airlines Boeing 777-200 lands on Runway 18R at Dallas=Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), October 2018.
Commercial - Freighters
One of my all-time favorite images, Polar Air Cargo's Boeing 747-400F freighter takes off on Runway 33, Ted Stevens International Airport (PANC), Anchorage, AK, May 2012.
A United Parcel Service McDonnell-Douglas MD-11F "Tri-Holer" taxis into the UPS ramp in the afternoon sun at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), September, 2018.
A United Parcel Service Airbus A300F on short final to Runway 18R at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW), October, 2018.
More images coming soon.
Red Air Military Aviation Images
U.S. Air Force T-38A of the 1st Fighter Wing departs from Langley AFB, Virginia (KLFI), April 2, 2021.
U.S. Air Force trio of bombers (B-1B, B-2A, B-52H) in formation for Super Bowl LV Flyover, Tampa, Florida, February 7, 2021.
1st Fighter Wing F-22A Raptor in full afterburner and leaving contrails during unrestricted climb out of Langley AFB, VA, January 2021.
A "4-ship" of backlit T-38s, with callsign of "Yeti", from the 71st Fighter Training Squadron "Ironmen", 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, VA, returning to base in an "echelon-left" formation about to begin the overhead break, January 2021.
"BOBCAT 02": United States Air Force F-22A Raptor of the 1st Fighter Wing (Tailcode: FF), Langley AFB, VA, leaving some contrails while taking off on Runway 26, December 2020.
"BASH 01": Nose-on look of a U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptor of the 192nd Fighter Wing (FF), Virginia Air National Guard, Langley AFB, VA, while taking off on Runway 26, December 2020.
A U.S. Air Force T-38 of the 71st Flying Training Squadron "Ironmen", 1st Fighter Wing (FF), Langley AFB, VA, takes off to serve as "Red Air" or "Raptor Bait" to train F-22 pilots in air-to-air combat training, December 2020
A U.S. Air Force Boeing EC-135 aircraft from the 6th Airborne Command and Control Squadron, Langley AFB, VA. being refueled in flight from a New Jersey Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker of the 150th Air Refueling Squadron somewhere over the Mid-Atlantic United States, circa 1987. Image converted from slide.
A Virginia Air National Guard A-7D Corsair II attack aircraft from the 192nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Richmond International Airport (RIC), VA. settles into the "pre-contact position" below the air-refueling boom before being refueled in flight from a New Jersey Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker of the 150th Air Refueling Squadron somewhere over the Mid-Atlantic, Summer 1987. Image converted from chrome.
A Virginia Air National Guard A-7D Corsair II attack aircraft from the 192nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Richmond International Airport (RIC), VA. coming off the boom after being refueled in flight from a New Jersey Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker of the 150th Air Refueling Squadron somewhere over the Mid-Atlantic, Summer 1987. Image converted from chrome.
F-16 pilot of the 169th Tactical Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, readies for takeoff, McEntire ANG Base, SC, circa 1986. Image converted from chrome.
F-15A Eagle from the 405th Tactical Training Wing, Luke AFB, AZ, arrives at Naval Air Station Dallas for some air-to-air training against United States Navy Reserve and United States Marine Corps Reserve F-4s, Grand Prairie, TX, circa 1985. Image converted from Chrome.
A U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber (only later was it given the name "Lancer") flying off the right wing of a 7th Bomb Wing KC-135 after air-to-air refueling somewhere over Texas, circa 1986. Image converted from chrome.
A U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber taking on gas from a 7th Bomb Wing KC-135 during air-to-air refueling somewhere over Texas, circa 1986. Image converted from chrome.
A U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber flying in the "pre-contact" position behind a 7th Bomb Wing KC-135 during air-to-air refueling somewhere over Texas, circa 1986. Image converted from chrome.
Federal Aviation Administration Gulfstream G-IV, with registration "N1", is based at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's Hangar 6 and used by the U.S. Department of Transportation senior leadership, Arlington, VA, July 2017
More images coming soon.
General Aviation
An airworthy 1940 Douglas DC-3A sits on the ramp at Shannon Airport (KEZF), Fredericksburg, VA, January 2021.
The "office" end of a 1940 Douglas DC-3A sits on the ramp at Shannon Airport (KEZF), Fredericksburg, VA, January 2021.
Four Stearman PT-17 Kaydet aircraft sit on the ramp at Shannon Airport (KEZF), Fredericksburg, VA, June 2020.
A Cessna O-2 Skymaster sits in front of a December sky at Shannon Airport (KEZF), Fredericksburg, VA, December 2020.
Kenmore Air's Dehavilland-Canada DHC-2 Beaver and DHC-3 Turbo Otter "Orca" float planes operating commuter service on Lake Union, Seattle, WA, June 2017.
While this image is nothing special I do like the Orca scheme, "Protect Wild Orcas", and glad I was able to catch this special DeHavilland-Canada DHC-3 Turbo Otter in the short time I was at Kenmore Air. Here, she taxis out from her dock for afternoon commuter service at her seaplane base on Lake Union, Seattle, WA, June 2017. Please visit www.wildorca.org
More images coming soon.
Aviation Places
FedEx Air Cargo ramp at Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) as the late afternoon sun starts to set over the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles, CA, September 2018.
More images coming soon!
Aviation People
Images coming soon!
All images copyright 2021 Polaris Imagery LLC
Credits:
Copyright Rick Charles Aviation Photography (Polaris Imagery LLC) 2021