Photography & Article by Jason Cober
For most of us, the closest we’ll get to an active runway during an airshow is the spectator fence line – a line of rope separating us from the performers and their planes. How many of us have looked up at the Air Boss on their elevated platform and wished we could photograph the airshow from their perspective? Or what if we could stand at the end of the runway and photograph those head-on passes as a World War II-era fighter screams down at us at 400-plus miles per hour. What if we could photograph those same planes at night under a sky full of stars while nearby a bonfire roars and those legendary pilots recount their exploits to us mere mortals. What if I told you there was a place where you could experience all this and more? It’s not in a cornfield in Iowa but rather the small town of Ninety Six, South Carolina.
Each year, renowned airshow pilot Thom Richard hosts the American Dream Skyranch Photo Shootout at his private strip in South Carolina. This year’s event was held in May and included an aerobatic camp that drew aspiring airshow pilots and several ICAS ACEs. The three-day event features all the up-close and personal access an aviation photographer could ask for and then some.
Attending an event at the Skyranch is difficult to describe to those who have not yet been – to say it’s an experience is an understatement. The private airfield includes a 3,400-foot grass runway with an aerobatic box allowing Thom and his guests to perform their airshow routines. During the event’s first year, attendees were greeted by the sight of Thom’s P-40 “American Dream” parked in front of the main hangar. This year’s iteration featured the FM-2 Wildcat that Thom will be flying during airshow season. Walking the grounds, there’s no telling what you may find. In one hangar is the jet engine from a MiG-17. Another hangar holds the remains of Precious Metal – Thom’s former Reno Air Races P-51.
Not only is there constant flying, but there are endless opportunities to capture great photos. At the Ranch, photographers are afforded the freedom to let their imagination run wild. Some photographers bring models for pin-up photos while others work with pilots to get rare up-close photos in and around their planes. While these opportunities are seldom available at airshows, photos taken here are often used in promotional content for the performers. The grounds also feature multiple elevated positions to shoot from. An elevated stand is positioned near mid-field where photographers can shoot from about 20 feet in the air. A small two-seat helicopter is also available to photographers who want to shoot from an even higher vantage point.
The highlight of the event is undoubtedly the flying action. Each day, as the sun begins to go down, the activities pick up. Evening flights start with air-to-air ops where photographers can ride in the back of a T-6 Texan and photograph Thom flying one of his planes. While passengers are swapping out of the T-6s, Thom makes low passes down the runway. The passes are coordinated via radio with ground handlers who allow the photographers to walk out onto the runway to photograph Thom’s head-on passes. These passes are carefully organized, and Thom always pulls up so he’s no lower than 500 feet above the assembled photographers. The results are some of the rarest photos an aviation photographer can capture.
As the sun goes down, the planes are arranged for night engine runs. Sunsets at the Skyranch are incredible and golden hour photography during these events produces amazing results. Each year features a unique array of subjects for the night engine run. The first year featured three P-40s and two T-6 Texans. This year, the night engine run featured the F-2F Wildcat, a T-6 Texan, and a NE-1 Cub in US Navy colors.
After the night engine runs conclude, the planes are repositioned once again. Because of its remote location and minimal light pollution, the Skyranch is an excellent setting to capture incredible night sky photos, and the organizers expertly arrange the planes in several locations on the field for prime nighttime photos. Saturday night usually features a massive bonfire to kill time while waiting for the milky way to appear above the horizon. Like all things at the Ranch, you should expect the unexpected – even after dark. From using a flamethrower to light the bonfire to a surprise fireworks display, the spectacle never ends.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the camaraderie and friendship that this event has generated over the years. The event is a fantastic opportunity to not only meet and spend a weekend with other aviation photographers but it’s also a rare chance to get to know the airshow performers on a personal level. Events at the Skyranch are a must for any aviation photographer and we always look forward to the next one.
