AEROBATICS AIR TO AIR WITH

TEAM ORACLE by Emmanuel Canaan

There’s a special something about air-to-air photography that excites me like no other side of aviation photography. The feeling of being up in the air, mere feet away from a powerful machine in its element is difficult to describe in words. The best I can do is with this one word: Bliss. My first experience with air-to-air a couple of years ago, is what made me realize that aviation photography was the photography specialty I really wanted to pursue. While I shoot aircraft whenever I get the chance, air-to-air is that rare experience that I certainly don’t get to do every day. When an opportunity came up to shoot air-to-air photography with the Team Oracle aerobatic flight team, I jumped at the chance. I went into the experience expecting to ride in Team Oracle’s media aircraft (a Piper Seneca) while it flew in formation with their Extra 300L. I had a similar experience with the team in 2012, and that alone was amazing. My mind was completely blown, however, when Sean D. Tucker, who knew of my passion for air-to-air photography, offered me an unbelievable opportunity to not only do that, but also to fly a separate flight with him and his multi-talented teammate Chuck Coleman (in Chuck’s Extra 300L) as they performed synchronized formation aerobatics over Minnesota.

Chuck Coleman of Team Oracle takes me on an amazing ride in his Extra 300L while in formation with the aerobatic superstar Sean D. Tucker over the skies of Minnesota. Left Photo Sean D. Tucker is all smiles when the smoke is on as he and Chuck Coleman find some sun through a break in the clouds and use it to show off their beautiful flying machines.