Know When To Fold 'Em by bmac62
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Got to zoom in on this one.
Yesterday we witnessed this Corsair preparing for takeoff in "Corsair Pilot",...today we are witnessing its' unique actions taxiing back after landing.
Many of you hopefully recognize the title for this collage as words sung by Kenny Rogers in his hit song, "The Gambler". When I first looked at this series of images, the title took care of itself.
While taking these photographs in rapid sequence, I was jostling with a half dozen other spectators for unobstructed views in front of a crowd. Please excuse the fact that two of these six images are slightly blurry. Just know that the end result was due to both movement of the aircraft and of the photographer :-) Thank goodness for Image Stabilization (IS) or the jostling would have rendered these images useless.
Thank you for all your comments and favorites. Enjoy your weekend!!! May you see a bit of blue sky between the raindrops.
Bill
P.S. Can you see why Skipper62 refers to himself as "Broke Wing Fighter Jock"? He just came along a little later flying the F-4 Phantom...but the principle is the same. Folding wings on aircraft carriers results in more aircraft fitting into tight spaces.

Comments (23)
Woot! Fantastic set of photos, Bill. I notice he brings in the flaps before the fold starts. Thanks for posting this series.
So interesting, Bill! A great series of pics!
A brilliant sequential set of photos Bill, you provide such insight into aircraft, thanks for sharing
Super presentation here!
Super set of photos.
Excellent collage and presentation... !!!!
Fab. Really great series of photo's! Well done. And yeah! Thank goodness for IS. Many a photo of mine would be useless too if not for this. Many thanks for this great series of pics! Rob.
Brilliant collage Bill, and more great reference points.Guess you have to time this right, folding the wings too soon must make taxiing impossible from a visibility point of view. Great images.
Excellent sequential photos. Thanks for sharing.
Fantastic Bill!!! On the title... before I read your narrative I was humming "The Gambler"... Hehehe...
Can't beat this series! A favorite!
Nicely done montage.
so well done sequence, Bill!
Wonderful series and good photography. Was up close and personal with one of these gull winged beauties on Wednesday last. There are several of the WWII birds sitting on the hangar deck of the "Yorktown" in a like new "outward" appearance. Good thought about the broke winged fighter jock.. Unfortunately I was not referring to the bird, but me. Walked across the parking lot yesterday and heard from behind in a loud voice. Hey old, I do mean old, Swabbie Aviator. T'was our Buddy Buck, the former CG 8th Air Force, also an F-4 Jock uttering those sounds. He's a couple of years older than I so I replied in the saltiest Naval language I could muster, given the circumstance of where we were. ;-)) Cheers, Skipper 62 Broke wing fighter jock
Splendid sequence of shots considering the adverse photo conditions you had to endure, and I like the cascading effect of the collage. Just like a deck of cards. Glad you had that Image Stabilization feature to save the day.
A wonderful sequence of captures and the plane looks rather nice all folded up.
Wow! Great collage!
You did a wonderful job of capturing this Bill, especially for those of us who have never seen it. Truly unique work my friend :)
Very nice sequence. I'm particular to this plane. ----------------------- (As for the title, it reminded me of a newbie A-7H pilot whose left wing folded in take off, in my country in'99. Had met the boy when he was fresh out of the Academy, and into OTU.) P.
Amazing that they had the technology and ability to achieve this back then...lucky for us....
The engine is clearly not running so some sort of APU or accumulator is doing this. a battery? No carts, wires or hoses/pipes hooked. A cartridge? A really long tail wheel gear, too.
this is a stunning series of shots, Bill, never seen a plane folding its wings
Great series!