YOSEMITE

Friday Photo: Yosemite National Park

We planned a trip that would combine training with some unforgettable scenery. The route took us over Yosemite and Monterey on the way west, with a return leg featuring views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley, and Lake Tahoe. It was a productive flight—and a spectacular one.
clouds above

Friday Photo: Clouds Above

A flight to explore some of the backcountry strips around Northwest Arkansas did not go exactly as planned. Winds were stronger than expected, and they were swirling in the hills. Most of the strips I planned to visit were blown out. I do this for fun, and these landings would not have been fun. So, I just spent a couple of Hobbs Hours flying around and seeing the sights. Sometimes, the best sight is in the sky above.
sunrise

Friday Photo: Sunrise Over the Atlantic

Several times per week I fly back and forth from my home in Ocean Reef (Key Largo) to my office in Fort Lauderdale in my 182. This particular morning at Sunrise was simply awe inspiring. Detached from the earth, the majesty of flight is a profound gift.
sr22

Friday Photo: Cruising Above LIFR

North Carolina back to Iowa, with LIFR blanketing much of the Midwest and the Blue Ridge. On the trip east, conditions lined up perfectly: the entire Cedar Rapids, Iowa (KCID)–Wilson, North Carolina (W03) leg flown at 11,000 feet with a 45-mph tailwind, 65% power LOP, and a comfortable landing with 19 gallons remaining (alternate plus a 45-minute reserve).

Five Favorite Friday Photos of 2025

Air Facts popular “Friday Photo” features some spectacular views and amazing memories to share with the aviation community. Thank you for those photos and we’re sure the best is yet to come. Enjoy these top 5 stunning photos from 2025.

Friday Photo: Spitfire Over St. Louis

The airshow was a myriad of wonderful performers and warbirds painting the blue skies with their passes. The sounds of the engines provided the soundtrack for what was just a wonderful and very memorable day. Seeing a Supermarine Spitfire passing by was truly a treat. It’s just amazing to think what these machines accomplished 80+ years ago. It’s a privilege to see them flying still today.
thunderstorm

Friday Photo: Deviating for Thunderstorms

Flying at 12,000 feet over St. Louis deviating around thunderstorms was like flying in the Canyons. Kudos to the Kansas Center facility for their help. It was a mostly smooth flight and a periodic aircraft wash.
backcountry

Friday Photo: Backcountry Airstrip

Precision flying in the backcountry can be important.  Thankfully, Byrds provides plenty of room for practicing precision.  The runway is long, the go around is forgiving, and the scenery is spectacular.  Just check the DA before you go in heavy.  There was plenty of runway, but I was spending the day trying not to waste any under my tires as I was working on spot landings.
salt lake

Friday Photo: The Color of Salt

Cruising toward Ogden on a smooth afternoon, I noticed the Great Salt Lake take on an unexpected shade of purple beneath me. The sun, the salt, and the sky seemed to blend together in a way I’d never seen before.

Friday Photo: Aeroshell at AirVenture

It was my first trip back to AirVenture in a long time.  Watching the airshow with my wife and tens of thousands of others who love all that Oshkosh provides.  The Aeroshell Team was and is one of my favorites.  The sounds of the radial engines, the massive amount of smoke, and the precision flying form an aerial ballet that touches my soul.
barnegat light

Friday Photo: Barnegat Light and Lighthouse

An evening slow flight over Ocean County barrier island in New Jersey at 1,200 feet. Excellent weather, no winds, and CAVU environment with the Barnegat Inlet and summer boaters below in the Barnegat Bay.
classics

Friday Photo: Classics, Old and New

Twelve days without flying is hard on the psyche. Finally, a break in the rains allowed me to hop up in the cub. My buddy, Brady, reached out, and we connected on the air to air frequency. He had to drag everything to slow to cub speeds for a brief interlude in the sky. An original classic with a new model based on a classic, made for a memorable encounter.
ifr

Friday Photo: IFR Over Saginaw, Michigan

Crusing at 13,000 feet between layers and around columns, we were enjoying 200+ knots over the ground in smooth air with some gorgeous views.
reflections

Friday Photo: Reflections

I had been out of the Cub for a while, so I was itching to get up for a flight.  Sometimes, the sole purpose of the flight is to fly.  And, this was such an occasion.  Finally, the spring skies cleared, the cross winds faded, and I could get up in the cub.  There was no plan for Mother Nature to put on the show that she did, but calm winds, a calm lake, and a few clouds provided the scenery in which I was in desperate need.
doc

Friday Photo: B-29 Superfortress Cockpit

My family was invited to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (KWRI) for family day to get a preview of their annual Power in the Pine Airshow. Unbeknownst to us, Doc was on the ramp and they were prepping for the show. We walked over and the Doc team immediately asked my son, "Do you want a tour of the inside?" My 8-year old son enthusiastically exclaimed "Yes!"

Friday Photo: Stearman

Its hard to have a better time than exploring AirVenture with a camera on a beautiful summer day.  The aircraft make the most beautiful subjects and the EAA grounds combined with the Wisconsin skies make for beautiful backgrounds.
thunderbirds

Friday Photo: Thunderbirds

This was at the recent Power in the Pines 2025 Airshow where JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst opens its doors to the public for free (yes, tax dollars at work) and hosts a spectacular airshow. This year the headlining act were none other than the USAF Thunderbirds!
Articles by Chris Schaich

Friday Photo: Glimpse of Gold

I was doing a walk around when this 737 taxied by. The golden light was quite stunning as the sun nestled into the horizon.  This particular aircraft is painted as "Missouri 1” but the livery that started the airline was called "Desert Gold”.
new york city skyline

Friday Photo: New York City Skyline

The mission was to fly from Martin State Airport (KMTN) to Monmouth Executive Airport KBLM to refuel and then up to the New York City Skyline Tour. I'll never forget being able to fly at 1500’ altitude along the skyscrapers, seeing the memorial of the twin towers, circle around the Statue of Liberty.
baltimore harbor

Friday Photo: Baltimore Harbor at Sunset

I typically fly west of the Washington D.C. area but I decided to fly over the Chesapeake Bay this time. The weather was clear, the ride was smooth, and the sunset view of Baltimore Harbor was absolutely spectacular. This might become my new route of choice when transitioning north/south of the D.C. area.