Friday Photo: desert sunrise

We just happened to be in the right position as the sun burst through the clouds, not only illuminating the sky but also painting a brilliant yellow strip on the underside of our wing. Just as quickly, the sun was again obscured but we had a great beginning to our day. It’s been referenced before but on most days the view from a pilot’s office just can’t be matched.

Friday Photo: Glacier Peaks from a Luscombe

I was just starting flying lessons when the opportunity to go on this flight came up. I had not done any cross country flights before, and this was a great one to start out with. Dead reckoning, stopping at small airports across the US, and great scenery the whole way. Since this flight, I have finished my flight training and I now fly a 1947 Luscombe 8E.

Friday Photo: sunrise from an AWACS

This week's Friday Photo is a gorgeous picture of sunrise over Oklahoma, with thunderstorm clouds in the foreground. What makes the picture even more interesting is the photo platform: an Air Force E-3B Sentry AWACS airplane.

Friday Photo: Mt. Rainier in a frame

Mt. Rainier is a stunning sight for anyone, especially from the cockpit. But of all the in-flight mountain shots we've seen at Air Facts, this one may be the most interesting. Ethan Levi shares this great shot from his Mooney M20K on the way to Portland.

Friday Photo: astronaut runway

Flying over this runway made me think of the select number of people that have been able to see this sight picture through their windshield. Only astronauts and aviators have been able to see this great piece of American history.

Friday Photo: sunset over Long Island

It was just another flight into New York for airline pilot John Power. That is, until he looked up and saw a magnificent sunset over Long Island Sound, complete with some unusual clouds. As he says, "The office with the million dollar view lived up to its billing."

Friday Photo: Chinese Wall, Montana

This week's Friday Photo takes us to the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana, where the 12-mile long Chinese Wall offers a stunning display of Mother Nature's power. Pilot Jeff Morrison captured this spectacular vista at sunrise from an S-35 Bonanza.

Friday Photo: Boston civil twilight

There's nothing like a sunset when viewed from the cockpit of a light airplane. This week's Friday Photo is a striking example, and Frank Facchetti explains why this one has a little extra meaning for him.

Friday Photo: Sydney Harbour view

Seeing Sydney Harbour from Harbour scenic 2 with some friends on a command hour building flight, which doubled as a scenic flight. Sydney looks amazing from the air, Harbour scenics are a pilots dream, a short flight, but one with great memories that will last a lifetime.

Friday photo: Glacier Park, Montana

This week's Friday Photo takes us over the soaring peaks of Glacier Park, Montana. Pilot Wes Strubhar snapped this photo from his Cessna 182 on a flying B&B trip.

Friday photo: Burning Man 2015

For one week each year, the desolate Black Rock desert in Nevada becomes a swirling city of parties and new friendships - Burning Man. It even has its own airstrip, which pilot Jim Salters used to capture this aerial view of the temporary city.

Friday photo: Mt. Rainier from a Flybaby

Flying an open cockpit airplane versus a cabin airplane is like the difference between a car and a motorcycle, but without the traffic. There is a sense of oneness with the machine and the environment. A small, single-place, open cockpit airplane accentuates that even more.

Friday photo: a 6-year old’s first air-to-air shot

After a long summer day at the FBO the boys and I decided to go for a late evening airplane ride. Sullivan (6 years old) was very excited about the view out his window and I gave him my iPhone to take a picture. The result is an uncropped picture that to me that shows the joy of flying old airplanes, flying with friends and family.

Friday photo: Montana mountains

In our latest Friday Photo, aviation writer Amy Laboda shares a great shot of Bozeman Pass from their RV-10. It represented the end of a 1000 mile VFR flight, and a perfect summer vacation.

Friday photo: Chicago skyline

This week's Friday Photo shares the view from an annual aviation pilgrimage - the flight to Oshkosh in mid-summer. From many parts of the US, this flight means the chance to fly past the Chicago skyline, which offers a stunning view.

Friday Photo: Denali from an Aerostar

In the second installment of our Friday Photo series, Larry Baum shares a gorgeous shot of the famed Denali, from the cockpit of his Aerostar. Read about his long trip from New York to Alaska.

Friday photo: Manhattan skyline

Today we are kicking off our latest series, called simply the "Friday photo." Each week we'll share a great photo taken from the cockpit - one that shares the joy, beauty or fun of flying. First up is Ian Seager, with a stunning view of Manhattan.