There’s nothing quite like hearing a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine go whizzing by you. It’s just feels good. What’s amazing is how loud they are until you hear an F-16 or F-18 go by and then they seem quiet in comparison. In order to capture that feeling in a photograph one might think the plane has to be big but with a good background and a colorful subject, it doesn’t have to fill the frame.
Clouds are important, they give the feeling of speed to any flying subject. Certain ones are more interesting then others. Just as a blue sky is boring a full sheet of white clouds can be just as boring. Finding the hole in the clouds where there is a little more interest can add more to the story especially if the subject has just a little flash to it. This P-47 Thunderbolt from Lone Star Flight Museum has all the color needed with the orange tail and red cowling. The combination of color and wispy clouds creates that feeling of speed despite the size.