HAZER Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Hey, ARCers! As Colin K mentioned in my CC-177 post, my personal highlight from the Abbotsford Airshow. On Thursday, I was invited to fly with this years CF-18 demo pilot, Yanick "CRANK" Gregoire in CF-18 188913. This was a dream come true. I am not here to "rub it in anyone's face" but this all started with building models. Building models, led to photographing models, which led to photographing real jets for reference when building models, to getting lucky and getting photo's published in major magazines to starting my own website, to years of "paying my dues" to finally attaining the ultimate experience. Basically, dreams can become reality! The funny thing about my flight was it took me back to building models. After two years of building the Academy 1/32nd F/A-18 into a CF-18 Hornet and using the highly detailed Cutting Edge resin cockpit set, I realized while sitting in the cockpit, all the parts that I painted on my resin kit. Kind of a full circle. I have many people to thank for my flight but mostly my family for all their support and encouragment over the years of chasing grey planes from base to base. Thank you! Also, to all the ARCer's that visit my site and let me know that I'm doing a good job and that my work does not go unnoticed, thank you my sprue friends! Here are some photo's from the flight. Cheers, Derek "HAZER" Heyes www.hazersflightline.com Link to post Share on other sites
HAZER Posted August 13, 2007 Author Share Posted August 13, 2007 (edited) The flight included speeds to Mach .9, rolls, loops, inverted flight (see photo), 7.5 G's ( the limit for 913) and many low approaches at Abbotsford where my friends were waiting to photograph my flight. Thanks to Chris, Mark, Bill, Lee and John (plus others) for shooting me from the ground! I will have a full article on my site soon! Edited August 13, 2007 by HAZER Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Cheetah Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Sweet. WTG. Link to post Share on other sites
prowler4 Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Congratulations!! It's one thing to have a dream come true. It's another to capture that dream well for the future. Way to go. (A lot of us are really jealous!!) Link to post Share on other sites
jai5w4 Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 VERY, very cool, Hazer. Thanks for sharing and congratulations. Nice to see good things happen to good people. -John Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Congratulations ! If one can't boast a little about something like that happening, what can someone boast about ? Most deserving ! Gregg Link to post Share on other sites
twobobs Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Pretty freakin' sweet dude! Link to post Share on other sites
mkimages Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Just wonderful!!! It's such a cool thing when someone who can truly appreciate the experience gets a ride in one of these machines. From the pics so far, you really took full advantage of the opportunity; you've taken some awesome photos! The thumbs-up shot is just perfect, too. Kudos to the shooter. :D Link to post Share on other sites
biscuit Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Just green with envy good to see someone who could appreciate it get the ride mick Link to post Share on other sites
Chappie Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Awesome job! Love the in-cockpit shots and it looks like your friends are good photogrpahers also. Chappie Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Congratulations! That must have been one 'ell of an experience! Cool pics! thanks for sharing those! The one from the ground is really great! Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 (edited) Excellent! Congrats, and well done in realizing a dream! Great pics, too. Edited August 13, 2007 by Ken Cartwright Link to post Share on other sites
tomthegrom Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 I love the shot with you pulling the thumbs up while in the break. You sir are one hell of a lucky guy. Link to post Share on other sites
Fuji Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 (edited) Welcome to The Club Hazer - You know I was almost going to be there for that show as a guest of VS-22 - Once again my Congrats Edited August 13, 2007 by Fuji Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Uber-cool! Link to post Share on other sites
Will7813 Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Frekin' Aewsome!!! :D :o I am so jealous!! Will Link to post Share on other sites
Midnight Storm Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Pretty sweet ride huh? I still remember every detail of my flight many years back. The best part was the hard climb after take off, a roll followed by a moment of weight-less-ness and then I looked up (Down toward earth) and all I could see was the Golden Gate bridge, and the sun hitting the waters of San Fransico's coast line. I thought I had died an' gone to heaven!!!! :D Link to post Share on other sites
Aarzee Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Way to go ! Congrats ! Link to post Share on other sites
Ironhead Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Congrats! Link to post Share on other sites
Briget Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 That's AWESOME! Crank's the BEST!!! Link to post Share on other sites
NICHOLAS Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Dude that is COOL !!! Link to post Share on other sites
Sean Bratton Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Congrats again, Derek! Couldn't happen for a nicer guy. Looking forward to seeing some more shots and reading the article. Colour me green, Sean Link to post Share on other sites
andyman_1970 Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Awesome job Hazer. You're story is certainly an inspiration to those of us photog's who dream of a ride. What did you take with you (camera wise) on the flight? It looks like a D200 on the glareshield on that last photo. Link to post Share on other sites
David Walker Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 What a fantastic opportunity. Congratulations! And nice photos too. Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Middleton Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Outstanding Hazer! Glad to see it finally happen - great shots, and that one of you ripping by is excellent. I hope my suggestions were somewhat helpful. Link to post Share on other sites
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