Air-to-Air Photography is the art of photographing aircraft in the air, while using another aircraft as a photo platform. Our reporters have many hours of experience flying photo sorties in aircraft ranging from the Alouette III utility helicopter to the MiG-21 fighter jet.

Air-to-air photography is always carefully planned, briefed and discussed with all pilots involved to ensure a safe flight and the best photographic results. We have made photo flights in all sorts of aircraft varying from light aircraft and helicopters to supersonic fighter jets, so we know exactly how to get the best shots out of every minute airborne.

Flight duration depends on the type of aircraft flown and the goals to be achieved, but longer flights are generally better. When a flight is perfectly executed along a pre-briefed flight route, with the sun always shining from the right angles, and with a possibility of radio communication between the photographer(s) and pilot(s), half an hour of flying should theoretically be sufficient. We have flown photo sorties of up to three hours.

Selecting a proper photo platform for our flight is a crucial element during preparations. Every aircraft or helicopter offers different photographic opportunities. Photographing an aircraft in flight does not necessarily mean the exact same aircraft type represents the best photo platform for that flight.

The F-16 is an excellent photo platform, but photographing F-16s from the rear cargo ramp of a C-130 Hercules (with the F-16s flying straight 'into' the camera) results in amazing images and it may also be easier to arrange due to the difficulty of getting fighter jet rides. Additionally, intercepting a cargo aircraft and flying in formation at slow speeds may be a good exercise for the fighter pilots as a secondary objective to the flight.

Air-to-Air photography is a crucial aspect of our work. Photos of aircraft in flight allow us to publish striking articles in the world's leading military aviation magazines. Articles with air-to-air photographs are generally longer and published in more magazines than those publications without air-to-air shots.

The photos we take are primarily used to illustrate our own articles in magazines. However, magazine editors and book publishers are always welcome to request photos from our archive containing many thousands of images, so they may be used for future publications by others as well. Of course our photos are also available to the air forces we work with. Framed copies of our photos in poster size are found in many squadron buildings and headquarter offices around the world.

We deliver pin sharp photos at 10 Megapixels size so they can be used for many products including books, brochures, calendars, leaflets, posters, presentations and websites. Although we mostly initiate the first contact, we are always happy to discuss the possibilities in case you are interested to have us make air-to-air photographs of your aircraft.