Its not always that you're invited to do a photo-shoot from the backseat of a home-built, especially one in which an A-4(C) Jet aircraft is the subject!

Such was the case on this day when I was invited for the ride-along with Scott Roth in his F1 Rocket. We were to Fly down to Titusville (where this particular A4 was based) to capture some in air photos of this wonderful and historic jet.

Better known as the Skyhawk, this particular model was built in 1962 by Douglas Aircraft was flew with the US Navy until 1976. It did see combat duty in Vietnam and was assigned to several squadron's during that period. It was about 1966 that it sustained severe battle damage over North Vietnam as it was hit by enemy 37mm antiaircraft gunfire. With a very large hole in its left wing and fuel tank, it was able to get some in-air refueling and landed on the carrier- just barely under control-but safely.

It was subsequently repaired and continued to fly for ten more years until its removal from Navy Service. 26 years later, Dan Carr and Porter Spangler, two veterans who wished to keep the memories alive, began a nine year restoration on it. Its first test flight once restored, was flown at the Sanford International airport by Larry Elmore in 2011. It flew for several years at various airshows until being acquired by the Valiant Air Command Museum at the Titusville Airport. Dave Dollarhide and Scott Roth were its two pilots. In 2017 the Skyhawk was relocated to Arizona where it now resides.

This photo-shoot was several years ago, but I was excited and ready to attempt this! My camera equipment was a Canon 60D with a Sigma 18-300 lens - compact so as to fit within the tight confines of the back seat area of the F1 Rocket (yellow aircraft). We dealt with glare quite a bit but even so I was able to capture these moments well enough I thought.

Yes, the F1 Rocket and A4 could keep up with each other at 2500 ft in an approved pattern over the airport. It was probably about as slow as the A4 could maintain safely and about as fast as the F1 Rocket could cruise alongside.

Exciting it was too-as we were in a much tighter formation than I could ever have imagined! Fun? You bet! I am a Vietnam Era veteran (no actual service in 'Nam) so naturally was excited to be able to see one of these aircraft "up close and personable" AND one of the last remaining flying versions today! It was based out of the TICO airfield at the time of shooting these pictures.

As a sidebar, since this is my first contribution to Barnstormers, a little something about ME might be appropriate. My father was a pilot and mechanic for many years. I always got rides as a child from the many various aircraft he flew as well as all the J3 Cubs he and my uncle would rebuild each year in the shop (winters) and grass strip by the barn (Elma, NY). I LOVED flying with my uncle and anyone else who would let me tag along at a very early age. Stinson Voyagers, Taylor Crafts, Cubs, Cessna's of every model, Aero Commanders, Vagabonds are just a few of the aircraft I've flown in. No- I never got my pilots license, I could ALWAYS Fly with so many it seemed!

Hope you'll enjoy the views that I had of the up-close-and-personal variety! Quite the sound as the A4 throttled up and sped away each time!