MILAVIA > Portfolios > Dave O'Brien Last updated: 18 October 2008
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Portfolio Dave O'Brien

Name Dave O'Brien
Website Top Gun Photography
Location Rochester, NH, United States

About me

I grew up near a SAC base in NH and always enjoyed driving out to watch the FB-111's work the pattern. As I got older I would visit air shows around New England. In High school a motorcycle accident kept me from joining any service so visiting this air shows was as close as I was going to get.

A few years ago I dove into Digital photography and have had a blast. Between learning techniques on forums or from friends I've had a blast taking pictures of air planes. I've been lucky with some of my base visits and Air to Air flights.

I would like to thank all the Men and Women who fight for our freedom everyday.

My Photos


My Published Work

milavia.net articles:

Thunder & Lightning over Arizona 2021 - Davis-Monthan AFB

Published in January 2022

Photo report of the 2021 Thunder & Lightning over Arizona Air Show at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ, featuring the USAF Thunderbirds.

Thunder Over New Hampshire 2021 - Pease ANGB

Published in December 2021

Photo report of the 2021 Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, home of the NH ANG KC-46A, featuring the USAF Thunderbirds.

Star Wars Canyon - March 2019

Published in January 2020

Photos of USN F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and F-35C Lightning II fighters flying the famous Jedi Transition in Star Wars Canyon, California.

RED FLAG 19-2 - Nellis AFB, NV

Published in August 2019

Photo report from the second Red Flag exercise of 2019.

The Great New England Air Show 2018

Published in September 2018

Photo report of The Great New England Air Show 2018 at Westover Air Reserve Base, home of the 439th Airlift Wing flying the C-5M Super Galaxy. The USAF Thunderbirds were the headline act.

Rhode Island Air Show 2018

Published in July 2018

Photo report of the Rhode Island National Guard Open House & Air Show 2018, Quonset State Airport, featuring the US Navy Blue Angels and USAF Heritage Flight consisting of the F-35 Lightning II, F-16C Fighting Falcon, P-51D Mustang.

Westfield International Air Show 2017

Published in September 2017

The Westfield International Air Show 2017 at Barnes Air National Guard Base celebrated a Century of Airpower, featuring the USAF Thunderbirds.

Leapfest 2017

Published in August 2017

Photo report of the 2017 Leapfest International Military Static Line Parachute Competition, with the CH-47F Chinook as jump platform.

Rhode Island Air Show 2017

Published in June 2017

Photo report of the Rhode Island National Guard Open House & Air Show 2017, Quonset State Airport, featuring the US Navy Tac Demo, USAF F-16 Viper, USMC AV-8 Harrier, Randy Ball MiG-17F, and a Combined Arms Demo with CH-47F Chinook and AH-64 Apaches

Rhode Island Air Show 2015

Published in June 2015

Report from the 2015 Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show at Quonset State airport, North Kingstown with photos of the USN Blue Angels, Canadian Snowbirds and CF-18 Demo, Breitling Jet Team and F-16 Viper Demo.

The Great New England Air Show 2015

Published in May 2015

Photo report of The Great New England Air Show 2015 held in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, MA, featuring the Canadian Snowbirds, CF-18 Hornet, F-22 Raptor Demo, and the US Navy Blue Angels.

Rhode Island Air Show 2014

Published in June 2014

Air show report of the Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show of May 17-18, 2014. Featuring the USN Blue Angels, USAF F-22 Raptor Demo, USMC MV-22 Osprey Demo and the Horsemen flight team, Collins Foundation A-1E Skyraider and more.

NAS Oceana Air Show 2012

Published in November 2012

Air Show report of the 2012 NAS Oceana Air Show including the F/A-18 fleet demo, Hornet tac demos, tailhook legacy flight, Friday's sunset show, USAF QF-4 and F-16, Black Diamond Jet Team, C-2 Red Devils airdrop and the USN Blue Angels demonstration team.

The Great New England Air Show 2012

Published in October 2012

Airshow report of the 2012 edition of The Great New England Air Show at Westover Air Reserve Base with the C-5 Galaxy, Super Hornet Demo and USMC MV-22 Osprey.

Boston-Portsmouth Air Show 2012

Published in August 2012

Boston-Portsmouth Air Show 2012 photo review, featuring the USN Blue Angels.

Great State of Maine Air Show 2011

Published in September 2011

Report of the Great State of Maine Air Show 2011 at the Brunswick Executive Airport, former Naval Air Station Brunswick. Featuring the USN Blue Angels and USAF A-10 Demo East.

Boston-Portsmouth Air Show 2011

Published in August 2011

Photo report of the Boston-Portsmouth Air Show 2011 at Pease Air National Guard Base / Pease International Airport. Featuring the Heavy Metal Jet Team and the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team.

Boston-Portsmouth Air Show 2010

Published in October 2010

Photo report of the Boston-Portsmouth Air Show 2010 at Pease ANGB / Portsmouth International Airport, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Brazilian AF Smoke Squadron.

Westfield International Air Show 2010

Published in September 2010

Report of the 2010 Westfield International Air Show at Barnes Air National Guard Base with photos of the USAF Thunderbirds and other performers.

Rhode Island Air Show 2010

Published in August 2010

Rhode Island National Guard Open House Air Show 2010, North Kingstown. Report and photos, includes A-10C, F-18C, Combined Arms demo, and the USAF Thunderbirds.

Nellis Air Show: Aviation Nation 2009

Published in January 2010

Nellis AFB Open House and Air Show "Aviation Nation 2009" report and photos.

Leapfest 2007

Published in December 2007

Report on the 25th Rhode Island international military parachute competition held back in August in North Kingstown, RI. Photos of the ceremony, parajumps, Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters.

Air Force Week 07

Published in November 2007

The U.S. Air Force celebrated its 60th anniversary last August with a series of air shows. Dave O'Brien reports from New England on the shows at Pease and Otis ANGB. 88 photos of the military and civil performers, including the Thunderbirds, F-15E, B-2A,

BRAC Attack on New England

Published in May 2007

Dave O'Brien reports on the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decisions affecting the units and air bases in New England.

157th ARW Special

Published in April 2007

Dave O'Brien reports on his flight with the 157th Air Refueling Wing to support A-10 Warthogs from the 104th FW. Featuring photos of the A-10 in-flight and KC-135R cockpit shots.

NAS Brunswick

Published in March 2007

Report on NAS Brunswick with photos of the resident P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

Oceana Air Show 2006

Published in November 2006

Report on the 2006 NAS Oceana show, the F-14 Tomcat's final airshow. Includes over one hundred photos of the U.S. Navy fighters, Blue Angels, and other participants, such as the F-104, F-117 and F-15.

Aviation Nation 2005

Published in January 2006

Photo report of the Las Vegas Air Show Aviation Nation 2005 held in November at Nellis Air Force Base. Featuring the USAF Thunderbirds and F-22A Raptor demo.


My Equipment

Type Brand Model
D-SLR Camera Nikon D200
Lens Sigma 50-500 (Bigma)
Lens Sigma 17-50mm F/2.8

My Contact Details

Name Dave O'Brien
Company Top Gun Photography
Email email
Website Top Gun Photography



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