Maurer8photography

06/18/2026

Our hearts are broken. Sadness of loss is felt across our valley. Your courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten. Please keep these families in your prayers.

‼️ UPDATE: With heavy hearts, the base has released the names of the eight people killed when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards during a routine test mission on Monday.

“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I can now share the names of the eight extraordinary Americans we lost during Monday’s B-52 crash,” Col. Thomas Tauer, 412th Test Wing Commander, told workers and families at Edwards AFB. “They were dedicated professionals, beloved family members and irreplaceable teammates.”

“Our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with their families, loved ones and fellow Airmen, Air Force civilians and mission partners affected by this tragedy,” Tauer said.

The names are being released following a 24-hour waiting period after all next of kin notifications were completed, in accordance with Department of War policy.

The fallen Team Edwards members are:


• Col. Gregory Watson, 53, weapon systems officer, Boeing (Air Force reservist, assigned 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas), Shreveport, La.



• Lt. Col. Gabriel Estrella, 40, weapon systems officer, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 5, Edwards AFB, Calif.



• Retired Lt. Col. Miles Middleton, 50, pilot, Boeing, Tehachapi, Calif.



• Maj. Alexander Davis, 34, weapon systems officer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Lancaster, Calif.



• Maj. Robert Dee, 40, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.



• Maj. Brad Hovey, 35, pilot, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.



• Jeromy Smith, 32, flight test engineer, 419th Flight Test Squadron, Rosamond, Calif.



• Christopher Rischar, 41, flight test engineer, JT4 contractor, Lancaster, Calif.


“These Airmen were more than coworkers. They were friends, mentors, teammates and valued members of our Edwards and Air Force family,” Tauer said.

“Our immediate focus is supporting the families of the teammates we lost and ensuring that all appropriate resources are available to them during this time of unimaginable loss.”

The crash is currently under investigation by an Interim Safety Investigation Board. The airfield is closed until further notice.

06/14/2026

VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes

Another first for us was seeing these two F-18E’s. Loving the look!

📸 using Nikon Z9

06/12/2026

This will be a fun story to watch, hopefully they keep sharing videos!

06/10/2026

Check out slow-mo helicopter action from three iconic aerial firefighting aircraft! UH-1 Huey vs CH-47D Chinook vs S-64F Skycrane!
Watch all three legendary firefighting helicopters fil up with water during intense brush fire operations in Lancaster, CA. The classic UH-1 Huey, powerful twin-rotor CH-47D Chinook, and massive S-64F Skycrane in action and slow motion.

Which one is your favorite? Drop a comment below with the helicopter name and why! 👇

Follow for more slow-mo aviation & wildfire content from Southern California

06/08/2026

We played hide and seek with a Huey at the last week. We thought they would come in on our side of the pond, but they ended up dropping down on the far side of the island. Picked up a full load of water, then dumped it to purge the tank. Another quick fill up and off the fire! It may not be as loud or big, but the Huey is iconic, love seeing it at fires!

AerialFire Magazine

06/07/2026

Chinooks sound even better in slow motion! Check out two of Coulson Aviation - Next Gen Firefighting CH-47 Chinooks as they fill up with water at Apollo Park! 55 and 47 made appearances while fighting the yesterday. They’ve proven invaluable in fighting wind driven wildfires here in Los Angeles County.

6/5/26

AerialFire Magazine

06/06/2026

🚁 Epic Skycrane Water Pickup at Apollo Park during yesterday’s 2,000 acre in Lancaster, CA! 🔥

Check out this incredible footage of a Helicopter Express Sikorsky S-64F Skycrane (N600HX) scooping up water from the pond at Apollo Park!

Stunning slow motion towards the end, capturing the massive power of this heavy-lift beast as it hovers and fills its tank. You can clearly see the helicopter’s shadow cast across the trees and a beautiful rainbow forming in the mist.

The Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane is a true legend in aerial firefighting. It can carry up to 2,650 gallons (around 10,000 liters) of water in its tank. Equipped with a snorkel system, it can refill the entire load in under a minute while hovering — often in as little as 30-45 seconds from ponds, lakes, or even the ocean. With a max lift capacity around 20,000-25,000 lbs, these workhorses deliver massive drops to help battle wildfires across California.

06/01/2026

AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting Avro RJ85 returning from the near Pearblossom today. One quick drop before returning for the day. The fixed wind and helicopters prove to be extremely helpful when fighting California’s wildfires!

Also, listen closely at the end for the air turbulence after the RJ85 passes overhead. It’s one of my favorite sounds while out watching aerial fighting.

5/31/26

05/31/2026

Sunday seems like a good day to share a couple B-2 Spirit highlights from years past. One of the best parts of the aerospace valley is being able to see aircraft like this! It’s rare when it flies, so being able to catch is always incredible. Listen to the sound of these B-2 Spirits!

Share your B-2 memories and photos below!!

05/31/2026

Thanks for all the love on YouTube!! Almost 900,000 views on this video alone! I appreciate you all!

Three brush fires in two days have kept LACoFD Air Ops and Coulson Aviation’s busy in the high desert. It’s cool seeing two Sikorsky S-70A Firehawks alongsi...