David L. Leininger

“Aviation Photography as an artform has always been personal to me. The reward from my photography adventures is not limited to the images I have created, but also in the relationships I have established along the way with Warbird owners, operators and the legends who have piloted these fighters.”

-David L. Leininger

My interest in aviation and airplanes started when I was young and grew as I got older. My interest in aviation was in the forefront when I decided to enlist in the United State Air Force (USAF) after graduating from high school. Throughout my 20-year career in the USAF I was surrounded by the latest generation of military jet fighters. But it was the iconic fighters from World War II that gained my main interest. The classic lines of the North American P-51 Mustang instantly became my favorite fighter of all time. And I have been chasing that iconic fighter ever since.

Over the past twenty years I have accomplished over a hundred air-to-air photo missions, capturing all types of warbirds. My first air-to-air photo mission was a chance opportunity to capture a P-51 Mustang, T-34 Mentor and a Vought BT-13 Vultee. After that flight I was looking for the next opportunity to photograph Warbirds in their natural surroundings…….. the air. During this journey I have photographed the A-36 Mustang, P-51 Mustangs, P-40 Warhawks, P-38 Lightnings, Grumman F4F Wildcats, Grumman F7F Tigercats, Vought F4U Corsairs, Bell P-39 Airacobra, P-63 Kingcobra, T-6 Texans, B-25 Mitchells, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-29 Superfortress, B-24 Liberator, Douglas A-20 Havoc, Mitsubishi A6M Zero, Focke-Wulf Fw-190, an assortment of trainers, liaisons, and vintage aircraft.

My written and photographic works have been featured in Aviation Publications around the world, with several featuring my images on the front cover. Those magazines include Flight Journal, EAA Warbirds Magazine, Classic Wings, Koku-Fan, Fleiger, FlyPast and Aeroplane Magazines.

As gratifying as it is to see my work in print, the real satisfaction is getting to know and interact with such iconic and great aviation figures, warbird owners, and operators. Parallel to that are the many conversations I have had with many of our country’s greatest heroes who, at a very young age were asked to leave behind their families and defend a world against tyranny, cruelty and oppression. Hurled into a terrifying world of combat they sacrificed so that the ultimate outcome of World War II was victory. I have the greatest respect and appreciation for The Greatest Generation.

My road in Aviation Photojournalism has been extremely rewarding for me and a most satisfying journey. One I will always cherish.