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 Tony Cassanova traces his interest in aviation photography to a location—he grew up across the street from a Royal Canadian Air Force installation. “I took up photography after acquiring my first camera. With no formal training in the art, my only intent was to own equipment that would allow me to capture reasonable images of aircraft at air shows.” He has since flown with the air forces of Canada, Italy, and the United States.
Cassanova credits his start in aviation journalism to Larry Milberry, a Canadian aviation historian and publisher of CANAV Books. “He encouraged me to go the extra mile—or the extra kilometer, as it’s measured up here—and write as well as photograph. In taking this advice, I gained greater access to the military and, thus, greater opportunities to fly.” He enlarged upon his career by contributing articles and images to several aviation publications, coauthoring a reference work on the B-52 Stratofortress, and logging flight time in the B-52, C-130, CF-18, F-16, and the KC-135. In addition, he has flown with the Snowbirds, Canada’s aerobatic team, as well as with Italy’s Frecce Tricolori.
The majority of his F-16 images depict the 174th FW of the New York ANG with whom he flew in 1998. “I had flown in fast jets previously, but I was a little apprehensive about a ride in the F-16 given its reputation for performance. When I quizzed an experienced photographer for a photo tip or two, he said, ‘Bring lots of barf bags.’ The flight was phenomenal, but the time spent with the personnel of the 174th was the most memorable highlight. The level of experience — the stripes, the gold and silver oak leafs—that abounds within this unit amazes me."
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