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Artist's Gallery
Matthew Waki
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Matthew Waki credits Keith Ferris for his initial interest in aviation art. "I heard about Ferris getting incentive rides," says Waki. "I took art classes specifically so I could paint airplanes and fly." Waki has been painting aircraft full-time since 1985. Most of his work deals with post-Korean War jet fighters. He has done several works featuring the F-16. The original Spirit of Attack is a seven- by seventeen-foot mural completed by Matthew and his brother Mark in 1980 at Hill AFB, Utah. It depicts a combat scenario conceived by the pilots of the 16th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, the first USAF squadron equipped with F-16s. The update, painted in 1986, represents the same scenario with 1986-era aircraft. The pilot of the central F-16 has just gunned a MiG-23 and is checking six while pulling back in a left turn. Over his shoulder he sees an Su-27 maneuvering for position on his wingman, who has just launched an AIM-9L at a second Su-27. Bandit!, done by Matthew alone, depicts a US Navy adversary F-16N engaging an F-14 in realistic training over the desert ranges near El Centro, California. The painting was done for the VF-126 Bandits in 1987 before the unit received its first F-16N.
View Mr. Waki's Work
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