Pictures Of The Week
Week 18, April 2018
Clockwise from top left:
Our top spot this week goes to Karol Kakietek, who captured this Polish fitter at its base in Swidwin, Poland. The two-tone grey camouflage has replaced the former olive green, but it is of no doubt that these old venerable machines still look powerful and menacing.
Image © Karol Kakietek
It was hard to pick a favourite from Mark’s set, in which he captured the variety of jets present at the latest Frisian Flag exercise. His topside of this Dutch F-16 with afterburner just edges it though, and makes our second spot this week.
Image © Mark Rourke
With Berlin being host to the ILA trade show, it brought a unique type to the European mainland - the Japanese Kawasaki P-1. A capable aircraft, is it perhaps a shame that the UK opted for the Boeing P-8 Poseidon instead.
Image © 'BigClick67'
POTW would not be the same without an aircraft from a rarely seen air force, and this week the honour falls to Arnold ten Pas. During a spotting trip, he captured this Indonesian Air Force Cessna 182 that was present for the 72nd Anniversary of the air force.
Image © Arnold ten Pas
Our next POTW comes from one of our new UKAR staff members, Nick. He was lucky enough to be part of a tour to Israel and captured one of the latest additions to the Israeli Air Force in the shape of a M-346 jet trainer.
Image © Nick Jennings
Eye-catching liveries can really enhance an airshow act, but one that looks almost too real to be true is this rusty scheme. Made by Zlin, the STOL capabilities of this ultralight Shock Cub were excellently captured by Giorgio at an event in Italy.
Image © Giorgio Varisco
To close this week, we finish with a ‘golden oldie’. The Mirage family of jets surely has to be one of the most elegant ever produced. Frank’s set from RAF Binbrook in the 1980s is certainly worth the time to look through for some nostalgia.
Image © Frank Cross
Pictures Of The Week
Week 17, April 2018
Clockwise from top left:
With the air show season looming around the corner, night shoots still dominate our choices this week. UKAR Staff member Dan Elms was present at Northolt's nightshoot, originally planned for a date in March. Although the clocks had changed giving more of a twilight feel to the event, the setting sun made for some dramatic images as this photo of a selection of aircraft present on the night shows.
Image © Dan Elms
One of the highlights of the event was a Percival Pembroke, an example of an aircraft that was originally stationed at Northolt several years ago. Although there were no engine runs on the night, Paul Smith captured WV740 illuminating the apron.
Image © Paul Smith
Cameron Sys was ready and waiting at Northolt well before the event began and was lucky enough to capture this BAe 146 seconds from touchdown. Thankfully the traffic had stopped while it landed, allowing him to get this dynamic and more unusual shot from the middle of the main road
Image © Cameron Sys
Jean Paul Lardinois was present at the unveiling of this year's Belgian Air Force F-16 display aircraft at Florennes Air Base. Known as 'Dark Falcon', the jet has been painted in a stunning special scheme this year and it, along with pilot Stefan Darte "Vador" will be at around 15 events throughout europe this year.
Image © Jean Paul Lardinois
An interesting sight above the skies at Duxford recently were Sywell-based Buchon G-AWHC and Spitfire PT462, both two-seat warbirds. Brian Marshall was there to witness them take off together and perform a short display which included a tailchase/dogfight routine before returning to base for tea and cakes.
Image © Brian Marshall
Despite being a 55 year old aircraft, Folland Gnat XR538 of the Gnat Display Team still retains its grace and beauty, here captured on takeoff at North Weald. Trevor Jago managed to spare a few moments with his camera on what appeared to be a very busy weekend at the airfield.
Image © Trevor Jago
Last year we had 'Thompson flight', this year we have 'Trenchard' display, honouring the founder of the RAF, Lord Trenchard and The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight have been rehearsing their routine relentlessly over the last few weeks, as illustrated here by James Biggadike. They certainly are one of the highly anticipated displays of the season with the full complement of aircraft appearing throughout another busy year for the team.
Image © James Biggadike
Pictures Of The Week
Week 16, April 2018
Clockwise from top left:
Phantoms always prove to be a very popular subject on the photo threads, and this set is no different. With time running out for these charismatic aircraft, Mark seized the opportunity to capture these colourful Japanese Air Self Defence Force assets on his visit to Hyakuri Air Base.
Image © Mark Leith
Our second image this week comes from Kevin Bell, wbo captured this US Navy export variant of the British BAE Hawk, the T-45C. Featuring a retro scheme, it shows what can be done with just a bit of paint and some thought.
Image © Kevin Bell
Perhaps one of the highlights of the 2018 airshow season, will be the visiting Canadian Hornet. Derek shows us what we can expect at the RNAS Yeovilton Air Day, and the Royal International Air Tattoo. Showcasing a new scheme for the 60th anniversary of NORAD, the CF-18 will certainly be an eyecatching display.
Image © Derek Heyes
Continuing with the theme of colourful paint schemes this week, Cameron captured this very good looking DC-3 taking off at Coventry airport. It will form part of the Indian Air Force Historic Flight, and should hopefully delight many people across India, where it can help to remember the past of the country’s own Air Force.
Image © Cameron Sys
Peter makes our next POTW spot this week, with his dramatic image of a low-level Super Hornet. With many images of other American hardware, his set is certainly an enjoyable one to look through.
Image © ???
There is no denying that the Dassault Rafale is a gorgeous jet. Kevin captured this special schemed Rafale, complete with some drop tanks at Leeuwarden, all ready for the Tiger Meet in Poland at the end of May.
Image © Kevin Wills
We finish this week with an air-to-air image of a Cessna 208 Caravan from Andy. Possibly not the most interesting of subjects, but taken from air-to-air, it is an opportunity that most of us can only dream of. Andy's set features some interesting aircraft, unique backdrops, and certainly makes a nice change to the afterburning jets.
Image © Andy Heap
Pictures Of The Week
Week 15, April 2018
Clockwise from top left:
It was a tough choice for top spot this week, but Andy Heap takes the spoil with this fantastic image of a cold war classic. Taken a few years ago now, Andy managed to capture this RAAF F-111C as it transited the valleys of New Zealand on its way to Wanaka.
Image © Andy Heap
Narrowly missing out was Bartosz Bera and his air-to air image of a pair of Danish F-16As in Lithuania on Baltic Air Policing Duty. It was a tough choice picking one of Bartosz's images to showcase as the entire set is absolutely stunning, but his image of two F-16s over the runway stands out!
Image © Bartosz Bera
From air-to-air photography to air-to-ground. Possibly the first POTW entry to have been taken using a drone? Chris Parsons made use of a drone at the recent Auster 80th event at Middle Wallop to capture this top-down view of the Lynx AH.9A and Auster AOP.6. This image portrays two workhorses of the Army Air Corps from the last decades, representing an end of an era with the Lynx retirement.
Image © Chris Parsons
Brian Marshall features next. During one of his frequent and famous Duxford Bimbles, he captured newly repainted Spitfire PT426, minus its rudder. This two-seat Spitfire with its more streamlined ‘Grace canopy’ will certainly put smiles on many passenger’s faces once it is ready to take to the air.
Image © Brian Marshall
Ex-Staffer Peter Reoch took a trip to Latin America for FIDAE in Chile. He found himself shooting an S-64 Skycrane operated by Erickson Air-Crane as it took on water from a lake. Sure to be one of many highlights from his trip, we look forward to seeing what else he came away with.
Image © Peter Reoch
Another ex-Staffer follows on next. Rod McDonough took a road trip to South West USA taking in a number of locations including a visit to NAS Fallon. This image of two NSAWC F-16Ds is just one of the many, varied aircraft showcased in his set.
Image © Rod McDonough
We close this week with the Swiss F/A-18Cs at Meiringen Air Base. Mathias Gragel captured vapour coming off the jet as it displayed, which beautifully contrasts against the colourful spring trees.
Image © Mathias Grägel
Pictures Of The Week
Week 14, April 2018
Clockwise from top left:
Iniochos 2018 features first again this week. Dino van Doorn was also in attendance at Andravida for the spotters event and of his fine set we were particularly taken by one of the 'home' team. This evening shot of one of the Hellenic Air Force's Mirage 2000-5EG really stood out from an overall very good selection of images.
Image © Dino van Doorn
Some of the 'less exotic' participants at Iniochos included the Italian Air Force with the venerable Tornado. Savvas Savvaidis posted a comprehensive selection of high-quality images from his visit, but for the sake of variety if nothing else, it was this shot of the Tornado that we've chosen to feature here.
Image © Savvas Savvaidis
Third up this week comes from a small scale SAR exercise in Verona. Exercise SATER involved helicopters of the Polizia, Guardia di Finanza and - as seen here - the Vigili del Fuoco. The AB.412 is a fine looking helicopter and Giorgio's photos really do show the type off very well.
Image © Giorgio Varisco
We head Stateside for the next photo and to the recently held Luke AFB Open House event. Rod McDonough attended the event and from his thread this lovely topside of the B-17G 'Sentimental Journey' wowed us the most.
Image © Rod McDonough
A real talking point within the next image. Michael Hallam captured possibly one of the first flying images of the Typhoon with the much anticipated RAF100 special scheme applied. Judging by reaction on the forums this attempt to mark the occasion hasn't gone down too well.
Image © Michael Hallam
Adam Duffield recently visited Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, a civilian airport well-known for visits by military aircraft. At the time of Adam's visit various Naval and Marine Corps assets were transiting through and it was this KC-130J that really stood out, departing in some lovely soft evening light.
Image © Adam Duffield
We close this week's selection with a Golden Oldie. Alan Potts captured this fine looking lineup of Royal Navy Phantoms 40 years ago as they prepared to leave RAF Leuchars to embark on HMS Ark Royal with 892 Sqn for the final time.
Image © Alan Potts