The Week In Pictures
Week 48, November 2009
Clockwise from top left:
Sunset shots have stolen the show in Picture of the Week ever since the winter nights began to draw in. While it might be rather cold to be out and about, the lighting conditions often produce better results at this time of year than at any other. Paul Cameron's trip to Orange in France was rewarded with a suitably tangerine sky, against which he captured this Mirage 2000.
Image © Paul Cameron. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Not only are the Lightning Preservation Group among the select band of UKAR bloggers, they also stage some terrific events, not least their Twighlight Runs. As well as firing up English Electric's finest, this beautiful Blackburn Buccaneer was lit up, suitably for this time of year, like a Christmas tree! Top marks to photographer Peter Starling on his Picture of the Week debut.
Image © Peter Starling. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF-S 17-85mm lens
Next we go to Germany, and Mathias Grägel's low-light capture of one of the Luftwaffe's Eurofighters from JG74 taxying in at Neuburg. The aircraft was part of the day's QRA force, and the shot was taken against a blood-red Bavarian sky as it taxied in, with the day's work done.
Image © Mathias Grägel (GME AirFoto GbR). Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Our Danish friend Egon Johansen is becoming a Picture of the Week regular, but when the quality is this good, long may that continue. This week's offering is another low-light stunner. Egon's secret for this shot he tells us wasn't some expensive tripod, but the simple technique of placing the camera onto a bean bag for stability. The aircraft is a Cessna 560XL Citation which had flown to Copenhagen from Farnborough.
Image © Egon Johansen (SilverWingPix). Canon EOS 50D
Now we turn the clock back. Back to the dying days of the old DDR. Wittstock in East Germany was where Lindsay Peacock captured this amazing scene, as a pair of Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum As of the 33rd Fighter Regiment await an Ilyushin Il-76 Candid's landing before they are able to take the runway themselves. The image dates back to 1993 and the drawdown of the Russian presence in what had been East Germany.
Image © Lindsay Peacock
Another Golden Oldie, and a fine image of the late lamented de Havilland Mosquito RR299 from the archives of Fred Martin. The quality of the digital scan here is really excellent. It's been 13 years since the last flying Mossie was lost, and we can't wait for the day when another example of this iconic type is flying again.
Image © Fred Martin
We've seen some remarkable helicopter images on UKAR this year, but this one really jumped out at us this week. We could have picked any one of a number of shots from Gary Wetzel's thread, but this AH-1 HueyCobra image was considered the best of an outstanding bunch, not least because it's a type rarely seen on our boards. A proper "mean machine" if ever there was one.
Image © Gary Wetzel. Nikon D2Xs + Nikon 70-300mm lens
The Week In Pictures
Week 47, November 2009
Clockwise from top left:
We've said before that the autumn and winter months provide some wonderful sunset images and November's selections prove it with yet another cracking image at dusk taking our top spot. Dirk has captured a wonderful image of a true Cold War Warrior practising field landings at the airbase during sunset. His image of this Mi-24V was taken on a private visit to Namest nad Oslavou airbase, which is the home of the Czech Air Force Mi-24/35 Hind squadron.
Image © Dirk Jan de Ridder. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 24-105 mm IS lens
Since we started 'The Week in Pictures' feature, we've highlighted a suprising number of images from Japan and we can't get tired of them, which is fortunate considering how frequent the supply has been. Ali has posted a number of threads for us this week, but for all the rarities he shared we couldn't look past this one for aesthetics; a lovely topside from an F-15DJ shortly after take off at Nyutabaru Air Base, and one from the JSDF's 'Hiko Kyodotai' Aggressor Squadron no less!
Image © Ali Hunt. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
So far we haven't seen any flight deck photos in 'The Week in Pictures', so this capture of the business end of one of the Royal Navy's Jetstream T.2 observer trainers is a first. 6000' above the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, a 'Potential Officer' in the right-hand-seat makes a gentle turn to take the aircraft back to RNAS Culdrose, whilst the photographer adds a touch of fill-in flash to balance the inside and outside exposure before taking the controls of this venerable old aircraft for a thoroughly enjoyable twenty minutes!
Image © Ben Hughes. Canon EOS 40D + Sigma 17-70mm f2.8 lens
If there was a dictionary definition for "in your face" aviation photography, then surely this would be it. You can almost smell the avtur and burning rubber in Jian's wonderful shot of this US Navy F/A-18D touching down at NAF El Centro, California. The picture was taken on Wednesday 18th November this year, at an enthusiasts photocall.
Image © Jian Rao. Canon EOS 1D Mark III + Canon EF 70-200mm L f2.8 IS lens
We've been waiting almost as long as the RAF have to see the Chinook HC.3 in action, so it's good to see them out and about lately, particularly in this beautiful Autumn light. Tom's photo was taken at the end of Runway 02 at RAF Waddington during the recent 'Exercise Low Rider', which also saw a Danish Merlin and a Czech Air Force Mi-17 'Hip' operating from the Lincolnshire air base.
Image © Tom Hill. Nikon D2x + Nikon Nikkor 300mm f2.8 lens
Egon explains that now airside photo permits are once again being issued, his four year wait to delve into the treasures at Sharjah Airport in the United Arab Emirates is over. When we saw this photo of three lined up it immediately grabbed our attention as the venerable Il-76 seems such a rarity to most UK aviation enthusiasts. There were no less than 18 Il-76s observed during his one day visit.
Image © Egon Johansen (SilverWingPix). Canon EOS 50D
There was no F-22 available for the annual "Aviation Nation" airshow at Nellis AFB this year, but their loss was the Dubai Airshow's gain. Here the ACC Raptor Demonstration Team is seen performing for the first time in the Middle East. Chris took this excellent topside on the first day of the Dubai Airshow. The only downside was that the Raptor operated out of Al Dhafra AB, where it was based for five-nation fighter Exercise, therefore not offering the crowd a chance to see the aircraft takeoff and land.
Image © Chris Emmerson. Nikon D90 + Sigma 50-500mm lens
The Week In Pictures
Week 46, November 2009
Clockwise from top left:
It's been a while since we've seen any shots of carrier aviation in its natural environment on UKAR so we had no trouble in choosing this image for the week's top spot. Giovanni Colla took this shot of a VAQ-135 "Black Ravens" EA-6B Prowler silhouetted against the setting sun during a 25 hour embarkation on the USS Nimitz as it supported Operation Enduring Freedom from somewhere in the Indian Ocean. The sky might be orange but we're green with envy!
Image © Giovanni Colla. Nikon D300 + Nikon 18-70mm lens
Pictures from RAF Mildenhall aren't in short supply on UKAR, so anything featured here will really have to stand out. We thought this dramatic shot of a USAF KC-10 climbing out shortly after takeoff from Runway 29 did just that.
Image © Aaron Paxton. Nikon D60 + Nikkor 70-300mm lens
Ah, St Maarten. The beach, the bars, the bikinis. If there's only one drawback it's the lack of military movements but that wasn't a problem for Robert Starling as he managed to capture an all-white Luftwaffe C-160 Transall as it flew over the sand on short finals to Princess Juliana International Airport in the Netherlands Antilles.
Image © Robert Starling
Pictures like this really convey what it is we all enjoy about this hobby; you can almost here the noise and feel the heat of this based Tornado GR4 as it departs RAF Lossiemouth in typically understated style.
Image © Andy Walker. Canon EOS 20D + 70-200mm f4L lens
We're a sucker for SPTA images and with light like this we couldn't help but put Paul Cameron's shot of Sea King HC4 callsign "Navy Yankee 414", conducting grass landings, forward for your consideration.
Image © Paul Cameron. Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
The sun has set on the Vimy's flying career after the replica airframe was retired to Brooklands last Sunday. Wes was there to capture it all on camera, including this poignant shot at dusk. During its 15 year spell in the air, this airframe had recreated three pioneering flights of the original; England to Australia in 1994, England to South Africa in 2000 and Alcock and Brown's 1919 Atlantic crossing was recreated in 2005. The aircraft will now go on display at Brooklands Museum.
Image © Wesley Edwards. Pentax K100D + Pentax 18-55mm lens
We round off this weeks selection with a blast from the past courtesy of Tony Osborne's 80 year old Grandfather. John Osborne, who served in the UK Mobile Air Movements Squadron, took this shot of an RAF Transport Command Bristol Britannia in 1963 at RAF Lyneham with a German-made Rolleiflex camera.
Image © John Osborne
The Week In Pictures
Week 45, November 2009
Clockwise from top left:
It's always a pleasure to see unusual and creative photographs on UKAR. Jason captured this superb photograph at Nellis AFB in 2008 after a Red Flag sortie by the 492nd Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath. On a scorching 40°C day, the aircrew were tossed cold water bottles by the ground crew to combat the heat whilst doing their post-flight walkarounds.
Image © Jason Passmore. Canon EOS 30D + Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM lens
The night taxi run of 'Just Jane' at East Kirby is one of the more challenging events to capture successfully. This event rewards regular attendance so as to discover the optimum location to shoot from. Glenn's perseverance of last year's torrential downpour enabled him to produce this first-class image of the Lancaster at this year's event.
Image © Glenn Beasley. Canon EOS 1D MkIII + Canon EF 24-105mm IS lens
Japan is probably at the top of most aviation enthusiasts list of places to visit, so it is always a delight to see what we are missing out on, even if it turns us green with envy! This pair of F-15Js photographed at Komatsu, are a fine example of this.
Image © Dietmar Fenners. Canon EOS 5D MkII + Canon EF 400mm f2.8 lens
This time of year provides good opportunities for sunsets. Huw made the most of it with this shot of North Weald's Hurricane gate guardian, taken after the recent 'Gathering of Hurricane Veterans'. In Huw's own words, "the photo speaks for itself".
Image © Huw Hopkins. Canon EOS 400D + Sigma 17-70mm DG lens
Sand and cameras don't go well together so we do hope that Gary's Nikon hasn't suffered too much! This outstanding Merlin image was taken at Ocotillo Wells airport in Ocotillo Wells, California. The RAF Merlins of 28 and 78 Squadrons are there to practice landings, take-offs and load hauling in brown out conditions before they deploy to Afghanistan.
Image © Gary Wetzel. Nikon D2Xs + Nikon 70-300mm lens
The invited guests of the Swiss Air Force are privileged to have a lift up to the top of the Axalphorn to watch the Fliegerdemonstration Axalp 09. Andrzej had a significantly longer and more exerting hike up the mountain but this has not affected his ability to shoot at 1/20s, handheld with a heavy 400mm lens. His thread is a masterclass in panning and rotor blur!
Image © Andrzej Rogucki. Canon EOS 1D MkIII + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
'We will remember them'
Sam concludes our selection with this beautiful image, taken on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, Central London after the crowds had moved on.
Image © Sam Berry. Nikon D40 + Nikkor DX 55-200mm AF-S lens
The Week In Pictures
Week 44, November 2009
Clockwise from top left:
Taking top spot this week is Neil Jones, with a really moody sunset image showing RAF C-17A Globemaster III ZZ172 on a local training sortie at RAF Brize Norton last Tuesday. When he saw the sunset developing, Neil took a punt and went along hoping for some activity, and he got lucky. A fantastic shot, and it kicks off the November selection in style.
Image © Neil Jones. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L IS lens
It looks like it could have been taken on the same day as Neil's image, but infact this shot of a Harrier GR9 at RAF Cottesmore goes back to the previous Wednesday. It just missed the cut for last week's selection, but it had to go in this time.
Image © Adam Noonan. Canon EOS 400D + Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L lens
Mike Shreeve is back too, this time with an air-to-air shot of Rod Lewis' latest Bearcat, which has been restored in Thai AF colours by Fighter Rebuilders at Chino. Mike took this photo at Chino in May, just a few days after the aircraft's first post-restoration flight.
Image © Mike Shreeve. Canon EOS 20D + Canon EF 17-40mm lens
Another one from our Golden Oldies forum now. Fred Martin has spoilt us with the photos in his thread, showing a selection of "prop powered" classics taken between 1965 and 1992. We went for this dramatic Shackleton, but the rest in his thread also come highly recommended!
Image © Fred Martin. Nikon FM2, 300mm lens + Kodachrome 64 film
We love F-15s, especially when they look this good! Jamie Hunter flew with the camouflaged F-15s and F-16s of the 64th and 65th Aggressor Squadrons at Nellis AFB recently, for a feature in this month's Combat Aircraft magazine.
Image © Jamie Hunter (Aviacom)
A Tuesday afternoon visit to Westlands at Yeovil proved fruitful for Richard Pittman when he caught the second Italian EH-101 on a flight. Richard tells us that they're busy times at Westlands, with Merlins in production for Denmark and Algeria, as well as the Italian pictured here.
Image © Richard Pittman. Canon EOS 40D + Canon EF 300mm f4 lens
Finally this week, Steve Sinton makes his debut to our 'highlights' page with this atmospheric shot of an RAF Puma helicopter operating on the Sailsbury Plain. Steve's really taken advantage of his surroundings and produced a wonderful photo with a terrific, autumnal feel to it.
Image © Steve Sinton. Nikon D300 + Nikkor 18-105mm VR lens
