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Pictures Of The Week
Week 9, February 2012
Clockwise from top left:
Taking pride of place this week is this fantastic photo of a Bulgarian AF MiG-21bis-SAU recovering after a sunset mission from its base at Graf Ignatievo. Europe might still be under the grip of winter but photographer Anton has taken full advantage of the snow and low light conditions to expertly capture this rare fighter aircraft landing at Bulgaria's sole remaining air defence fighter base.
Image © Anton Balakchiev
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensRAF Marham is not one the most photogenic airfields in the UK but recently on UKAR we have seen a cracking selection of images from the Norfolk Tornado base. Captured taxying out for a test flight in glorious lighting conditions is Tornado GR4 serial ZD709. Following servicing at the on-base BAE Systems facility, the aircraft performed a 15 minute check flight using the callsign 'Tarnish 20'. Taken at the runway 24 end, Liam has taken great care to capture the majestic cloud formation above the jet which silhouettes this swing wing strike aircraft perfectly.
Image © Liam Killington
Sony A65 SLT + Sony 70-300mm G SSM lensThe queen of the 'chute shot must be the F-4 Phantom. Taken at its Wittmund base in Germany is this GAF F-4F Phantom taxying clear of the runway following a "Brilliant Arrow" exercise mission in September 2011. The yellow braking parachute adds a welcome splash of colour to the otherwise grey colour scheme prevalent on today's jet fighters. Flying alongside JG71 'Richthofen' for this NATO Response Force exercise were five Turkish AF F-16 aircraft from 162 Filo, Bandirma.
Image © Ewald Reinders
Canon EOS 30D + Canon 300mm ƒ2.8 lens + Canon 2x TCA quality action shot of a VFA-122 "Flying Eagles" F-18F Super Hornet landing at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California. The runway at El Centro is equipped with a Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System (FLOLS) at each approach end together with carrier flight deck landing lights so pilots can simulate carrier landings. NAF El Centro is also the winter home of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels.
Image © Tony Osborne
Taken from the tower during an organised visit to RAF Lakenheath is this great head-on shot of one of the resident HH-60G Pavehawks from the based 56th RQS. Shortly after lifting, the helicopter turned towards the tower and headed straight for the assembled line of photographers. Expecting it to bank away at any moment, the exact opposite happened as the pilot (thanks to organisation from ATC) came straight past Adam with the crew members all waving as they flew off on their mission. A flypast the photographer will not forget!
Image © Adam Duffield
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensBesides going to the TLP 2012-1 at Albacete, Carl's two day trip to Spain offered him the opportunity to photograph the CASA C-101 Aviojet and ENAER T-35C Tamiz used for pilot training at Murcia - San Javier. On this day approximately 8 different Tamiz and 12 Aviojets were seen flying in three waves (8am, 11am and 1pm). One of the Tamiz trainers is captured here departing the northern 05L/23R runway in clear blue skies.
Image © Carl Brent
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Pictures Of The Week
Week 8, February 2012
Clockwise from top left:
Continuing the F-15 theme from last week, this time around we have a wonderful shot depicting one of 65th Aggressor Squadron's F-15Cs heading back to the 'fight' during Red Flag in early January, after refuelling from one of 6th AMW's KC-135Rs.
Image © Kevin Jackson
Nikon D3 + Nikkor 24-70mm ƒ2.8 lensThere may not be a whole lot of aircraft in this show but what a picture! Bartek captured this from a Mi-17 of the 25th Air Cavalry as it unleashed 20 S-5 rockets onto Wedrzyn range, Poland.
Image © Bartosz Bera
Canon EOS 50D + Sigma 10-20mm lensEveryone loves a good sunset, and this time of year, with plenty of warm light to be found at the end of the day, is prime time to go hunting for them. Giovanni spent some time with the Italian Army Aviation Battalion as they underwent validation prior to their imminent deployment to Afghanistan, returning with some brilliant photographs!
Image © Giovanni Colla
So what does a 777 pilot do whilst cruising over the Pacific Ocean? Take photos, evidently! We loved the symmetrical composition from Olly, not to mention...all the buttons. Buttons are great!
Image © Olly Tindall
Canon 7D + 17-55mm ƒ2.8 lensFor this shot, Philippe contacted Philipp Steinbach (the designer of this Sbach 342) to organise a photo flight. And what an inspired move; the backdrop is simply stunning!
Image © Philippe Rey
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm ƒ2.8 lensWell, F-15s have certainly been getting more than their fair share of coverage on the forums and in TWIP recently, but who can argue when the shots are like this? Richard was at a snowy RAF Lakenheath for the Strike Eagle 20th Anniversary press day, and came away with some lovely images - click through to his thread for some!
Image © Richard Calver
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 300mm L lensThe final shot for this week shows an AAC Apache which had an argument with a power line, and lost. The aircraft made a forced landing near Ipswich, Suffolk, and Rob took these photos after some chaps who had the job of getting it back to Wattisham turned up.
Image © Rob Howarth
Nikon D3 + 500mm ƒ4 lens
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Pictures Of The Week
Week 7, February 2012
Clockwise from top left:
Another week sees another fine POTW, testimony to the caliber of photographers UKAR continues to attract. On Friday 10th February RAF Lakenheath marked the 20th anniversary of the arrival of the first F-15E Strike Eagles to the base. Mark Ranger ventured out in the cold, snowy conditions and was rewarded with the image showing a pair of the other Eagle variant also operated from Lakenheath, the F-15C, from the 493rd Fighter Squadron.
Image © Mark Ranger
Once a common site in the UK skies the iconic Harrier is no longer operated by the UK's armed forces. It continues to serve a number of air arms around the world however, including the Italian navy. 5 Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati "Wolves", of the Italian Navy, sent five AV-8Bs to the Tactical Leadership Programme held in Albacete, Spain, where Durran Hunt bagged this image on the final day.
Image © Durran Hunt
Fuji HS10There's been a lot of F-15 photos posted on UKAR over the years but none quite like this! An F-15C of the 65th Aggressor Squadron, in the distinctive Aggressor markings, is seen taking off to take part in in Red Flag 12-2 at Nellis Air Force Base.
Image © Krzysztof Zieliński
Canon EOS 50D, Canon EF 300mm ƒ2.8 L IS lens + Canon 1.4x TeleconverterWe at UKAR love nothing more than a great sunrise or sunset photo. Giovanni Colla was lucky enough to be onboard the USS George H.W. Bush somewhere in the Persian Gulf while it was sailing in support of Operation New Dawn in Iraq. An F18 Hornet is seen being prepared for a mission by the flight deck crew at sunrise.
Image © Giovanni Colla
Nikon D300 + Nikkor 18-70mm lensSnow, check, lovely soft light, check, waving aircrew, check, night shots including full afterburners, check. Mathias Grägel visited Lechfeld Air Base/Bavaria to capture German "Tonkas" and his set ticked all of the boxes. Tornado IDS 45+72 is one of the last wearing the old colour scheme of the German Navy and is seen fitted with an LDP Pod.
Image © Mathias Grägel
As mentioned earlier the Harrier is no longer operated in the UK, now sadly consigned only to museums in this country. BAe Harrier GR.9A ZD433, "Dirty Harry" is seen in the fading light at it's new home, the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton.
Image © Jonathan Coombes
Sony A580 + Sony 18-55mm SAM lensThe Tornado was designed as a low level ground attack platform so the final photo this week shows the Tornado in its natural habitat, low and fast! Tornado GR4 ZD980 of II(AC) Squadron RAF Marham is seen passing through Cad East. "Top bombing!"
Image © Neil Bury
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Pictures Of The Week
Week 6, February 2012
Clockwise from top left:
There was a lot of cracking photography on the forum this week but there was no doubt in UKAR towers that Tony Osborne's textbook example of 'nightshoot' photography would take the top spot. Props running and tips glowing he captured this MV-22B Osprey of VMM-264 'Black Knights' in the twilight as it prepares to launch from Camp Bastion on a mission into Helmand.
Image © Tony Osborne
Next up is Richard Calver's head-on shot of a Tornado GR4 silhouetted against the blue sky and clouds struck a rich orange by the setting sun. 'Marvellous Marham' indeed!
Image © Richard Calver
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 300mm ƒ2.8 L lensStaying with the setting sun theme we pop across to Bielsko Biala airfield where Polish Air Force and Army crews have been deployed to practice mountain flying before the next Afghan rotation. All Polish Mi-17 destined for operations in Afghanistan have been upgraded to use Night Vision Goggles and here "602" is seen being prepared for an NVG-sortie. For the eagle-eyed the badge on the left door is that of the NATO mission in Chad.
Image © Bartosz Bera
Canon EOS 5D MkII + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensA general day out in the winter sunshine at Brize Norton afforded Sam Dodd the opportunity to play around with some wide-angle shots of the circuit bashing Hercules', always a worthy endeavour as this shot shows.
Image © Samuel Dodd
Canon 400D + Canon EF-S 18-55mm lensTaking a step back - to 1992 infact - we return to Poland and to Minsk Mazowiecki AFB, home of 1 Fighter Regiment "Warszawa". The sole remaining MiG on the ramp, "1812", is seen here sporting her bare metal scheme and is minutes away from taking to the air to carry out a practice interception.
Image © Andrzej Rogucki
Pentax Z1You can't get Fitter than a Su-17 Fitter! A pilot stands in front of his steed at Templin, East Germany in April 1994 and Egon was there to witness the some 35 Sukhois leave the base to return to Mother Russia. Envious comrade?
Image © Egon Johansen
