Pictures Of The Week
Week 22, May 2012
Clockwise from top left:
Guaranteed to turn heads whether it goes is this USAF Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit from the 393d Bomb Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The aircraft was performing at the Joint Service Open House 2012 (formally Andrews Airforce Base Airshow). Operating directly from Whiteman, the aircraft was originally expected to do a single flypast, however a crew mission planning change saw that they ran in on three different headings and conducted three different low level "bombings" of the two different runways and the main pan (crowd line), resulting in the second pass having this lovely topside in some agreeable light. Unfortunately, the B-2 itself has become somewhat of a recluse to the UK airshow scene, having last been seen at RIAT 2004 - a trend that will hopefully not continue much longer.
Image © Pete Fletcher
Nikon D300 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ2.8 AF-S VR lensIt is still difficult to comprehend seeing RAF Harrier GR9s as museum exhibits and even more upsetting seeing the recent images of the remaining aircraft being reduced to spares to supplement the US Marine Corps fleet at the bone yard. However, James has captured the example at IWM Duxford brilliantly, making the difficult art of museum photography look easy with this atmospheric image. Harrier GR9 (ZD461) previously served with IV(AC) Squadron at RAF Cottesmore and arrived at Duxford in March 2012.
Image © James Cox
The Belgian Air Force F-16 display is one of the most popular fast jet displays in Europe. This is the 33rd successive year the Belgians have displayed the Viper and this years display includes a stylish new painted display aircraft (FA-84). This year has also seen a new display pilot, 29 year old Captain Renaud "Grat" Thys who has taken over the mantle from Cdt. Michel "Mitch" Beulen, certainly no easy feat to follow. "Grat" is seen here at the recent Jubilee Airshow at Duxford performing in blue skies above Cambridgeshire.
Image © Rob Howarth
Nikon D3 + 500mm ƒ4 lensTony attended the La-Ferté Alais Airshow at the end of May. The planned French Navy flyby with two Super Étendards and an E-2C Hawkeye was changed due to the later being unavailable. It was replaced by a MS.760 Paris. The Paris put on quite a show demonstrating surprising agility for an elderly four seat training aircraft and also had a smoke system. Tony has likened La-Ferté Alais to "Shuttleworth on steroids", this was the shows 40th Anniversary and the venue benefits from having the sun behind for most of the day.
Image © Tony Strother
Nikon D300 + Nikon 70-300mm VR lensStaying in France, this next image was taken during a rare visit to Châteaudun Air Base - the French Air Force' storage facility. There are currently 440 aircraft in storage at Châteaudun, half of which will never be able to fly again. This particular image shows a line of Dassault Mirage IV's, which have been in storage since the last examples were retired from Armée de l'Air service in 2005.
Image © Philip Stevens
Getting a topside of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster is a very sought after photo and is often not possible to do from most crowdlines around the country. However, where there's a will there's a way and UKAR Staff Member Mike Hall managed to capture this image at the Jubilee Airshow at Duxford, taken from the much-maligned "Naughty field."
Image © Michael Hall
Canon EOS 1D MkIV + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 21, May 2012
Clockwise from top left:
Well here's something you certainly don't see every day! Chris captured these shots of the last few remaining Beriev Be-12s at Kachinsky, Ukraine. In terms of 'rare Russian aircraft we want to see', these big old flying boats (NATO reporting name: 'Mail') have to be up near the top of the list.
Image © Chris Lofting
We see a lot of photo threads from the ubiquitous Northolt Nightshoots, yet Richard's set has to be one of the best we've seen to date. We had a hard time picking which shot to use, but we love the use of colour-popping technique used on this one to emphasise the 3 Squadron special scheme which caused so much controversy on the UKAR forums!
Image © Richard Calver
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 28-105mm lensStill on the theme of special colour schemes - nobody does it like the Germans! This shot from the top of one of Lechfield's HASs shows off the breathtaking piece of artwork adorning the Tornado to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of 322 Squadron, "The Flying Monsters". RAF powers-that-be; take note!
Image © Mathias Grägel (GME-AirFoto GbR)
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 24-105mm ƒ4 L lensOften considered to be the AH-64 Apache's little brother, the AH-1W has been in service in 1986, and is still operational with the US Marine Corps. This thread contains many excellent shots from UKAR long-termer Tony Osbourne, and we liked this one - from Exercise Scorpion Fire - best of all.
Image © Tony Osborne
This Polish F-16 was one of two spare aircraft which launched with four others who were attending Alaska Red Flag. Instead or returning directly to base, they diverted into RAF Mildenhall for fuel, which is where Nigel took the excellent 'flare' shot you see here.
Image © Nigel Blake
Canon EOS 1Ds MkIII + Canon EF 600mm ƒ4 L IS lensAn excellent piece of composition here from Mr Burke: It is of course the Hawk contingent of the Jubilee flypast, taken from Windsor Great Park. The weather was hardly helpful for photographing the aircraft, but Damien has made the best of things by including as little grey sky as possible!
Image © Damien Burke
Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 18-200mm VR lensWe're both topping and tailing this weeks selection with 'aircraft you don't see every day but would really like to' with this remarkably high-quality photo of one of two F-102As which diverted into RAF Leuchars during the 1972 Battle of Britain airshow. Not due to be part of the display, they were parked well away from the crowd over on the active side of the airfield, but Leslie's press pass allowed him to get up close and take a look.
Image © Leslie A. Rodger
Pictures Of The Week
Week 20, May 2012
Clockwise from top left:
First up this week we have this absolutely stunning photo of a Tornado GR4 from 12 Squadron RAF, seen preparing for a mission over Afghanistan, at Kandahar Air Base in the early hours of Christmas day 2011. The black sky and back lighting make the "Tonka" look sinister as it pauses for final checks before taking off. The rest of Tim Laurence's thread are equally as good, top bombing!
Image © Tim Lawrence
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 24-70mm ƒ2.8 L lensThe French Air Force sent four Rafales to take part in the recent celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of 3 Squadron RAF at RAF Conningsby where Dean West bagged this head on image. With a pair of French navy Rafale's due to appear at the Yeovilton Air Day, and the French Air Force sending its solo aircraft to RIAT we're bound to see plenty of photos of France's premier combat aircraft this summer.
Image © Dean West
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensThe first of two air to air shots that feature this week comes from Mike Shreeve. Mike was fortunate enough to fly alongside this rarely flown Zero, which was one of the aircraft used in the film "Pearl Harbour". Seen in the sunny skies near Sacramento in Northern California the Zero is now heading to a new home in a flying museum being set up in Anchorage, Alaska.
Image © Mike Shreeve
Canon EOS 5D MkII + Canon 24-105mm ƒ4 L lensAs the words are written the Olympic flame is on its way to the UK ahead of the London games this summer. British Airways painted one of their Airbus A319's in this striking scheme and christened the aircraft "The Firefly". This is the actual aircraft that will fly the Olympic flame from Greece to the UK.
Image © Jeff Garrish
Canon EOS 550D + Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS lensThe second air to air image we feature this week comes from Neil Jones. C-47 Drag 'em oot is a genuine World War 2 combat veteran, with a well documented history and is seen here after departing the Abingdon Air and Country show.
Image © Neil Jones
Canon EOS 50D + Canon 24-105mm ƒ4 L lensThis golden oldie comes from Steven Doyle. Helitech '89 was held at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey and attracted a range of rarely seen eastern block helicopters, including this Kamov Ka-32S "Helix".
Image © Steve Doyle
Olympus OM-2n + 135mm lensLast, and by no means least, this week we have our first photo of a North Korean aircraft! Michael Clarke was the privileged individual who photographed this Air Koryo IL62 on the ground at Beijing prior to departing to Pyongyang.
Image © Michael Clarke
Olympus U5000
Pictures Of The Week
Week 19, May 2012
Clockwise from top left:
We start of this week's selection with a nostalgic look at the glory days of Upper Heyford and its Aardvarks. Over the course of one day Mark logged 52 F-111's of which nine were Spark Varks, a tally that we could only wish for nowadays -an aircraft type that was once so common in British skies, and is still much missed!
Image © Mark Stevens
Olympus OM-1N, scanned with a Plustek 7600SE scannerThe hills are alive, with the sound of choppers! Swiss Cougars seem to make regular appearances in our Week in Pictures and maybe this is why. Whilst supporting the Patrouille des Glaciers - a biannual, Swiss Army organized International Mountaineering Race - Julien caught this particular example in a snow flurry and breaking from the camera in typically dramatic fashion.
Image © Julien Ritz
Nikon D800 + Nikkor 600mm ƒ4 VR II lensTurboprop trainers at airshows certainly divide opinion here on UKAR. The PC-7 may not be everyone's cup of tea but Peter Reoch saw an interesting shot with one of the crews' flying helmets resting on the cockpit's frame. A shallow depth of field and the almost "colour popped" nature of the shot draw attention exactly where intended. Peter's developing quite an eye for creative photography, and is clearly one to keep a close eye on.
Image © Peter Reoch
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ4 L lensNow, errant Victors aside, most of the attractions are on the ground at a Bruntingthorpe Cold War Jets Open Day but Keith was looking at the right place at the right time to capture this Beech 18 giving a beautiful topside pass. The angle, the lighting, the background, all the components just lined up to produce a stunning picture, of a type we'd like to see much more of at shows up and down the country.
Image © Keith Meachem
Canon 1D MkIV + Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ2.8 L IS lensStaying with the classics theme and it's up to Moray with this glorious example of the de Havilland DH.82 pictured at Shempston which is rather unique as it's located in the middle of a working farm. A yellow aircraft and a blue sky is a marriage made in heaven and the Tiger Moth is just plain pretty. A timeless shot of one of the true classics of British aviation.
Image © Alan Potts
Japanese military types are always well-received by our discerning readership. Wearing a distinctive scheme is this C-130H Hercules of the Japanese Air Self-Defence Force. This Fat Albert is seen making last-minute adjustments on short finals to Iruma Air Base in Saitama Prefecture.
Image © Tim Beach
Pentax K10D + Sigma 50-500mm lensSo, do you like it or loathe it? The special spine and fin design on 3(F) Squadron's centenary marked Typhoon led to plenty of debate on our forums. What we'll say here is that a dash of colour on a notoriously soulless jet is most welcome, whatever the artistic merits of the design. A last minute nightshoot, promoted as always via our forums, offered the lucky attendees the opportunity to shoot the Typhoons of Exercise Olympic Guardian during their deployment to RAF Northolt, where the weather conditions were somewhat "changeable".
Image © Simon Wright
Camera - Canon EOS 7D + Canon 24-70mm ƒ2.8 L lens