Pictures Of The Week
Week 35, August 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Commencing this week's selection is a shot that really encapsulates flying from an era of romance and intrigue. Philippe's fine study of of the Swiss-based Breitling Super Constellation is one of his finest air-to-air shots yet, and that's saying something. Philippe tells us that it wasn't an easy undertaking to organise the photo mission. For three months they tried and failed for one reason or another until everything finally came together, and what a result.
Image © Philippe Rey
Nikon D300s + Nikkor 70-200mm VRII lensKeeping things historic this week is Harry's superb capture Duxford-based Spitfire Mk.I, N3200. Reportedly, this aircraft is planned to stay at Duxford whilst its based twin, P9374 is up for sale. The aircraft in question was returning from Shoreham airshow in some sublime evening light, presenting onlookers with a beautiful opportunity to see the Spitfire in all her glory.
Image © Harry Measures
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 500mm ƒ4 L IS lensThe high-profile NATO summit in Wales has led to many interesting aircraft movements in the area, notably the multi-nation flypast involving fighters based at RAF Brize Norton. Just down the road, however the US President used RAF Fairford as his base of operations. Laurie was present for Barack Obama's arrival aboard Air Force One at RAF Fairford and came away with sterling results.
Image © Laurie Hughes
Nikon D7100 + Nikkor 200-400mm ƒ4 lensOnce again this week we have seen mouth-watering shots of Su-22s on their deployment to Miroslawiec. POTW regular Bartosz has covered the day well, but this detailed shot of a Fitter launching into another sortie was a stand out favourite. You can almost feel the thunder of its engines and hear that shotgun-like ignition of the reheat!
Image © Bartosz Bera
Our European colleagues really do know how to throw a birthday bash, and making no exception was the Swiss celebration at Payerne at the start of this month. This spectacular formation of Swiss F-5E Tiger IIs and an A330-300 of Swiss International Airlines caught our eye in a thread full of excellence.
Image © Peter Steehouwer
Nikon D800E + Nikkor 400mm ƒ2.8 VR lensAnother shot from Payerne that we were very fond of is this mixed formation of former and current Swiss Air Force machines, consisting of a Vampire in the lead, flanked by Hawker Hunter and F-5E Tiger II, and with the much-celebrated Swiss Mirage III bringing up the rear. This veritable treat of charismatic airframes in a formation not seen for some time was captured expertly by Graham as they performed on the show's first weekend.
Image © Graham Salt
Canon EOS 1Dx + Canon EF 28-300mm L IS lensWe do love a bit of soviet-era hardware, and rounding things off this week is one from Anton's ever-spectacular coverage of goings on in Bulgaria. The Su-25 "Frogfoot" was taken on the last day of "Thracian Eagle", the joint exercise at Graf Ignatievo Air Base involving the Bulgarian Air Force and USAF. The Su-25s are temporarily based at Graf Ignatievo Air Base on account of renovation works going on at their regular haunt of Bezmer.
Image © Anton Balakchiev
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 34, August 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Well, where better to get the ball rolling this week than with a superb capture of the three Avro sisters in all their glory. Damien attended the bringing together event at RAF Waddington, and then took a chance by driving to RAF Marham to catch a true once in a lifetime formation shot of three aircraft of which the designs are separated by just a decade. If nothing else, a finer monument to British engineering and innovation has not been seen for a long, long time.
Image © Damien Burke
As part of his bumper "Summer '14" update, POTW regular Rick Ingham's shot of "VeRA" or "VERA", call her what you will, performing at a very hot Dawlish airshow caught our attention. One of the few well-lit, non-distant topsides of this magnificent machine is very much deserving of recognition in this week's top seven.
Image © Rick Ingham
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 400mm ƒ5.6 L lensIt's three for three on shots of or involving CWHM's Lancaster. Concluding the Canadian Lanc's hat-trick of appearances this week is Matt's fine study of C-GVRA departing a sunny Southend. We feel that the clutter-free background and dynamic cloudscape really add to the image.
Image © Matt Varley
Canon 550D + Canon EF 28-135mm IS lensAndrzej is a true master in slow-shutter speed captures, and few of his shots are better evidence of that fact that this one. Featuring Peter Teichman's marvellous P-51D Mustang "Jumpin' Jaques" of his Hangar 11 Collection at the conclusion of his display at Eastbourne, Andrezj came away with this shot shooting at a very bold 1/40th sec.
Image © Andrzej Rogucki
Canon EOS-1Dx + Canon EF 500mm ƒ4 L IS lens & Canon 1.4x TC"You can never have enough Fitters". If that's not a saying amongst the community, then we think it should be. Taking part in late evening flights over a shooting range a few kilometers away from Miroslawiec Airbase, Tomasz has once again made us yearn to visit Poland and capture the nation's Su-22s in their element. It was difficult to pick a favourite from his thread, but this dynamic and very "operational" shot was what we went with.
Image © Thomasz Chrul
Canon EOS 70D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensSoon to be relegated to the history bookes upon privitisation, the sight of the RAF's yellow rescue helicopters has been indescribable to those that needed them over the years. In a very rare event, one likely never to be repeated, Chris caught the RAF's Sea King and the recently restored Westland Whirlwind lifting off together from Dawlish. It's great to see the Whirlwind getting out and about more at shows, and even better to see the organisers' forward-thinking to create this unique opportunity.
Image © Chris Parsons
Last but certainly not least is another POTW regular by the name of Lloyd Horgan. Developing quite the repertoire for air-to-air photography recently, Lloyd was lucky enough to participate in a shoot with a Christen Eagle II bi-plane and XH558, coming away with this moody and captivating photograph. Interestingly enough, Lloyd tells us that their photography options were limited as XH558 was dwindling close to its minimum speed during the formation.
Image © Lloyd Horgan
Nikon D7100 + Nikkor 24-70mm lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 33, August 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Where better to start this week than with a photo that some up THE aviation event of the year. Displaying in the sublime summer evening sunlight at Old Warden, Duxman has captured everything you'd want from the BBMF and CWHM Lancaster pairs display, top sides and all. They say a picture paints a thousand words, so we'll let it speak for itself.
Image © Tony Clarke
We found it hard not to hum the Ride of the Valkyries when selecting this shot. POTW regular Bartek was lucky enough to get a flight in a Polish Mil Mi-24 "Hind" taking part in a flypast over Warsaw. Before that event, though, he captured these menacing looking Mil Mi-17 "Hips" taking off en masse. The sound must have been phenomenal!
Image © Bartosz Bera
There has been much debate on our forums of late as to whether it's a bit of a missed opportunity for CWHM's Lancaster not to perform displays in her own right in addition to the formation displays. However, whichever side of the fence you're on, it can't be denied that "VERA" steals the show on her own, as much as with "PA474". Chris captured her looking gorgeous when displaying at Airbourne'14 this year with an almost tropical-looking background.
Image © Chris Heal
Visiting, for the second time, the Portugese 751 Squadron and their Merlins, POTW regular Lloyd covered their participation in Exercise Hot Blade '14 at Ovar. In a thread full of exceptional photography, it was difficult to choose a favourite, however in the end it had to be this incredible night-shot. We look forward to seeing Lloyd's first article for a magazine published in the coming weeks.
Image © Lloyd Horgan
Performing a practice demonstration for the annual Water and Air Parade at Szolnok, Gyula captured a rather smart-looking Mi-17 of the Hungarian Air Force. We're always particular fans of head-on shots, particularly of the rarer former Soviet stuff. The image is made all the more interesting with the addition of wing-stubs.
Image © Gyula Rácz
Once again Gerard has produced a thread of gems from South Africa, this time from the Grand Rand Airshow in Johannesburg. Among the various gems that Gerard has posted was this superb-looking DC-3 operated by Springbok Classic Air. The airframe was lovingly restored in 2010 by its pilot, Flippie Vermeulen.
Image © Gerard Griessel
Closing this week's offering is Ivan's fine study of a USMC MV-22 Osprey. Ivan was lucky enough to have an air-to-air flight back in April as part of MCAS Yuma's WTI course. Be sure to have a look at the rest of the thread for some pretty exotic items, including some immaculate-looking T-33s.
Image © Ivan Voukadinov
Pictures Of The Week
Week 32, August 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Now a POTW regular, Barrie gets us started this week with a beautiful shot of the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Avro Lancaster in all her glory. "VERA" is now well into her tour of UK airshows, and has cemented herself as a firm favourite of enthusiasts, wherever she may be. Barrie told us that, having caught the BBMF's example this way, he was keen to do the same again with this machine and, taking the top-spot this week, we think he's managed it in spades.
Image © Barrie May
Canon EOS 7D Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensWe're immensely fortunate at UKAR to feature not only home-grown talent, but also stunning photography from the international community. Owned by Jan Andersson in Sweden, and previously by the Norway-based Scandinavian Historic Flight, this Douglas A-26 Invader "Sugarland Express" participated in an air-to-air sortie with an An-28. Of note is that the explosion required very meticulous timing calculations, including consideration of the speed of both aircraft, distance between the two and other such variables. However, the hard work was certainly paid off, and we challenge any UKARian to find a more dynamic shot of a warbird posted this summer.
Image © Björn Hellenius
Canon EOS 1Dx + Canon EF 25-105mm ƒ4 L IS lensBogdan was lucky enough to fly in the back of a Yak-52 as part of a mixed 9-ship formation during the 6th Bucharest International Airshow. The aircraft Bogdan flew on was a civilian registered Yak as part of the Aerobatic Yackers display team, in the formation were also machines from the Aviation Academy of the Romanian Air Force, three of which can be seen in the shot.
Image © Bogdan Movileanu
Canon EOS 7D + Sigma 17-70mm ƒ2.8 lensSean regularly posts excellent content from across the pond during the airshow season. This year is no exception and spotted at the Thunder Over Michigan this year was a rather exuberant-looking P-3A fire fighting aircraft. Reportedly, the aircraft has recently been bought by Buffalo Airways of "Ice Pilots" fame, based in Canada.
Image © Sean Kelly
It's often difficult to get different shots of the Reds, and so Trevor's shot of the Reds performing a flypast over the Edinburgh Military Tattoo this year drew our attention for all of the right reasons. With Edinburgh Castle perfectly framed, lovely soft light and a bit of forward thinking, Trevor has definitely come away with a shot he can be proud of.
Image © Trevor Hannant
Canon Rebel T1i + Caonon EF-S 18-55mm lensIt's been a while since we've seen a set from Marham, and so Anton's was all the more appreciated. The debate is still ongoing as to whether chopping bits off in a photograph is preferred, but we think Anton has provided a strong case for the "yes" camp with this crisp and well-lit photo.
Image © Anton Balakchiev
Canon EOS 7D Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensNo prizes here for guessing which scheme this Gazelle AH1 "G-CDNO" is based on. This former military machine (XX432) was sold into civilian hands in September of 2005. It is reportedly based at Boston Airfield in Lincolnshire, and though camera-shy, has been noted in this scheme as far back as the start of 2013. The jury is out as to whether the scheme suits the aircraft or not, but we've got to give it to the aircraft's operator for doing something a little different.
Image © Matt Varley
Canon EOS 550D + Canon 28-135mm IS lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 31, August 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Where better to start this week with, quite frankly, one of the best shots of XH558 we have ever seen. In keeping with his incredibly high standards, Slawek "Hesja" Krajniewski was invited to Yeovilton and documented the Vulcan's attendance over two days, capturing her rather spirited departure from the show.
Image © Slawek Krajniewski
One of the highlights of the RIAT static this year was the pair of Greek A-7 Corsairs making their final appearance in Britain before their retirement later this year. Taking part in an air-to-air photoshoot over Gloucestershire, [IRONBIRD PHOTOGRAPHY - Awaiting Name] came away with some marvellous photos of the pair that really emphasise their charisma and why they're a firm favourite of enthusiasts.
Image © Ironbird Photography
Ade has not been on the forum for long, but has already made a big impression with a set of shots from an air force seldom seen on these boards in the shape of this Macedonian Air Force Mil Mi-24 Hind, one of reportedly 12 on strength with the air arm.
Image © 'ade'
771 Naval Air Squadron provided a demo at the StAgnes RNLI Lifeboat Day earlier this month, aside from being a great opportunity to see a HU5 in its element, the demo emphasised the very close ties between the Royal Navy and the St Agnes and Newquay Lifeboat organisations, and the Lifeboat community as a whole.
Image © Peter Mitrovitch
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 80-400mm AF-S lensUKAR's very own Dan Butcher travelled to his regular haunt at North Weald at the start of this month, finally capturing a shot of the rather shy Bell UH-1H Iroquois registered as G-HUEY. However, North Weald being the base of Peter Teichman's stable of fantastic machines, it was Dan's shot of Teichman's Hurribomber, BE505 "Pegs" that caught our eye.
Image © Dan Butcher
Canon EOS 20D + Canon EF 70-300 IS lensIt's yet to be decided whether this scheme on Kuwati C-17s suits the airframe, or whether it makes them look as dumpy as Julie Walters in Mama Mia. However, one thing is certain and it's that the scheme is a refreshing change from the rather dull grey schemes worn on other airframes of the type. In any event, Michael captured this interesting beast as it passed through Prestwick this week.
Image © Michael Clarke
The much-celebrated biennial A-10 gunnery competition, aptly-named "Hawgsmoke", was hosted this year by the 357th Fighter Squadron "Dragons" at their Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson Arizona. Glenn was on hand to capture this dynamic shot of a somewhat endangered species at the Barry Goldwater Range in Arizona as part of the competition.
Image © Glenn Bloore
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 200-400mm lens