Pictures Of The Week
Week 8, February 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Kicking off POTW this week is Rob's shot of B-17 Sally B taken last July at Duxford. It's fair to say that she (rightly) is not shy of the airshow circuit, and so original shots are often hard to find, but Rob's creative editing has certainly produced what we feel to be a winner.
Image © Rob Laker
Up next is another creative capture. Taken by Sebastian at Amsterdam Schiphol airport, this striking image of a B777 crossing the sun is one that particularly caught our eye.
Image © Sebastian Hinca
Steve headed to Bruntingthorpe for the Lightning Preservation Group's Nightshoot, and came away with beautiful shots of Lightnings XS904 and XR728 under the lights. The former is presented here.
Image © Steve Tron
Canon EOS 5D MkIII + Canon EF 24-70mm ƒ2.8 L lensIt seems we at UKAR can't get enough of Lightnings this week, and Fred's photos of the jet in RAF service taken back in 1986 really had us reminiscing. Pick of the bunch was this shot of one of nine 5 Squadron Lightnings taking part in the 21st birthday celebrations of the type in RAF service.
Image © Fred Martin
Nikon F90 + 135mm lens on Kodachrome 64The newly restored Gnat, G-MOUR, resplendent in the classic RAF "Yellowjacks" display scheme of old was expertly captured by Trevor as it was flown out of North Weald by Chris Heames on an air test.
Image © Trevor Jago
Nikon D300s + Nikkor 18-300mm VR lensPaul hasn't been on UKAR for long, but his air-to-air photos have already made a huge impact. This image, from the back seat of a Hawk was taken just prior to the break onto RAF Valley's Runway 19.
Image © Paul Heasman
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 17-40mm ƒ4 L lensRounding off this POTW is Stu's excellent shot of a rather unusual visitor to Manchester Airport. This UAE Airbus A330 MRTT made an overnight stop at the airport before heading to California. It returned to the UAE, via Manchester, three days later.
Image © Stu Doherty
Nikon D90 + Nikkor 70-300mm VR lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 7, February 2014
Clockwise from top left:
POTW regular Sławek a.k.a. "Hesja" kicks off things this week with this excellent image of a Swiss Hornet at the renowned Axalp live firing airshow taking place in Switzerland last October.
Image © Sławek Krajniewski
Next up this week is Stuart's brilliant shot of the Lakenheath F-15C Eagle. Making use of the new 1200px on the forum, Stuart's thread is testament to the incredibly high and ever improving standard of photography on UKAR.
Image © Stuart Freer
We do love to see shots of Japanese forces on UKAR, and this week Mike's image of a combination of the variety of types and the subtle creativity of the capture really caught our eye.
Image © Mark Rourke
Rod headed to Nellis AFB in Nevada for Red Flag this month, and amongst his brilliant images of everything you'd expect from a Red Flag; this well framed shot of a B-2 with the iconic Las Vegas background seems to aptly represent of the Red Flag experience.
Image © Rod McDonough
Sadly, it won't be long before the French Mirage F1 is consigned to the history books. Luckily, Paul was on hand to catch this brilliant image of the F1 making what is almost its certainly last appearance at TLP Albacete in Spain.
Image © Paul Cameron
The B-1Bs sadly don't visit the UK as much as they used to, which of course makes Gary's capture of one launching out of RAF Mildenhall all the more special.
Image © Gary Stedman
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensRounding off this week is Gerard's shot of a South African Air Force JAS 39D Gripen. The South African Gripen's are seldom seen on these forums, so Gerard's posting is especially welcome.
Image © Gerard Griessel
Pictures Of The Week
Week 6, February 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Our first image for the week features a sight very familiar to most UK enthusiasts, a Lakenheath based F-15C. Rich travelled to Spain to visit the first Tactical Leadership Program meeting of the year at Albacete, this time featuring participants from seven nations.
Image © Richard Pittman
Given that display team anniversaries are going to be a common theme around the UK with this being the Red Arrow's 50th year, it is great to see Andrzej publish his great set of images from the show celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Patrouille de France at Salon-de-Provence last year. The image we chose to show features the Ramex Delta Display Team with their Mirage 2000N aircraft, a team many would love to see at a show over here.
Image © Andrzej Rogucki
Canon EOS-1Dx + Canon EF 500mm ƒ4 L IS lens & Canon 1.4x TCThailand isn't somewhere that we see images from that regularly on UKAR, so Mark's images from Children's Day show at Don Muang airport offered something very different from the norm. His capture of the UH1H at the show demonstrates the interaction between the military and public that such events offer.
Image © Mark Rourke
Canon EOS 600D + Canon EF 70-300mm IS lensDave's image shows the future of aviation for many nations, the F-35. This F-35A, caught on it's maiden flight, is destined for service in the United States at Luke AFB with the USAF. The image that we chose from Dave's set shows the little bit of luck that photographers sometimes need with timing to get the F-35A cutting through the moon.
Image © Dave Chng
Canon EOS 7D + Sigma 120-400mm lensTyphoon 'special' schemes are very much on topic on UKAR at the moment with the RAF display Typhoon scheme and 6 Squadron centenary scheme recently being unveiled to the public, this is the effort on a German Air Force Typhoon marking the delivery of the 400th Typhoon. Mick caught the aircraft at the Nörvenich Air Base in the west of Germany.
Image © Michael Balter (MBAviationImages)
Canon EOS 1D MkIII + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensThis C-130 was caught by John in the early 1990s at Church Fenton, the C-130 was there for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airman Forces Association Airshow. One of the great features of UKAR is the variety of the photography on our forums, in particular within the 'Golden Oldies' section, featuring aircraft like this camo C-130 that we'd love to see in such schemes again.
Image © John Bilcliffe
To finish this week's selection is another image from our 'Golden Oldies' section, this image from Stuart was taken at NAS Point Mugu. This is where the featured VX-4 Test Squadron were based, the formation is led by the F-4S 'Black Bunny featuring the Playboy Bunny on its time, which was used as the squadron's emblem.
Image © Stuart Freer
Pictures Of The Week
Week 5, February 2014
Clockwise from top left:
UKAR Regular Alan Kenny's superb shot of this colourful CAG bird starts things off this week. This smart looking F/A-18C belonging to VFA-146 the "Blue Diamonds" was shot at NAS Lemoore in California.
Image © Alan Kenny
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-300mm L IS lensHaving recently finished their air policing over the World Economic Forum, Kevin made the most of the opportunity to catch the Swiss Air Force operating both the F-5 and F/A-18 variants from Sion air base. Amongst the aircraft present was this immaculate F-5E Tiger II with tail art celebrating 75 years of 19 Squadron.
Image © Kevin Martin
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensAfter a bit of a hiatus, Keith returned to the forum in fine style with this striking image of an Alaska Airlines 737 on the ramp in Juneau in Alaska between rainstorms. Interestingly enough it is the only dedicated cargo aircraft belonging to the company.
Image © Keith Draycott
Canon Powershot SX40Keeping the international theme going, Thailand is featured next with Mark's excellent shot of a Royal Thai Air Force SAAB JAS 39C Gripen from 701 Squadron, shot at Don Muang for the "Childeren's Day". Compared to its European counterparts, it's lovely to see such a great shot of a Gripen from a different nation.
Image © Mark Rourke
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 300mm ƒ4 L lensIn the (then) twilight of their career, we feel that Neil's creative shot of this RAF TriStar really made the best of the less than clement conditions at the time. It seems to set the tone for the type's almost uncelebrated shuffle into retirement after thirty years of service.
Image © Neil Darby
It is great to see CV-22s finally based at RAF Mildenhall. Since their arrival, they have been appearing more regularly on UKAR, and Gary's shot of this one in sublime lighting conditions shows just why the Osprey has quickly become popular amongst enthusiasts.
Image © Gary Stedman
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensSadly, as one type finally arrives at RAF Mildenhall, another one leaves. Stuart had the opportunity to cover the final departure of the MC-130P "Combat Shadow" to Hurlburt Field, Florida. Stuart presented us with great coverage of the event, but in the end we chose this shot of the final crew, led by Lt. Col. Peek, to fly the machine's last sortie out of a base which has had many years associated with the type.
Image © Stuart Thurtle
Olympus OM-D EM-1 + Zuiko 12-60mm ƒ2.8 lens