Pictures Of The Week
Week 30, July 2014
Clockwise from top left:
We start this week’s POTW in Phantastic Phashion, with this stunning low-angle photo of Phantom FG1 XV586 resplendent in its new 892 NAS colours, having formerly served as a gate guardian at RAF Leuchars. Kevin beat the crowds to photograph her in the early morning sun at this year’s RNAS Yeovilton Air Day.
Image © Kevin Bridgewater
Nikon D800e + Nikkor 18-105mm lensNext up is POTW regular Bartosz, whose regular snapshots of Polish Air Force operations never fail to impress. This time, however, we bring you the results of his first tanker ride - an air-to-air sortie with Spangdahlem-based USAF F-16s which had deployed to Lask in light of the Ukraine crisis. This photo, with a convenient break in the clouds, really caught our eye.
Image © Bartosz Bera
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 70-200mm ƒ2.8 L IS lensSticking with air-to-air, Mark had the envy of many an aviation enthusiast when he embarked on a flight alongside a machine so archetypal of British aviation pioneering, Avro Vulcan XH558, as it transited from Farnborough to Yeovilton.
Image © Mark Salter
It's unfortunate that we rarely get to see the Royal Navy's "Junglies" flying at airshows, so rare in fact that they have become somewhat a mark of exclusivity at the annual Yeovilton Air Day. This year was no exception and featured an appearance, amongst others, by ZA299 - captured by Rich in some lovely soft lighting conditions.
Image © Rich Pittman
In addition to the multitude of public air displays throughout the year, a large number of private events remain largely unheard. Nevertheless with sweltering weather and the promise of blue skies, Barrie climbed RAF Coningsby’s famous mound to view the Families Day and, in addition to the “utterly epic” Chinook flypasts, came away with this superb photo of the BBMF’s Lancaster PA747.
Image © Barrie May
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 300mm ƒ4 L lensThe weather has offered little mercy to Old Warden in 2014 thus far, so it was quite a relief when July’s Wings and Wheels event had the approval of the weather gods. Paul captured the handsome lines of Richard Seeley’s Travel Air Type R “Mystery Ship” arcing around the dogleg display line, forming this week’s penultimate photograph.
Image © Stewart Taylor
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 400mm ƒ5.6 L lensFinally this week we head to Norfolk, specifically to Old Buckenham, where Jonathan visited the locally-billed “Norfolk Airshow” and produced an excellent set including this shot of a North American Navion. The Navion is certainly an unusual sight on the UK display scene; here’s hoping she gains more bookings after this airing!
Image © Jonathan Haylock
Canon EOS 70D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 29, July 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Where better to start this week than Rob's head-on shot of a Red Arrows 9-ship take off. Making their obligatory appearance at Farnborough in their 50th display season, some might be forgiven for becoming a little bored of shots of the Reds. Once again however, Rob has shown us that dynamic and interesting shots of the Red Arrows are still to be had and are all the more pleasurable to see.
Image © Rob Laker
The title of the thread on UKAR commences with the words "Just Phantoms..." - and what more could one want? Mark headed to the Turkish Air Force Base at Konya in June of this year for Exercise Anatolian Eagle. Taking part in the exercise, which saw over 100 fast jets based at the airfield, were 11 F-4s from units based at Erhac and Eskisehir with some of them, this one included, carrying rather meaty-looking armaments.
Image © Mark Stevens
We would be remiss in our difficult job of deciding which shots appear in POTW if we didn't include the return after some years absence of an aircraft that holds a fond place in the hearts of the enthusiast and public alike. Richard dedicated an entire thread of well-captured shots to the Spanish Navy's Harrier appearance at Farnborough this year, and rightly so. To prevent us from getting too sentimental, we'll just let the image speak for itself...
Image © Richard Preece
Here at UKAR it has been said and said again that we do love a good sunset shot, and with Shaun's excellent capture of one the Royal Navy's newest bits of kit, you can see why. The Wildcat, or Lynx Wildcat as the Royal Navy like to call it (to avoid confusion with the namesake WWII fighter), dropped into RNAS Merryfield's Open Evening at the end of June.
Image © Shaun Schofield
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensWith the dust firmly settled on another year's RIAT, shots of the Su-22 have dominated various fora and social media. It takes something special then, to draw our vote for a POTW. Rich was present at Rhymes Farm over the weekend and came away with this shot where you can almost hear the noise of the Lyulka AL-21F3 turbojet powering this mighty Cold War Warrior along RIAT's display line.
Image © Rich Andrews
Canon EOS 5D MkIII + Canon EF 500mm ƒ4 L lens & 1.4x TCThe summer months are as good as any to visit the Mach Loop and POTW regular Peter did just that. Spending two days in the Welsh valleys, he came away with shots of a great range of RAF hardware that you would expect (and hope) to see using the area. It was difficult to choose from such a diverse offering, but in the end this splendid head-on of an RAF C-130J Hercules C5 was what really caught our eye.
Image © Peter Steehouwer
Nikon D800E + Nikon 400mm ƒ2.8 VR lensRounding things off this week is Rich's capture of the iconic "Dragon Lady". Hearing the news of the somewhat regular U-2 swap over at Fairford, he headed over there in sterling weather and came away with an interesting set that he should be very proud of indeed.
Image © Rich Pittman
Pictures Of The Week
Week 28, July 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Commencing this week is possibly the most interesting shot of Beechcraft's T-6C Texan II deployment to the UK this summer. Along with the company's AT-6 and the now well-known Textron AirLand Scorpion, Pete spent an enviable day photographing these birds low level in the beautiful surroundings of Lake Vyrnwy in North Wales after an invitation from one of his friends at Beechcraft a few months prior. It's not what you know, but who you know indeed!
Image © Pete Fletcher
Sometimes, just one shot can typify a whole display, and we feel that Westleigh's does just that. Taken at Farnborough, this Boeing 787-9 is, would you believe it, in the process of doing a touch and go manoeuvre. Putting even some of its fast jet counterparts to shame, it's an impressive feat for any large aircraft to be performing, let alone one as new and as large as this.
Image © Westleigh Bushell
Keeping things at Farnborough this week is Frank's shot of the A350 XWB during its display. The aircraft wears the hybrid colour scheme of Airbus house colours and Qatar Airways - the A350 launch customer. it was great to see the aircraft make it's UK airshow debut and as Farnborough is probably the only place in the UK that sees airliners thrown around the skies, dramatic shots of new state of the art hardware like this are all the more rarer, and very pleasing to see on UKAR.
Image © Frank Cross
Sadly, though Ospreys have now settled into life being based in the UK, they have been absent from shows. Indeed, shots of the CV-22 have been somewhat scarce on the boards lately, so it was great to see Tom restore the balance with an excellent capture of the fantastic machine. The aircraft silhouette, moody skies, sunlit background have produced an absolute winner, and one that Tom should be proud of.
Image © Tom Sunley
Though the monstrous weather over Europe did its best to curtail this year's Flying Legends programme, the show was not without its gems, and none more so that the world's sole airworthy P-26 Peashooter from the Planes of Fame's collection based out of Chino, California. The well-publicised aircraft was shipped over in a container, reassembled and flight-tested prior to the show - an indication, if ever there was need of any, of both the logistics involved in transporting a vintage aeroplane to an international show and the passion and commitment of those who do it.
Image © Darrell Thompson
Making their long-overdue début in the UK at RIAT this summer were the display pairing of Polish Su-22 "Fitters". Taking us back to the days when aircraft had as much charisma as their pilots, if not more in some cases, these Cold War warriors were popular with enthusiasts and punters alike. Rich's fantastic low down shot of this colourful aircraft has a very Soviet feel to it and epitomises just how and why the aircraft is such a hit with the crowds.
Image © Rich Pittman
Rounding off this week's offering is Lloyd's superb shot of the Reds performing their display at RIAT on the Friday show day. Considering the popularity and regularity of the RAFAT's appearances around the country, it is extremely difficult to come away with anything more than bog-standard shots of the team that you have either shot before, or someone else has. Lloyd, ever the master of making even the simple look interesting, came away with a splendid photo proving that captures from inside the show ground can be just as dynamic as those taken from outside.
Image © Lloyd Horgan
Pictures Of The Week
Week 27, July 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Michael's trip to Japan features again in this week's POTW, and kicking things off is this mouth watering shot of a gorgeous JASDF RF-4E Phantom. In a thread full of F-4s, F-15s, and T-4s, it was difficult to pick a favourite, however we simply couldn't skip the opportunity to feature this reconnaissance variant of an old favourite of enthusiasts, in a splendid livery to boot. Taken at Hyakuri AB in Japan, Michael tells us that it might just be the world's best place for aviation photography and, looking at his thread, who are we to disagree?
Image © Michael Lovering
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensJoining Le Luc's 60th Anniversary celebrations, Kevin came away with this interesting capture of ALAT's newest pieces of kit - a Eurocopter Tiger and an NH-90 TTH "Caïman". Taking place at the Southern base which is home to the joint NH-90 training centre and the Franco-German Tiger crew training school, it appears that most of the located hardware was on show, including the subjects in this photograph. With what looks like excellent weather, and scenic backgrounds, and the modest price of 2 Euros for parking and free entry, UK armed forces could learn a thing or two from their counterparts in hosting a successful birthday bash.
Image © Kevin Martin
Bringing us to the UK this week, Mark took this shot of a Sea King HAR.5 from HMS Gannet putting on a role demo for the South Queensferry RNLI open Day. We feel that the rail bridge in the background gives both dimension and perspective to a brilliant capture of the old bird. It isn't long now until the venerable "Queen of the Skies" will begin to swiftly disappear from service, a day that will surely creep up on us, so shots like this are all the more welcome.
Image © Mark McGrath
The US Navy's P-8A Poseidon's deployment to the UK for airshows this summer has, by now, become very well publicised indeed. Kevin has nailed this shot of the P-8 as it came into RAF Waddington in the evening of the days preceding the airshow. The combination of a head-on capture, in sublime lighting conditions with a background free of clutter and typical airshow miscellany makes this simple but effective shot one of the best we've seen of the P-8A this summer.
Image © Kevin Bell
Another widely seen aircraft this summer has been the Swiss Air Force F-18C Hornet. Making what looks to be one of the display's characteristic pull-ups, Phil captured the "Bug" making noise and cloud in sterling conditions at RAF Waddington Airshow.
Image © Phil Royal
POTW regular Tomasz closes the offering this week with a stirking image of a Polish Army Mil Mi-24 Hind conducting an evening flight as part of a contingent of six (plus 4 PZL Mi-2 "hoplites") out of Nowy Targ airfield. The Polish Hinds visit the area several times a year to practice mountain flying.
Image © Tomasz Chrul
Pictures Of The Week
Week 26, July 2014
Clockwise from top left:
We start this week at Old Warden, where the Shuttleworth Collection's Sopwith Triplane came to grief last weekend during the annual Military Pageant airshow. Footage posted online suggests the aircraft clipped a fence post, damaging the landing gear before touching down and nosing over. Thankfully, Dodge Bailey emerged with not so much as a bruise, but the aircraft is slightly worse for wear. There are plans to repair the airframe back to flying condition again, but we probably won't be seeing this one in the Bedfordshire skies for a few years yet.
Image © Darrell Thompson
Nikon D7100 + Nikkor 70-200mm ƒ2.8 lens & Nikon 1.7x TCKeeping us at Shuttleworth is Barrie's very atmospheric shot of a pair of Royal Aircraft Factory BE2e-1 replicas, which closed the show. The pair have recently arrived from New Zealand for Oliver Wulff, to be operated by the WWI Aviation Heritage Trust out of Stow Maries.
Image © Barrie May
Here in the UK, some might use the fact that a wing-walking display is taking place as an opportunity put the camera down and take a comfort break. Over in Poland, however, Marek's in-your-face shot of this display at Gryzliny Airshow 2014 seems to prove the contrary.
Image © Marek Staciwa
Nikon D300s + Nikkor 200-400 ƒ4 VR II lensUKAR Staff Member Peter Reoch has had a busy summer so far, as his thread details. He took this stunner of a shot of an RAF Harrier GR9, wearing IV Squadron marks, still looking as good as it did when it was retired at RAF Cosford in the days preceeding the airshow. Indeed, if his shots are anything to go by, perhaps there is value in Cosford doing its own night-shoot.
Image © Peter Reoch
Sadly, the much-loved French Air force Mirage F1 has now been retired. A ceremony took place to mark the machine's many years of service at Mont-de-Marsan, and Mark went along to capture the old bird on a final hurrah. There were several commemorative schemes put forward by the French, however we felt that this shot of the jet "as it is" was the most poignant.
Image © Mark Leith
Nikon D7000 + 70-300mm Nikkor lensKeeping things French is Marciej's shot of a FAF Rafale as part of the French air policing mission at Malbork. This photograph highlights the smart lines of the Rafale, and cements our opinion that it is the prettiest of the 4th generation delta-winged jets.
Image © Maciej Ramos
Rich closes the show this week with a great capture of a Spanish Chinook. A total of six Chinooks took part in exercise FAMET, along with various other Spanish rotary hardware. As he said in his thread, he went for the Chinook, and we think his trip firmly paid off with this shot (amongst others), even if it did mean the French ATC strike caused him to miss the Tiger Meet!
Image © Rich Pittman
Canon EOS 6D + Canon EF 70-300mm L IS lens