Pictures Of The Week
Week 39, September 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Images like Andrzej's one that opens this week's collection show exactly why there is such a desire to see flares used at more airshows in the UK. The extra dimension that these give to a display has been perfectly captured within this image, from Ostrava, gives the image an extra dynamic to those normally seen of the Dutch F-16 display.
Image © Andrzej Rogucki
The past two weeks have seen images from the Belgian Air Force Day at Kleine Brogel, continuing the trend this week is Dennis Muller's image of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. There has been much focus on the team's 50th display season this year, with their display in Belgium being one of their last this year, the setting sun that Dennis photographed them against acts as the perfect metaphor.
Image © Dennis Müller
Tiger paint schemes are always very popular with both enthusiasts and photographers, this Rafale example is definitely no exception to that rule. The Meeting L'Air at Base Aèrinenne 133 Nancy/Ochey provided plenty of opportunity for a different perspective on the operational activity of the event for Roelof-Jan Gort.
Image © Roelof-Jan Gort
It is not always the biggest events that provided the best opportunities, as Marek proves in his image from a small airshow in Selçuk-Efes. The ancient theatre at Ephesus provided the perfect background to Ali İsmet Öztürk's aerobatic display and the combination of these makes this one of our favourite images of the week.
Image © Marek Staciwa
The annual Lincolnshire Lancaster Association's members day provides an opportunity for the BBMF's fleet to exercise their wings for one last time before the long winter maintenance period begins. Gareth took the late season opportunity to photograph the BBMF's Spitfire MkIIa, in the afternoon autumn sun.
Image © Gareth Horne
'Black Peter' has become one of the most favoured sights in the UK skies over the summer, Chris posted a thread catching up on recent visits to RAF Leeming, this image stood out to us.
Image © Chris Procter
We stick with a rotary theme for our final image of the week which comes from Newquay Airport, at the Westland aircrew training facility there. Peter was present during a period of training for the Nigerian Air Force, during which this AW101 visited.
Image © Peter Mitrovitch
Pictures Of The Week
Week 38, September 2014
Clockwise from top left:
As ways to announce yourself to our forums go Martin's recent post of his air-to-air images are fairly unbeatable. Many of those could have been featured, however, we chose this shot of a Czech Air Force L-159 ALCA. The combination of the great opportunity and some post production work to further enhance the image, make this our favourite.
Image © Martin Král
The departure of the Canadian Warplane Museum's Lancaster marked the end of one of the highlights of the airshow season for many. Michael was invited to RAF Coningsby to witness the preparations for the final departure, joined by the BBMF's Lancaster and a quartet of fighters, Michael describes the flypast as "probably the most emotional aviation event I have witnessed and it was the perfect end to an unforgettable summer".
Image © Michael Hallam
Nikon D7100 + Nikkor 70-300mm VR lensMixed-type formations are always a highlight of any occasion for the enthusiast photographer and the Kleine Brogel Spotters Day provided Mick with one of those special moments. The Fouga Magister and Alpha Jet formation representing the past and present of military training in Belgium.
Image © Mick Powell
Canon EOS 5D MkIII + Sigma 500mm f4.5 lensWith the transition of the Royal Air Force's Merlin fleet to the Royal Navy, Rick captured a Royal Navy crew testing out their new aircraft with this brownout landing. We loved the contrast between the blue summer sky and brown dust the Merlin is decending into on Salisbury Plain, somehow it doesn't feel right with the clear skies above.
Image © Rick Ingham
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS lensOne of the highlights of the time the two Lancaster spent flying together was undoubtedly, this occasion over the Derwent Dam. Stuart took full advantage of the natural framing that the landscape and dam offers when composing his image of the pair.
Image © Stuart Freer (Touchdown Aviation)
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS lensChris joined the many that made the journey to Payerne, for what has been hailed as one of the best shows seen in recent times. One of the stars of the show was Ramex Delta, the image that we have chosen from Chris' post shows one of their Mirage 2000Ns during their demonstration.
Image © Chris Heal
Canon EOS 1D MkIV + Canon EF 500mm f4 L lensThe Commando Assault Finale to RNAS Yeovilton's International Air Day always provides many interesting images that are posted on our forums, this one a bit late from the rest comes from Tom's 'season catch up' post. Given Rick's earlier image, it is rather appropriate that the Sea King Mk4 is featured as they are what the ex-RAF Merlin Mk3s will be replacing in Royal Navy service.
Image © Tom Mercer
Canon EOS 50D + Canon EF 70-300mm L IS lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 37, September 2014
Clockwise from top left:
2014 has seen the celebration of a great many significant anniversaries ranging from the 70th anniversary of D-Day, to the 100th anniversary of the commencement of the First World War. It is only fitting, then, that this week's top seven starts with a shot featuring the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the infamous Operation Market Garden. Seen here are two of five UH-60 Black Hawks dropping off troops of the 82nd Airborne to take part in the commemorations at the John S. Thompson Bridge in Grave, the Netherlands.
Image © Joan le Poole
Following Payerne, another big European airshow took place recently in the form of Belgian Air Force Days at Kleine Brogel. Attending the show over the weekend was POTW regular Laurie who, on the Friday spotters day, took some excellent photos of the Polish MiG-29 display. We rarely seen shots featuring the moon at all, let alone one composed as well as this. It's a shot that went down a storm on the forums and we can see why.
Image © Laurie Hughes
The Mirage 2000 is one of the few modern military aircraft variants that still holds a certain amount of charisma and charm amongst the sea of grey paint and low-viz markings that dominate most modern military aircraft types. Indeed, one might go so far as to say that the variants are among the last of the "golden era" of aircraft design and development as seen by enthusiasts. As such, shots of the French deployment to Malbork were well received on the forum. Even more-so given Carlito's creative photography in some rather special lighting conditions.
Image © Carlito
The Scottish Airshow at Prestwick was covered well by Euan this week, including this well-composed photograph of a very underrated aircraft type on the UK circuit. They say that familiarity breeds contempt and whilst contempt is a bit strong, the numerous Jet Provosts kicking about in the UK are often taken for granted by enthusiasts. A reminder, then, that these aircraft can be, with the right light and angle, some of the most photogenic around. Indeed, the classic jet scene would be much dimmer without them.
Image © Euan Leitch
One of the stars of Duxford's September show was 2Excel Aviation Ltd's interesting oil spill response Boeing 727. Long-time UKARian, POTW regular and famed "Duxford bimbler", Brian has captured the aircraft in a way that, we feel, emphasises just why it was a firm favourite amongst enthusiasts and the public alike. Making a low and "dirty" missed approach before pouring on the power is something rarely seen from airliner displays of late, and we hope that the 727 becomes a more familiar sight on the UK display scene next year.
Image © Brian Marshall
With the sequestration horrors of 2013 ebbing away slightly (though certainly not gone), it is a huge relief to see USAF F-15E Strike Eagles making use of the Mach Loop in force. Taking place in what enthusiasts call "the golden hour", between around 5.00pm and 6.00pm, a pair of Lakenheath's finest dropped in for a bit of a play, giving Stuart multiple passes in gorgeous lighting conditions.
Image © Stuart Freer (Touchdown Aviation)
Paul's shots have been received very well since he began posting them earlier this year. In accordance with his incredibly high standard, he was fortunate enough to spend some time with Royal Danish Air Force Merlins, on a detachment to RAF Valley recently. Indeed, he was asked by the captain of one of the aircraft to fly with them to generate some air to air imagery for the squadron. Among his excellent shots, we can't help but feel that this one will very soon take pride of place within their squadron's mess at Karup.
Image © Paul Heasman
Pictures Of The Week
Week 36, September 2014
Clockwise from top left:
Harry once again features in POTW, and this week we thought his shot of the spectacular return to display flying of the Shuttleworth Collection's DH.88 Comet after a lengthy absence was the only right place to start this week's top seven. We could wax lyrical about the beautiful aircraft, but this fine image of the de Havilland racer more than speaks for itself.
Image © Harry Measures
Canon EOS 1Ds MkII + Canon EF 500mm f4 L IS lensIt wasn't just the Comet catching our eye from Old Warden on the forum this week. Stewart's shot of a formation of BBMF fighters is also thoroughly deserving of a place in this week's POTW. Not only is it a winner of a shot in its own right, but it also shows that the BBMF might finally be responding to calls for a few "topside" passes during their displays, and with their Spitfire MK356 in her unorthodox version of D-Day stripes and Hurricane LF363 in a new schame, what a way to start.
Image © Stewart Taylor
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 400mm f5.6 L lensMaking three for three at Old Warden is a shot which Chris believes firmly evidences Shuttleworth's policy of dynamic and photogenic displays "for the crowd", and we absolutely agree. With a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, sublime September sunlight and a photogenic display, where on earth would the discerning aviation enthusiast rather be?
Image © Chris Low
Panasonic FZ1000Can't help but hum "The Dam Busters March" looking at this shot? Neither can we. With the two Lancasters performing a flypast at Windermere, Neil took a chance on them passing through Thirlmere, and came away with some shots of a lifetime, including this one.
Image © Neil Bury
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 300mm f4 L lensWe love to see different and unusual subjects here at UKAR, and whilst not powerful and modern fighters or rare warbirds, there's something about this shot that we really love. "Condor Formation", consisting of a Chipmunk piloted by Jon Higgins, and two ventures with the camera ship occupied by Richard Mitchell and the other (G-BSWL) with Wes Tierney at the helm, were en route to Little Gransden when Chris managed this superb capture.
Image © Chris Hayball
Canon EOS 5D MkII + Canon EF 24-105mm IS lensWe take things abroad for our final two of this week's POTW. This fantastic shot was taken by Piotr at Poland's "XI International Air Picnic Bielsko-Biała 2014", though given the action of this shot, we think "Air Picnic" might be underselling it a bit. Be sure to have a look at the rest of Piotr's thread for some interesting angles and creative photography that is in keeping with the incredibly high standard set by our friends from Eastern Europe.
Image © Piotr Kostur
Nikon D300 + Nikon 70-200mm AF-S lens & Nikon TC-20E IIIClosing this week's offering in fine style is Mike's shot of the impeccable Mirage III that was well-publicised at the Air '14, in Payerne. It's wonderful to see the European classic jet scene alive and very well. The Swiss machine is undeniably stunning, and those of us not in attendance over the weekend can only hope that she crosses the Channel in the near future.
Image © Michael Hall
Canon EOS 1D MkIV + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lens