Pictures Of The Week
Week 43, October 2015
Clockwise from top left:
Seeing as the world's last flying Vulcan touched down for the final time recently, Ian's finely composed shot of Wellesbourne-based Avro Vulcan XM655 really struck a chord with us all this week. Ian reports that the shoot was nearly canned due to poor weather earlier in the day - thankfully, it wasn't, and the remaining rainwater allowed for this beautiful mirrored effect on the V-bomber. It's not difficult to see why these post-storm shots work really well - with a clean background and splendid light to boot, this image is certainly one to be proud of.
Image © Ian Matthews
Nikon D7100 + Nikkor 18-70mm AF-S lensAxalp is most definitely on the bucket list for the discerning enthusiast. The Swiss airshow combining wonderful live firing exercises, Alpine scenery, and blistering flying is an event like no other in Europe. Andrezj features again this week, with his fantastic shot of this Swiss EC635 at Meiringen, with some of the best use of panning and autumnal colours we've seen for some time.
Image © Andrzej Rogucki
Further nightshoot action took place at Bourne Park, home of the Gazelle Squadron. The Gazelle Squadron have only been in operation for the past couple of years, but already they've been well received at airshows with their excellent mounts - including their HT4 in RAF VVIP colours, which has recently joined the fleet following restoration, and was captured perfectly at the event by Ian. He told UKAR he really enjoyed the event, and took this particular shot from a 2-foot tripod. His entire set from the event is stunning and shows the fantastic atmosphere at this intimate venue.
Image © Ian Garfield
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS lensSticking with the theme of nightshoots, Matt captured a very rarely-seen aircraft in the UK. He was especially lucky to grab this picture of the airframe as he reports that the aircraft's towbar pin had snapped, resulting in the aircraft having to be left in this position briefly. As the national carrier of Tajikistan, Tajik Air operates a fleet of just three Boeing 757s, and don't regularly serve any European airports; so not only is it great to see the machine in the UK, but even better to see a shot of it so excellently composed.
Image © Matt Varley
Canon EOS 550D + Canon EF 28-135mm IS lensHalf a decade since they were retired, we still miss Harriers dearly in the UK - having to make do instead with rarely-seen machines from Europe or the USA. Gary made waves with his first post on the forum, producing some stunners from his first visit to Miramar, but it was this shot that really caught our eye. This brilliant image was taken just before the event's night show began. Do be sure to peruse the rest of his thread for some airshow action from across the pond!
Image © Gary Stray
Canon EOS 7D Mk.II + Canon EF 600mm f4 L lensPOTW-regular Rich features next with his excellent shot of a Canadian CC-177 flying into Yeovilton this week. It certainly takes some skill to make the most undynamic look different and interesting, but Rich has done just that, and made excellent use of the rare visit of the Globemaster to the UK.
Image © Rich Pittman
Closing play this week is our own great bimbler, Brian, with his shot of Mark Miller's Dragon Rapide, based as it has been for a number of years at Duxford, making a rather smoky engine start at the Cambridgeshire airfield. It wears the scheme of Scottish Airways; a private airline which was formed shortly after WWII, and ceased in the 1960s. At its height, the airline operated a fleet of twenty machines and a diverse array of types.
Image © Brian Marshall
Pictures Of The Week
Week 42, October 2015
Clockwise from top left:
Considering they’re as rare as hen’s teeth nowadays, Anton was exceptionally lucky to photograph this beautiful Bulgarian MiG-21 pair from an equally rare Bulgarian C-27J Spartan camera ship! As part of a joint exercise between that nation and Poland, held at Graf Ignatievo, a so-called 'Tango scramble'sortie was flown; this involved the Spartan imitating a hostile aircraft and the fighters intercepting it. Also included in Anton’s incredible thread on UKAR are air-to-air images of the other participants in the exercise - Bulgarian SU-25s, complemented by MiG-29s from both the host nation and Poland.
Image © Anton Balakchiev
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensOne of the most charismatic machines still operated by the RAF has to be the Tornado GR4. UKAR member Paul captured many of the key movers and shakers from the 'Joint Warrior'exercise recently held at RAF Lossiemouth but the shot which particularly got our attention was this Tornado with full reheat. The close-up nature, when added to the contrast between heat haze and sharp airframe - and the light drizzle - gives this picture a real sense of the power being produced by the pair of Turbo-Union RB199s. We’ll certainly miss the Tonkas when they’re gone!
Image © Paul Harvey
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensThe traditional nightshoot has undergone something of a rebirth in recent years with an increasing number of events adding re-enactors to the mix, allowing for some unique sights. Steve’s wonderfully crafted picture from the recent Elvington nightshoot is one such example, with a simulated boarding of the airfield’s resident Victor. The aircraft in the foreground is superbly lit, and the blue evening skies in the background add to the drama portrayed here. Although the cost of these events can, at times, seem rather extortionate - when images like this can be produced, for many it is undoubtedly worth it.
Image © Steve Tron
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS lensIn similar skies, and sticking with the nightshoot theme, is Harry’s delightful composition of The Shuttleworth Collection’s Percival Mew Gull captured recently at Old Warden’s own night event. The low angle of the image gives the diminutive race plane the look of a scale model, with all the salient details of the aircraft beautifully presented. Harry’s entire set is very impressive - not only featuring his highlights of the 'Shuttleworth Uncovered'airshow but also further shots of the engine runs carried out on the night - complete with blue flame and full prop discs! Let’s hope for more of the same at Old Warden in 2016.
Image © Harry Measures
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 70-2000mm f2.8 L IS lensMatt’s shot of the United States Marine Corps F-18 Hornets arriving at RAF Lakenheath following a deployment to the Middle East. We really liked Matt’s shot due to both the subject matter, and the sharpness of the image despite the grey conditions. This set has developed much poignancy since it was posted, following the crash of one of the aircraft - callsign 'Mazda 43'- as it progressed on the next stage of its journey home - with the devastating loss of the aircraft’s pilot, Maj. Taj Sareen. All of us at UKAR send our condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.
Image © Matt Varley
Canon EOS 550D + Canon EF 28-135mm IS lensUKAR member Mark Leith recently visited Orange Caritat in southern France with the intention of seeing fighter variants of the iconic Dassault Mirage 2000 - namely the B & C models. As he says himself, he wasn’t disappointed! The shot which particularly stood out was this one of an example using aerodynamic braking on the landing rollout. It gives a good idea of the potency still resplendent in this aging fighter; what an undeniably welcome sight it is to see the type still in active service - despite its undoubted overshadowing in recent years by the more modern Rafale.
Image © Mark Leith
Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VRii lensWes captured one of the rarest sights seen on UKAR in recent weeks - a Botswana Defence Force Pilatus PC-12 caught at Lanseria Airport, South Africa. Despite being a relatively common civilian type in Europe and the US, military PC-12s are far less commonly seen; making Wes’s shot all the more special. The side-on capture is sharp and well lit, which has led to a super angle on what is thought to be the sole example in Botswanan service.
Image © Westleigh Bushell
Pictures Of The Week
Week 41, October 2015
Clockwise from top left:
When you hear that a Falcon is going to appear at a Northolt nightshoot, you immediately think of an F-16. However, you would be mistaken and greeted by the shape of a gorgeous Falcon bizjet in French Air Force markings! Dean captured this very moody shot of this lady of the sky.
Image © Dean Feltimo
Canon EOS 1D Mk.III + Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L lensWhenever Northolt hosts a nightshoot, it is inevitable that more than one shot will make it into our weekly list. Making the event's second entry this week is Neil's excellent perspective of the 'raspberry-ripple' Hawk. The aim of the game at nightshoots is to obtain a unique or unusual angle to remember the event by and we think Neil has done just that; showing that sometimes no tripod is necessary.
Image © Neil Darby
Canon EOS 1D Mk.III + Canon EF 15-85mm lensIt's not often we get to see shots of the worlds only airworthy Alize, however Simon was in the perfect spot to capture this unique beast as it taxied out for a practice display in the run up to Feria de L'air at Nimes-Garons Airport. We hope to see this at a few UK airshows in 2016!
Image © Simon Schibli
Nikon D7100 + Nikkor 18-105mm VR lensJoint Warrior is perhaps the best series of exercises to attract foreign aircraft to our shores now that the ACMI range has closed. A perfect example being this Luftwaffe Tornado captured arriving at RAF Leeming for the exercise by Chris in some excellent light.
Image © Chris Procter
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L lens & Canon 1.4x TCWhen a member of the UKAR Staff team travels abroad we always look forward to what photographic delights they bring back with them. When Andy recently travelled to the West Coast of the USA to review a few airshows for UKAR he also spent the down time visiting a number of airfields and museums in the region. A good deal of time was spent at NAF El Centro and MCAS Yuma where, he captured the "Frankentiger", the specially marked F-5F of VMFT-401, banking onto finals at Yuma. A rare bird indeed.
Image © Andy Evans
Nikon D7200 + Sigma 150-600mm Sports lens.The E-4B is a rare but majestic aircraft that oozes sophistication from a rather posh paint scheme whilst retaining the classified details of its strategically important mission. Matt was able to catch this beast as it transited through Stansted carrying the Secretary of State.
Image © Matt Varley
Canon EOS 550D + Canon 28-135mm IS lensPerhaps one of the most recognisable paint schemes on such a large transport aircraft. This Kuwaiti C-17 was a surprising catch for Kevin shortly after he arrived in Malta. This was certainly a perfect example of right place, right time, right weather, having a camera!
Image © Kevin Wills
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L lens
Pictures Of The Week
Week 40, October 2015
Clockwise from top left:
Sanicole was easily the biggest airshow in Belgium this year and attracted a number of international acts. Dennis took full advantage of the sun being in a difficult position to skilfully use a ND110 filter to capture this unique shot of the Frecce Tricolori as they passed in-front of the sun. Molto Bene!
Image © Dennis Müller
Canon EOS 5D Mk.III + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensOld Warden is well known for some lovely light and some equally lovely angles. Barrie's shot elegantly exemplifies these qualities and deservedly makes it into this week selection.
Image © Barrie May
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 100-400mm L IS lensHaving gained a reputation for some superb rotary photography over the past few years, Rich once again hasn't disappointed with this excellent "brown out" image of an RAF Chinook making an unprepared ground landing somewhere on Salisbury Plain. We'd love to know where he goes to get these shots, they are second to none.
Image © Rich Pittman
As the most numerous British fast jet, Typhoon shots are ten-a-penny on our forums. Outside of an airshow setting it therefore takes an unusual or truly excellent shot of a Typhoon for it to make our weekly list. This shot by Ben is one of the more unusual we have seen, taken as the aircraft passes infront of an obscures sun almost giving it an atmosphere of something from a movie. It really is quite nice!
Image © Ben Hall
4Aviation recently traveled to Romania for an aviation tour covering a number of Air Force bases across the country. One of the Bulgarian Air Force's newest aircraft types is the C-27J Spartan, two of which are captured in this simple but effective image at Bucharest International Airport. Make sure you check out the thread for some exotic such as MiG-21 LanceRs and Alouette IIIs.
Image © Arnold ten Pas
Canon EOS 5D Mk.II + Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS lensUKAR Staff Member Peter Reoch recently embarked on the aviation trip of a lifetime, to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Whilst in the country, Peter flew on a plethora of exotic Soviet aircraft including this IL-62. This low-angle shot of the Air Koryo example caught our eye for obvious reasons, a beautiful and rarely seen aircraft underneath some photogenic clouds. We're already looking forward to seeing more photographs from the trip!
Image © Peter Reoch
Canon EOS 7D + Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS lensOur final image of the week comes from Rivolto Air Force Base, which recently hosted an air show to celebrate the Freece Tricolori's 55th anniversary. This image of a Turkish Stars pilot really caught our eye as it shows that sometimes picking out the details can produce much more appealing results that a standard 'record shot' of an airframe.
Image © Daniele Ghisolfi