Pictures Of The Week
Week 39, September 2016
Clockwise from top left:
Following its successful debut last year, the "Army Forum" held at Kubinka, about an hour from Moscow, provided a chance for the public to witness the might have the Russian armed forces. A component of this included the Russian Air Force, and Ivan's shot of this Su-30SM at the event really caught our eye. A considerably meatier version than the venerable "Flanker", the "SM" variant, of which Russia has 60, is a thrust-vectoring version of the type supplied to India.
Image © Ivan Voukadinov
No prizes for guessing that we'd feature one of Peter's excellent shots from Wonsan this year. In a thread full of highlights that have never-before been seen on our forums (or most other places!), it was difficult to choose a favourite, and it's thoroughly recommended that you click the image and view the entire thread. The unprecedented access to North Korea's secretive fleet of aircraft this year is the most noteworthy "unveiling" since the soviet-bloc machines were first seen by western eyes at the end of the Cold War a quarter of a century ago.
Image © Peter Terlouw
By complete contrast, we also loved Tony's shot from Malta this week featuring Italy's "Pioneer Team", flying an evening display in their four Pioneer 330s. Formation displays at night are incredibly difficult to get right, and Tony's efforts and technical skill should not be under-valued when looking at as good an evening display shot as we've seen for some time.
Image © Tony Bradley
Keeping things twilight, Mick's wonderful sunset-study of this Romanian MiG-21 is a thing of beauty. Taken at the Bucharest International Airshow, sights like this are soon to be but a memory, as Romania have now recently taken delivery of ex-Portuguese F-16s to supplement and eventually replace their fleet of aged LanceRs.
Image © Michael Lovering
POTW-regular and long-time UKARian Stu has once again produced an incredible thread, this time from his visit to NAS Oceana Air Show. It's been ten years since we reviewed the final appearance of the loved F-14s at Oceana, and though the Tomcats have long-since gone, it seems like the show is still as good as any you could find in the US. In particular, we loved this exceptional-study of this F/A-18A+ from the based VFC-12, which act as an aggressor squadron wearing the eye-catching Su-35 Flanker prototype "Arctic Splinter" scheme.
Image © Stuart Freer (Touchdown Aviation)
A London airshow, you say? Well, yes and no; London Ontario, in Canada provided once again a stellar line-up of Canadian assets of both modern and vintage status after a ten year absence. Amongst the plethora of images available, we really liked the rathermore sedate Harvard II which is surprisingly photo-shy. The machine, one of 25 in the RCAF's inventory, is a version of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, which has been in service since the turn of the century, and acts as a primary trainer for NATO flying training.
Image © 'Ingram'
Last but by no means least, the UK has been fortunate enough to have numerous interesting movements this year, many of them based around Lakenheath and Mildenhall. One such was the arrival of 4 F-16s of the 175th FS "Fightin' Lobos" of the South Dakota ANG, which Matt was on hand to capture, including this machine with a rather fetching coloured tail.
Image © Matt Varley
Pictures Of The Week
Week 38, September 2016
Clockwise from top left:
It's not all that often that we see shots of Canadian Hornets. That's why this shot from Abbotsford Airshow with it's great background caught our eye.
Image © Simon Schibli
2016 has seen a myriad of RAF special paint schemes that seem to have been hidden away from public view. No where was this more true but in the Chinook fleet. So imagine how lucky you would be to catch all three specials in formation on a media flight arriving at SPTA? Lucky little....
Image © Chris Parsons
The SPTA here makes its second appearance in this weeks lineup. In a scene where we you need to hum the Ride of the Valkyries an entire fleet of Chinooks arrive.
Image © Emilio Di Pietro
We all like a good Bronco and when this desert schemed example took part in the recent Jersey Airshow, we thought it was worthy of appearing in this weeks lineup.
Image © 'Haskey'
The Swedish know how to put on a show with classic Jets, so when they fly a Saab 105 demo you know it is going to be special. Andy recently travelled to Malmen airshow and caught this example being put through its paces.
Image © Andy Kenyon
The Su-34 has to be one of the most unusual yet strangely seductive aircraft designs to have appeared in recent years. Seen here at the recent Kubinka Army event, Julien caught an example returning to it's parking spot.
Image © Julien Gernez
Perhaps the most elusive of all special schemes this summer has been the Operation Granby Tornado. Jonathan caught this rare beast departing on a mission at RAF Marham recently.
Image © Jonathan Haylock
Pictures Of The Week
Week 37, September 2016
Clockwise from top left:
2016 has seen an increased amount of activity at RAF Fairford as the base plays host to the USAF Strategic Bomber force as they take part in exercises located around the continent. One such recent deployment was of the awesome B-1B Lancer, caught here by Laurie departing on another mission.
Image © Laurie Hughes
A recent star of many military airshows has been the Hellenic Air Force F-16 Demo Team "Zeus". Philippe was very lucky to spend some time with the team shooting them air to air and we were lucky enough for him to share his shots with us.
Image © Philippe Rey
Sanicole airshow's sunset event is well known for its unique opportunities and the Aerosparx duo of Guy Westgate and Tim Dews certainly delivered, as Peter's fine capture of their psychedelic display ably illustrates.
Image © Peter Steehouwer
Matt is frequently at Norwich airport, camera in hand, to catch the varied movements this regional airport seem to throw up, including this RAF Atlas performing some evening approaches this week. This atmospheric shot in the golden evening sunlight was our pick.
Image © Matt Varley
When we see shots of Mig-29 and Su-27 we get jealous, so imagine how we felt when Lukasz posted this shot of a Romanian Mig-21 being put through its paces? We can only dream!
Image © Łukasz Lipka
Mk.Vb EP122 is one of the "newest" Spitfires to appear on the British isles, having made its first post-restoration flight from Biggin Hill in early May this year. Airshow appearances have been few and far between though, and for it's public debut at Legends at the height of summer, the gorgeous Malta paint scheme she wears was covered up by a temporary livery for film work. Thankfully IWM booked the aircraft again for the recent 'Meet The Fighters' event and Brian caught this lovely shot of the aircraft at rest Duxford's flightline walk.
Image © Brian Marshall
After a lengthy period of renovation, Antonov's magnificent An-22 'Cock' is back in the air and when this cold war behemoth recently visited Zurich, Niall was in the right place at the right time to catch a glimpse. This machine visited the UK a few times in the early-mid 2000s, so fingers crossed it won't be long until the need arises for it to head back to the airports of the UK.
Image © Niall Grant
Pictures Of The Week
Week 36, September 2016
Clockwise from top left:
As striking a way as any to start of this week's top seven, Andy's image of the SEPECAT Jaguar at the recent event at RAF Cosford to mark the final time these cats will be able to move under their own power in RAF service, really caught our eye. "Spotty" as the machine is affectionately known, is one of the jewels in the crown of the venerable fleet of Jaguars belonging to 238 Squadron, as part of the No.1 School of Technical Training at RAF Cosford. We love the contrasting light and colours in this image, along with a clean composition that draws the eye to the beautiful machine on her last prowl.
Image © Andy Knott
Not to be out-done by Spotty, one of 238 Sqn's other Jaguars is resplendent in the Op Granby desert pink colours seen during the Gulf War of the 1990s. POTW regular Jonathan caught the machine beautifully whilst cycling its air-brakes and refuelling probe to the enthusiasts present at the special event held before the big cats are retires from a taxiing condition.
Image © Jonathan Haylock
As first attempts at air-to-air photography goes, Alexander's will take some beating. The de Havilland Chipmunk WK514 is seen regularly about the UK, but sadly we don't see enough shots of the machine from the air. Shooting through a window no-less, Alexander has produced a set that can be boasted, and we look forward to seeing what air-to-air photography he can produce in the future.
Image © Alexander Prins
Now, here's a sight we thought unlikely several years ago - a flying Bristol Sycamore. It's believed to be the only remaining machine of it's type flying in the world. Despite it's current markings, this airframe never saw service in the RAF, but rather with the German armed forces. The machine was retired at the end of the 1960s, and passed through various Alpine private collectors before ending up with the Flying Bulls in Austria as part of their most wonderful collection. Jörg managed this splendid composition of the machine at Zeltweg, a composition of a machine we never thought we'd see in the air again.
Image © Jörg Stange
Keeping us at Zeltweg, POTW-regular Rich wowed us with his incredible thread from Austria, particularly the above impeccable study of this Slovakian Mi-17, one of just 13 in the Air force's inventory, which features a rather striking digital camouflage scheme. The Slovak Mi-17s are veterans of service to their country, and their days look set to be numbered, as confirmation was received some time ago that the nation had ordered 9 UH-60 Blackhawks to act as the Nation's armed forces utility helicopter.
Image © Rich Pittman
Making it three for three on the Zeltweg offerings in this week's top seven, Remko and Jolanda produced this fantastic composition of Austria's Bell 212s. The machines, which have had long legs in service with the nation were thought to be soon ousted by the compliment of UH-60s which have been accepted into the inventory. However, the nation's 23 Hueys were subjected to a modernisation and upgrade programme which concluded in 2015 that extended the service lives of the machines by approximately 25 years, so rest assured, we'll hopefully be seeing much more of the iconic chopper yet.
Image © 'Doordelens'
Rotterdam Harbour Days (also known as Rotterdam World Port Days) is an annual festival set up by the city in celebration of its port, and those involved with it. "Reds" caught the gorgeous Netherlands Coastguard AS365 Dauphin II as part of the Netherlands Coastguard performing at the event, alongside a myriad of other maritime and aeronautical machines, such as a Royal Netherlands Navy NH90, one of their newest machines following the retirement of their venerable Lynx, which have frequently been seen at the event in years previous.
Image © 'Reds'