Pictures Of The Week
Week 39, September 2017
Clockwise from top left:
Despite being seventy years old this year, the HU-16 Albatross is the latest addition to the fleet of the International Test Pilots School, based in London Airport, Ontario. Looking magnificent in a raspberry-rippleesque scheme, we can only imagine the noise such a beast made during the London Airshow. Canada has a pretty top collection of warbirds, some of which can be seen in the rest of Sean's set - though not many are actively working vehicles like the Albatross. With quite a lot of both Canadian and US military hardware, it looks like it was quite a show!
Image © Sean Kelly
Another masterpiece by the Polish Air Force's resident air-to-air photographer. Poland's Hinds are still potent war machines, but long in the tooth with some limited avionics compared to western designed attack helicopters (pilots have even been recorded using their phones as satnavs for navigation). The Air Force is now looking for a replacement to take over in the early-mid part of the next decade - one things' for certain, whatever wins won't have half the character of the Cold War's most famous gunship.
Image © Bartosz Bera
Another Russian attack helicopter here, and, boy, if you thought the Apache was ugly... The Havoc is an interesting piece of kit and its hard to say how its capabilities match up to the likes of the Apache but you certainly wouldn't want to go up against one, especially with the huge 30mm cannon under the chin. Nick was lucky enough, if not dry enough, to attend the ARMY 2017 event aat Kubinka Air Base this year, and caught this bleak but exciting shot. If you like your Russian hardware, check out the whole set.
Image © Nick Jennings
This sun-kissed shot of SM845 was caught by our own Big Cheese Numero Dos on the Friday before IWM Duxford's final show of the year, with much better weather than show-goers were treated to over the weekend - in fact arrivals and practice days beforehand have often produced much nicer images than the shows themselves.
Image © Dan Butcher
Plenty of eastern goodies this week, this time from the stars of RIAT - Ukraine. They participated in Malta Air Show's 25th Anniversary with an extremely rare An-30 (one of only three operated by the air arm). The show is well-known for having several different elements, including a fireworks display - and every good aviation photographer will, of course, try and stick a plane in front of them!
Image © Westleigh Bushell
We've commented before that nightshoots seem to very much be the vogue these days, and Threshold.aero's recently held one at Gatwick Aviation Museum has received many plaudits for both quality and affordability. Lightnings, the icon of the British jet age, always seem to be popular subjects at these events, especially when they can be switched on and "brought to life", so to speak. Gatwick's Saudi-marked example stands out from the rest of the RAF field.
Image © Mark Kwiatkowski
There isn't a single ugly member of the Mirage family. There, I said it. The Mirage III in particular is a stunner, and it's fantastic that there's an example still flying in a former operator's lands where it's a popular participant at shows. This dirty topside (look at that meaty undercarriage!) caught our attention but there's a good few more in Martin's set here.
Image © Martin Eames
Pictures Of The Week
Week 38, September 2017
Clockwise from top left:
We open this week's POTW with this U-2S Dragon Lady. U-2s regularly stage through RAF Fairford, however this airframe has been operating there for some time. Stu Freer took a trip down and came away with a superb set of images, we particularly liked this image, perfectly showing off the unique fit that includes the elongated ASARS nose and the striking Spur Dorsal.
Image © Stu Freer
These days the New York ANG's distinctive LC-130H Hercules are very rare visitors to Europe. The aircraft is designed to support scientific operations in the Arctic and Antartic environments and are easily identified by the addition of skis and the hi-vis red colour. Paul Nelhams caught this arriving at Shannon Airport in Ireland as it transited through to Europe.
Image © Paul Nelhams
More lumps, bumps and aerials than you can shake a stick at on "Argus44", one of the US Army's fleet of heavily modified RC-12X Huron. Douglas Connery was on hand for this little gem's departure at Prestwick.
Image © Douglas Connery
Hans Antonissen was fortunate to be involved in an air-to-air shoot with this Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18A Hornet over the Czech Republic recently. The whole set is truly stunning, but this image stood out the most for us.
Image © Hans Antonissen
Simon Schibli attended the Breitling Sion Airshow in Switzerland and his thread contains a mixture of photos from the event as well as from a vantage point above the airfield. This photo of the Armee de l'Aire's Rafale display was one of those captured above the airfield.
Image © Simon Schibli
We've had some rare aircraft in this week's POTW, but this probably tops the lot. The Chinese Navy were in Antwerp and Rob Hendriks grabbed the opportunity to visit the ships with both hands. On-board two of the three ships present were Harbin Z-9 helicopters - these are license-built versions of the Eurocpter AS.365 Dauphin.
Image © Rob Hendriks
Final shot of the week comes from a small show held at Lake Iseo in Italy to commemorate a local Italian ace Mario Stoppani. This Savannah S amphibious ultralight makes for a pretty picture, the distinctive colour scheme set against the stunning scenery of the Bergamo province.
Image © Giorgio Varisco
Pictures Of The Week
Week 37, September 2017
Clockwise from top left:
We open this week with a beautiful shot of an MB339 of the UAE's Al Fursan display team. One of the headline acts at this year's Slovak International Air Fest, their routine features the familiar "crazy flying" pass that the Frecce Tricolore made famous and that is captured here in dramatic fashion by Piotr. Appearing more like a fluffy cloud, it's the depth and definition of the smoke trail that really makes this photograph.
Image © Piotr Kostur
Yet another smoky photo follows, and believe us when we say Rich Goodwin is hiding in there in his Muscle Pitts. Ex-staff member Chris Milne travelled over to Belgium for the mega 40th Anniversary show at Sanicole.
Image © Chris Milne
Staying at Sanicole, Peter Steehouwer attended the sunset show on the Friday. He captured this stunning photo of the popular Twister Aerobatics Team during their Twilight Pyrotechnic display.
Image © Peter Steehouwer
Also in attendance at Sanicole was Gordon Duncan. The weather for the weekend wasn't ideal, but Gordon nonetheless managed to maximise the opportunities that inclement weather and fast jets present, and this shot of the Rafale solo squeezing every last drop of moisture from the air really caught our eye.
Image © Gordon Duncan
Kevin Bell was lucky enough to grab a ride in one of the RAF's Voyagers whilst out in Nevada for the Red Flag exercises. As well as the RAF Typhoons that were taking part, the flight Kevin was on also saw EA-18G Growlers from the United States Navy's VAQ-134 squadron taking on gas, this pairs photo over the picturesque mountain scenery particularly standing out.
Image © Kevin Bell
The Sea King HAS.5s may have been retired from Royal Navy service, but some airframes still retain some operational life. Training German aircrew, this helicopter has been taken on by Heli Operations and was photographed by Richard Davies at Lee-on-Solent shortly after it's repaint.
Image © Richard Davies
Potentially suitable for a question in an aircraft recognition quiz, this particular aircraft had some of us scratching out heads. It is in fact a Reid and Sigrist RS.4 Desford Trainer. Located at Spanhoe, Martin Needham captured it alongside many Austers at an annual Auster fly-in event. The aircraft has been under restoration to fly and is almost ready to take to the skies once again.
Image © Martin Needham
Pictures Of The Week
Week 36, September 2017
Clockwise from top left:
We open this week's POTW with a truly 'magical' image. Soren Augustesen was fortunate enough to join a Royal Danish Air Force Merlin for an air-to-air shoot on a sunset flight over Denmark. The rest of the set is truly stunning and just as spell-binding.
Image © Soren Augustesen
Simon Schibli took a trip into Russia to experience MAKS 2017. The event, for obvious reasons, is a Mecca for western enthusiasts. We particularly liked this creative image of the Tu-160 Blackjack.
Image © Simon Schibli
UKAR Staffer Sam Wise recently found himself in Berlin and made a trip to the popular museum at the old Gatow airfield. The museum boasts an impressive selection of Eastern and Western hardware, and this low view of the Flogger, Fitter and Hind piqued our interest.
Image © Sam Wise
Visiting Volk Field during exercise Northern Lightning, Ivan Voukadinov captured the recovery of this EA-18G Growler from VAQ-209 "Star Warriors" complete with CAG tail depicting the fearsome villain (and Squadron mascot) Darth Vader. The rest of the set is just as impressive with a mixture of hardware involved.
Image © Ivan Voukadinov
The RNHF Sea Fury returned to the air this week, three years after the belly landing at RNAS Culdrose. A well timed visit allowed Dan to witness a couple of test flights, with this shot capturing the aircraft mid-wing fold as it returned to the Weald Aviation facility where the restoration has been carried out.
Image © Dan Butcher
The Reds crossover is always one of those images that every photographer strives to achieve. Shaun was at the Sidmouth Regatta and the evening display enabled him to capture this one beautifully, with the softer light adding to the image.
Image © Shaun Schofield
The distinctive shape of the F-117A Nighthawk closes this week's selection. Steve Doyle shared a look back at his trip to Gilze-Rijen in 1993, when no less than eight of the stealth fighters had deployed on exercise.
Image © Steve Doyle