Pictures Of The Week
Week 13, March 2018
Clockwise from top left:
First up is a wonderful topside of the Israeli F-16C 'Burak'. Ali Hunt captured this image at the Iniochos Exercise as the aircraft departed Andravida AB on a sortie.
Image © Ali Hunt
We stay in Greece and at Andravida. Mark Rourke captured this image of one of the more familiar sights to us British spotters. The F-15E Strike Eagle here is seen moments before touch down.
Image © Mark Rourke
A seemingly rare sight in recent times to the UK is the United States Navy and their E-6B. Bradley captured the Mercury as it departed from RAF Mildenhall following a very brief stay, luckily a brief window of superb light as she powered away gave rise to this photo.
Image © Bradley Bygrave
UKAR Staffer Ian Garfield attended the Threshold Navy Wings Nightshoot at RNAS Yeovilton recently. Of his photo set, this low angle offering of the Royal Navy Merlin HC.3 all lit up really did stand out.
Image © Ian Garfield
From a low-angle image we move now to low-level. Sam Whitfield took a walk up the Welsh hills, and caught a Mildenhall-based CV-22B Osprey transitting through the 'Bwlch Exit'.
Image © Sam Whitfield
Colin Lee visited Calshot to capture this Cessna 208 Floatplane transiting through from Canada to Bangladesh for Humanitarian work. His thread really shows the full story of the aircraft's short visit and this different angle of the aircraft grabbed our eye.
Image © Colin Lee
To close out, an image taken at the Flying Legends show in 2017. This close up of Nick Grey at the controls of P-51 'Berlin Express' from POTW regular Andrej Rogucki was taken as the aircraft taxiied back to parking, minus the canopy that shattered early on during his routine.
Image © Andrzej Rogucki
Pictures Of The Week
Week 12, March 2018
Clockwise from top left:
Often labeled as one of the least pretty looking aircraft, there are some angles of the F-35 in which it actually looks quite good. We felt this photo from Peter Steehouwer was one of those times. On a trip into Death Valley, this Dutch example treated Peter and his group to some low passes. We urge you to check out the rest of the images in Peter's set.
Image © Peter Steehouwer
Recently retired from AAC service, the specially marked Lynx AH.9 was part of a Threshold-organised nightshoot at Middle Wallop. Paul Smith attended the event and came away with this cracking image during the 'blue hour'.
Image © Paul Smith
Staying within the twighlight's blue hour, Shaun Schofield was in attendace at RNAS Yeovilton for the second Threshold Navy Wings nightshoot. He captured this great photo of the Royal Navy Historic Flight's Fairey Swordfish.
Image © Shaun Schofield
Wallace Shackleton takes the next spot in our POTW selection with this fine image of one of the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum's residents. The F-100 was captured with a flock of crows flying past in the background during a nightshoot.
Image © Wallace Shackleton
You would be forgiven for thinking that this photo was taken in the wildest depths of the Norwegian tundra, but no, Rich Pittman caught this Norwegian EH-101 Merlin on a test flight out of Yeovil whilst the country was in the grips of 'the Beast from the East'.
Image © Rich Pittman
Forum member 'Hurk6' attended the recent Iniochos Exercise held at Andravidia in Greece. The exercise boasted some truly exotic participants including Cypriot AW.139, Israeli F-16C 'Burak' and Mirage 2000 from the United Arab Emirates. This image of one of the UAEAF Mirage 2000 recovering stood out in his 'teaser' post.
Image © 'Hurk6'
We round up this week's POTW selection with a fine air-to-air image of a mighty fine looking aircraft. Cameron Sys joined the Vampire Preservation Group's Vampire T.11 over the Northamptonshire countryside on a flight out of the aircraft's new home at Coventry.
Image © Cameron Sys
Pictures Of The Week
Week 11, March 2018
Clockwise from top left:
Lloyd Horgan's view of London opens this edition of POTW. Lloyd was onboard one of the RAF's Chinook HC.5s travelling through the heli-lanes above the capital, but it was really tough to pick a shot from his varied and creative set of stunning photos.
Image © Lloyd Horgan
An image bursting full of action from the land down under. Forum user 'GeorgeP' attended the Tyabb Airshow in Australia, an event that boasted a varied selection of civilian and warbirds. It was this Pitts Special in front of a wall of fire that stood out to us.
Image © 'GeorgeP'
Peter Steehouwer recently visited the Rainbow Canyon in Death Valley, California's answer to the UK low fly routes. Peter was treated to a veritable mix of types during his visit including this stunning image of one of South Dakota ANG's F-16C.
Image © Peter Steehouwer
Westleigh Bushell attended a Nightshoot held at RAF Cosford, his short thread showcasing two superbly preserved airframes - 'Black Mike', recently rebuilt following its relocation from RAF Leuchars; the other being this beautiful RAF Rescue Wessex.
Image © Westleigh Bushell
UKAR Staffer Nick Jennings was present at a Timeline Events Nightshoot held at the old Bentwaters airfield. A couple of classic jets were set as subjects for the event and Nick's photo of the Hunter in the evening light really grabbed our attention.
Image © Nick Jennings
Another staffer follows, Ian Garfield took this great photo of the twin-stick Jaguar T.2 at another Nightshoot at RAF Cosford.
Image © Ian Garfield
Last but not least we have this image of the Gloster Meteor taken by Jakub at the TimeLine Events shoot at Coventry Airport. The event offered one of the final opportunities to capture this airframe before she headed off to Liverpool for shipping to a new home in USA.
Image © Jakub Zurek
Pictures Of The Week
Week 10, March 2018
Clockwise from top left:
UKAR staff member Nick Jennings visited RAF Lakenheath courtesy of KS Aviation Trips. Base tours like this have become increasingly popular over the last few years and it's easy to see why. Nick's collection of images from the day - including this F-15C - highlight the unique access granted and kind hospitality offered by USAF personnel.
Image © Nick Jennings
Another base tour and this time to the Italian equivalent of RAF Valley, Galatina Air Base, near Lecce. Andy Evans shared a selection of images from a visit in 2016 with, amongst other things, wonderful images of the sleek T-346, the Air Force's primary jet trainer.
Image © Andy Evans
Our next stop is across the pond and more images from this year's first Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB. Amongst the international participation was this EA-18G Growler from the Royal Australian Air Force, sporting a special livery celebrating 100 years of No. 6 squadron, currently based at RAAF Amberley.
Image © Rod McDonough
The night shoot has really caught on in recent times with a number of organisations now offering unique access at locations right across the country. The appeal of witnessing both preserved and currently-operated airframes is liked by enthusiasts and photographers of all abilities and is a perfect tonic to the airshow off-season, so expect more images! Steve Tron attended such a visit at Wattisham to capture preserved Phantom FGR2 XT914.
Image © Steve Tron
Braving the recent 'beast from the east' was Don Cashen who spent a day in sub-zero temperatures at Dublin Airport. His gallantry certainly was rewarded with this fine set of images of aircraft battling the elements, including this fabulous Aer Lingus Airbus pair.
Image © Don Cashen
Back to Wattisham again and nowadays the base is home to just the Apache. Although not the easiest base to photograph, Gary Stedman recently gave us an insight in to his 'local' with an assortment of images taken last summer where his perseverance certainly paid off.
Image © Gary Stedman
Finally this week, a couple of unusual sights at Sion, as shot by Phillipe Rey. Two C-130s of the Royal Jordanian Air Force - including the special-tailed Hercules - were supporting the Falcons while this An-26 of the Hungarian Air Force was supporting their Gripen, both of whom had displayed at the Breitling Sion air show.
Image © Philippe Rey