USA meets LFA

It was some months ago that I was at the forest gate at Lakenheath photographing F15E's launching out of the zero six end, always a treat for those of us who photograph planes, when an American accent announced "Man there's no better way to see F15's"
......... "weellll actually" I said (without trying to appear too smug) "you ain't seen F15's properly until you've seen 'em in the loop!"
"oh man, I have to see that" was the reply that came after some explaination of what the Mach loop is all about.
Now that James' wife is safely home from serving as a nurse abroad and he's not tied to looking after the family we headed for the hills.
There were some long waits between aircraft, but we saw Harrier's, Tonka's, a couple of Hercules, the Boscombe down Alpha jet, Typhoons and Hawks........ sadly no F15Es, but that can be next time, we have another Low-fly addict; a new "rock rat" has joined the fold.

Tea-time Typhoon bagged

A very slow day at Cad West today (10th Sept 2008) a slow hard slog up a muddy and very slippery path, a very long wait for any aircraft with the first Hawk pair through at 13:40, and then another pair of Hawks about at 16:00.
The slow and very windy day was brightened by the company on the hill, Lozza, Garry, PeteB, and a Belgian Von-smallhousen, et all; thanks guys it was a good laugh.
Eventually a real smile appeared on several faces when the Boscombe Tucano popped out of Bwlch and headed our way, but it was the crew of "Bravo Kilo" the boy's in the Typhoon that really made the day special and I'd like to thank them for a very memorable and noisy show (didn't sound like my 'Dyson' this time), truly awesome! we all suffered a touch of "excitement tourette's" after that last pass and climbout!
The guys that left early will be gutted to see what they missed....

Awesome Catalina

The Duxford based Consolidated PBY Catalina G-PBYA appeared at the seafront show at Eastbourne and the chance to get this aircraft Low-level with the sea as a backdrop was too good an opportunity to miss. It was a long wait while it showed off to the crowd some two miles away, I was on the lofty perch of Beachy head waiting and hoping she would fly past close enough and low enough........ she did!

Turkish AF back via Mildenhall

A rather good day yesterday that proves that a bit of planning makes for results.
I spent most of the day in Norfolk doing some wildlife photography, then back home via Mildenhall to catch the 5:30-6:00 p.m. arrival of the Turkish air force's F16s, they have been at Nellis in the USA, and have a rest stop in Suffolk.

Low-level, Cad and Bwlch

Seeing all the pictures together on the screen makes it look like a busy trip, but 4 days for a handful of Hawks, a Hercules, the Boscombe Tucano and ex 9 sqdn Tornado GR4A, made for a slow time up on the hills. The F15E started the week with the hollow promise of excitement; the truth being several long 3 or 4 hour waits between aircraft; many of them being too high when they did arrive!

F22 Raptor

Having not seen the Raptor properly displayed at RIAT (RAF Fairford) due to the weather cancellation of the show, I ventured to Farnborough airshow to catch it on the first day of the trade shows prior to it going back to the USA. This is one seriously impressive aircraft the manoeuvrability and controllability is quite phenomenal.

Flying Legends

Duxford "Legends" is the jewell in the crown of UK airshows, and it gets more polished each time its on view!
What a fantastic day out with a full-on flying display that is well paced and packed with the noise, smell and nostagia that only 'warbirds' can generate.

Fairford arrivals

A day of sunshine and showers that turned to downpoors and mud; however there was also a steady stream of arriving aircraft interspersed with a few departures and several rehearsals.
The stars of the day for me were the F22 Raptor, the Greek RF-4E Phantom and the Canadian F18 Hornets, Charlie Matthews tried very hard to dry out all the rain with the Typhoon's burners, awesome it was too!, and the Turkish stars twinkled brightly against a the dark storm laden sky. Lots more here http://www.flickr.com/photos/nigelblake/