Monthly Archives: May 2016

Pulling a Cloud With You

Getting shots of vapor is a popular thing when shooting fast jets. An airliner on a damp day can also result in some clouds being formed. While shooting something special at Oakland, I was getting a few shots to make sure the light metering was working as planned. A Southwest 737 came in and, as it flared for landing, it had a nice cloud of moisture form over the wing. Normally these things pop up further out on the approach and don’t make for a good shot but this one was close at hand.

The Early Emirates

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If you were to ask someone to name one of the dominant global airlines these days, it wouldn’t be long before the name Emirates came up. The rapid growth and large fleet of wide-bodies makes Emirate a familiar sight around the world. It is easy to forget that is was not always thus. I first saw Emirates in 1988. At the time, I had a small book of airliners around the world and it listed the planes that were potentially going to be seen in the UK. It didn’t include short haul jets from the opposite side of the world but it did have something that could conceivably be seen. At the time, Emirates were listed as having one A300 and two A310s. A far cry from what they have now.

They used to fly in to Gatwick with the A310s. While working for the CAA, I got to spend a bunch of time under the approach to Gatwick recording noise levels of the passing jets. I did manage to get the occasional shot too! Here is a scan of a slightly rough negative of an Emirates A310 passing the middle marker. This plane would now be considered a bit too small for their regular operations!

Surfs Up Again

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There was a decent swell coming in of the Pacific while we were in Santa Cruz. People were surfing at a number of locations. The majority were off the headland by the lighthouse. A lot of the waves were carrying the surfers a long distance but they weren’t getting a lot of action in during their runs. Every once in a while, though, someone was able to really get things moving. These are some of the shots I got during the day.

Coast Guard C-130 in its Final Days

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I wrote about the arrival of the C-27J Spartan in Coast Guard service. This means that the C-130s are going to be heading out. One the same day I saw a Spartan flying, one of the current C-130s took off. It was a nice illustration of what is now and what will be. I have seen the Coast Guard 130s around on a number of occasions but I guess they will soon be gone. Maybe I shall see them fighting fires somewhere.

Diesel Submarines

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The Royal Navy’s submarine fleet is entirely nuclear powered. In the 80s, though, this was not the case. The Navy then still had a substantial fleet of diesel subs. The Oberon Class of subs was available in numbers along with the remaining Porpoise Class that preceded them and these were due to be replaced by the Upholders. Only four of those were built and they were sold to Canada when the decision was made to get rid of the diesel fleet despite their outstanding stealth qualities. When I went to Navy Days in Portsmouth in the 80s, you could see the subs on display. HMS Dolphin was just across the harbor and was the headquarters of the sub operations. One visit included the chance to see a sub in dry dock – something I suspect would not be left on view these days.

Those That Sneaked In

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I learned something significant while shooting the airliners from above LAX. It is a lot harder to see an airliner from above than I thought. In the many years of flying, I am familiar with the importance of maintaining a good lookout and the difficulty of spotting other aircraft around you in the sky. From our locations over the airport, we were generally picking out the aircraft from a background of the city, not the sky. I had figured that we knew the approach paths and what was due in so we would not have trouble seeing the planes as they came in.

I was very wrong. First, they are not easy to find at all. Three sets of eyes were looking but we would find things at odd times, sometimes when they were very close. Also, with parallel operations to the 24 and 25 complexes, you can get distracted by activity on one side and miss out on something the other side. The result of this was that we did not see some of the jets until they were on the ground. Pete, who was with me, flies 777s so we were keen to get the BA jet when it came in. We knew the arrival time and still managed to miss it until it was on the ground. An Air France A380 also sneaked in past our “diligent” scan. An Aeroflot A330 was also successful in coming in untouched.

All of these were a little frustrating but not terrible. However, it did give me pause for thought about how I would plan the flight the next time in order to keep track of the things that I most wanted to get. This flight was my first time trying this so I was happy to have got so many shots that I like. The missed ones are not the end of the world. I did learn a lot though and will make sure I use that knowledge next time.

Funneling the Waves

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The headland at Santa Cruz includes a narrow inlet in the cliff face. As the waves come in, this inlet can concentrate the wave and result in some spraying up out of the top when the wave runs out of places to go. The wave action varies a lot so often there is nothing to see from above. However, as the waves grow, they can spray out a bit or, if the wave is really big, fire a plume of spray and debris up into the air and onto the top of the cliff. A little patience and some luck is required to get this to work for you but it is fun to see – particularly if people have got a bit too close during the quiet times and are not expecting the big one!

B-1Bs on a Mission

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The B-1B Lancer is a cracking aircraft. The combination of size and power makes it look epic when it is in action. A B-1 departure is not something that you will forget in a hurry. Four large afterburning turbofans will get your attention and it has a very elegant shape to boot. The variable sweep wings add a little interest too. At minimum sweep for takeoff and landing, they look a little ungainly given how long the span is. Put them all the way back and pour on the coals and the jet can really get moving. Sadly, airshow appearances are few and far between these days so the chance to see vapor clouds forming around the jet are limited. (I recently went through some old negatives from a UK airshow at which a B-1 made a fast pass in damp conditions. The shots aren’t great but the effect is cool.)

A couple of B-1s would launch each day as part of the Red Flag 16-1 exercises. I was lucky enough to have a couple of good opportunities to see then. When we were out between the runways, the B-1s launched off the right side. Not ideal for lighting but you aren’t going to complain. Because they are a large jet, you have to make some choices with lenses as to what you are aiming to get. A quick swap of bodies can really help. A long lens is not much use when they are level with you but the cool shot from behind as they climb out benefits from the big glass.

On my first day there, the jets returned at the end of the mission as a pair. Sadly, the clouds had moved in and the conditions were not great for getting a shot. However, you aren’t going to ignore them. On the second day when I was at the EOR, we got a good view of the two jets taxiing out and taking off. The heat haze is a bit of a problem but not so much as to make it something you can avoid shooting. Operating as a pair, they look more menacing.

Often the B-1s are at the end of the recovery phase. However, on this day, they came back relatively early. I was still at the EOR when they broke into the pattern. They did land on the opposite runway from the one we were at but they are big enough for this to not be a big deal. A nice bit of mountain in the background certainly helps enhance the shot a little. What a great looking jet. I don’t know anyone who isn’t excited when they see one in action.

: A USAF B-1B Lancer on final approach to Nellis AFB Las Vegas Nevada as part of a Red Flag mission.

: A USAF B-1B Lancer on final approach to Nellis AFB Las Vegas Nevada as part of a Red Flag mission.

: A USAF B-1B Lancer overflies Nellis AFB Las Vegas Nevada prior to breaking into the pattern to land after a Red Flag mission.

: Two USAF B-1B Lancers approach the break at Nellis AFB Las Vegas Nevada after a Red Flag mission.

: A Boeing B-1B Lancer of the USAF takes off from Nellis AFB Las Vegas Nevada on a Red Flag Mission.

Dolphins and Whales

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A sunny Sunday is a great time to go to the coast. We took a drive along the Pacific from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay. We had bought some food before leaving Santa Cruz so picked a spot along the way to stop and eat our lunch. Sitting and watching the ocean while eating is very tranquil. While we were there, I thought I saw someone swimming. Then I saw another one and realized that it was a group of dolphins making their way along the shore. No sooner had they gone but, coming the other way, I spotted a pair of whales, presumably a mother and calf. Neither the dolphins nor the whales were terribly conspicuous since they are almost always underwater and hard to get a shot of when they break surface before they disappear again but here is what I did get.

C-27J Spartan and the USCG

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Defense acquisition programs are not renowned for being the most efficient and sensible programs. Selection of products and suppliers is heavily influenced by politics and locations along with the technical capabilities. Some programs have momentum due to their joint use nature. This doesn’t always mean that the departments involved actually like them. Such is the case of the Alenia C-27J Spartan. Based on the older G222 airframe but updated with the same engines as the C-130J, the aircraft was selected for the Joint Cargo Aircraft program between the USAF and the Army.

Eventually, control of the program was moved from the Army to an Air Force only program. Meanwhile, the Air Force was not showing a lot of love for the aircraft. They had other programs they were more interested in. The result was that aircraft started getting delivered to storage and the Air Force was looking for a way out. That way is the Coast Guard. These aircraft will replace some old C-130s in Coast Guard service and the displaced aircraft will go for firefighting duties. The Coast Guard station at Sacramento has received its first aircraft. I saw one of them head out on a training flight while another could be seen in the hangar. Apparently, they will soon be repainted in Coast Guard colors and the 130s will start to head off to their new life. It will probably be unusual in due course to have a C-27J in Coast Guard markings but in the gray color scheme.