Author Archives: Rob

An Indian C-17 Visiting a US C-17 Base

Quite a long time since I posted some shots from this day so I am not sure why it has taken so long to add the C-17 to the mix but hey ho! The arrival of the Indian Air Force contingent at McChord last year as they headed to Alaska included the support planes. Aside from the IL-78 tanker is shared long ago, they brought a C-17 with the maintenance team and spares. McChord is very used to C-17s since it is the home of a load of them. However, seeing an Indian one show up was far more of a novelty.

Red Kite Was Not Part of the Air Show

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Airfields are not a great place for birds, but Old Warden seemed to attract quite a few of them. Maybe the vintage planes are less of a threat to them – a collision would still hurt but maybe they figure they can get out of the way without too much difficulty. A few of the birds seemed to be getting very close to the display line but one red kite seemed more intent on coming over the crowd line. Maybe it was anticipating something left over from the food everyone had or maybe a small child was considered fair game! Either way, it did distract me a bit during some of the flying. I know the resurgence of the species causes concern for some people, but I am just fascinated by how elegant they are.

My First Real Comet Aerial Shots

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The de Havilland Comet was an air racing aircraft from the 1930s that won the MacRobertson Air Race from the UK to Australia. I first saw the aircraft at the end of the 80s but I didn’t see it fly at the time. There is a replica of the aircraft that is based in the US and I saw that at Oshkosh one year. However, it was this year that I finally saw it flying. It is a very elegant looking aircraft and one with a fair turn of speed.

It performed during the Military Air Show that the Shuttleworth Trust held at their Old Warden Aerodrome. The sun was going in and out while it was up which was not ideal but still provided plenty of opportunities to get some shots. Various passes were made, and I was quite pleased with how it looked head on as it ran in towards the crowd. I should have more chances to photograph it this year so let’s see how we do.

Interesting Hull Shape on the Pilot Boat

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I don’t know the proper term for it, but it is very common these days for large ships to have a bulbous extension to the bow just below the waterline. The first time I ever saw one was when, as a small kid, I had a kit of the QEII, but they are everywhere at this point. However, I haven’t really thought of them as a thing for small boats. While heading across the Solent, a pilot boat came zipping past us. Not only did it have such a hull shape, this one looked a little different to the average. I wonder how significant the benefits are and whether they are worth it for a vessel like this.

Bill’s Grand Caravan Takes a Spin

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Boeing Field is home to a selection of aircraft belonging to one of the planets more wealthy individuals. The founder of a large software company has his biz jets and helicopters, but he also has a Grand Caravan on floats. In common with his other planes, the registration ends with WM. I have no idea whether he was onboard for this flight or whether it was a currency trip for the crew. It is a nice-looking Caravan (they look so much better on floats) and I guess I won’t be getting a chance to photograph it again for the foreseeable.

Sunset on the Windmill

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Bembridge Windmill has made it into the blog recently, but it is back again. We had been to dinner at the Propellor Inn, and it has a view back towards the hill on which the windmill sits. The evening light was making the windmill look particularly attractive, so I annoyed Nancy and Mum by suggesting a quick trip by the windmill on the way back after dinner. They are very patient with me for some reason.

While they stayed in the car and chatted – presumably about how predictable I can be – I zipped around the windmill and got some shots. The warmth of the evening light really made the stonework look great. It was phone photos only and I suspect I shall try doing something there in a more planned way with my main cameras, but this would certainly do for now.

Pima the Following Day

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A bit of a step back for today’s post. This one goes back to early ’24 when Mark and I were in Arizona. We had done a night shoot at the Pima museum the evening before courtesy of our friend Joe. We decided to head back during the following day to see everything in daylight. Despite being early in the year, the temperatures were pretty high and there was a limit to how much I could handle outside. I did get a few different subjects but then it was time to retreat to the hangars to get out of the sun.

The museum was more extensive than I recall from my original visit years ago. I don’t know whether the hangars had all been added since I last visited or I had just not realised what I was missing. Whatever the reason, there was plenty to see. The variety of exhibits is just amazing. Whether it is vintage fighters, old civil aircraft or widebody jets, there is something there for any speciality. The strength of the collection makes it possible for them to get all sorts of exhibits, and their space means that can be of any size. Recently, they have taken delivery of a Martin Mars flying boat, for example. No small task when you aren’t too close to any water!

The Wheat Is Getting Ripe

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There is a field near our house that I often walk by. When I first moved here, the field had been ploughed, and I wondered what the crop might be. Now it is clearly a field of wheat. As I recently strolled along the edge of the field, it was interesting to see how the middle of the crop was turning golden while sections along the edge or near some of the vehicle tracks were still green. I imagine that they will soon be turning golden too but something about their location had delayed them compared to everything else.

The Blues on the Ground at BFI

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Another run back to Seafair from 2024. While I did get some good opportunities to photograph the team in the air, I also got to get a close up look at them while they were taxiing around at Boeing Field. The formation taxiing of display teams might not get much attention, but it is requiring a fair bit of concentration from the crews. Here is a combination of shots from different times during the course of the show weekend.

Harwell is Easy to Spot from the Air

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When flying south from Glasgow to Southampton, we were relatively low as we came across the southern part of the UK and I spent a lot of time looking out of the window trying to determine exactly where we were. When navigating in the air it can be easy to convince yourself you are somewhere and then make whatever you see fit with what you think should be there. That can end with you badly lost! However, if you keep open to the idea, you can quickly establish your location. I thought we were in the vicinity of Oxford but wasn’t certain. Then I saw a circular building finished in what looked like stainless steel. I as pretty certain that was part of labs at Harwell. A check on Google Maps when I got home confirmed that is what it is. No, it isn’t the Apple campus!