Open Day at RAF Manston in 1990, XV163 of 237 OCU is taxiing off the runway after completing its display. Manston was a great location as its massive runway runs along a raised ridge, so there's little in the way of distracting background. This particular jet is ex-Fleet Air Arm having been delivered to the Royal Navy in 1966. It was transferred to the RAF in 1974 serving until 1992 when it was put in store at RAF Shawbury. Sadly, it was scrapped in 1994. However, the nose section was saved and is on display at a museum in the Netherlands. A scan from a Kodachrome 64 slide taken using a Pentax SFXn 35mm camera fitted with a manual focus Sigma 400mm prime lens.
A scan from one of my slides of probably my best aerial shot of a Buccaneer. This was taken at the 1991 USAFE 'Open House' at RAF Upper Heyford. XV863 was one of two jets regularly used during that display season and retained its rather worn Gulf War scheme and memorable nose art of 'Debbie the Sea Witch'. The jet is launching and keeping characteristically low to begin its impressive display. Taken with a Pentax ME Super fitted with a Sigma 400mm manual focus prime lens. Manual wind on in those days too, so just one shot to get it!
British Airways Lockheed L1011-1 TriStar G-BBAF launches from 28R (as it was then) at London-Heathrow during the summer of 1984. In my opinion, the TriStar was one of the designs that suited the BA Negus livery, unlike others such as the Trident, VC10 and One-Eleven. A scan from one of my negatives.
A scan from one of my negatives of RAF Lockheed C-130K Hercules C1 XV181 getting airborne at the USAF 'Open House' at RAF Wethersfield on 21st July 1984.
A scan from one of my negatives of a General Dynamics F-111E Aardvark from the 20th TFW performing a fast pass at the USAF 'Open House' at RAF Wethersfield on 21st July 1984.
A scan from one of my negatives of McDonnell-Douglas F-4E Phantom 68 0413 from the 512th TFS of the 86th TFW, launching to begin its display at the USAF 'Open House' at RAF Wethersfield on 21st July 1984.
This photo of the Patrouille Suisse displaying at the 2022 NATO Days was a winning photo in the event's annual photo competition. It has subsequently been used by the team in the 2023 display brochure at their request.
A Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet of VFA-27 'Royal Maces' is just about to night launch from the USS Kitty Hawk on 17th July 2007, with an F/A-18F of VFA-102 'Diamondbacks' ready to go in the background. The carrier was on operational exercises in the Pacific Ocean to the north east of Australia.
A very rare display was performed by this Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21UM of the Croatian Air Force at the 2022 AIRPOWER event at Zeltweg Air Base in Austria.
This is a scan from a full-frame shot taken at IAT '87 shooting with a Pentax ME Super loaded with 400 ISO 35mm negative film. British Airways Concorde (208) G-BOAB in much happier days as sadly, she now sits very forlornly near the threshold of 27L at London-Heathrow.
A Royal Air Force Boeing RC-135W 'Rivet Joint' is captured above VsetÃn in the Czech Republic on 14th June 2022, flying at 34000ft on return from a long mission near the Ukrainian border.
Grumman EA-6B Prowler '504' of VAQ-136 'Gauntlets' unfolds its wings as it's readied for launch from one of the waist steam catapults of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) whilst on operations off the north eastern coast of Australia on 18th July 2007.
