Visit to LFA7 in May 2019

With an RAF ban on Typhoons and non UK based aircraft in The Mach Loop, it was going to be difficult to get a huge amount of low fly images. On the plus side the USAF were still using the Mach Loop and other areas of LFA7. Even manged to get a pair of F-16 Falcon aircraft down the A5 pass. So a producitive visit considering the dwindling use of the LFA7 at present.

Full Image Gallery Here: LFA7 Gallery May 2019

F-15E Strike Eagle A5 Pass

F-16C Fighting Falcon A5 Pass

USAF MC130J 

RAF Texan

RAF Hawk T2

USAF F-15E Strike Eagle, Corris Corner

USAF CV-22 Osprey

The Beluga XL at Hawarden Airport

My first visit to Hawarden Airport to witness the Airbus Beluga/XL aircraft.  It is a very odd looking aircraft and yes it does really conjure up an image of a flying whale!!!! Manged to see two aircraft XL2 and number 5. From land on to launch there is a turn around time of about 60-90 minutes at Hawarden,  to be loaded with Airbus wings and other parts which are flown from Broughton to France. Here are some of the images (heat haze may affect a couple)

Full Image Gallery Here: Hawarden Beluga Gallery

Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre (at Newquay Airport)

Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre (CAHC) is located at Newquay Airport. There is a good selection of retired/demobbed airframes and other exhibits. Some of which you can tour others you can sit in the cockpit, so the aircraft are not just for viewing. A good cafe/shop is also on the site. All the staff are friendly and welcoming with a good knowledge of their aircraft. Some of the sircraft on site are still used by the RAF for salvage/lifting/recovery/exercise practice. In the hangar in addition to the exhibits there is a superb display of model aircraft that have been built by a variety of people. Well I will get on to the pictures so you can see what it is all about.

Vickers VC-10 Cockpit

Vickers VC-10 Engines

English Electric Lightning

RAF Shackleton (not part of CAHC)

Spirit of Truro

Museum Exhibit

Museum Exhibit

Royal Navy Seahawk

Harrier GR3

RAF Tornado GR4 "Shiny Two"

Vickers Varsity

BAE 125

Westland Lynx

Hawker Hunter

English Electric Lightning

Canberra

Hawker Hunter

BAC1-11 Qinetiq

Vickers VC 10 ZA148

RAF Tornado GR4

Vickers VC 10

Newquay Coastguard Helicopter on Excerise with Penlee Lifeboat 17th March 2019

The location was Mounts Bay for a winching exercise between Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Newquay based Sikorsky S-92 Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ. This is essential training for all involved, added to this the weather was not playing ball for photography but must of added a more realistic element to the exercise. Conditions were tricky, sunshine, dark skies, heavy showers, low visibility, all thrown into the mix during the exercise. Images were the best I could get due tothe weather and distance off shore. So they are not stunning but give a good record of the training exercise.

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on winching exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ on winching exercise

Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen" and Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ training in Mounts Bay

 Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ training in Mounts Bay

Coastguard Helicopter G-MCGZ training in Mounts Bay

Penlee Lifeboats on Exercise in Mounts Bay 10th March 2019

Both the Inshore Lifeboat "Molly and Ivor Dent" along with the Severn Class, Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen were on exercise together in Mounts bay. It looked like a towing exercise and then heading out offshore away from the camera for further training. Here is a small selection of the images I recorded.

Penlee Lifeboat towing the Inshore Lifeboat

Inshore Lifeboat "Mollie and Ivor Dent"

Inshore Lifeboat "Mollie and Ivor Dent"

Severn Class, Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Severn Class, Penlee Lifeboat "Ivan Ellen"

Inshore Lifeboat "Mollie and Ivor Dent"

"Poroniec" taking shelter from the stormy weather in the bay. 

Winter visitors, Short Eared Owls in Cornwall

My first look for Short Eared Owls (Asio Flammeus) this winter. Located on the hills of South West Cornwall I counted around six owls spread over a large area of heathland. As I said it was a large area so most shots are from a far distance with a lens reach of 750mm to 1100mm. Hopefully the owls will stay in the area as food supply(voles) seemed plentiful. Spent around three hours watching them hawking, and with some success capturing voles. There was also one pair in the distance that seemed to be wasting a lot of enery fighting over access to the plentiful food supply. So a good day hopefully more visits before the birds move on, Cornish weather permitting!!!!