Pictures from Tropical Storm Ophelia (ex-Hurricane) in Cornwall

Well storm Ophelia provided quite a spectacle in Cornwall. I manged a visit to Lands End and Porthleven. Lands End was really being hit by the gales and the sea was beginning to get whipped up around the Longships lighthouse around 1130 am. However needed to be at Porthleven around 1:30pm to beat the crowds (failed on that one) and get there for high tide. I decided to stay in one spot this time to avoid the waves and keep me and the camera's dry. Well despite being at the top of the hill above the Ship Inn I was still hit by one rouge wave!!!!!! Still no damage done.  Here are some images from the day.

Starling takes shelter from the gale force winds at Lands End

The sea beginning to build around Longships Lighthouse

Some storm watches get soaked and others risk it near the sea wall

Raging sea at Porthleven

This is the beginning of the wave that soaked me somewhat!!!

Full sea power at high tide

Tropical storm Ophelia (Ex-Hurricane) Rolls into Porthleven

I will add a couple of phots from the day to a blog post later, but until then here are a couple of videos:

Norwegian SAR Aircraft at Newquay Airport

Paid a visit to Cornwall Newquay airport where the Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) is temporarily based. Here aircrews are training/familiarising with their new helicopters . 

The helicopter is the most advanced SAR Capable helicopter in the world today. The aircraft has two rescue hoists, a large cabin area, automatic flight control system, newly developed Osprey radar giving a full all round 360 degree view for aircrew, all weather capability, anti-icing protection,  a mobile telephone detection system, integrated  dual redundancy avionic/mission systems, power plant consisting of three engines, a thirty minute dry run gearbox, a laser obstacle avoidance system and an obstacle proximity system which provides warning of wires and other obstacles that may be a danger to the aircraft. So that is a brief description of the aircraft, now onto some images

Bloodhound SCC Testing at Newquay Airport

I was lucky enough to witness a test run of the Bloodhound SCC at Newquay Airport whilst doing a bit of aircraft photography.

The Bloodhound is powered by a Typhoon (Eurofighter) jet engine. The testing at Newquay is part of a number of tests prior to a land speed record attempt in South Africa next year.

At Newquay airport the team will carry out a public run where they will run the Bloodhound SCC at approximately 200mph. Details Here: http://www.bloodhoundssc.com/events

Bloodhound SCC thunders past Newquay ATC

Bloodhound SCC races along the runway

Under tow back to base

The power plant from a Typhoon Jet

Red Deer Stag near Lands End Cornwall

A cracking morning weather-wise and also the wildlife was accommodating today. Went out searching for a Red Deer stag or two near to Lands End. We soon found them and I was surprised to see them this far west. However a magnificent sight and with good light the were plenty of opportunities to capture some images. The stag did some general wandering around and took a mud wallow to bathe just before we left. Here is a small selection of the many images!

Red Deer Stag

Red Deer stag, portrait

Red Deer at sunrise in Cornwall

Red Deer stag peers out from behind Cornish wall

Prancing Red Deer

Red Deer Stag

Red Deer stag in mud wallow

Red Deer stag thrashing around in mud wallow

Red Deer stag enjoying the mud bath