January days at RNAS Culdrose

With the Easterly winds blowing here in January,  there was a good opportunity to get some shots of approaching aircraft at RNAS Culdrose. All  local aircraft apart from one visitor which was a AW101 NAWSARH (Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter) in a smashing white/dayglow livery which looks good on the AW101 airframe. Rare blue skies provided an opportunity for  Merlin, Hawk and Beech KingAir 350 which are ever present, and I even spotted a flying  tiger on the coast

"Flying Tiger" Merlin MK2 on the Cornish Coast

736 Squadron Hawk t1

Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter

736 Squadron Hawk T1

750 Squadron Beech KingAir 350

736 Squadron Hawk T1

736 Squadron Hawk T1

736 Squadron Hawk T1

F-35B Lightning II and Hawker Hunter at RNAS Culdrose

RNAS Culdrose in the far South West of Cornwall does get the occasional visitor from other bases around the UK, in the skies above the base and sometimes overnight stops/visits. On this occasion in early September 2019 we were lucky to have a pair of the latest Royal Navy/RAF Lightning II F35B aircraft from RAF Marham.  and a Hawker Hunter (From the Hawker Hunter Team based at RAF Scampton in the skies above the base. Also captured on the day a visiting Dutch NH90 helicopter.

F-35B Lightning II aircraft

F-35B Lightning II

Hawker Hunter

Hawker Hunter

Dutch NH90

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

F-35B Lightning II, First Flying Visit to RNAS Culdrose

An F-35B Lightning II aircraft, ZM143 from 617 squadron made a debut visit to RNAS Culdrose "The Home of Carrier Aviation"  on the 14/11/2018.  A quick drive from Helston and I managed to get myself in position to record the event in time.  This was the first flight where an  F-35B had graced the skies above RNAS Culdrose and it looked  like many of the base personell took time out to witness the F-35B in circuit around the base. On the first approach the aircraft did an orbit/recce of the airfield then carried out two approaches prior to returning to RAF Marham.  The F-35B Lightning II is currently embarked for trials on HMS Queen Elizabeth the Royal Navy's newest aircraft carrier.

Navy Wings Nightshoot Oct 2018

A long journey to RNAS Yeovilton from Cornwall for an evening nightshoot in associaton with Threshold.aero and NavyWings. An unevenful journey up apart from the car travelling the wrong way on the A30!!! (Everyone managed to avoid it safely) Arrived just in time for a quick cuppa in the Fleet Air Arm Museum cafe then it was off to the site car park to await our transport. I think there was two coach loads of photographers so about 100 in total, sounds a lot but with the aircraft nicely dispersed there were no crowding issues, everyone being polite and respecting each others space. During the "blue hour" the skies were unfortunately 90% covered in cloud so that was not helpful. Once darkness fell the excellent flood lighting set up by Threshold.aero came into its own; all the aircraft exhibits were well lit and positioned. Hot beverages, bicuits and Navy Wings items were available in the hangar if you needed a break from the photography. This time I was armed with a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm which was a nice combination for the shoot.  Last time I had a 300mm as the 70-200mm was in for repair.Must get a stronger tripod for the next event though, as I tried a portrait shot with the 70-200mm, I just could not get a steady shot!!! Most of the aircraft were just static lit, but navigations lights were illuminated for a short period on the Wasp and Wildcat helicopters and a Sea Fury spread its wings from the folded position. As a bonus the Merlin MK4 commando helicopter was rotors engaged for a period of time.  All this enabled the photographers present to get a good variety of images. This was a well planned nightshoot the combination of Navywings/Threshold.aero provided a superb event for all attendees who themselves helped make the evening a winner. This is the second nightshoot by Threshold.aero I have attended it is well organised and there is plenty advice on hand for the photography should you need it, so if your thinking about attending one I would highly recommend it, also its very good value for money comared to some events. Finally as the Royal Navy would say BZ all round!!! Now onto some pictures (there will be more on my website www.jetphotos.co.uk shortly

Sea Harrier and Wasp Has.1

Swordfish

Sea Vixen

Sea Fury

Royal Navy Phantom

Army Wildcat based at RNAS Yeovilton

Sea Harrier

Merlin MK4 Commando Helicopter

Merlin MK4 Commando Helicopter

Royal Navy Phantom