Aviation Photography

Air to Air Photography
Grumman TBM Avenger
Zoersel-Oostmalle and Leopoldsburg, Belgium
August 2012 and September 2013

On an assignment for Aviation News to write an article on Eric Coeckelberghs' Air to Air Academy, I was very lucky to get the chance to shoot the Lausanne/La Blécherette based Grumman TBM-3R Avenger (HB-RDG). It's former French Navy colours had just been removed in July and it was now in the markings of USMC VMF-132 with serial 53319. Some of these images were taken from the back seat of a AT-6A Texan the others were from the back of a Skyvan and also on the Zoersel-Oostmalle airfield in Belgium. A second Avenger (F-AZJA) was also flying during the week.

Grumman TBM-3R Avenger (53319 '19' registered HB-RDG) 'Charlie's Heavy' - Canon 5D Mk.III + Canon f4L IS 24-105mm (55mm) f.8 1/160

Left to right: TBM-3R Avenger (HB-RDG) was shot from the back seat of Hanno Wesdorp's North American AT-6A Texan (N13FY), the weather was poor and closing in, before the photo shoot got going the formation broke up when John Beattie dived towards Klein Brogle air base before the weather prevented him from reaching the airfield.

Left to right: TBM-3R Avenger (HB-RDG).

Grumman TBM-3R Avenger (HB-RDG) - Canon 5D Mk.III + 70-200mm (70mm) f.8 1/160

Left to right: Grumman TBM-3R Avenger (HB-RDG as '53319') - Canon 5D Mk.III + 70-200mm (70mm) f.8 1/250, Canon 5D Mk.III + 70-200mm (88mm) f.11 1/160, Canon 7D + 24-105mm f.11 1/160, Canon 7D + 24-105mm f.11 1/160.

Grumman TBM-3R Avenger (HB-RDG) - Canon 5D Mk.III + 70-200mm (70mm) f.7.1 1/200

Left to right: TBM-3R Avenger (HB-RDG as '53319') - Canon 5D Mk.III + 70-200mm (70mm) f.9 1/160, Canon 5D Mk.III + 70-200mm (120mm) f.9 1/160, Canon 5D Mk.III + 70-200mm (200mm) f.7.1 1/160.