Low-Level Flying Photography
Photographic Logs for 2019
(For all these shots I used a Canon EOS 5D Mk III and EOS 5D Mk IV with the following lenses;
Canon EF 400mm f2.8 L IS Mk II, Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L with and without a x1.4 extender Mk III and a Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS). |
Tuesday July 23, 2019 One of the hottest days ever on a hill in the UK. Actually I was above Brothers Water in Cumbria for the first time, very nice too. However the highlight of the day, a Typhoon, surprised me by popping out of the Pasture Beck valley opposite which nearly caught me out. Good to see a Hercules albeit only full frame with a 400mm with plenty of Hawk and Tucano passes which were very small in the view finder so that I could judge the location. The Hawk T.1 passed twice in the morning and came out again for another double pass in the afternoon.
Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH870) using callsign 'Ascot 122' with 24/47 Squadron, Brize Norton Transport Wing. |
| Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH870) using callsign 'Ascot 122'. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1A (XX187 'CN') using callsign 'Pirate 24' with 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1A (XX187 'CN') using callsign 'Pirate 24', second pass. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1s (ZF145 '145' and ZF491 '491') with 72(Reserve) Squadron from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK341 '341') callsign 'Lossie ??'. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK341 '341') callsign 'Lossie ??'. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1A (XX187 'CN') with 100 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1A (XX187 'CN') with 100 Squadron. |
Tuesday July 16, 2019 The bright day started well with a pair of Hawk T.2s and a Typhoon. The Osprey dropped in to the side of the valley followed in the afternoon hours with just two Tucanos one of which was high.
Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK017 'H') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Hawk T.2 (ZK029 'FE') of XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon T.3 (ZK383 '383') callsign 'Typhoon 106'. |
| Left to right: Typhoon T.3 (ZK383 '383') callsign 'Typhoon 106'. |
| Bell CV-22B Osprey (11-0063) with the 7th Special Operations Squadron. |
| Left to right: Bell CV-22B Osprey (11-0063) using callsign 'Knife ??' from the 7th Special Operations Squadron based at RAF Mildenhall. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF145 '145') of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
Monday July 8, 2019 The more usual list of trainers of three Tucanos and threee Hawk T.2s through the Lakes today.
Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF491 '491') of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK027 'R') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK010 'A') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK022 'M') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF142 '142') of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF491 '491') of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
Thursday July 4, 2019 Another slow day in the Lakes BUT a very good day with the French Alpha Jet flying with a 100 Squadron Hawk T.1 at 09:30 and then with a perceived threat of hang gliders a change of valley, only to then get a pair of Tucanos.
Left to right: Alpha Jet E (E162 '8-RJ') with SPA 57 EE 03.008 Côte d'Or based at BA120 Cazaux. |
| Armée de l'Air Alpha Jet E (E162 '8-RJ') using callsign 'Marcou 11' with SPA 57 EE 03.008 Côte d'Or based at BA120 Cazaux. |
| Left to right: Alpha Jet E (E162 '8-RJ') using callsign 'Marcou 11' with SPA 57 EE 03.008 Côte d'Or. |
| Left to right: Alpha Jet E (E162 '8-RJ') with SPA 57 EE 03.008 Côte d'Or. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF135 '135') using callsign 'Uzi 11' of 72(Reserve) Squadron, they were to later land at Carlisle. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF317 '317') using callsign 'Uzi 12' of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF317 '317') using callsign 'Uzi 12' of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
Wednesday July 3, 2019 A slow day in the Lakes, three trainers.
Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK017 'H') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1s (ZF239 '239' and ZF142 '142') using callsign 'LOP 42' of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
Thursday June 27, 2019 A cloudless hot day in the Lakes with the usual mix of trainers. The French Air Force Alpha Jet flying out of RAF Leeming was on the wish list for the day. The Wildcat was also very welcome, passing on my side of the valley.
Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX191 'CC') of 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming and Tucano T.1 (ZF317 '317') of 72(Reserve) Squadron from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
| Hawk T.2 (ZK025 'FA') of XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK025 'FA') of XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK026 'FB') of XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF317 '317') using callsign 'LOP 42' of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Armée de l'Air Alpha Jet E (E123 '8-RM') with SPA 57 EE 03.008 Côte d'Or based at BA120 Cazaux. |
| Left to right: Alpha Jet E (E123 '8-RM') with SPA 57 Escadron d'Entrainement 03.008 (EE 03.008) Côte d'Or based at Cazaux. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK029 'FE') of XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Wildcat AH.1 (ZZ388) using callsign 'Carbon 10' with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF343 '343') using callsign 'LOP487' of 72(Reserve) Squadron from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF264 '264') of 72(Reserve) Squadron from RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
Wednesday June 26, 2019 Warming up in the Lakes with lots of sun and today 11 or 12 passes including a Typhoon and some F-15Es which were quite high, perhaps put off by a pair of Hawks at 250 feet which were in the same area.
Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH871) using callsign 'Ascot 143' with 24/47 Squadron, Brize Norton Transport Wing. |
| Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH871) using callsign 'Ascot 143' with 24/47 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF407 '407') using callsign 'LOP 42' and Tucano T.1 (ZF287 '287') both of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX191 'CC') of 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1s (XX191 'CC' and XX187 'CN') of 100 Squadron. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0605 'LN') with 492FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK025 'FA') using callsign 'Victor 28' of XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-306 'LN') with 492FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0605 'LN') with 492FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF239 '239') of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ914 '914') |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZJ914 '914'). |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK017 'H') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX191 'CC') of 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming. |
Tuesday June 18, 2019 Today in the Lakes the weather was bright. With four passes in the hour before lunch it looked good for the afternoon also. Unfortunately that was it for the day.
Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK021 'L') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK308 '308'). |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK308 '308'). |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK435 '435') callsign 'Rampage 32'. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK435 '435') callsign 'Rampage 32'. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF291 '291') of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
Wednesday May 22, 2019 Blue skies forecast for the Lakes, but with three NOTAMs showing for around Keswick I decided to try another valley. A day above Ullswater would have been enjoyable without any passes. I was lucky, a Royal Navy Merlin was working the area, as it left a Puma slipped by at 50 feet. The afternoon and now shooting into the sun two Typhoons and just one of a pair of F-15Es descended into the valley. The F-15E was high, or really I was too low.
Left to right: Merlin HC.3A (ZK001 'AF') with 845 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton. |
| Merlin HC.3A (ZK001 'AF') with 845 Naval Air Squadron |
| Left to right: Merlin HC.3A (ZK001 'AF') with 845 Naval Air Squadron. |
| Merlin HC.3A (ZK001 'AF') with 845 Naval Air Squadron |
| Left to right: Merlin HC.3A (ZK001 'AF') with 845 Naval Air Squadron. |
| Left to right: Puma HC.2 (ZJ954 'W') pooled with 28/33/230 Squadron at RAF Benson. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Havoc' making it from 11(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Havoc' making it from 11(F) Squadron. |
| Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK312 '312') using callsign 'Havoc Flight' making it from 11(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK312 '312') using callsign 'Havoc Flight' making it from 11(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK312 '312') using callsign 'Havoc' making it from 11(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK312 '312') using callsign 'Havoc' making it from 11(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0318 'LN') with 492 FS, 48 FW. |
Wednesday May 16, 2019 The slowest of days in the Lakes today. Was in the area hoping for 'FM' coded F-16s, but the only jets wwas a Typhoon which went up another valley nearby.
Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF269) of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Chinook HC.5 (ZH901) using callsign 'Vortex 547' with 27 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Chinook HC.5 (ZH901) using callsign 'Vortex 547' with 27 Squadron. |
| Chinook HC.5 (ZH901) using callsign 'Vortex 547' with 27 Squadron. |
| Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH871) using callsign 'Comet 124' with 24/47 Squadron, Brize Norton Transport Wing. |
| Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH871) with 24/47 Squadron, Brize Norton Transport Wing. |
Wednesday April 17, 2019 With a fair forecast for Cumbria I was in the Lakes once again with three types of trainers.
Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK014 'E') of IV(AC) Squadron. Hawk T.1 (XX332 'CD') using callsign 'Pirate 26' with 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF243) using callsign 'LOP 22' of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF145) using callsign 'LOP 457' of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
Thursday April 11, 2019 With a good forecast for Cumbria I made my way to the Lakes. The day started well with a three ship of F-15E Strike Eagles which unusually for the Lakes passed twice. The second pass dropping into the valley late were high apart from the flight lead. The three types of trainers followed some hours later.
Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0301 'LN') 492nd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing. |
| F-15E Strike Eagle (96-0205 'LN') 492FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (97-205 'LN') 492FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (97-220 'LN') 492FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0301 'LN') 492FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK013 'D') of IV(AC) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX346 'CP') using callsign 'Pirate 04' with 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF269 '269') using callsign 'LOP 54' of 72(R) Squadron based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
Wednesday January 9, 2019 The best weather today was in the Lake District, so even with my recent record of very few passes I was back there. But really I had little choice following the RAF ban of low flying in the Mach' Loop which from November 2018. The day progressed with a 'stream' of trainers, starting with a Tucano, a pair of Hawk T.2s (including my first 25(F) squadron marked jet) and a pair of Hawk T.1s. As time in the day was running out for a front-liner, a Tornado GR.4 appeared, dropping in to my valley which was glowing with the winter light.
I did not realise the significance of this Tornado GR.4 until two days later when it was said that the TGRF Commander had announced that all Tornado GR.4 low flying had stopped, from the end of the following day. Perhaps I had photographed the last low flying Tornado GR.4. The weather was very poor on their last day, certainly none were photographed. Sad times indeed.
Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF317) of 72(Reserve) Squadron based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1 (ZF317) of 72(Reserve) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK014 'E') of 4(R) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK026 'FB') of 25(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX255 'CB') callsign 'Savage Formation' with 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming. |
| Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX255 'CB') with 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming. |
| Left to right: Tornado GR.4 (ZA612 '074') using callsign 'Marham 42'. |
| Left to right: Tornado GR.4 (ZA612 '074') using callsign 'Marham 42'. |
Tornado GR.4 (ZA612 '074') with IX(B) Squadron and using callsign 'Marham 42' flying low through the Lake District after it had passed low in Wales, late on January 9, 2019,
perhaps the last GR.4 to fly low in the UKLFS, following the TGRF Commander's decision the next day to end Tornado GR.4 low flying prior to its retirement in March. |
| Left to right: Tornado GR.4 (ZA612 '074') using callsign 'Marham 42'. |
| Tornado GR.4 (ZA612 '074') using callsign 'Marham 42'. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1s (ZK172 with ZK515) of 72(Reserve) Squadron based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
| Left to right: Tucano T.1s (ZK172 and ZK515) of 72(Reserve) Squadron based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. |
