Low-Level Flying Photography
Photographic Logs for 2021
(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). |
| The Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe) initially deployed six F/A-18Cs and four F/A-18Ds to RAF Leeming for Exercise Yorknite 21, an annual night flying training exercise. All three Swiss Hornet squadrons were utilised; Fliegerstaffel 11 'Tigers' from Meiringen flew in the first two weeks followed by FlSt 17 'Falcons' and FlSt 18 'Panthers' based at Payerne in the second fortnight. For the final week three F/A-18Cs had replaced three of the F/A-18Ds. December 2, 2021. |
Thursday December 2, 2021 The cold and mostly sunny day in Cumbria seemed slow, but in the end worked out well with nine passes, five in the last 20 minutes.
Left to right: Hawk T.2 (ZK029 'FE') with XXV(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Airbus Helicopters H135 Juno HT.1 (ZM513 '13') using callsign 'Shawbury 87' it is with No.1 Flying Training School (1 FTS) at RAF Shawbury venturing north through the Lake District. |
| Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM406) using callsign 'Ascot 491' it is with 24/70 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon T.3 (ZK379 '379') using callsign 'Rebel 53' it is with 41(TES) Test & Evaluation Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Two-seat McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (J-5236) Swiss Air Force. Launched at 14:30 each day pairs F/A-18s were flying at 500 feet AGL through LFA-17 just 15 minutes later. |
| Left to right: Douglas F/A-18D Hornet (J-5236) Swiss Air Force. |
| Left to right: McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet (J-5018) 'Panthers' special tail with the Swiss Air Force. |
| This year three Swiss Air Force Eurocopter AS.532UL (TH98) Cougars also operating from RAF Leeming participated in Exercise Yorknite 2021. |
| Left to right: AS.532UL (TH98) Cougar (T-332) with Lufttransport Geschwader 2 (Air Transport Wing 2) based at Alpnach. |
| Left to right: AS.532UL (TH98) Cougar (T-340). |
| Left to right: AS.532UL (TH98) Cougar (T-342). |
| Left to right: AS.532UL (TH98) Cougar (T-342). |
Thursday September 16, 2021 Further down the valley to a wonderful look out point that I seldom have visited. Typhoons missed me out going down an adjacent valley but I was lucky to get the Eagles in perfect light better than seen at other nearby locations.
Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM329) callsign 'VYT78' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM329) back again this time as callsign 'VYT86'. |
| Left to right: Apache AH.1 (ZJ189) callsign 'Machete' with AAC 4 Regiment 656 Squadron it was one of a pair which was following the road on the farside of the valley returning to AAC Wattisham. |
| Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM401) using callsign 'Ascot 494' it is with 24/70 Squadron. |
| Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM401) using callsign 'Ascot 494' it is with 24/70 Squadron. |
| Left to right: F-15C Eagle (86-0156 'LN') using callsign 'Grim 01' with 493FS 'Grim Reapers', 48FW based at RAF Lakenheath. |
| Left to right: F-15C Eagle (86-0171 'LN') using callsign 'Grim 02' with 493FS 'Grim Reapers', 48FW based at RAF Lakenheath. |
| Left to right: F-15C Eagle (86-0172 'LN') using callsign 'Grim 03' with 493FS 'Grim Reapers', 48FW based at RAF Lakenheath. |
| Left to right: F-15C Eagle (86-0164 'LN') using callsign 'Grim 04' with 493FS 'Grim Reapers', 48FW based at RAF Lakenheath. |
Wednesday September 15, 2021 A nice weather forecast for the Lake District finally tempted me to go to the Cumbrian hills for a couple of days for the first time in a few months. Missed an flight of F-15Es but still got five passes which is good for these days.
Left to right: Airbus A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM406) using callsign 'Comet 451' it is with 24/70 Squadron. |
| Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM406) using callsign 'Comet 451' it is with 24/70 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM340) callsign 'VYT98' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: Puma HC.2 (XW231 'N') with 28/33/230 Squadron (Benson Wing) Joint Helicopter Command. |
| Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM325) callsign 'VYT699' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM332) callsign 'VYT698' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM332) with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
Thursday July 21, 2021 First day out of year due to COVID and hoping in vain for low Aviano F-16s.
Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM328) with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH872) with Brize Norton Transport Wing (24/30/47 Squadrons). |
| Left to right: C-130J-30 Hercules C.4 (ZH872) with Brize Norton Transport Wing. |
