Low-Level Flying Photography
Photographic Logs for 2023
(For all these shots I used a Canon EOS 5D Mk IV and EOS R5 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). |
Thursday September 14, 2023 Chasing Ex Cobra Warrior low flyers and this week I went up to the Lake District. What a day, a regular flow of seven Typhoons, four having squadron markings. But the loose formation of four Norwegian F-35s with Cobra Warrior was the highlight, but it was only possible to shoot one low. Two F-15E Strike Eagles, a Texan, A-400 and a Hawk completed a superb day.
Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK367 '367') using callsign 'Rebel 54' with 41(TES) Test & Evaluation Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK367 '367') using callsign 'Rebel 54' with 41(TES) Test & Evaluation Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK311 '311') using callsign 'Typhoon 117' devoid of squadron markings based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK311 '311') using callsign 'Typhoon 117'. |
| Left to right: Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (5502) using callsigns 'Hammer 31-34' with 332skv Royal Norwegian Air Force. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (5502) using callsign 'Hammer 32' with 332skv Royal Norwegian Air Force. |
| Left to right: Typhoon T.3 (ZK379 '379') with 41(TES) Test & Evaluation Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon T.3 (ZK379 '379') with 41(TES) Test & Evaluation Squadron. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0310 'LN') callsign 'Maul Flight' devoid of red fin tip but with 494FS, 48FW based at RAF Lakenheath. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0310 'LN') callsign 'Maul Flight' with 494FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (01-2002 'LN') callsign 'Maul Flight' with 494FS, 48FW. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Wolf 21' devoid of squadron markings based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Wolf 21'. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK341 '341') using callsign 'Wolf 22' with 12 Squadron (joint RAF-Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF)) based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK341 '341') using callsign 'Wolf 22' with 12 Squadron. |
| Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM404) using callsign 'Jigsaw 98' it is with 24/70 Squadron. |
| Left to right: A400M Atlas C.1 (ZM404) using callsign 'Jigsaw 98' it is with 24/70 Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK319 '319') using callsign 'Havoc 41' with 11(F) Squadron based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK319 '319') using callsign 'Havoc 41' with 11(F) Squadron. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK371 '371') using callsign 'Havoc 42' unmarked. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK371 '371') using callsign 'Havoc 42' unmarked. |
Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM341) with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley.
Hawk Mk167 (ZB139 QA009) Qatari Emiri Air Force (QEAF). |
Thursday September 7, 2023 It supposed to be dry and bright but it was a day of very light showers. With the hope of Exercise Cobra Warrior jets then it was just a day of waiting and hoping. Sure enough two Canadian Air force CF-188 Hornets 'attacked' the Loop and found themselves going up a blind valley in error but came back to do it properly. Plenty of Texans about and a surprise Strikemaster finished off a good day.
Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM341) with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: Texan T.1s (ZM326 and ZM324) using callsign 'Cord 1' and 'Cord 2' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: McDonnell Douglas CF-188 Hornet (188742) callsign 'Blade 1' with 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, deployed to RAF Waddington for Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-2. Ex Cobra Warrior is run twice a year and is the largest air exercise run by the Royal Air Force. The exercise is designed to train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations. |
| Left to right: CF-188 Hornet (188730) callsign 'Blade 2' with 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from CFB Bagotville in Quebec. |
| Left to right: CF-188 Hornet (188742) callsign 'Blade 1' with 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Left to right: CF-188 Hornet (188730) callsign 'Blade 2' with 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Left to right: CF-188 Hornet (188742) callsign 'Blade 1' with 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Left to right: CF-188 Hornet (188730) callsign 'Blade 2' with 433 Tactical Fighter Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). |
| Left to right: Texan T.1s (ZM324 and ZM332) using callsigns 'Valley 82' and 'Valley 79' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.82A (G-SOAF). |
| Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM327) using callsign 'Swift 01' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
Monday March 6, 2023 A dull cold windy day in the Lakes, with Grim Flight a pair of F-35As which were too high to shoot landlocked and a pair of F-35As (Valor Flight) which came through twice, some minutes apart.
Left to right: Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (19-5582 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 01' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW based at RAF Lakenheath. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5582 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 01' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5588 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 02' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5588 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 02' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5588 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 02' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5582 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 01' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5582 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 01' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5588 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 02' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
| Left to right: F-35A Lightning II (19-5588 'LN') using callsign 'Valor 02' with 495FS 'Valkyries' 48FW. |
Thursday February 23, 2023 A sunny day in the 'Loop' with just a couple of Texans.
Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM341) using callsign 'Valley 93' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
| Left to right: Texan T.1 (ZM328) using callsign 'Valley 87' with 72 Squadron based at RAF Valley. |
Thursday January 19, 2023 A sunny but chilly day in the Lake District with a single Typhoon which unusually made two passes the only movement of the day. That is; with the exception of a Gazelle which went south in the morning to return north hours later. Unfortunately it hugged the far side of the valley.
Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (ZB693) with 665 Squadron, 5 Regiment JHCFS based at Aldergrove. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44' based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44' based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44' based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44' based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44' based at RAF Coningsby. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44'. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44', second pass. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44', second pass. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44'. |
| Left to right: Typhoon FGR.4 (ZK358 '358') using callsign 'Typhoon 44'. |
| Left to right: Gazelle AH.1 (ZB693) with 665 Squadron, 5 Regiment JHCFS based at Aldergrove. |
