Night photo shoot VIII Night photo shoot X

Night photo shoot IX RAF Northolt May 26, 2011

After the disappointment of photo shoot VIII Phillip Dawe turned fortune around and succeeded in attracting some interesting aircraft to photograph. Billed as a 'nightshoot' at this time of the year it was quite some hours before it actually got dark. This was actually an advantage as the light slowly changed from evening sunlight through to dusk and a setting sun before it really got dark. To increase the photographic angles we were allowed to walk on to the apron to take shots with the sun behind us which was greatly appreciated by well over 100 photographers. The aircraft that attracted the most interest was the Polish Navy PZL-Mielec M-28B-1R Bryza ('sea-breeze') from the Dywizjon Lotnictwa Marinarki Wojennej (DLMW - Naval Air Wing) based at Gdynia-Babie Doly. The friendly aircrew of the Polish built An-28 were happy to start up their engines at the appointed hour of 22:00. The Belgian Air Component flew over an Agusta 109BA from 18 Squadron who are based at Beauvechain, again the aircrew were eager to please, starting up their rotors for more interesting images. A French Air Force Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet from the Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS) EAC 00.314 at Tours-St.Symphorien (BA 705) completed a trio of foreign visitors. An Aerospatiale AS350B1 Ecureuil (Squirrel) of the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) from Shawbury was parked at the dark end of the ramp. A number of 32(TR) Squadron aircraft (HS.125, BAE 146 and Agusta A.109E) were around to make up the numbers. Sure more aircraft had been invited but failed to make it in the end for various operational reasons, but hey that's life no one should have been disappointed with what was available. More money was raised for the fund to restore the Battle of Britain Op's Room at this former World War Two fighter base thanks to the hard work Phillip Dawe put into making this event a very enjoyable one.

Polish Navy PZL-Mielec M-28B-1R Bryza (1114)

Left to right: Polish Navy PZL-Mielec M-28B-1R Bryza 'sea-breeze' (1114) from the Dywizjon Lotnictwa Marinarki Wojennej (DLMW - Naval Air Wing) at Gdynia-Babie Doly.

Left to right: Polish Navy PZL-Mielec M-28B-1R Bryza 'sea-breeze' (1114).

Left to right: Polish Navy PZL-Mielec M-28B-1R Bryza 'sea-breeze' (1114).

Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet (E49 '705-LB')

Left to right: French Air Force Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet (E49 '705-LB') of the Advanced Jet Training School (AJeTS) EAC 00.314 from Tours-St.Symphorien (BA 705).

Left to right: French Air Force Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet (E49 '705-LB').

Belgian Air Component Agusta 109BA (H-05).

Left to right: Belgian Air Component Agusta 109BA (H-05) from 18 Squadron who are based at Beauvechain.

Left to right: Belgian Air Component Agusta 109BA (H-05).

Left to right: BAE 125 CC.2 (ZD703 and ZD620) of 32(TR) Squadron.

BAE 146 CC.2 (ZE700) of 32(TR) Squadron.

Left to right: BAE 146 CC.2 (ZE700) of 32(TR) Squadron.

Left to right: Aerospatiale AS350B1 Ecureuil 'Squirrel' (G-DOIT '99') of the Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) from Shawbury. Agusta A.109E Power Elite (ZR323 and ZR322) operated by 32(TR) Squadron in the VIP transport role.