Photographic Portfolio of 2022
Images and photographic notes of my successes for the year |
| Each year I like to produce a collection of my best and favourite images. Most have been published in books and magazines and possibly in conjunction with features and as such were chosen by the editor in question. I hope you like this snapshot of my best work from 2022. |
| de Havilland Vampire T.11 (WZ425) trapped in the undergrowth at a private location. |
Low-level portfolio - click here for more images and reports.
This is my real passion. Finding a steep sided valley and waiting for some fast jet action is very relaxing. You might only get one or two jets in a day, but who cares? The scenery is often stunning and when you are alone it gives you a good chance to unwind from the pressures of life. The anticipation of a jet flying up your valley is exciting. The thrill of capturing a jet with the ground as a backdrop is more than you can imagine. |
Aranysas February 2022 Published in Hungary the article on 100 Squadron was written by my good friend Endre Kárpáti using two of my images.
Left to right: Hawk T.1A (XX329 'CJ') with 100 Squadron in LFA-7 in 2008.
Hawk T.1 (XX198 'CG') with 100 Squadron at RAF Leuchars in 2011. |
| On air base and exercises portfolio - I visited just a few air bases in 2022, click here for more images and reports. |
| EA-6B Prowler (163525 AC-501) of VAQ-130 'Zappers' from NAS Whidbey Island/CVN-75 USS Harry S Truman during Red Flag in 2008 at Nellis AFB. |
Duke Hawkins - Aircraft in Detail - Grumman EA-6B Prowler. The 21st book in the Duke Hawkins series, it is an 138 page book, showing the aircraft both in action and in detail.
Left to right: Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler (163033 'AJ-501') of VAQ-141 'Shadowhawks' aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2006. |
Left to right: EA-6B Prowler (163033 'AJ-501') of VAQ-141 'Shadowhawks'.
EA-6B Prowlers of VAQ-130 'Zappers' are the oldest Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron in the United States Navy and have a 'Zapper Dragon' as their insignia, they are based at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, aboard USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) in 2005.
EA-6B Prowler (163525 AC-501) of VAQ-130 'Zappers' from NAS Whidbey Island/CVN-75 USS Harry S Truman during Red Flag in 2008 at Nellis AFB. |
| Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22UM-3K Fitter (8308) at Lechfeld Air Base in June 2007. |
Duke Hawkins - Aircraft in Detail - Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter. The 23rd book in the Duke Hawkins series, a 140 page book with 300+ images. A complete photographical portrait of the SU-22 Fitter, the export version of the Russian Su-17; Russia's first swing-wing fighter.
Left to right: Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22UM-3K Fitter (508) during exercise 'ELITE 2007' at Lechfeld Air Base, Germany in June 2007. |
| Left to right: Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22UM-3K Fitters (508, 8308 and 8103) during exercise 'ELITE 2007'. |
| Left to right: Sukhoi Su-22M-4 Fitter (612) Bulgarian Air Force at Bezmer FOB in 2009. It was withdrawn from service in May 2004. 612 was one of 18 Fitters delivered to Bulgaria in 1984. |
| Hobbymaster 1/72 diecast plane model of Mirage 2000-5EG. My image of Hellenic Air Force Mirage 2000-5 (555) was taken at Tanagra AB in 2010. |
Schwenkflügelflugzeuge (swing wing aircraft). Another very fine book (written in German) by Heiko Thiesler on swing wing aircraft.
Left to right: B-1B Lancer (85-060 'EL') of 34th BS, 28th BW at Ellsworth AFB. See my report on Ellsworth's B-1B Lancers. |
Left to right: B-1B Lancer (86-094 'EL') of 37th BS, 28th BW.
Behind the two pilots there are two weapons systems officers (WSOs), one mission station is defined as offensive systems officer (OSO) the other is the defensive systems officer (DSO). See my report on the B-1B Lancers at Dyess AFB. |
Left to right: F-14D Tomcat (164603 'AJ-101') 'Felix 101' with VF-31 'Tomcatters' aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. See my report on USS Theodore Roosevelt.
F-14D Tomcat (161163 'AJ-205') with VF-213 'Black Lions'.
Everyone loves the Tomcat, the crew giving some final love and affection for an old friend aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt.
RAF Tornado F.3 (ZE831 'XQ') over the North Sea. |
Left to right: Tornado F.3s (ZE942 'DF' is still in its old 11(F) Squadron markings and ZE834 'HD') of 111(F) Squadron.
A wing over by Tornado F.3 (ZE758 'DO') of 111(F) Squadron when flying in exercise Wycombe Warrior in October 2006.
General Dynamics F-111E (67-0120 'UH') with the 20th Fighter Wing based at RAF Upper Heyford, photographed at RAF Finningley. On October 19, 1993 it was transferred to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford. A slide scan from 1993.
General Dynamics EF-111A Ravens (66-0050 'CC' and 66-0055 'CC' '429 ECS') with 429 ECS, 27 FW at Cannon AFB in 1996. A slide scan. |
| Air shows, Museums and Classic Aircraft portfolio - I only attended one air show but visited a number of museums in 2022 for a planned book, click here or here for more images and reports. |
| Spitfire IX (MH434 'ZD-B') at Duxford's Flying Legends air show in 2011. |
Duke Hawkins - Aircraft in Detail - Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX and Mk.XVI. The 1st book in the new Duke Hawkins Classic series. It is an 116 page book with 280 images, showing the aircraft both in action and in detail.
Vickers Supermarine Spitfire T9 (MJ627 'P-9G' registered G-BMSB) at RAF Waddington air show in 2006. |
| Left to right: Spitfire XVI (TD248 'CR-S') and Spitfire LF.IXe (PL344 'TL-B') at Duxford's Flying Legends air show. |
The Desford Trainer: The Story of a Unique Aircraft. I was asked by the author Melvin Ridgway to contribute 20 images I had of the Desford for him to select a few for the book.
The book describes the development of a unique aircraft called the Reid and Sigrist Desford Trainer and its predecessor the Reid and Sigrist Snargasher. The Desford Trainer was built in Leicestershire and named after the airfield where it was built. Designed as a basic trainer for the Royal Air Force at the end of the Second World War the Desford Trainer did not receive any orders but was later modified to carry out important testing for the British Government, investigating the concept of the prone pilot position. Following its use for testing by the British Government, the aircraft was operated by several civilian operators carrying out aerial photography and survey work. |
| Left to right: Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 Desford (VZ728) at Spanhoe. |
