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Five shows, one month. July in Pictures


Seamus

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Evening all,

I've been rather quiet on here for a while now, as my modelling takes a back seat to my pursuit of 1:1 scale aircraft. July is always a hectic month for me, with the headlining shows all taking place within a few weeks of each other, so I've had very little spare time that hasn't involved watching aeroplanes, taking thousands of photos and subsequently ploughing through editing them. In truth, I've barely scratched the surface of many of the shows, but though I'd share a handful from the best few weeks of the year, starting with a the WW1 commemoration show at Old Warden at the start of the month.

19261555360_c3c7e473c4_o.jpgBristol Blenheim IF L6739/G-BPIV Aircraft Restoration Company Old Warden 05/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19262961089_27d2caf8b3_o.jpgSupermarine Seafire XVII SX336/G-KASX Old Warden 05/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20551197162_f7db3064e6_o.jpgBristol Blenheim IF L6739/G-BPIV Aircraft Restoration Company Old Warden 05/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20384349399_d1926e7596_o.jpgAvro Vulcan B2 XH558/G-VLCN Old Warden 05/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Four days at Yeovilton followed, spent at various locations around the airfield. Probably the best show at VL for many years.

19043639864_2c82846172_o.jpgDe Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924/G-CVIX RNAS Yeovilton 09/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20022729469_0733e43582_o.jpgWestland Sea King HC4 ZF116/WP Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 09/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19684486302_d52ec5a84b_o.jpgAgustaWestland Merlin HC3 ZJ121/E Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 10/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19696152121_3253bcafe0_o.jpgDassault Rafale M 42 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 10/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19611272553_0c77356fdc_o.jpgDassault Super Étendard Modernisé 31 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 10/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20078825680_26c2bcc14d_o.jpgAgustaWestland Merlin HC3 ZJ123/G Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 10/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19478291758_50732897b3_o.jpgAgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 ZZ515 Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 11/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19734997910_b047ae2ff9_o.jpgWestland Sea King HC4 ZF116/WP Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 11/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20369855181_6e47a76e89_o.jpgDassault Super Étendard Modernisé 31 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 11/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19760651593_5faa006a46_o.jpgDassault Super Étendard Modernisé 46 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 11/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20233828648_c38b102bbd_o.jpgAgustaWestland Merlin HC3 ZJ123/G Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 11/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19478352820_f79f649af7_o.jpgFairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II 78-0651/DM US Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 13/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19897325974_347bdc39b8_o.jpgBoeing E-3A Sentry LX-N90458 NATO RNAS Yeovilton 13/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

In the middle of all that, I travelled up to Duxford for a much needed fix of Flying Legends, having missed out on the show last year. Another terrific show, where I spent more time watching than shooting for a pleasant change.

19671252861_14ed33c410_o.jpgSupermarine Seafire LF III PP972/G-BUAR Duxford 12/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19666780865_70de39804f_o.jpgLockheed P-38L Lightning N25Y Red Bull Duxford 12/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20600654981_1c592367e0_o.jpgLockheed P-38L Lightning N25Y Red Bull Duxford 12/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20410099398_a5c7bffd8f_o.jpgLegends_2015_005 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20589084472_25a6d1b708_o.jpgLegends_2015_020 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19979741933_82aa7f0e3c_o.jpg'Battle of Britain Formation' Duxford 12/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

The following week saw me spend the full six days at Fairford for RIAT. Six days very well spent!

19681608439_acc93a65fe_o.jpgBoeing AH-64D Apache 09-05580 US Army RAF Fairford 15/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19999388183_8ba63e33b8_o.jpgSukhoi Su-22UM3K 310 Polish Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20435890988_c4d64e5b5a_o.jpgMil Mi-35 Hind 3370 Czech Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20445450419_cc69eea3aa_o.jpgDassualt Mirage 2000N 353 Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 16/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20011223203_9b1f6bde21_o.jpgBoeing F-18C Hornet HN-424 Finnish Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19868320395_d1b39503d3_o.jpgDassault Mirage 2000N 353/125-AM Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 17/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19860888442_d71bbd9046_o.jpgMikoyan MiG-29A Fulcrum 40 Polish Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20025476873_d2bd18446b_o.jpgAirbus A400M Atlas EC-406 RAF Fairford 17/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19695817289_4a941815ab_o.jpgWestland WAH-64D Apache ZJ184 Army Air Corps RAF Fairford 18/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20472753209_bffb05b43a_o.jpgKawasaki P-1 5504 Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force RAF Fairford 18/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20038543793_c1db6187bd_o.jpgBell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey 08-0050 US Air Force RAF Fairford 18/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20471479970_43d577b14e_o.jpg'Best of British' RAF Fairford 18/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19695734290_3690a6e143_o.jpgWestland WAH-64D Apache ZJ205 Army Air Corps RAF Fairford 19/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19883733105_0e492329df_o.jpgLockheed Martin F-16CJ Fighting Falcon 'Zeus' 523 Hellenic Air Force RAF Fairford 19/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19262801323_bde5d47490_o.jpgMikoyan MiG-29A Fulcrum 56 Polish Air Force RAF Fairford 19/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19695730400_f7fb06ca0d_o.jpgBoeing F-18C Hornet HN-424 Finnish Air Force RAF Fairford 19/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20647774246_941f25461e_o.jpgMil Mi-35 Hind 7356 Czech Air Force RAF Fairford 19/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19263337843_c122b2e026_o.jpgNorthrop SF-5B(M) Freedom Fighter AE9-027/23-16 Spanish Air Force RAF Fairford 20/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20691823181_a731b3b391_o.jpgKawasaki P-1 5504 Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force RAF Fairford 20/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rounding off the month was a trip to deepest Cornwall for the Culdrose Air Day. Probably the most enjoyable single day of my season so far, just a brilliant show!

19966759549_4f1b04f34c_o.jpgBritish Aerospace Sea Harrier FA.2 ZH802 Royal Navy RNAS Culdrose 30/070/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20524224209_a5a4a64600_o.jpgAermacchi MB339 PAN 'Il Frecce Tricolori' Italian Air Force RNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20701700832_b11396fdba_o.jpgFairey Swordfish I W5856 RNHF RNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20524220459_131cc78115_o.jpgBoeing Chinook HC4 ZA712 Royal Air Force RNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20720741251_743fc24a36_o.jpgMikoyan MiG-29A Fulcrum 114 Polish Air Force RNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20525908938_ccece8c97c_o.jpgBoeing F/A-18C Hornet J-5007 Swiss Air Force RNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20525907958_d318819bec_o.jpgDe Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924/G-CVIX RNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20717800001_9bb9ae4c83_o.jpgVought (Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair KD345/G-FGID The Fighter CollectionRNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Hope you enjoyed looking through those, plenty more can be found by following the links to my Flickr for those interested, with plenty more to come in the near future.

Cheers,

Shaun B)

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Glorious photos Shaun. Everyone's a stunner. I hope you add more here at some point as my old pc does n't like Flickr much (and tends to lock up so I avoid it).

Was the Sea Vixen doing a loop? It looks magnificent.

Also, if I may, what's the story behind the Sea Harrier? Just a fast taxi or does she still fly?

Cheers.

Edited by geedubelyer
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Shaun,

PHWOAR !!

I LOVED your photos and enjoyed seeing them.. they were and are ALL EXQUISITE. :wub:

I liked the II FRECE TRICOLORI .. :heart::heart::heart: as well as the other iconic aircrafts...VERY STUNNING clear sharp photos Sir.

thank you for sharing them... :clap2:

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Cracking work as always Shaun, the real gem for me in that little lot is the Chinook as I still haven't seem that scheme!

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Thanks all, much appreciated ^_^

Glorious photos Shaun. Everyone's a stunner. I hope you add more here at some point as my old pc does n't like Flickr much (and tends to lock up so I avoid it).

Was the Sea Vixen doing a loop? It looks magnificent.

Also, if I may, what's the story behind the Sea Harrier? Just a fast taxi or does she still fly?

Cheers.

The Shars are maintained in taxyable condition at Culdrose for use by the Navy School of Flight Deck Operations as training aids for new aircraft handlers. I believe there are up to a dozen airframes in working order, though they have the throttles physically restrained to prevent any 'hops' accidentally occurring. Three of the Shars paraded up and down the runway to open the show at Culdrose, a terrific sight and sound, if a little frustrating that they can't go on to fly...

Yep, the Vixen is topping out of a loop in the second image. I've been lucky to catch her display a few times since she returned to flight in June, in largely good weather too. She's a wonderful machine, always a privilege to see. Hopefully I'll have further good opportunites to shoot her at Dawlish and Shoreham this weekend, though the weather forecasts aren't exactly great....

Seeing as you asked so nicely, and singled out the Vixen, here's a handful more shots of her B)

19691612645_001da7c9e3_o.jpgDe Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924/G-CVIX RNAS Yeovilton 09/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20065821646_f3bfa82862_o.jpgDe Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924/G-CVIX RNAS Yeovilton 09/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19905385079_25a9a689e4_o.jpgDe Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924/G-CVIX RNAS Yeovilton 09/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

20306809639_0db7cf8564_o.jpgDe Havilland Sea Vixen FAW2 XP924/G-CVIX RNAS Yeovilton 11/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

19965346868_9094311456_o.jpgDe Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924/G-CVIX RNAS Culdrose 30/07/15 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Thanks again all,

Shaun

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Thanks all, much appreciated ^_^

The Shars are maintained in taxyable condition at Culdrose for use by the Navy School of Flight Deck Operations as training aids for new aircraft handlers. I believe there are up to a dozen airframes in working order, though they have the throttles physically restrained to prevent any 'hops' accidentally occurring. Three of the Shars paraded up and down the runway to open the show at Culdrose, a terrific sight and sound, if a little frustrating that they can't go on to fly...

Shaun

Thanks for the explanation Shaun. Perhaps they'll sell one to some rich enthusiast one day to be returned to flight. Any Harrier is an aviation icon and it is such a shame that we in the UK don't have an airworthy example on the show circuit.

The additional images of the Sea Vixen are very welcome, thanks. Such a fabulous design and in pristeen condition.Lovely!

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No worries, and thanks! Sadly, I fear no amount of money will see a Harrier return to the UK skies in civilian hands, as the likes of BAE Systems, Rolls Royce etc are highly unlikely to provide the enginerring authority and support required for an aircraft as complex as the Harrier. I suppose our best bet would be Art Nalls' FA2 coming over from the States (something which I understand was in the pipeline a few years ago but fell through due to the huge costs involved) or perhaps a Spanish or Italian AV-8B at a military show, but that seems unlikely too...

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Brilliant photos Shaun,

It is really hard to pick a favourite but the Westland Wildcat from Yeovilton looks really impressive with the dramatic backdrop.

Cheers

Tony

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Those are great photos.

The Vixen is an amazing looking machine - I always think that if Batman had to pick a "real" aeroplane to fly, this would be his choice!

Also great to see TWO Seafires flying - a real treat for us Fleet Air Arm fans.

Thank you for sharing.

Nick.

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Thanks for the additional comments chaps, much appreciated.

Those are great photos.

The Vixen is an amazing looking machine - I always think that if Batman had to pick a "real" aeroplane to fly, this would be his choice!

Also great to see TWO Seafires flying - a real treat for us Fleet Air Arm fans.

Thank you for sharing.

Nick.

Couldn't agree more regarding the Seafires. The XVII is my absolute favourite warbird on the circuit, and its surprise appearance at Old Warden, the first time I've seen her in nearly five years, will go down as a season highlight. The new Seafire III has emerged as a close runner up to the XVII in my rankings, just another beautiful aeroplane that I hope to see plenty more of in the future.

Thanks again all,

Shaun

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