Low-Level Photography

A pilot's view of the A5 Pass at Ogwen, North Wales

Michael Rondot is a very accomplished military aviation artist, his paintings and prints can be viewed and purchased from the Collectair Limited Editions website. During his 25 years of service in the RAF many of his 5,000 hours were in fast-jets at low level. The text that follows was written by Michael Rondot and describes vividly his first experience of the A5 Pass, which forms part the main low level route used by pilots inbound to RAF Valley on Angelsey, Wales.

"My first encounter with the A5 pass at Ogwen came in 1969 when I was a student pilot flying the Folland Gnat trainer from RAF Valley. My instructor, a chap called Norrie Bell, took control of the aircraft at the end of a training sortie and said "Shut up and watch, I want to show you something." We descended through a break in the cloud cover very low level, closer to the ground than I had ever been except when landing and accelerated to 420 knots. This was my first experience of low flying in the Gnat and I sat mesmerised in the front cockpit with eyes like saucers as the ground rushed past. Trees, water, stone walls and roads flashed by as we continued to accelerate to 480 knots. Suddenly we were in a deep u-shaped valley with a cloud-covered rock wall at the far end and, as far as I could see, no means of escape except by climbing, and climbing very , very soon, like NOW! Next thing, I saw the ground rotate and we were in a hard 5G turn pulling DOWN into the valley floor with about 135 degrees of right bank and descending below the level of the road which I could see above my head. We raced out of the valley, still in the weeds until reaching Bethesda village when with a long sigh he handed over control to me and announced: "That, young Michael, was the A5 pass". I never forgot that experience and during the next 23 years I took every opportunity to revisit the A5 pass in whatever aircraft I happened to be flying. In 1977 I flew it in a Canberra PR9 on a windy day in poor weather but would not care to repeat the frightening experience. 
I flew it many times in Hawk and Jaguar aircraft. For me it has a mystique unlike any other place in the UK low flying system. The best students at RAF Valley got the chance to fly the A5 pass in formation just like these two in my painting ('Rock and Roll'), but I dare say the instructors in the back seats are doing the flying."
Michael Rondot

A5 pass from the ground.

Inspired by Michael Rondot's words, which he wrote for his painting entitled 'Rock and Roll', I felt compelled to give the A5 pass a go. Up until this day in September 2006, I had overlooked this valley for low level photography, in the mistaken belief that I would only see 4 FTS Hawks returning to their base at RAF Valley. Yes the pass is very busy with Hawks, but as you can see below front-liners also use this valley, even if Valley is not included in their flight plan.

So how was my first day at the A5 pass, perched on a rocky outcrop and facing the sun, on the corner of the pass? Thrilling is the first word that comes to mind. The day was shared with Gareth Jones a good friend and experienced low-level photographer, who has tried out the pass on a number of occasions. We imagined what a Canberra would have looked like in those nostalgic days of the 70's. He promised me Hawks, but really both of us were hoping for an elusive Tornado, trailing vortices, as it manoeuvred through the tight pass at the end of the valley. As another fellow low level photographer says, 'never go, never know', so we stood in hope waiting for the few seconds of pure excitement that a front-liner brings, when it appears a few miles east down the valley. 

Will I go again, the answer is yes of course? The day has to be right, as you are looking into the sun I feel the ideal weather is damp and overcast but bright. We both agreed that in the winter months, it should be avoided as the sun would be very low and the climb is treacherous in places when it is wet. 

Oh, I nearly forgot, many thanks to Michael Rondot for the inspiration and his permission for me to use his stunning words.

For all these shots, I used my Canon EOS 20D and  Canon EF 300mm f2.8 L with or without a x1.4 extender.

Tornado F.3 (ZE755 coded 'YL') in 25 Squadron colours in September 2006.

Tornado F.3 (ZE755 / YL) in 25 Squadron colours. This jet was using callsign 'Gauntlet 12' and was operating from Boscombe Down. Coming through at 16:25 it was on its way for a practice diversion into RAF Valley, which turned out to be an overshoot before returning to base (RTB).

The Hawks.......
It was perhaps a quiet day for Hawks I saw just seven and all it appears were from 19(R) Squadron. The highlight of the day came right at the end of course with the Tornado F.3.

Left to right: Hawk T.1W (XX235), Hawk T.1 (XX237) of 19(R) Squadron and two images of Hawk T.1A (XX315) also of 19(R) Squadron.

Left to right: Anonymous Hawk and two images of Hawk T.1A (XX317) also of 19(R) Squadron.

Hoping to catch some arrivals for the Valley photocall on August 16, 2007. With poor weather and very few movements I came away with very little. 
Left to right: Hawk T.1A's (XX198, XX174 and XX301) all of 208(R) Squadron.