Low-Level Flying Photography

Wednesday July 23, 2008 The forecast for mid Wales was low cloud or hill mist clearing by mid morning, which turned out to be quite accurate. However sea mist engulfed RAF Valley to the north causing the airfield to be closed. The net result for the day was just six Valley Hawks between 11:21 and 13:34 for the day. 
Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX307), Hawk T.1W (XX181) x2 and Hawk T.1A (XX205) all of 208(R) Squadron.

Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX175) of 208(R) Squadron which made two passes.

Tuesday June 24, 2008 It was overcast but still bright so the south facing 'Spur' seemed a good choice to shoot from today. With only Hawks (9 in total) the day did not live up to expectations as I was really hoping for some front-liners with vortices, due to the damp conditions.
Left to right: Hawk T.1W (XX313) in 19(R) Squadron colours was making sure that the valleys were clear, it came through at 08:26. Hawk T.1's (XX156 and XX171) of 208(R) Squadron. Hawk T.1A (XX265 'CK') in 100 Squadron/JFACTSU markings.

Thursday May 8, 2008 Out again the following day for more French Air Force Alpha Jet action and was not disappointed despite have just two passes by a pair. Their afternoon sortie took them way from Wales and up into Scotland. Two passes by the Typhoon virtually accounted for the days action.
Left to right: Alpha Jet (E38 314-LH and E7 314-TU) of Ecole de L'Aviation de Chasse 00.314 based at Tours.

Left to right: Typhoon T.1 (ZJ814 QO-Z) of 3(F) Squadron.

Left to right: Typhoon T.1 (ZJ814 QO-Z) and Bolkow Bo-105 (G-NAAA) operated by the Wales Air Ambulance having just recovered a person and taking him to a hospital.

Wednesday May 7, 2008 Well what a day the weather was good and to my surprise four French Air Force Alpha Jets flew low past my camera. The Tours based jets were operating from RAF Valley and were flying with Hawks from 208(R) Squadron as part of Exercise 'Garlic Lemon' where by agreement the French and British Air Forces can conduct joint low level training exercises in each country. Today they each flew a morning and afternoon sortie. Some aircraft were accompanied by a Hawk and some were unaccompanied. Some appeared to have a RAF crew member on board. Without the French it would still have been an excellent day with over 30 passes in total.
Left to right: Typhoon F.2 (ZJ922 QO-C) of 3(F) Squadron using call-sign 'Typhoon 12'.

Left to right: Hawk T.1 (XX195) of 208(R) Squadron.

Left to right: Hawk T.1A's XX201, XX188 and XX287 of 19(R) Squadron.

Left to right: Hawk 132 (ZK121) is with BAe Systems at Warton being tested prior to delivery to the Indian Air Force.

Left to right: Hawk T.1's (XX174 and XX171) of 208(R) Squadron. Typhoon F.2 (ZJ914 DE) of 11(F) Squadron using call sign 'Typhoon 27'.

Left to right: Alpha Jet (ZJ646) of QinetiQ's Aircraft Test and Evaluation Centre (ATEC), Fast Jet Test Squadron (FJTS) and Hawk T.1A (XX329 CJ) of 100 Squadron with call sign 'Pirate 12' it was working with 'Typhoon 49' which RTB'd to Coningsby without going low level.

Tuesday March 19, 2008 The weather forecast of sun and reports last week of low level sorties by two Saudi Tornadoes lured me up into Cumbria. Unfortunately neither the sun or the Saudis showed up, the latter preferring to fly around Wales. My bad luck did not end there, after my climb up the hill I was immediately joined by a civilian helicopter employed to carrying large bags filled with stones up the hillsides to repair path erosion. With no prospect of low flying in this valley I went back down the hill and 50 minutes later I arrived at my second choice of hillside. I eventually caught seven Tucano's, two Hawks and near the end of the day my first Harrier T.12. 
Left to right: Aerospatiale AS350B2 (G-PLMH) just about to start carrying bags of stones. Tucano T.1's (ZF349, ZF407 and ZF491).

Left to right: Hawk T.1A's (XX289/CO and XX265/CK) with 100 Squadron / Joint Forward Air Control Training and Support Unit (JFACTSU). Tucano T.1's (ZF171 and ZF291), the first in 207(R) Squadron's markings.

Left to right: Harrier T.12 (ZH665/113) with 20(R) Squadron.

Wednesday February 6, 2008 The weather had been poor all week but the forecast for today was good. After a little indecision I finally decided on the 'Bwlch' (top shelf) and what an inspired decision that was. Two flights of F-15E Strike Eagles descended down to low level using call-signs 'Sonic' and 'Strong' at mid-morning and again three hours later. The Strike Eagles were seen swooping through a number of valleys in the area with two of them making a total of five passes in front of my camera. A rare low level sortie by the ETPS Andover was another highlight to an extraordinary day which also included seven Hawks.
Left to right:  F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0332/LN) of the 48th Fighter Wing, 492^nd Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath at 10:03 assumed to be using call-sign 'Sonic 71 or 72' and RTB to Lakenheath.

Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0332/LN) call-sign 'Sonic 71 or 72' down through valley again at 12:40 following a 'hot pit' refuel.

Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (91-0332/LN) and one more time four minutes later.

Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (00-3002/LN) of the 48th Fighter Wing, 494^th Fighter Squadron out for the second time today and assumed to be using call-sign 'Strong 12' and this time at low level through my valley.

Left to right: F-15E Strike Eagle (00-3002/LN) and around again 22 minutes later.

Left to right: Hawk T.1's (XX231 and XX339 of 208(R) Squadron and Hawk T.1 (XX218) of 19(R) Squadron. Andover C.1 (XS606) of Empire Test Pilots School (ETPS) from Boscombe Down.