Aviation Photography by Philip Stevens available for any assignment. 1000's of images (mostly action). Features on Airshows, Low Level, Air to Air and Base Visits. Bias towards military aircraft and photographic ideas/inspiration. Images for sale as prints or under commercial license.

   

Low level photography from the hills

 click to go to Home page  click to send an email to Target Aviation Photography  Click for commercial information  Click to go to the Portfolios page  Click to Search Target Aviation Photography Website  Click to enter find out more about Philip Stevens

 

  European Luscombe UK Tour 2006

European Luscombe Tour 2008
Charity Farm, Baxterley
May 31, 2008

This was the fourth European Luscombe Tour to be organised by Nige Barratt a Luscombe pilot (G-NIGE) and website European Luscombes manager. The two day tour planned to visit mostly grass land strips around central England and Eastern Wales.  After missing last year's event I was very keen to see these wonderful vintage aircraft in action. Photography at intimate farm landing strips offers many opportunities and should not be missed.

The 2008 tour was to start at Croft Farm, Defford, where it was expected that seven Luscombe aircraft would arrive on the Friday evening which was the day before the event took to the air. Departing Croft Farm at 10:30 the tour made its way to Lane Farm in Powys for tea and biscuits. Lunch was planned later at Welshpool, however problems with the grass strip at Lane Farm caused some delays with aborted take-off's. From Welshpool they were due to arrive at Baxterley at 15:25 before going on to Sywell for a night stop.
The second day of the tour would start with departure from Sywell at 10:00 heading for Peterborough and then on to Sackville Farm two miles north of Bedford. Following a BBQ the plan was to head for Turweston and then finally on to the small grass strip at Brimpton. In all over the two days 16 Luscombes took part, but not all managed the complete tour of all the planned airfields.

Click to enlarge image 081_5563ww5+

Departing in style Luscombe 8E Silvaire (G-BRUG) drops a wing

Charity Farm, Baxterley
Ken Broomfield owner of Charity Farm was busy working when I arrived, but still was happy to find a safe place for me to park my car, by some rough ground beside some rusting military tanks. From there he pointed me in the direction of his grass landing strip. A squad of people in full camouflage including face paint were running around when I arrived, seemingly totally oblivious to an invasion by a dozen or more vintage aircraft. Indeed throughout the four hours of my visit they were either lurking in the bushes that surround the farm strip or creeping upon an unseen 'enemy'. 
Already well behind schedule after departing Welshpool the fleet of now 13 Luscombes had to make a detour around the RAF Cosford due to its annual air show. It was not until 16:40 that the first aircraft flew over the farm strip at Baxterley. The one hour scheduled stop was used by pilots and passengers to compare notes and stretch legs. The full hour was taken despite the final destination of the day, Sywell aerodrome, officially closing at 18:00. A quick call to Sywell's ATC staff confirmed that it was still possible to land at around 19:00. 12 of the 13 Luscombes took to the air in quick succession while one unfortunately struggled to get it's engine started.
Click to enlarge image 081_5292w5- Click to enlarge image 081_5301w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5309w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5319w5

Left to right: Arriving at Baxterley and much later than scheduled Luscombes (8A G-EITE, 8E G-BUKU, 8E G-BROO and 8A G-AGMI).
Click to enlarge image 081_5323w5- Click to enlarge image 081_5380w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5392w5+ Click to enlarge image 081_5417w5+

Left to right: Luscombes (8A G-BVGW, 8E G-BRUG, G-NIGE and 8E G-BTCH).
Click to enlarge image 081_5419w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5433w5+ Click to enlarge image 081_5442w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5449w5

Left to right: Luscombes (8E G-AJJU, 8A G-EITE, 8E G-BUKU and the very smart 8E G-BROO).
Click to enlarge image 081_5456w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5463w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5498w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5500w5

Left to right: Luscombes (8A G-AGMI, 8E G-BVGW, 8EF G-KENM and 8AE G-BSOX).

Image 081_5520ww5

Luscombe 8E Silvaire (G-BUKU) in the front row of the line-up.

Click to enlarge image 081_5387w5

 Click to enlarge image 081_5411w5

Click to enlarge image 081_5403w5

Click to enlarge image 081_5474w5

Left to right: Tour Luscombes making their way to the line-up (8E G-NIGE, 8E G-BRUG and 8E G-BVGW).
Click to enlarge image 081_5492w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5510w5- Click to enlarge image 081_5532w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5540w6

Left to right: An hour after arriving the Tour is ready for the 45 minute flight to Sywell on the final leg of day one. Luscombe 8A G-BRJK was the last to arrive.

Image 081_5549ww5

Luscombe 8's making their way to the end of the landing strip for the rapid departure
Click to enlarge image 081_5632w5- Click to enlarge image 081_5568w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5575w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5585w5

Left to right: Luscombes (8E G-BROO, 8E G-BRUG, 8E G-BSSA and 8E G-AJJU).

Click to enlarge image 081_5619w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5652w5 Click to enlarge image 081_5659w5- Click to enlarge image 081_5677w5+

Left to right: Luscombes (8A G-EITE, 8A G-AGMI and Tour organiser Nige Barratt in 8E G-NIGE).

Click to enlarge image 081_5641ww5

Luscombe 8EF (G-KENM)

I was using a Canon EOS 20D and EOS 40D with a Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 and EF 300mm f2.8 lens using shutter speeds from 1/160th down to 1/100th to ensure acceptable prop blur.

  

Home