Remarks: Despite engine availability problems, Serco managed to make a Dominie available for the Valley Aviation Society charity photo call; it is seen here taxiing in with Rhosneigr in the background and the hills of the Lleyn Peninsular beyond. 55 Squadron operates nine Dominies in the rear-crew training role at Cranwell; they entered service in 1965 and have recently had their service lives extended to 2014. (40D; Sigma 80-400@96mm; fluid-head tripod; 640th sec exposure; no stabilization)
Remarks: A French Alpha Jet arrives at the Valley Aviation Society charity photo call. Armee de lAir fast jet pilots are given initial training on the Alpha at the Commandement des Ecoles de lArmee de lAir at Tours St Symphorien (equivalent to the RAF s 208 Sqn) and operational training (broadly equivalent to 19 Sqn) at the Franco-Belgian Ecole de Transition Operationelle at Cazaux. (40D; Sigma 80-400@400m; fluid-head tripod; 160th sec exposure; no stabilization)
Remarks: This Tornado from 9 Squadron, RAF Marham, is seen here arriving at the Valley Aviation Society charity photo-call; it was one of two GRs and two F3s that later laid on a role demonstration with Hawks from 100 Squadron. Flying displays at the event were flown commendably close to the crowd-line and seemed choreographed with photographers in mind. (40D, Sigma 80-400@116mm & fluid-head tripod, 320th sec, stabilization switched off)
Remarks: This F3 from 111 Squadron (the old Black Arrows) taxies in to the Valley Aviation Society charity photo call with its wings folded back in the fully swept position which makes it look less ungainly on the ground than usual. It is equipped with a pair of acquisition rounds (dummy missiles with live seekers for practice intercept lock-on) on its wing pylons. It has recently been fitted with a new cockpit canopy. (400D; Sigma 80-400@315mm; fluid-head tripod; 320th sec exposure; no stabilization)
Remarks: This C-130 was one of the stars of the Valley Aviation Society charity photo call and is seen here from the control tower balcony as Capitaine Marco Charlier taxies it out for a final formation flypast with F-16 FA-72 before returning to Florennes. The picture shows something of the beauty of Anglesey and the atmosphere of a sunny event that turned out to be a proper air show that went some way towards compensating for the abandoned RIAT.
Remarks: 19 was the first squadron to get Spitfires (at Duxford) in 1938. 70 years later this Hawk has been painted in the colours of a 19 Sqn Spitfire 1 from that year. It is seen here at the Valley Aviation Society charity photo call landing after a formation display with P3750 of the BBMF, the oldest Spitfire still airworthy and one which actually saw action in the Batte of Britain. (400D; Sigma 80-400@199mm; 200th sec exposure; fluid-head tripod; stabilization switched off)
Remarks: Sous Lieutenant Alexandre 'Switch' Debras of 350 Sqn, Florennes, taxies out for a final formation flypast with mothership Hercules CH-04 before departure from the Valley Aviation Society charity photo-call. 350 Squadron was founded at Valley as part of the RAF in 1941, devolving to the new Belgian Air Force in 1946. The Matrix logo on the fin, from the film, relates to the squadron’s ‘Matrix’ call sign. (I’m grateful to the pilot’s father Alain Debras for so much information)
Remarks: The Rolls Royce Corporate Heritage Trust was set up in 1981 to perpetuate recognition of the company s past achievements. It is funded entirely by subscription and from the sale of publications. It manages the operation of this PR.19 which has been owned by Rolls Royce plc since 1996 and is seen here taxiing out across the apron to depart the Valley Aviation Society charity photo-call, seen from the control tower balcony. (40D; Sigma 80-400@223mm; fluid-head tripod; 100th sec exposure; no stabilization)
