Remarks: This was a time that can be described as "not good for shooting" due ta appaling weather conditions and many of us were infact not shooting, but from a distance I sensed this almost crazy angle of approach due to strong gusts of cross wind and quickly brought the viewfinder to my eye to record this at least as best as I could. You can even see the direction the trees are leaning to ! (shot from the Frait Grandstand). Riat 07.
Remarks: During the winter sector of the Libya crises, with various arrivals and departures of tactical transports (evacuations / special forces etc), I also managed some civvies !! Take of runway 31.
Remarks: Beautiful late afternoon sun painting the engine fan blades ! Note also the clear straight lined marks inside of engine intakes caused by hours upon hours of air sucked in under immense pressure. (Take off runway 32).
Remarks: (PHOTO 1 of 2) see photo 2 above, Cobra manouver. Riat 06.This photo is another one in the sequence of photos during the cobra manouvre. It is not the last in sequence, the aircraft in fact "rotated" even much more backwards than this (!) but this photo is showing the wing tip smoke going just everywhere without any logical direction because of that "crazy" and physics defying "rotation" of aircraft (almost) on its own centre of gravity ! Friends, note that 10 photos of the sequence at 3 frames per second means that during this manouvre, the aircraft , for approx. 3 seconds, flies.....BACKWARDS !! That is air rushing into engines, wrong way round (through exhaust nozzles rather than intakes !) This, I am told, at least up to now, is not possible in western type of engines (I stand to be corrected). Interesting, this is not where the engines need most power, instead, that is during the vertical tail slide and recovery from it !
Remarks: Departing from Riat 06. Note guys that, that "small" winglet is 10 feet in height ! You can also see the stars and stripes on the pilots left arm of his flying suit.
Remarks: Should this guy be doing this !!?? Surely not when a Royal member is onboard ! Problem was, I think, over the weekend he saw too many of this kind of take off, so....... Riat 06.
Remarks: Flying Display at the Malta International Airshow 06. I am quite pleased by the fact that notwithstanding the vantage seating one is offered at places like Riat during displays of this aircraft (among many others), these photos still compare well enough !
Remarks: From threshold of runway 06 where I spent some time waiting for an expected IL-76 that never arrived ! This was at a time when only a small bit of sun was still visible on the horizon.
Remarks: Landing on runway 27 at Heathrow airport. This was an experience to treasure ! Thanks to my Captain friend ! I was travelling to Riat 07 (Fairford).
