Aircraft (1)

Traffic at Lee on Solent airfield is getting more interesting but no easier to see. Whether actively encouraged or not there is thick vegetation outside most of the fence at the otherwise most likely viewing points and it consists of rather discouraging brambles and gorse. However, there are sight lines and, with a long lens, the occasional pleasing result can be achieved. This is Cessna 510 Citation Mustang N404CZ. DSCF2528C

The first bank holiday Monday in 2013 saw unfamiliar good weather and one of the aircraft which took to the air was Jodel DR1050 Ambassadeur G-AYLL, seen here starting at Lee on Solent. DSCF2532

The best shots are not taken through terminal glass and certainly not when that glass is being rained on but I thought this rainy morning at Heathrow offered something with the watery reflections adding a bit to an otherwise ordinary image. In this view, I have intentionally included the water on the window to help to convey how wet it was as Air France A320 F-GKXH prepares to taxi from Terminal 4 with a Paris flight. TZ30_P1000700

Whilst pondering the merits of various shots through the rain soaked windows of Heathrow's Terminal 4, I noticed this puzzling patch job on Alitalia operated A320 EI-EIB which was due to leave for Milan Linate. I don't now what it's meant to keep out (or in) but surely it is a bit more robust than duct tape? TZ30_P1000701

The best shots are not taken through terminal glass and certainly not when that glass is being rained on but I thought this rainy morning at Heathrow offered something with the watery reflections adding a bit to an otherwise ordinary image. Alitalia A320 EI-EIB is being pushed back for AZ/AZA229 to Milan Linate. I would normally exclude hi-vis clothing from my pictures but here it seems to add a little colour to a dull, wet morning. TZ30_P1000711

The best shots are not taken through terminal glass and certainly not when that glass is being rained on but I thought this rainy morning at Heathrow offered something with the watery reflections adding a bit to an otherwise ordinary image. Alitalia A320 EI-EIB is about to taxi with AZ/AZA229 to Milan Linate. TZ30_P1000713

I can not decide whether the glint of sun adds to or detracts from this picture of Garuda A330-300 PK-GPO at Schiphol. I like to avoid the sterility of some of the stricter specialist websites and post some shots which might lack some technical merit but are, hopefully, of some interest. TZ30_P1000731

This shot shows the limitations of shooting through the window of a moving aircraft and slightly across the sun but how else is one ordinarily going to get airside shots these days? This, at Schiphol, is B767-300 PH-AHO of Arkefly which is part of Tui. TZ30_P1000735C

With neither of the two main subjects dominating the image, this serves as a record of Schiphol in 2013. The distinctive control tower overlooks KLM (Cityhopper) Embraer 190 PH-EZT. TZ30_P1000741

Flybe Dash 8-400 G-ECOM at Schiphol. TZ30_P1000743C

Shots through an aircraft window always have their limitations but this is a reasonably nice shot of KLM (Cityhopper) Embraer 190 PH-EZT at Schiphol. TZ30_P1000744C

This shot was taken through glass, across the airport from Terminal 4 and on a rainy morning but I think it serves to convey something of the Heathrow of 2013. It seems like only yesterday we welcomed the first ever A380 to the airport; now it is not uncommon to see three side by side. TZ30_P1000715

As far as I can tell from the internet, SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 N330DG is not an unusual sight in Wales. I was pleased to see it at Caernarfon on a dull day and it left during my visit. TZ30_P1000848C

As far as I can tell from the internet, SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 N330DG is not an unusual sight in Wales. I was pleased to see it at Caernarfon on a dull day and it left during my visit. TZ30_P1000858C

On the weekend of 6 & 7 July 2013, six aircraft of MFGZ [Motorfluggruppe Zürich] visited Lee on Solent in Hampshire. The photographs from which I have made this collage are what I call 'pap' which can be short for pappy (they're not very good) or paparazzi - whereby you shoot what you can so that you have at least got the news shot. I saw these aircraft on Saturday evening but too late to photograph them and again on Sunday morning but could not stop the car. By the time I could get back to the airfield, they were being prepared for departure which meant I got less than ideal pictures but I thought it was a nice occasion, worth recording. The aircraft are (left) Cessna 172 HB-CHX with C172 HB-CYH behind; (centre) Cherokee Archers HB-PMT and HB-PIV; and (right) C172 HB-CKG with another behind which, based on information on Swiss Flight , is likely to be HB-CLH or HB-CFT.

Robin DR400-180R G-LGCC at Dunstable Downs (London Gliding Club). P1180692C

Rather joyous shot of Robin DR400-180R G-LGCB landing at Dunstable Downs (London Gliding Club). P1180693

Robin DR400-180R G-LGCB at Dunstable Downs (London Gliding Club). P1180696C