Franks European Tour 2010

[Frank]

Hi Guys,

I spent the best part of 2 weeks in June travelling around Europe chasing aircraft and that all elusive "perfect photo". I had good fun along the way, TonyO and Kevin Jackson providing the entertainment and driving with occasional bouts of abuse thrown in. I learned a lot over the two weeks, two of the more important lessons being that I take way too many pictures (27,000 plus in 13 days) and I gotta start shooting RAW again.

Highlight of the trip were the air to airs with Eric Coeckelberghs and his Photo Crew... A-4's, F-4's, F-16's, L-39, Hunter & Dornier Do-228. There's a hold on most of those pictures for now but the L-39 shots have been approved so I've included my favourite shot of that portion of the photo shoot below.

The low light of the trip was probably the Heuberg spotters day, crap weather and crap location, taking pictures through the tops of, and between bushes of helicopters firing flares just don't cut it IMHO.

Anyway, on with the show, I've included a picture from every location I took a picture at, there are a few gaps (air to airs) but I'll add these once I get permission. There are one or two civvies but the bulk of these pictures are military.


Regards,

Frank.


Friday 11th June, Shannon Airport, Ireland
Aer Lingus A3-something


RAF Museum, Hendon, England
Avro Lancaster


RAF Northolt, England
Irish Air Corps AW139


Saturday 12th June, Hyeres, France
Flugwerk Fw 190. A few minutes after this picture was taken the plane was a submarine and the pilot was swimming for the shore.


Sunday 13th June, Hyeres, France
Dassault SEM. Sunset departure from Hyeres. Not shown in the picture: security armed with a shotgun trying to get us off the base!


Monday 14th June, Orange-Caritat, France
Dassault Mirage 2000C


Tuesday 15th June, Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands
USAF C-40B Clipper doing circuits


Tuesday 15th June, Geilenkirchken, Germany
Boeing E-3A


Wednesday 16th June, Groningen Airport, Netherlands
Bombardier Global Express belonging to Disney


Thursday 17th June, Groningen Airport, Netherlands
Cessna Citation. This has to be the easiest picture I've ever taken, the plane was parked outside my hotel room window.
While still in bed I just stuck the camera out the window, rested it on the window sill and took the picture. Easy!


Thursday 17th June, In Flight, Netherlands
Skyline Aviation L-39. IMHO this is one of the best pictures I've ever taken,


Friday 18th June, Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands
Belgian Air Force Demo F-16


Saturday 19th June, Nordholz, Germany
The Germany Navy's last flying Breguet Atlantic, one day before it's retirement


Saturday 19th June, Nordholz Aeronauticum Museum, Germany
Former East German Air Force Su-22


Monday 21st June, Ramstein, Germany
US Army Blackhawk


Tuesday 22nd June, Heuberg, Germany
ELITE 2010 Spotters Day. Sikorsky CH-53. Probably the best picture of a bad lot, very disappointing day although the low passes by the Tornado's at the end of the day were nice.


Wednesday 23rd June, Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands
RNLAF spare demo F-16 departs after going tech a few days earlier. Where was the sunshine on Friday...


Wednesday 23rd June, Eindhoven Airport, Netherlands
RNLAF KDC-10, last shot of the trip, taken through thick glass while at the departure gate.

[Joe McDermott]

Excellent stuff Frank !  The L.39 is a cracker, stunning backdrop. 

Not surprised the guards at Hyeres marched you off base at gun point, ye do look pretty suspect.  Was this the first time such action has been taken ?   

Joe

[Tony Kearns]

Excellent stuff Frank !  The L.39 is a cracker, stunning backdrop. 

Not surprised the guards at Hyeres marched you off base at gun point, ye do look pretty suspect. quote]

Crackers Frank 
Pay no attention to that Ballybough Gurrier
Tony K

[Silver]

Jeez...you have been busy Frank?! Excellent pics!
I agree about the L-39 shot...very cool pic.

[Frank]

Thanks Guys!

Yes, I was very busy for those 2 weeks and I've a few more very nice pictures waiting in the wings from this trip.

Currently finishing off the photos from my trip to Lipetsk in Russia last August.

[CK]

 

[corkspotter]

Fantastic shots Frank, Love the CH53 shot as for the L-39, speechless!   

Regards,

Paul

[thurian]

Do you run seminars on aviation photography?
We are not worthy, we are not worthy, jeez, I'm nearly ashamed to upload photos now having seen these.

[Frank]

thurian,

Thanks for the compliments, I can assure you though I'm not as good as you make me out to be, you should see the amount of crap pictures I throw away!


Regards,

Frank.

[papa 242]

Thank God for that, Frank! I thought it was only me!!!  I go everywhere with 24 gigs of memory!!!
Never mind the quality.... feel the width!!!
Fantastic shots!...likewise, loved the CH53....L39..beautiful,brilliant!!
Take Care!