In the shooting for “Hook Code”, my USN/USMC tail code book, I spent time in the Pacific onboard the USS Ranger in June 1992. There is no shooting like carrier operations. It is choreography in motion and all absorbing to those lucky enough to see it live.

© Pat Martin unknown

	This shot was arranged by pushing airstairs to the right place at CFB Comox in July 1999. Hornet 188718 was painted to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the RCAF, which in fact was constituted on February 15, 1923. Unknown		Although Starfighter 763 had been the special for 417 Squadron when disbanded years before, it returned to CFB Cold Lake for the re-establishing, replacing the base flight using the Hueys and T-Birds. By May 1993 it was “upgraded” to fictional “FIP” markings. Unknown
	This CAF Hornet was shot while standing on top of a mule at Aviano AB, Italy, in July 1998, prior to the more recent unpleasantness in Southern Europe. The weather was poor but the angle worked for this armed aircraft. Unknown		This Reno, Nevada based RF-4C Phantom shows the late addition of Sidewinders to the inventory at Maple Flag and CFB Cold Lake. Early morning sun makes this shot. Unknown
	To note the 50th anniversary of the first official RCAF roundel introduced in 1946, Hornet 188746 was painted with the above results. CFB Cold Lake, the location, remains the premier fighter base in Canada (there are only two). Unknown		Taken from the balcony of the southern most hangar at RNAS Culdrose in July 1991, the VDF Vulcan XH558 starts to fill its very thirsty fuel tanks. Unknown

Hi all , The interest in aviation, for me, goes back to being an Air Force Brat (RCAF that is) and getting transferred back and forth across the pond, from Canada to France and Germany. Serious shooting began by attending Greenham Common 1979. Since then my hobby has become more serious and as some may say, all consuming. After attending a couple more IATs, I became a serial hunter using Kodachrome 25/64 to hunt my targets.

On the less serious note, I write the odd article for various magazines and have written four books on military aviation and aircraft markings. This has provided me with excellent access to my targets. Other hobbies included modelling (1/72 scale only thank you), trying to keep the pounds off, keeping my components moving in face of gravity and surviving (with my wife) the upbringing of the five co-pilots.

My fields of interest include just about anything that is not CWCS (consecutive window civil stuff.) The more colourful the better. Canadian markings, USAF, USN and USMC - tail codes and just about anything military taken with K25/64 slide film would be considered my cup of tea! In the pursuit of shooting I generally “get” around 300 aircraft a year.

The writing part of my hobby has been fortunate enough to send me on numerous exercises, aircraft carriers, bases and deployments, where targets cross my viewfinder.