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F-5B 64-13377 of 349mira, stands on the EOR at Larissa in July 1995 whilst the pilot does his final checks before take off! Considering the events of the last 12 months, I guess I am very fortunate to have had an exceptional photographic tour of nearly all of the Greek Air Bases!! I could have easily filled my 7 shots of this portfolio with shots from this interesting Airforce! Thanks Ian!!! |
©
Kevin Wills
Canon EOS 10QD 100-300mm K64 350/F5.6 |
 |
68-0020
"20 TFW".... "The Chief" holds awaiting clearance
to depart from runway 27 at RAF Upper Heyford, on 02nd July 1991. This
shot was taken from outside of the base in the field at the Ardley end
of the airfield. What a tragedy the base has closed!!
Olympus OM-20 70-210mm K64 |
 |
Three
Tornado GR 1's from RAF Bruggen, form a stack for my camera on their
way from Lajes to Goose Bay on the 01st April 1998. Flown by crews from
31 Sqn the three aircraft were en-route to Goose as part of the annual
"Western Vortex" low flying detachment. The nearest Tornado
wears the markings of 31Sqn followed by 17Sq and 9!
Canon EOS 100 Canon 35-135mm K64 250/F8 |
 |
Photographed
over the North Sea, from a 216 Sqn Tristar on the 12th Oct 2000 was this
Jaguar GR3, XZ364, wearing special anniversary markings, to commemorate
60 years of RAF Coltishall.
Canon EOS 10QD 35-135mm K64 250/F8 |
 |
At
17,000ft above Germany on 06th Feb 2001, 37+37 an F4F from JG72 at Hopsten,
attempts to RV with it's tanker, KC-135R 37979 of the 100th ARW, in the
"SAXON" air refuelling area located to the south of Leipzig!
Just before a winter sunset, the low light shows off the classic lines
of the Phantom!
Canon EOS 1 V HS 100-400mm Provia 100F 350/F5.6 |
 |
Returning
to it's home base at Lakenheath after a morning mission on the North Sea
ACMI range on 30th March 2001, is this F-15D 84-044 of the 493rd FS. It
always seems to me a real waste to have an empty back seat!!
Canon EOS 1 V HS 35-135mm Sensia 100 350/F8 |
 |
Breaking
hard before descending to make an approach at Lajes Field in the Azores
is ZG794, a 14 Sqn Tornado GR1. On this day it was flown by a crew from
31 Sqn who were taking the aircraft, along with four others, to participate
in Exercise " ASCIET 99" which was centered in the state of
Georgia, USA.
Canon EOS 100 35-135mm K64 350/F5.6 |
I
picked up the Military Aviation bug in the late 70's!
Living near to Upper Heyford, the air over my house and school would frequently
vibrate with the sound of Jet noise from F111's and the various other aircraft,
departing from the North Oxfordshire base. In my early years, during the school
holidays or at weekends, I would regularly cycle or cadge a lift so I could
spend time with friends sitting on the end of the runway at UH! In those days
you could regularly see anything from common things such as pairs of Canadian
or German Starfighters to the more exotic like half a dozen US Navy Prowlers!!
In those early days, my activities were basically limited to spotting, but
towards the mid-80's after leaving school the funds were available to invest
in some decent camera gear! My first camera was an Olympus OM20, which was
very reliable, easy to use and produced some pretty good results. This was
quickly followed by an OM40 to allow for shooting trannie and print! Since
those early days I've changed my gear and now use Canon AF kit. I still have
a fondness for Olympus and still have one in the shape of an E-10 which I
use for digital shots!!
I guess the hobby has been rather kind to me over the last 25 years that I've
been "doing it"!! I had my first aviation picture published in 1990,
it was of a Phantom (38+59) at Wittmund in Germany, (thanks, Hartmut and Thorsten!).
Since then I've never looked back and through a combination of, alot of hard
work, time and effort and an understanding family!. I have been to lots of
interesting and exotic places and as a result have had many wonderful experiences
and made some very good friends along the way.
Subject wise, I am probably quite unusual in that I like RAF stuff!! I also
really enjoy working with Helicopter's!! I know call me weird!! My favourite
fixed wing aircraft has to be, one of any variant of the F111 family, closely
followed by the majestical VC-10! Like most people I used to like the USAF.
But my affinity for them was severely dented when they closed Upper Heyford!
Don't think I will ever forgive them for that!!!!!!!!!