RAF museum Cosford airshow 2013 pics

Crimea_River · Jun 10, 2013

Yeah, I hear you. I have a Canon 70-300mm with image stabilization and it's a great feature, although the auto-focus did go squirrely on me on fast flypasts - pain in the a$$

rochie · Jun 11, 2013

good stuff Terry, should do you well once you are used to the new camera and lenses.

thanks for the nice words on my shots guy's.

Terry i took just over 200 shots of just the flying displays, as you know we didnt have much time to look at the static displays, the only downside to the day really !

Airframes · Jun 11, 2013

Yep, not including the stuff I took in the hangar, for Evan, I only have about 30 or so of the static displays. They were really spread out, from the east side of the field at the entrance, right off to the old dispersals past the western hangar, plus some stuff around the backs of the hangars and so on.
I'm sure I read that the flying display was due to start at 12.30, but it had started as we were going through the gate, at around 10.45. Mick and I thought the large models were a 'fill in', and that the Typhoon was just doing a bit before landing!
It was a good show as regards the flying, but the ground organisation, and the traffic control, were abysmal. Not being able to get closer to the flight line than 300 metres at best, and 500 metres on average, is not on, especially when pre-booked, and made worse by all those picnickers who were just there fort a day out!
Some of the 'acts' couldn't even be seen, such as the ground dispalys and Brendan O'Brien's stunt stuff landing on the car.
I saw on the 'net some of the reaction from local TV news and newspapers, commenting on the chaos on the roads, and lack of organisation, so it seems Mick and I were lucky approaching from the direction we did, with only about a 45 minute hold up on the roads, and about 15 minutes to actually get through the gate and parked.
The parking had gone t*ts up too, as we were supposed to be on the hard-standing to the front of where we were, and it still had lots of open space.
After so many years of being on 'air side' at air shows', I found it irritating, especially not being able to get anywhere near a reasonable spot for photography, but it was still a good day.
I'll post some more pics later tonight.

nuuumannn · Jun 11, 2013

Nice pics guys. A shame it was so poorly organised. The times I've been it was easy getting in. I wonder what went wrong? They could have gotten an outside events management team to manage the site and parking etc, which usually ends up with F-ups somewhere along the line, especially if the events management people have not done airshows before.

Gnomey · Jun 11, 2013

Good shots Karl!

meatloaf109 · Jun 11, 2013

Nice pictures, guys!

Airframes · Jun 11, 2013

Grant, I think it was a combination of the 75th anniversary of Cosford, the Vulcan and Red Arrows, and the first prolonged spell of good weather for around five years!
The Police and the RAF personnel did a hard job well, but had to quickly pack in pre-paid ticket holders, turning away non ticket holders, as the field was at capacity. We had booked a Disabled car parking slot, on the tarmac, and got close, but on the grass. I wasn't going to make life even harder for the young RAF traffic marshall, so said nothing! And The majority of visitors seemed to be local, of the 'let's go for a day out' variety, milling around the stalls and fun fair, and packed along the flight line 200 metres deep, complete with tables, chairs, full lunch facilities, and, in a lot of cases, camper vans, motor homes and gazebos! At least half of these were not even aware there were aircraft in the air - unless they were noisy, like the Typhoon and Vulcan!
Talking of which, here's some shots of the star of the show.
For those who have never seen a Vulcan in the air, you don't watch it - you experience it!
The ground vibrates, the air rattles, and every car and house alarm in a radius of five miles is activated!!!

rochie · Jun 11, 2013

those are great Dogsbody, must admit would of que'd all day just to see the Vulcan !

and this is not national pride but there is absolutely nothing like the Vulcan as it goes by !

vikingBerserker · Jun 11, 2013

I have to agree with that!

Marcel · Jun 12, 2013

Great work Terry and Karl. Very good pictures.

nuuumannn · Jun 12, 2013

Well, as long as you guys had a great time, and sounds like you both did regardless. The Vulcan pictures are superb! Third from top! Notice EADS getting a nice wee plug in the u/c door - "This Vulcan display was proudly brought to you by McDonalds..." I can just imagine what those Argie guys around Stanley must have thought when they saw that silhouette roaring over the field!

Airframes · Jun 12, 2013

Thanks Grant, and yes, despite the traffic, crowds, and relatively poor ground organisation, it was a great day out - and the first time I've been sun burned for many years!
As mentioned elsewhere, there were many and varied static displays, but as they were spread out right across the field, in small groups or individual displays, it was impossible to get to them all. But, here's a few of those I did get to see, with the Sepecat Jaguar being dominant.
RAF Cosford is actually now known as DCoAE Cosford - Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering, and is the main location for the training of RAF ground technical personnel. When the Jaguar fleet was retired in 2005, those that weren't disposed of to museums and private collectors went to the DCoAE, where they are used as instructional airframes, many of which are still 'live'. Over twenty were on display on various parts of the field, and the first four shots show some of them.
Photos 5 and 6 Show a Bloodhound fire control radar, cunningly disguised as a Bloodhound fire control radar, and the air to air missile itself, as part of the 'Cold War' display, whilst photos 7 to 9 show the Harrier hide, and the Harrier GR3, again part of the 'Cold War' display.
Photo 10 Is the Embraer Tucano, the RAF's basic trainer for future fast jet pilots, in the current overall black 'trainer' scheme .
Photo 11 Is the Apache which displayed with a certain Captain Wales as gunner, a chap better known as Prince Harry. This was only announced literally seconds before the display, and may have a link to the final photo.
I spotted the chap talking to the Red Arrows pilot in the VIP /Display Crews enclosure, adjacent to the runway threshold. He caught my attention as, apart from looking fit, with a military haircut and a deep tan, when everyone else had a 'normal' complexion, on such a hot day, he was the only person (in view at least) who kept his suit jacket buttoned. Closer examination through the zoom lens showed a distinctive outline beneath the jacket, which looked suspiciously like a harness for a MP5K, or Mini Uzi, but of course, I could be wrong ......
More pics tomorrow.

Crimea_River · Jun 13, 2013

Excellent shots Terry!

Airframes · Jun 13, 2013

Thanks Andy.

Gnomey · Jun 13, 2013

Great shots Terry!

Airframes · Jun 13, 2013

Continuing with a varied selection, the first five were literally 'snatched' just after we arrived, at around 11.00hrs, thinking the show hadn't yet started - otherwise, I would have taken more of the Typhoon!
The RAF 'Falcons' Parachute Display Team are all instructors from No.1 PTS, and normally use a Hercules. I saw a Cessna 'Caravan' circling, and thought it was a 'civvy' team, until the canopies deployed!
The Typhoon II gave a heck of a display - fast, agile, and very noisy! These two shots were quickly snatched on auto.
The Sea King is one of the 22 Sqn SAR aircraft, as flown by Prince William, although not for much longer, as the RAF SAR service is being scrapped in 2015 and, after more than 70 years of Sterling service to military and civilian personnel, the operation will be taken over by Bristow Helicopters, an American company already operating services to and from the North Sea oil and gas rigs.
The Jet Provost T5 used to be the RAF's basic trainer, until replaced by the Tucano.
The Army Air Corps Lynx goes up - then comes down!
This Hercules was on the air show schedule, but only made one low pass then bogged off - hence, again, a quick, snatched shot.
Another poor shot, on the wrong camera settings, was the only one useable of the spirited display by the Pitts Special, seen here falling through its own smoke trail.
Hope you're enjoying the photos - more to come.

Crimea_River · Jun 13, 2013

I'd be very happy with those Terry.

Airframes · Jun 13, 2013

Thanks Andy. They're reasonable, and acceptable for a first outing of the camera, but not up to standard yet. No doubt I'll get accustomed to the kit, but I'm already contemplating getting a 'faster' zoom lens, when, or if I can afford it (and justify it!).

nuuumannn · Jun 13, 2013

Lovely, Terry; very nice weather. Neat to see so many Jauguars, in particular, 16 Sqn's 'The Saint', or is it a repaint? I remember seeing that aircraft at Leuchars years ago!

a Bloodhound fire control radar, cunningly disguised as a Bloodhound fire control radar

Indigo Corkscrew - caused a bit of a stoushie back when it was still on the secret list, when the official codename appeared as an answer in a cryptic crossword!

Airframes · Jun 13, 2013

Thanks Grant (and thanks Hugh - I missed your earlier reply!).
Far as I know, all the Jags are still in the original colours. Behind 'The Saint' are two more black Jags, one a T2, and there were some grey ones scattered around too.
Those that are used for mainly static instruction can be identified by their faded or worn colour schemes.
Just six or seven years ago, I could have obtained one from MoD Disposal, via a friend who has the necessary purchasing licences and documents, for around £7,000. Would make a great garden ornament, but the problem is, I don't have a garden these days!!
I was reading about Bloodhound some time ago, not having taken much notice in the past, and it seems it was a good bit of kit in it's time.
I'll post a few of the many shots of the 'Scampton Darts Team' tomorrow, when I've sorted through the rest of the 800 photos. Thank heavens for digital - film processing would have cost a fortune!

RAF museum Cosford airshow 2013 pics

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