June saw me heading off to the south of France with 2 good friends Rod& Simon. Our main reason was to attend the 100 anniversary Air show being held at BAN Hyeres.
We decided to head to France a few days before the show so we could find a few wrecks and relics and catch up with the visiting aircraft which were arriving for a major exercise Garuda IV which was starting the next week.
It was a great few days and here is a random selection of things that we saw

Early may saw me heading off with a group of friends to Middle Wallop we visited the museum and then had a full visit to the base. All I can say it was a fantastic visit and may thanks to “Stuart” our host.
Middle Wallop at the moment are currently de commissioning Lynx's and Gazelles and the usable spare part's are being used to keep other's flying .It seems strange to see stripped out Lynx and Gazelle cabs just waiting to go to the scrap man, who knows they could be reappearing as a can of beans real soon!!!

April saw me heading off for my first foreign trip of the year. Spain had been a place that I had wanted to visit for a number of years and especially to see the aircraft on display at “Museo Del Aire” an excellent museum located at Cautro Vientos,near Madrid.
Please find a selection of photo's taken at the museum .
The flying shot's of the puma's were taken from the civil side of the base.

November saw me heading off on a long awaited trip to the west coast of the USA with visits to NAS Leemore,Edward's AFB a over flight over AMARG and finishing with Aviation Nation at Nellis AFB and lots more in between it was a great Trip with my good friend John
I will be updating this section when I can but with over 5,000 images take it will take a while ....

A quick visit to see the French Airforce Alpha Jet's that had arrived to take part in the Lowestoft airshow.
A real bonus was that one was in special marks

It was a last minute decision to head off to Yeovilton after seeing the reports of what had turned up.It was an excellent show but the good old British weather put the dampners on the flying display, but a varied static display made up for the flying.

Saturday 9th May 2009 saw me and a few friends heading off to Poland for a day trip . We got up early and headed to Stansted and with the help of a Ryan Air cheapie,we headed for the extensive museum " Lotnictwa Polskiego"which is located on the outskirts of Krakow.

Here are a selection of photo's from the day.The museum is excellent and well worth a look if you are in the area

Fresh from the spray shop the RAF's latest aircraft the Beech Super King Air 350c

I have re posted these on to my site as I was advised at the time to remove them but feel it's ok to show them again now.

I had a visit to Wattisham Airfield the home of 3 and 4 Regiment Army Air Corps and 7Bn REME and 202Sqn B flight Royal Air Forcewith their Seaking's HAR3A

Wattisham is also the home to the AAC Apache with all pilots coming here after they have carried out their initial training at Middle Wallop.

3 and 4 regiment are currently very busy taking it in turn to fly their Apache's in Afghanistan as part of joint helicopter force flying from Kandahar Airfield.
This was amost enjoyable day and I would like to thank all person's at the airfield for they help and enthusiasm during the visit.

The biennial Farnborough International Airshow, was visited by myself which ran from Monday July 14 to Sunday July 20, and it celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2008.

The Farnborough International Airshow celebrated its diamond anniversary, marking 60 successful years at the Farnborough Aerodrome. It will also be 100 years since Samuel Franklin Cody made the first successful sustained, powered flight in the UK from Farnborough Airfield on 16 October 1908.

Well what can I say the good old british weather really put a downer on the show this year with it being cancelled for the first time in 38 years!
At least it was dry enough to get on for the departures on the monday morning

June saw me heading off to France to "Ocean Tiger 2008"
This was the 2008 Tiger meet held at BAN LANDIVISIAU .
The french put on a fantastic spotters day on the Friday, but due to work I couldn't attend until the Sunday.

It was a great day with some great mates and good laugh was had by all.

As usual the different squadron's attending the meet painted up their jet's in some really fantastic tiger colour schemes.

I am looking forward to 2009 and the next Tiger meet which will be held at KB in Belgium.

May saw me heading off to Italy for the first time.
A fantastic 2 days were had at the "GIORNATA AZZURRA 2008" Airshow held at Practica di Mare Air base over the weekend of the 24/25 May 2008.

I would like to say a big thanks to Cap. Fabrizio PELLICCIA and rest of the Ufficio Pubblica Informazione Aeronautica Militare- Italian Air Force Press Office for their assitance with fantastic Media access and look forward to returning in 2009 .

This is a small selection of photos that were taken more will be added soon.... as soon as current work allows

Italy has a vast collection of stored and displayed aircraft, here is a small selection seen on my recent visit this year to the Rome area

Sunday 9th March 2008 saw me heading over to Belgium to visit the Technical School at Saffraanberg.
The school has a free open day every year on Ascension day
The following Aircraft were noted outside
FA-03 F-16A
FB-03 F-16B
FX-53 F-104G
ST-09 SF-260-MB
BA-17 Mirage 5-BA
H-19 Augusta A-109BA

Inside the main hanger which was closed due to building work the following could be seen through the windows
H-14 Augusta A-109BA
A-27 Alouette II
A-72 Alouette II with parts of A-53
AT-08 Alphajet Tail

Today I spent the day with the Norfolk Constabulary Air Operations Unit based at Norwich International Air Port

The unit currently fly the AS355F2 Eurocopter , also know as the 'Squirrel' reg G-BMTC which is leased from Sterling Aviation

The helicopter and team provide effective support to a wide range of policing activities around the whole county of Norfolk Jobs the unit do can include the following:
- searches for missing people- searches for offenders - vehicle pursuits - location of stolen property- taking still photographs and/or video footage of incidents and
providing images and information to support planning activities

The Squirrel is fully mission equiped with various bits of kit including the following video and thermal image cameras, radios and a tracker system to locate stolen vehicles etc.

I would like to say a big thanks to Unit Executive Officer Sergeant John Himpleman, Training Officer Ed Ainsworth and Observer PC Graeme Kynoch and pilot Steve for a memorable and enjoyable day.
Cheers guys

Today I headed off to try to see the visiting Italian typhoons. On arival at 11Sqn HAS area they all sat outside with their lids up...the only problem was that's how they stayed for the day... Oh well here a fews shots of the locals instead......It was nice t see the typhoons carring brimstones(i think thats what they were)

THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDED SHOTS TAKEN HERE DURING 2008

DEPLOYMENT OF TORNADO'S FROM THE ROYAL SAUDI AIRFORCE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WHICH STAGED THROUGH RAF MARHAM ON ROUTE TO LOSSIMOUTH IN RUBBISH WEATHER!!

April 2007 saw me heading off to Germany and Austria. Here area few photos from the trip. We visited various military air fields including Graz, Landsburg, Lechfeld, Neuburg, Manching, Donauworth,Linz and Tulln-Langenjebarn to name a few.

RAF Lakenheath is the home of the 48FW. Based units are the, 492nd,493rd and 494th Fighter Squadrons flying the F-15c/d/e and also the new unit just activated at the base the 56th Rescue Squadron flying the HH-60G.
Again this is a "Superbase" in my eyes.
There is a good viewing area provided at this base for enthusiasts.
I will be adding to this section on a regular basis

RAF Mildenhall is the home of the 100 Air Refuling Wing and home to the 16th Air Force.
Based units are the 351 ARS flying the KC-135R.The 352nd Special Operations Group flying the MC-130H Combat Talon II, and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft , and the 95th Reconnaissance squadron flying the RC-135 aircraft and supports the EC-135 Airborne Command Post and OC-135 Open Skies missions .
What can I say about this base but "Fantastic"
A true super base in my eyes.I spend as much time as I can here on my free days as you never know what you might see, as you can see from my pictures all sorts!
I will be adding to this section on a regular basis, with luck.

This section will hold aircraft from different locations, that I have been to.

This section will hold Military aircraft that dont fit in to any other section!!

Today I went to Marham "TONKA TOWN".With blue skies and good company a great day was had.
With all resident squadrons flying it was non stop action.

September saw me visiting RAF Shawbury.It's 2 main activities are training helicopter aircrew and air traffic controllers. The station also has a number of ancillary tasks, the most important of which is to store aircraft.
Resident flying unit is the Defence Helicopter Flying School, equipped with the Eurocopter Squirrel HT1 and Bell Griffin HT1, The unit provides basic and advanced single-engine helicopter training for pilots of the 3 Services, and advanced twin-engine helicopter training for RAF pilots, crewmen and navigators.
The main non-flying unit is the Central Air Traffic Control School, which trains air traffic controllers and assistants for the RAF and Royal Navy.
The Aircraft Storage Unit's task is to prepare and store fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters at varying states of readiness as part of the fatigue-life management strategy for the RAF's front-line aircraft and training fleet. Currently Shawbury is seeing an influx of Gazelles's which are being stored.Other aircraft in storage are Tucano's, Hawk's, Jaguar's, Sea harrier's and AAC AH-64 Apache's.
RAF Shawbury runs has an excellent system of visits to see the stored aircraft, see the Shawbury website for further details.

August saw a return to Germany and a visit to the 50th Anniversary Airshow held at Laage Airbase.This is a vast base , and has some nice preserved aircraft.
A Mig- 23 And a Su-22 from its former East German days and also a F-104 and sabre.
Laage is now the home for the German Eurofighter with the the based unit JG-73.
Previously all the German MiG -29's were stationed here.These have since now gone to Poland.
This was an excellent show and with a tactical display carried out twice during the day.
A great static display was also on show with visitors from Norway, Turkey,Austria and Romania to name just a few.

Today I spent a day with the Crews from RAF Marham.
RAF Marham is home to the RAF Tornado GR4/A fleet with the resident squradons being 2Sqn,9Sqn,13Sqn and 31Sqn

27th July 2006 was the families day also it was was going to be the last chance to photograph an RAF Canberra in service, because the Canberra had reached the end of its flying career with the RAF.
The first Canberra had flow in 1949, so after 57 years of faithful service they were finally finishing.
It was a sad day to finally see the canberra touch down for the last time.
My guide for the day escorted me all over the airfield and also took me to find ZA267 Tornado F.2T which is housed in the Tornado matenance school, as you can see from the picture it will never fly out again, I dont think?

A day spent at farnborough International Airshow.

From the first day Monday 17th until Sunday 23rd July 2006, hundreds of thousands of visitors attended the 45th biennial aerospace extravaganza known as Farnborough International Airshow 2006.
With over 1,480 companies exhibiting at the show from 35 countries and with over 100 aircraft on display it was well worth a visit.

Royal International Air Tattoo,the world's largest military airshow, held at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK
2006 saw for the firts time in the UK the US Marine Corps’ futuristic MV-22B Osprey ,also the RAF's VC-10, celebrated 40 years in service with a spectacular flypast with the Red Arrows.
The following pictures were taken on the Sunday and also on the departure day Monday.
For reference future date's for this fantasic airshow are:-
2007 - Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th July
2008 - Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th July
2009 - Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July
2010 - Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th July

Cobham Hall is a purpose bulit buliding, to serve as a long term store for the FLEET AIR ARM reserve collection.The building was designed to provide conditions which permit the long term preservation of the items stored.The collection not only holds aircraft it also has engines, aircraft parts and vehicles.
The following were seen on my visit :-

XZ499 BAe Sea Harrier FA.2 0729 Beech T-34C-1 Turbo Mentor
AE-422 Bell UH-1H Iroquois G-AZAZ Benson B.8M Gyrocopter
XK488 Blackburn NA39 XJ481 DH Sea Vixen FAW.1
WW138 DH Sea Venom FAW.22 XA129 DH Vampire T22
'G-ABUL' DH Tiger Moth [T7291/XL717]
WT121 Douglas Skyraider AEW.1
Z2033 Fairey Firefly I DP872 Fairey Barracuda II (fwd fuselage)
XA466 Fairey Gannet COD.4 100545 Focke-Achgelis Fa 330A-1
WS103 Gloster Meteor T.7 WM292 Gloster Meteor TT.20
VX272 Hawker P.1052 WF219 Hawker Sea Hawk F.1 (tail only)
XB480 Hiller HTE.2 XJ481 HS Sea Vixen FAW.1
XN462 Hunting Jet Provost T.3A XS574 Northrop Shelduck
XW994 Northrop Chuka WP313 Percival Sea Prince T.1
XN332 Saro P.531 XN334 Saro P.531
- Short S.27 (wings) [BAPC.149] VV106 Supermarine 510
VX595 Westland Dragonfly HR.5 XW864 Westland Gazelle HT.2
XT176 Westland Sioux AH.1 XT427 Westland Wasp HAS.1
XT778 Westland Wasp HAS.1 XP142 Westland Wessex HAS3
XS508 Westland Wessex HU.5 XA864 Westland Whirlwind HAR.1
XG574 Westland Whirlwind HAR.3 XG594/517-PO Westland Whirlwind HAS.7
XL853 Westland Whirlwind HAS.7
The Collection is only open at certain times during the year.check out the FAA website for details.

This was a welcome return to France and Cambrai.
Cambrai was the first European airshow that I ever visited back in 1986. An excellent flying display and a varied static display made for an most enjoyable day out.
Units currently based at Cambrai - Epinoy (BA103) are :-
EC 01.012 Cambrésis
SPA162 Tête de tigre ( Tiger Badge)SPA89 Guêpe (Wasp badge)
SPA166 Aigle de sable et d'argent (Eagle with yellow sun Badge)
EC 02.012 Picardie
SPA173 Oiseau bleu ( Blue coloured Bird) SPA172 Perroquet rouge(Red parrot Badge) SPA90 Coq chantant (Cockeral badge)
these all fly the Mirage 2000C Mirage 2000B

A visit to the F7 Wing at SATENAS Sweden home of the Grippen and C-130 and Sk60.
This was my first trip to Sweden and a Swedish Airshow and I can say, it was one of the best airshows I have been to. Lots of based aircraft to photograph and also an excellent flying display.
I was registered with the Swedish Airfoce for the show and they provided special press badges, free pens, drinks and a special enclosure for photography.
A big thanks to the" Svenska Flygvapnet"for a excellent day.

AEROSEUM -The Swedish Royal Air Force bunkers located at Säve airfield, next to Göteborg City airport.
I visited the now declassified ex Swedish Air Force bunker's that are carved out of solid rock.The site consists of two rock shelters. The first, measuring 8,000 square metres,was built in the early 1940's the second was built in the 1950s and measures 22,000 sqm nearly 30 metres below ground. Both were built as protective hangars for the Göta Wing (F 9) of the Royal Swedish Air Force during the hight of the cold war.
This is a unique and interesting museum and well work a visit as the exhibits will be changing regulary,as this is a working museum.

Images that I have taken that have been successfully published in Major Aviation magazines.
I have also had images published on JetPhoto's.net and Airfighters.com
My latest published images appeared in the February 2010
AIR International magazine

An excellent time was had at Landsberg the home of the German Airforce unit LTG-61 flying the C-160D Transal and UH-1D.
It was an early start following a late night at the world famous Hoffbrau House in Munich!! to get to the gate on time, to meet our host.
We were met at the gate by our excellent host and then escorted around the base gaining access to most of the airfield and were allowed to photgraph all areas, the following are shots taken on the visit.
A big thanks goes to the German Airforce Press Department with out who's help this visit would not have been possible.

Norfolk Aviation Group was given full access to this German Army HEER Airfield.
Based units are the MTHR25 flying the CH-53G/Gs and the HFUS10 flying the B0105P1.
All areas were visited and with no restrictions on photography we visited all areas including the workshops, sprayshops and flight pans.
Many thanks goes to the German Army High Command for their asistance with their help in organising this excellent visit

Germany was the destinaition for NAG to visit in 2005.
With visits arranged to Laupheim and Landsberg, we also decided to visit as many museums as possible. The following are shots from the various museums.