Farnborough Airshow

Farnborough Air show, an event I have wanted to see for years!. For my 70th, Matthew & Vicky treated me to a day out at the world leading air show - what a treat. Matthew, Adam and I had a great day out, even having runway side, grandstand seats for the best view in the house.

Even the journey there and back were pain free, with no long queues either way - bonus!

So, to start, a static view of an old workhorse, the Tornado. The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing multirole combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by Italy, the United Kingdom, and West Germany. There are three primary Tornado variants: the Tornado IDS (interdictor/strike) fighter-bomber, the suppression of enemy air defences Tornado ECR (electronic combat/reconnaissance) and the Tornado ADV (air defence variant)interceptor aircraft.

It first flew on 14 August 1974 and was introduced into service in 1979–1980, and is expected to remain in service until 2018.

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by European Union manufacturer Airbus. It is the world's largest passenger airliner.

...and then it took to the sky.

The Airbus A400M Atlas is a multinational, four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military (now Airbus Defence and Space) as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities to replace older transport aircraft, such as the Transall C-160 and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The A400M is positioned, in terms of size, between the C-130 and the C-17; it can carry heavier loads than the C-130, while able to use rough landing strips. Along with the transport role, the A400M can perform aerial refuelling and medical evacuation when fitted with appropriate equipment.

Pitts S2S is one of a series of light aerobatic biplanes designed by Curtis Pitts. It has accumulated many competition wins since its first flight in 1944. The Pitts biplanes dominated world aerobatic competition in the 1960s and 1970s and, even today, remain a potent competition aircraft in the lower categories.

When the Chance Vought FG-1D Corsair was introduced in 1940 it boasted the most powerful engine along with the largest diameter propeller of any fighter aircraft in history. The result of this engine and propeller combination was the first fighter to exceed 400 mph. Corsairs were built right up to 1952, giving the type the honour of having the longest production run of any American piston-engined fighter.

The first service engagement for the Corsair was with the US Marine Corps operating from makeshift land bases across the Pacific, and it was not until later that she was operated from aircraft carriers initially with the British Fleet Air Arm. The Corsair proved to be a formidable air superiority fighter during World War II when she was the scourge of the skies across the Pacific, and continued to deliver sterling service in later years during the Korean War.

The Antonov An-178 (Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-178) is a short-range medium-airlift military transport aircraft designed by the Ukrainian Antonov company and based on the Antonov An-158 (An-148-200).

It was announced on 5 February 2010, rolled out on 16 April 2015 and the first flight was on 7 May 2015

Boeing 727-2S2F: A new aerial oil dispersal capable aircraft.

Seems almost comical that each new industry of today, spawns other industries or opportunities.

The Extra 300L is a Lycoming AEIO-540 powered two-seat aircraft, used by The Blades, a British civilian aerobatic team based at the Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire.They have been described as "the world's only aerobatic airline" and are the only full-time civilian aerobatic team in the United Kingdom

The Breitling Wingwalkers, the world's only aerobatic formation wing walking team, and it is a display well worth seeing.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multi role fighters undergoing final development and testing for the United States and partner nations. The most expensive weapons program in the world - Defense spending gone mad!

The Fairey Swordfish was a biplane torpedo bomber designed by the Fairey Aviation Company, used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during World War II.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engine heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC).

The B-25 Mitchell Bomber

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a carrier-based multi-role tactical fighter and attack aircraft.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed and is manufactured by a consortium of Alenia Aermacchi, Airbus Group and BAE Systems that conducts the majority of the project through a joint holding company,

Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight - Spitfire & Hurricane

The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Scampton.

Watching them perform is always exciting and I never tire of seeing them.

The teamwork shown by the pilots in the air is reflected in the dedication and professionalism of the support staff on the ground. The support team’s success results from their Royal Air Force training, the pride they take in their work, and their determination, motivation, and, very often, sheer hard work. Without them, the Red Arrows could not function.

This team is made up of a Team Manager, a Supervisor (Red 10), a Public Relations Manager ,two Engineering Officers, an Adjutant and approximately 85 engineering technicians and other support staff.

The latter are known as ‘The Blues’ because they wear distinctive royal blue flying suits during the display season. The Blues represent nine out of the Royal Air Force’s broad range of more than 65 technical and non-technical trades. Every team member has undergone intensive training in their particular specialisation throughout their Royal Air Force career.

A really great day - thanks folks!!

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Young kestrels and Ships at Landguard Point

The loan of Rosie` 150-600mm lens, gave me an opportunity to have a stroll to the church where Kestrels are nesting. They have nested here for a number of years and usually successfully raised young. This year being no exception. They have raised at least two, and possible three young this year and are at the stage where the youngsters are out of the nest and sitting on the roof, awaiting food from the parents, and giving their wings a bit of a testing.

Sitting waiting for some food

A short hop onto the top of the roof to test my wings.

Later this morning we visited Landguard point for a walk. Covering approximately 33 hectares (81 acres) this shingle spit on the southern tip of Suffolk's stunning coastline offers a variety of flora and fauna. Unusual and rare plants, migrating birds, military history and huge ships arriving and departing at Britain's busiest container port.

This was the container ship that I wanted to photograph - the MSC CLARA. She is a container ship currently sailing under the flag of Panama. MSC CLARA is 396m long overall and has a beam of 59m. Her gross tonnage is 193000 tons. I spotted her being loaded with containers so was able to obtain a good view.

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Can we photograph a kingfisher?

Today was a reasonably early start (8:30am) as we wanted to be at Lackford Lake while the kingfishers were possible feeding, as opposed to late morning when they might have been hiding away for a while. That was the idea anyway! - and it worked! We arrived well before the Center was open and made our way to the hides. The double decker one providing us with some real chances of Kingfisher images.

The lens I was using has a maximum extension of 200mm, so is limited as far as wildlife goes, but the images I came home with were pretty good I thought.

The first two are of a mother? heron seemingly `talking` to her young one, who made a noise but otherwise remained rooted to the spot. "I don't want to swim mummy".

The prize of the trip, some images of a kingfisher moving from perch to perch while shutters were firing around us like machine guns! My offerings are above and below, and although not as close up as many people with huge lens, I was more than pleased.

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Barn Owl hunting

Opposite our bungalow is an owl box, erected a couple of years ago by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, but which, to our knowledge, has not been occupied by owls. Until this year, that is. Now it has Barn Owls with young, as we have seen parents,or parent, leaving and returning on several occasions. However, because it faces away from us, we have not been able to get any photos - until today! Rosey spotted a parent returning to, and leaving from the box, this morning.

So we headed for a good observation point in the Conservation area and were rewarded with a good view of the adult owl hunting and returning to the box. Maybe not as sharp as I would have liked but never the less -  Magic!

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Stag beetle

Stag Beetles are the largest beetles found in the U.K. and they're now quite rare. The decline of our Stag Beetles is mainly as a result of habitat loss. Some are killed by cars on roads, and since they spend such a long time in the larval stage they are also vulnerable to predation.

The most noticeable features of the male Stag Beetles are the large antler-like jaws, which give the beetle its name. They are used during the mating season to fight with other males over territory. Each male tries to grab his opponent between his jaws, and then throw him.

The fully grown male stag beetles can normally be seen flying at dusk between May and August. They look quite unstable in flight, and their wings make a loud buzzing sound. The warmer temperatures of late spring encourage them to look for a mate. They will drink tree sap, but do not eat, and will not grow at all. After mating the male Stag Beetles die.

The females can be recognised by the much smaller jaws. Although both the male and female Stag Beetles can give you a pinch, they are quite harmless. Females lay their eggs in, or near, rotten wood, and then die.

The larvae (grubs) which hatch from the eggs, have cream coloured bodies with an orange head and orange legs. They live and feed in the rotting wood for up to six years.

When fully grown, the larvae leave the wood to pupate in the soil. This occurs in the summer, while the weather is still warm, and lasts a few weeks. The fully grown beetle remains in this state until the following summer when it emerges as an adult beetle.

Stag Beetle - Lucanus cervus

Although we saw this specimen who was very much alive, we did find two others, very squashed nearby. A shame, but it seems the fate of many from this spot, having found them around here on previous years.

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The RSPB: Strumpshaw Fen

We chose a beautiful day to visit, after promising ourselves for a long time. Although I only had my Sony RX100 with 100mm zoom, the few images I managed, are below. Strumpshaw Fen is a nature reserve managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. It is situated at Strumpshaw on the River Yare in Norfolk, around 6 miles east of Norwich.

Norfolk Hawker (Aeshna isosceles) is a rare species, with clear wings, green eyes and the characteristic yellow triangle shape on the dragonfly’s body which make this endangered dragonfly very distinctive. The Norfolk hawker, which has its stronghold in Norfolk, is a nationally rare dragonfly it is classified as endangered and is fully protected by law, so we were pleased to find this one hanging on the underside of a leaf in someone's garden.

Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) is also known as the 'Bloodsucker' for its striking red appearance, but it is harmless to humans. It has a narrow, rectangular body with longish antennae. There are about 40 species of soldier beetle in the UK, displaying various colour combinations of black, red and orange.

Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata) We were very pleased to find this moth after a tip off from a fellow visitor to the Fen. Fairly well distributed throughout England and Wales apparently, this species has a sombre, camouflaged appearance at rest, but if provoked, flashes the hindwings, which are decorated with intense blue and black 'eyes' on a pinkish background. Unfortunately we only saw it at rest, but were pleased just to see it.

The adults fly from May to July, inhabiting woodland and suburban localities, and must make quite a sight with their large wingspan of 70-80 mm.

Swallowtail - (Papilio machaon) is our largest native butterfly, and also one of our rarest. This spectacular insect is our only resident butterfly of the Papilionidae family, which is one of the largest butterfly families in the world. The British race is the subspecies britannicus which is confined to the fens of the Norfolk Broads. This is partly due to the distribution of the sole larval food plant, Milk-parsley. Seeing the adult butterflies flying powerfully over the Norfolk Broads is a sight to behold, and one near the top of the list of most British butterfly-watchers. For me to get an image on my compact - magic!

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