I think it's been more quality than quantity for 2015, but as this thread does actually contain quite a few images maybe I'm wrong - let me know!
1. Poxy Civvies at Heathrow
I spent a day in lovely weather at Heathrow (first time I've done that) - enjoyable but a bit monotonous. No images shall tarnish this thread!
2. Nightshoot at Northolt
First time I've seen a Tracker - cool aircraft!
Grumman S-2T Turbo Firecat F-ZBEY - Securite Civile - Northolt Nightshoot XVIII by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
3. Mod Helicopter Showcase Event
...with some bonus Air to Air shamelessly stolen from Dunk (sorry!) - article for AeroResource is here.
Eurocopter Puma HC.2 XW219 - Royal Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
4. Joint Warrior 15-1
Great week with Jamie, Cindy, Garth, Mark, Gary and all of the Lossie guys (awesome hospitality as always from you lot
)
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZA461 - XV(R) Squadron - Royal Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
5. Joint Warrior 15-1
We didn't get too lucky with MPA timings during this Ex, but this was the highlight for me:
Lockheed CP-140M Aurora 140104 - Royal Canadian Air Force - Exercise Joint Warrior 2015-1 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
6. Joint Warrior 15-1
We did have many more opportunities for the Typhoons and Tornados though:
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 ZK329 - 1(F) Squadron - Royal Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
7. Coningsby PDA Day
A quick jaunt with Jamie and Roy over to Coningsby for the Typhoon, BoB Syncro and BBMF PDA - most fortuitous for me as this shot is now on the cover of a Hasegawa model box!
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 ZK349 - 29(R) Squadron - Royal Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
8. Shuttleworth and Duxford Weekend
Great weekend working at the Duxford show, with a well-timed departure to Shuttleworth on Saturday evening. Thanks to Harry for "lending" me his 500mm for this:
Deperdussin Monoplane G-AANH - The Shuttleworth Collection - Old Warden by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
9. Shuttleworth and Duxford Weekend
Duxford's May show was pretty good, and a great opportunity to get the 29 Squadron display Typhoon in OK light:
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 ZK353 - 29(R) Squadron - Royal Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
10. Flying the CV-22B Osprey
Huge privilege to be able to do this for AeroResource - article here!
Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey 07-0033 - 7th Special Operations Squadron - United States Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
11. Flying the CV-22B Osprey
Making a turn over SPTA trying to spot the jumpers - night-vis lights in the back were awesome colours.
Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey 07-0033 - 7th Special Operations Squadron - United States Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
11. RAF Cosford Airshow
Quite late decision to dive over to Cosford - shamefully from the outside. Grey clouds scuppered any real photo benefits from being with the sun.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 ZK353 - 29(R) Squadron - Royal Air Force by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
12. Duxford Flying Legends
Great show, but I wasn't feeling it - came away with very few images.
Grumman TBM-3R Avenger HB-RDG/53319 - Flying Legends 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
13. Duxford Flying Legends
Wonderful to finally see this at Duxford though, sounds fantastic!
Messerschmitt Bf109G-4 D-FWME "Red Seven" - Flying Legends 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
14. RIAT 2015
I missed the show in 2014, so it was great to be back - and a wonderful year too. Highlight from a rarity perspective was this:
Kawasaki P-1 5504 - Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force - RIAT 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
15. RIAT 2015
I missed the flame background with the Apaches, but smoke works too I think:
Westland WAH-64D Apache AH.1 ZJ184 - Army Air Corps - RIAT 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
16. RIAT 2015
One of those moments when you can hear the volume increase in camera shutters around you!
Airbus A400M Atlas EC-406 - Royal International Air Tattoo 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
17. RIAT 2015
Finally saw the BoB Synchro in good sunlight, although this shot of just the Typhoon is my pick:
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 ZK349 - Battle of Britain 75th - RIAT 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
18. RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015
Having only seen this previously at high level in the RIAT 2009 Flypast, conditions couldn't have been better! Although no one believes me, I still stand by the statement that I didn't know Culdrose was on when I booked a holiday to Cornwall...
De Havilland Sea Vixen FAW.2 XP924 - RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
19. RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015
Far better weather for the Swiss Hornet than at Cosford:
Boeing F/A-18C Hornet J-5007 - Swiss Air Force - RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
20. RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015
Got lucky with the 18 Squadron special being used for the Chinook display, a wonderful scheme and great display:
Boeing CH-47 Chinook HC.4 ZA712 - RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
21. RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015
My last chance to see a Royal Navy Search and Rescue Sea King, now all stood down.
Westland Sea King HU.5 XV673 - 771 Naval Air Squadron - RNAS Culdrose Air Day 2015 by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
22. Tiger Moths at Cambridge
Last minute opportunity to photograph these two Tiger Moths (the forward aircraft being ex-RAF)
De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth G-AOEI - Cambridge Flying Group by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
23. Last AHDT Apache Display at Cambridge
Lovely light for the final (single ship) Apache display at Cambridge, for a private function:
Westland WAH-64D Apache AH.1 ZJ205 - 663 Squadron - Army Air Corps by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
24. Vulcan XH558 Air to Air
More to follow eventually, but I've only posted one for now. Never thought I'd get to do this!
Avro Vulcan B.2 XH558 - Vulcan To The Sky by Ben Montgomery, on Flickr
And that's the lot! Heavy workloads at the end of the year meant I missed out on all the nightshoots I had wanted to go to, but never mind.
Let's see what happens in 2016
Regards,
Ben
