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Clockwork 2019

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SW Sky Blue
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Location: On a hill in Devon

Clockwork 2019

Post by SW Sky Blue » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:12 pm

Last march Ian Harding and I were lucky enough to spend a week embedded with CHF at Bardufoss Norway for their annual Arctic Training set, Clockwork....Present at the time were 845NAS with Merlin Mk3A's and 847NAS with their Wildcats...

Well, our week in the Arctic Circle was certainly an experience of a lifetime, with temperatures down to -15 during the day and -27 overnight....Easily the most extreme conditions I have ever experienced and photographed in....I'm told the Wind chill under a Merlin there is -57 and believe me it certainly felt like it... It snowed almost constantly whilst we were there but thankfully the weather broke for one day when we got clear skies and sun and later that night a great show of the Northern Lights.........As last Monday was the last flight of a RN Merlin Mk3a I thought now was an appropriate time to post these shot.....Hope you find them interesting... :thumb:

1,
ImageClockwork_KevinWills_ by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

2,
ImageFB_ZZ384_Wildcat_847NAS_Bardufoss_KevinWills_344A0367 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

3,
ImageFB_ZK001_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS1152 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

4,
ImageFB_ZJ998_MerlinMk3A_845NAS_Bardufoss_Farp_KevinWills_344A1324 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

5,
ImageFB_ZJ998_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS0457 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

6,
ImageFB_ZJ998_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS0293 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

7,
ImageFB_ZJ998_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS0092 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

8,
ImageFB_ZJ998_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS0444 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

9,
ImageFB_ZJ998_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS0505 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

10,
ImageFB_ZJ998_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS0547 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

11,
ImageFB_ZZ527_Wildcat_847NAS_Clockwork2019_KevinWills_KEVW1886 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

12,
ImageFB_ZZ527_Wildcat_847NAS_KevinWills_344A0187 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

13,
ImageFB_ZZ527_Wildcat_847NAS_Clockwork2019_KevinWills_KEVW9197 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

14,
ImageFB_ZZ527_Wildcat_847NAS_Clockwork2019_KevinWills_KEVW9193 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

15,
ImageFB_ZK001_845NAS_Bardufoss_Clockwork2019_KevinWills_344A1066 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

16,
ImageFB_ZK001_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS1834 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

17,
ImageFB_Junglie_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS2464 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

18,
ImageFB_A2A_Merlin__ZK001_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS6257 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

19,
ImageFB_A2A_Merlin__ZK001_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS6538 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

20,
ImageFB_Junglie_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS2974 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

21,
ImageFB_CHF_Clockwork2019_Hangar_KEVINWILLS9338 by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

22,
ImageFB_CHF_Clockwork2019_Hangar_KEVINWILLS9527 by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

23,
ImageFB_CHF_MAOT_KevinWills_344A8030 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

24,
ImageFB_CHF_MAOT_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS5934 by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

25,
ImageFB_ZZ527_Wildcat_847NAS_KevinWills_344A9644 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

26,
ImageFB_Bell412_Merlin_Bardufoss_KevinWills_344A0458 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

27,
ImageFB_Bell412_167_339Skv_KevinWills_344A0734 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

28,
ImageFB_ZJ998_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS6127 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

29,
ImageFB_ZK001_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS1763 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

30,
ImageFB_Junglie_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS2855 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

31,
ImageFB_ZJ992_Merlin_845NAS_Clockwork2019_KEVINWILLS1949 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

32,
Image845_SaabSafari_RNoAF_KEVINWILLS0163 copy by KdoubleU2017, on Flickr

Hope they were of interest ? I will post the Gate Guards in the Oldies section...

Cheers,

Kev Wills.
:thumb:
Last edited by SW Sky Blue on Wed Mar 25, 2020 3:46 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Richard E
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by Richard E » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:24 pm

Definitely of interest Kev and thanks for sharing your experience of a lifetime: I think numbers 15 and 21 are the pick of the bunch.

I have a hound that enjoys burying herself in snow in the same way as the Merlins in some of your pictures :)

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Dave934
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by Dave934 » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:33 pm

A fantastic set of photos.
dave.

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Blackcat1
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by Blackcat1 » Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:41 pm

Great set of photos. Most interesting!
Gareth

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johnwickenden
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by johnwickenden » Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:38 pm

Awesome, but I hope they didn't ask you to dig Alpha Echo out !!
Its gonna rain, its gonna rain till the levee breaks, a tidal wave of fear and pain washes us away, another fight into the night until nothing else remains, how do we find harbour from the Hurricane?

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IMarsh
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by IMarsh » Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:34 pm

Brilliant set in some great scenery

hedgerowops
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by hedgerowops » Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:33 pm

Really enjoyed looking at those

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paddyboy
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by paddyboy » Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:41 am

Hi Kev :P

Great set with stunning backdrops :thumbs:

Thanks for posting :thumb:

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ridgmeister
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by ridgmeister » Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:00 am

Absolutely fantastic shots and what an experience!!
Paul

check01
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by check01 » Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:15 am

Awesome!

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LTFT5
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by LTFT5 » Tue Feb 18, 2020 8:44 am

Hi Kevin,
The shots are stunning and certainly capture the harsh conditions are forces may find themselves in.
I really enjoyed viewing these thanks for posting them.
All the best
Andy
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”

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markranger
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by markranger » Tue Feb 18, 2020 9:39 am

These are a bit special.Very nice
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Gordie1049
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by Gordie1049 » Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:06 am

Simply stunning set!
Gordie

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wolfie138
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by wolfie138 » Tue Feb 18, 2020 10:57 am

fab

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lardyboy999
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by lardyboy999 » Tue Feb 18, 2020 1:22 pm

Is it me, or is it a bit chilly?

Cold just looking at them!

Excellent set.

Seahawk 11
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by Seahawk 11 » Tue Feb 18, 2020 2:32 pm

Just fantastic, every one a winner,

Rob

3Greens
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by 3Greens » Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:32 pm

Excellent shots Kev - is that a touch of the 'Aurora B' in # 31 ?
You certainly feel your pipes freezing up when up there ... keep tapping the end of your nose to make sure you're OK ;)

Thanks for posting,
3Greens :thumb:

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KeBul
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by KeBul » Thu Feb 20, 2020 2:56 pm

Phenomenal set, really nice.

Thanks for suffering the cold so we could enjoy them!

Cheers

Kev

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Imac
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by Imac » Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:15 pm

Top set, thanks for sharing

IanH
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Re: Clockwork 2019

Post by IanH » Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:47 pm

Terrific set Kev. An experience we’ll never forget for sure, Ian

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