RIAT - The Navy's Here..!

[stevep22]

RIAT this year was celebrating 100 years of the RAF, but the Senior Service brought along a few aircraft for the static park.........

XX157 by Stephen Procter, on Flickr

ZZ515 by Stephen Procter, on Flickr

ZK001 by Stephen Procter, on Flickr

ZH839 by Stephen Procter, on Flickr

Steve

[slogen51]

Nice synopsis

XX157 - how old is that hawk?

[Mike]

Nice synopsis

XX157 - how old is that hawk?

Delivered 19/12/79, but first flew in April 1975, so around 43 years old!

Excellent shots Stephen, it's good to see some from the static display, it seems like most other members ignore it and just post the flying stuff.

[slogen51]

I agree nice to see

I only go the departures day now but back in the day I really enjoyed walking around the static during the early evening snapping away at aircraft you wouldn't normally get close to.

[F3]

Agree with the above about it being a refreshing change to see some static shots rather than the same display aircraft. All too often the static contains real treasures which are ignored. An Airshow is more than just a flying display but too many people get hooked on the flying in pursuit of the perfect action shot, which turns out to be like 100 others (e.g. the F35 display - a pic of which had already appeared in last saturday's Times) and often miss the real rarities right under their nose.

[Mike]

A history of XX157's life can be found here :- http://www.fradu-hawks.co.uk/fraduhwk/fradu157.html

[stevep22]

Thanks for the kind comments. I do enjoy photographing the static items. By their very nature they don't move so I have a game chance of getting a decent snap..! I did take some flying shots but they as usual are OK, nothing to write home about. With so much going on it gets to be a bit of a trade off between sitting photographing the flying display or prowling the static parks. It was a long, hot day and to be honest having photographed everything from the coach park up to the Viewing Village my old legs weren't going any further. We started to make our way back to the coach for a 6.30pm departure and snapped most of the static items as we made our way along (some for the second time). At this time in the early evening the sun was in a nice position and there was some good light to be had.

My first RIAT and I've learned a lot (I hope) on how to play it next time round.

Steve

[f106dart]

What a shame the once mighty Britsh Navy and thats all the aircraft you have left

[Droptank]

F106 Dart, I guess you overlooked the fact that the F35s we have recently put into service will be a combined RAF/Royal Navy asset?

Just saying.

Droptank.