I thought I'd share a review from what has been a pleasingly busy, varied and at times unbelievable year of aviation photography. Whilst military photography has formed the backbone of my year, I've been able to get to a handful of shows, as well as even a spot of Civvy shooting, so I've included them all here for completeness, rather than fill the forum with separate threads. I've tried to keep the number of images from each trip/event small, but there are plenty more on my Flickr for those interested.
My year started back in April with an unforgettable day on Dartmoor. A lot of time spent sat and waiting on hillsides certainly paid off. Undoubtedly, the highlight of the year.
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion | 163060/23-YS | US Marine Corps | Dartmoor | 18/04/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 166723/YS-02 | US Marine Corps | Dartmoor | 18/04/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion | 163060/YS-23 | US Marine Corps | Dartmoor | 18/04/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168666/YS-13 | US Marine Corps | Dartmoor | 18/04/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion | 162001/YS-21 | US Marine Corps | Dartmoor | 18/04/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrThere was also a couple of local trips at the end of the month that resulted in a couple of nice catches
Boeing Chinook HC6A | ZA684 | Royal Air Force | Dorset | 22/04/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Wildcat AH1 | ZZ521 | Army Air Corps | Mid Devon | 27/04/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrMay kicked off with a visit to Old Warden for the Season Premiere
Hispano HA1112 M4L Buchon | YELLOW 10/ G-AWHK | Aircraft Restoration Company | Old Warden | 02/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bristol F.2B Fighter | B1162/G-AEPH | Shuttleworth Collection | Old Warden | 02/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sopwith Camel F.1 | D1851/G-BZSC | Shuttleworth Collection | Old Warden | 02/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
De Havilland DH 88 Comet | G-ACSS | Shuttleworth Collection | Old Warden | 02/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Consolidated PBV-1A Canso | 433915/G-PBYA | Plane Sailing | Old Warden | 02/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrMy one and only visit to Portland this year (that yielded any images that is...) followed later that month
Westland Puma HC2 | XW209 | Royal Air Force | Portland | 19/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ118/B | Royal Navy | Portland | 19/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HU5 | XV666 | Heli Operations | Portland | 19/05/20 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ118/B | Royal Navy | Portland | 19/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Puma HC2 | XW209 | Royal Air Force | Portland | 19/05/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrJune kicked off in insane style once again, with another USMC invasion of Devon, this time in support of the G7 summit. I spent as much time as I could at Exeter catching the arrival and subsequent comings and goings of HMX-1 and their support Hercules
Lockheed KC-130J Hercules | 168069/BH | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 04/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168292/04 | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 04/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed KC-130J Hercules | 168071/BH | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 04/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed KC-130J Hercules | 168071/BH | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 04/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168297/05 | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 07/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168297/05 | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 07/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168297/05 | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 07/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168335/11 | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 07/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey | 168297/05 | US Marine Corps | Exeter Airport | 07/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrThe week of madness was rounded off with my first trip to LHR for the arrival of AF1 and the associated circus.
Boeing VC-25A | 82-8000 | US Air Force | London Heathrow | 13/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing C-32A | 09-0016 | US Air Force | London Heathrow | 13/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King | 159354 | US Marine Corps | London Heathrow | 13/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing VC-25A | 82-8000 | US Air Force | London Heathrow | 13/06/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrOnto July, and a return to Shuttleworth, mainly to be reunited with my beloved Junglie
Westland Sea King HC4 | ZA314/WT/G-CMDO | Historic Helicopters | Old Warden | 04/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HC4 | ZA314/WT/G-CMDO | Historic Helicopters | Old Warden | 04/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HC4 | ZA314/WT/G-CMDO | Historic Helicopters | Old Warden | 04/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Gazelle HT3 | ZB627/G-CBSK | The Gazelle Squadron | Old Warden | 04/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HC4 | ZA314/WT/G-CMDO | Historic Helicopters | Old Warden | 04/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrA quick dash to Middle Wallop followed in the hope of catching a bit of history during the Puma 50th Anniversary flypast
Westland Puma HC2 | XW224 | Royal Air Force | AAC Middle Wallop | 07/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Puma HC2 | XW224 | Royal Air Force | AAC Middle Wallop | 07/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Puma HC2 | XW216/G | Royal Air Force | AAC Middle Wallop | 07/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Puma HC2 | Royal Air Force | AAC Middle Wallop | 07/07/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrAugust was a quiet month, with just a solitary trip to Chard for the sadly weather affected Historic Helicopters Open Day.
Westland Whirlwind HAR10 | XJ729/G-BVGE | Historic Helicopters | Chard | 05/08/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Wessex HU5 | XT761/G-WSEX | Historic Helicopters | Chard | 05/08/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Wasp HAS1 | XT787/G-KAXT | Terry Martin | Chard | 05/08/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HAR3 | XZ597/G-SKNG | Historic Helicopters | Chard | 05/08/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrI went on a mini aviation binge in September, kicking off with the Victory Show at Cosby
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie B' | 549192/G-THUN | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Cosby | 05/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie B' | 549192/G-THUN | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Cosby | 05/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire FR XIVe | MV268/G-SPIT | Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd | Cosby | 05/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire LF IXb | MH415/GAVDJ | Air Leasing Ltd | Cosby | 05/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Hispano HA1112 M4L Buchon | WHITE 9/ G-AWHH | Air Leasing Ltd | Cosby | 05/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrThe following day was spent on SPTA en route to Suffolk...
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ992/AB | Royal Navy | SPTA | 06/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 | ZZ377 | Royal Navy | SPTA | 06/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ992/AB | Royal Navy | SPTA | 06/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 | ZZ377 | Royal Navy | SPTA | 06/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4A | ZJ992/AB | Royal Navy | SPTA | 06/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrFollowed by two productive days at Mildenhall and Lakenheath, with the main aim of catching the U-Boat and nailing the Reaper Eagles for probably the last time....
Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent | 64-14849/OF | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 07/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent | 64-14849/OF | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 07/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker | 59-1470/D | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 07/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing RC-135U Combat Sent | 64-14849/OF | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 07/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle | 84-0010/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 07/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle | 86-0164/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 08/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle | 00-3003/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 08/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas F-15D Eagle | 84-0044/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 08/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle | 00-3004/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 08/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle | 86-0163/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 08/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrThe week was rounded off with a quick trip to Chard to catch a couple of the resident helicopters departing for Abingdon
Westland Wessex HU5 | XT761/G-WSEX | Historic Helicopters | Chard | 11/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HAR3 | XZ597/G-SKNG | Historic Helicopters | Chard | 11/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrRounding off September was a trip to the excellent Battle of Britain Airshow at Duxford
Big Wing Formation | Duxford | 18/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Wessex HU5 | XT761/G-WSEX | Historic Helicopters | Duxford | 18/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HAR3 | XZ597/G-SKNG | Historic Helicopters | Duxford | 18/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Vought (Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair | KD345/G-FGID | The Fighter Collection | Duxford | 18/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire Vc | JG891/G-LFVC | Commanche Fighters | Duxford | 18/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat | 121714/G-RUMM | The Fighter Collection | Duxford | 18/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Big Wing Formation | Duxford | 18/09/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrOctober was all about one things- B-1Bs. I made multiple trips to Fairford during the first week of their deployment in the hop of catching them from as many angles as I could. Didn't do too badly...
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0110/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 12/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0140/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 13/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0140/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 14/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0140/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 14/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0140/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 14/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0140/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 14/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0140/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 14/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0140/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 14/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrDuring that week, my first visit was a non-flying day, so I headed to SPTA, whilst I also managed to catch one of the returning U-2s whilst at Fairford
Bell 212 AH1 | ZH814 | Army Air Corps | SPTA | 12/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Puma HC2 | XW218 | Royal Air Force | SPTA | 12/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 | ZZ375 | Royal Navy | SPTA | 12/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ122/F | Royal Navy | SPTA | 12/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ122/F | Royal Navy | SPTA | 12/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ122/F | Royal Navy | SPTA | 12/10/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed U-2S | 80-1083 | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 14/10/20 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrNovember saw one final return to Fairford in the hope of catching some B-1Bs. Sadly it was a non-flying day, although the departing U-2 provided some consolation. A dash to SPTA wasn;'t much more productive, with a Hercules the only movement I caught that day, bringing an end to my year.
Lockheed U-2S | 80-1085 | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 04/11/21 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules C4 | ZH866 | Royal Air Force | SPTA | 04/11/21 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrAll in all, I can't complain about the year I've had. The USMC helicopters straight off the bat basically meant everything else was a bonus, but it's always a pleasure to be out and about catching what I can. I appreciate there's a lot of images there but hopefully they were of interest.
A happy new year to all of you,
Shaun
