Seeing as Tommy has set the ball rolling with his 2018 thread, and given the fact I won't shoot another aircraft this year, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon too. 2018 has been a pretty awful year all round, with only a few genuine highlights, and in some respects the aviation side of things has reflected this. I haven't got out nearly as much as previous years, with very few days out chasing aircraft in the wild, so to speak, with just about everything condensed between May and RIAT, except for a handful of nightshoots. That said, the general quality of what I have done was really very high, and a welcome if brief distraction from real life...
It all began back in Mrch with two highly enjoyable Threshold.Aero photoshoots at Cosford and Yeovilton.
SEPECAT Jaguar T2A XX833 Royal Air Force RAF Cosford 08/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
British Aerospace Harrier GR3A XZ991 Royal Air Force RAF Cosford 08/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Hawker Siddeley Harrier T4 (VAAC) XW175 Royal Air Force RAF Cosford 08/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
SEPECAT Jaguar GR3A XX119/AI Royal Air Force RAF Cosford 08/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG1 XV582 British Phantom Aviation Group RAF Cosford 08/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King HU5 XV666 Heli Operations RNAS Yeovilton 15/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas F-4K Phantom FG1 XV586/010 Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 15/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Hawker Sea Fury FB11 VR930 Royal Navy Historic Flight RNAS Yeovilton 15/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ130/O Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 15/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Fairey Swordfish I W5856 Royal Navy Historic Flight RNAS Yeovilton 15/03/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrMy one and only trip to SPTA followed at the end of April, a very lean year in that respect...
Westland Puma HC2 XW199 Royal Air Force SPTA 29/04/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland WAH-64D Apache AH1 ZJ222 Army Air Corps SPTA 29/04/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Puma HC2 XW199 Royal Air Force SPTA 29/04/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing Chinook HC4 ZD574/DB Royal Air Force SPTA 29/04/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland WAH-64D Apache AH1 ZJ??? Army Air Corps SPTA 29/04/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrMay began in some style with the Shuttlworth Season Premiere...
Supermarine Spitfire LF IXc MH434/G-ASJV Old Flying Machine Company Old Warden 06/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Puma HC2 XW212 Royal Air Force Old Warden 06/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bristol Blenheim IF L6739/G-BPIV Aircraft Restoration Company Old Warden 06/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sopwith Camel F.1 D1851/G-BZSC Shuttleworth Collection Old Warden 06/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire LF IXc MH434/G-ASJV Old Flying Machine Company Old Warden 06/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrA really strong show, that was incredibly bettered again two weeks later at the evening show.
Avro Lancaster BI PA474 Royal Air Force Old Warden 19/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire LF Vc AR501/G-AWII Shuttleworth Collection Old Warden 19/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sopwith Triplane N6290/G-BOCK Shuttleworth Collection Old Warden 19/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Avro Lancaster BI PA474 Royal Air Force Old Warden 19/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire LF Vc AR501/G-AWII Shuttleworth Collection Old Warden 19/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrI spent the weekend in between on Dartmoor shooting Op Wyvern Tor. Two amazing days, with the Sunday being just about the best day photographing aircraft I've ever had. The highlight of my year by a mile...
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ119/C Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 12/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3A ZJ994/AC Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 12/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ119/C Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ118/B Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3A ZJ994/AC Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ119/C Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3A ZJ994/AC Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ119/C Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3A ZJ994/AC Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ118/B Royal Navy Okehampton Camp 13/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrRounding off May was the Duxford Air Festival. Not the strognest of line ups, but enough heavy metal to keep me happy, especially the strong French contingent. Just a shame the Rafale was on early when the light was at its worst...
Dassault Rafale C 130/4-GI Armee de L'Air Duxford 27/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Hawker Fury II SR661/G-CBEL Air Leasing Ltd Duxford 27/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet E 'La Patrouille de France' Armee de L'Air Duxford 27/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Hawker Sea Fury T20 WG655/G-CHFP The Fighter Collection Duxford 27/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie' 549192/G-THUN Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd Duxford 27/05/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrInto June and for me another fine edition of Flay Navy. A real shame to see it removed from the calendar, greatly reduces the chances of seeing these fabulous machines at the best airfield in the country next year....
Grumman FM-2 Wildcat JV579/G-RUMW The Fighter Collection Old Warden 03/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Vought (Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair KD345/G-FGID The Fighter Collection Old Warden 03/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Gazelle HT3 ZB627/G-CBSK The Gazelle Squadron Old Warden 03/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Vought (Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair KD345/G-FGID The Fighter Collection Old Warden 03/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Grumman FM-2 Wildcat JV579/G-RUMW The Fighter Collection Old Warden 03/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrI reluctantly gave Cosford a miss this year, much to my loss it seems, though I did veture to Brize to catch a couple of the internatinal participants coming and going.
Boeing 757-2K2 NZ7571 Royal New Zealand Air Force RAF Brize Norton 10/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-101 Belgian Air Component RAF Brize Norton 10/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing 757-2K2 NZ7571 Royal New Zealand Air Force RAF Brize Norton 10/06/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrThat was it for me until the two big ones. My Yeovilton adventure started a few days early, with a mad dash after work on the Monday before the show to catch the Canadians arrival. Four fine days followed over the weekend, just a great show all round.
McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet 188776 Royal Canadian Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 02/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet 188783 Royal Canadian Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 02/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet 188776 Royal Canadian Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 05/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II ZM145 Royal Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 05/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bristol 171 Sycamore XG545/OE SXY Flying Bulls RNAS Yeovilton 05/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA2 ZZ380 Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 05/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet 188776 Royal Canadian Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 05/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
NHI NH90 NFH Caiman 18 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 06/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed Martin F-16CJ Fighting Falcon 520 Hellenic Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 06/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Lynx HAS4 276 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 06/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Saab JAS-39C Gripen 39239 Czech Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 06/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale M 34 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 06/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon E-607 Royal Danish Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 07/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale M 34 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 07/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Sea King ASaC7 ZA126 Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 07/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC3i ZJ118/B Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 07/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
PZL-Mielec SBLim-2 (MiG-15 UTI) RED 18/N104CJ Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron RNAS Yeovilton 07/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Aero L-39C Albatross 16 Lithuanian Air Force RNAS Yeovilton 08/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale M 19 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 08/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale M 19 Aeronavale RNAS Yeovilton 08/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrThe came a superb seven days at RIAT.
Kawasaki C-2 68-1203 Japanese Air Self Defence Force RAF Fairford 10/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Rockwell B-1B Lancer 85-0069/EL US Air Force RAF Fairford 10/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale M 5 Aeronavale RAF Fairford 10/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Breguet Atlantique 2 15 Aeronavale RAF Fairford 10/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale C 130/4-GI Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 11/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Mirage 2000D 649/3-XY Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 11/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Mirage 2000D 624/3-IT Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 11/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Bombardier Sentinel R1 ZJ692 Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 11/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sukhoi Su-27UBM1 Flanker 71 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland HH-101A Caesar MM81868/15-05 Italian Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle 91-0316/LN US Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sukhoi Su-27UBM1 Flanker 71 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 15-5125/LF US Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing F/A-18C Hornet J-5010 Swiss Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale M 5 Aeronavale RAF Fairford 14/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II 15-5125/LF US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Panavia Tornado GR4 ZG775/EB-Z Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Boeing F/A-18C Hornet J-5010 Swiss Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Rafale C 130/4-GI Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
NHI NH90 TTH NH-219 Finnish Army RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Avro Lancaster BI PA474 Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Lockheed Martin F-16CG Fighting Falcon 88-0028 Turkish Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet 188783 Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Mirage 2000D 624/3-IT Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Aermacchi MB 339PAN 'IL Frecce Tricolori' Italian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Dassault Mirage 2000D 649/3-XY Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 16/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-101 Belgian Air Component RAF Fairford 16/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Panavia Tornado GR4 ZA543 Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrAnd that was it until late October and return to Yeovilton for another Threshold nightshoot.
British Aerospace Sea Harrier FA2 ZH801 Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 25/10/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 ZJ131/P Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 25/10/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Wildcat AH1 ZZ386 Army Air Corps RNAS Yeovilton 25/10/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
Westland Wasp HAS1 XT420/G-CBUI RNAS Yeovilton 25/10/18 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr
AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 ZJ131/P Royal Navy RNAS Yeovilton 25/10/18 by Shaun Schofield, on FlickrAppreciate there's a lot of images there, I've tried my best to whittle them down, but hopefully it was still of interest.
Thanks for looking, comments welcomed as ever
Shaun
