Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Photos of operational aircraft from bases, airports and "spotter" outings
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petefletch
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Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by petefletch »

Hi Guys,

Well where to start. As most of you are aware the Textron AirLand Scorpion has made its world debut this summer in the UK. When I was asked 3 months ago by a friend at Beechcraft if I was interested in photographing the Scorpion at Low Level along with a couple of Texans I of course told him I was washing my hair that day.................

Well after all the planning and help with finding a suitable location from a couple of good mates (Cheers chaps!) the day arrived on Wednesday 9th July. The Location was on Lake Vyrnwy, and these are the shots that I have processed thus far.

I make no apology for the amount of shots as it was such a cracking day. We did also have other trade that day, most notable some chaps from the 493rd FS dropped by, but those shots will have to wait for another thread.

I hope some of these appeal to your eyes.

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17) I know its not land locked, but I quite like it
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Well, if you have got this far I thank you for looking

Cheers

Pete

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tankbuster81
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by tankbuster81 »

Fantastic and a lovely location. i wonder what the 2 guys in the small boat made of it??
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SteveUKAR
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by SteveUKAR »

Excellent photos and very interesting subjects - a great opportunity well taken.

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Ledhead27
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Ledhead27 »

Smashing set of images
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by reheat module »

Cracking work, lovely images
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Flankerman »

Fabulous images - they make mine from RIAT look a bit tame.....

One thing I have only just noticed - in my landing and taxying photos, there is no FLIR turret....

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..... but in the static, there was a FLIR turret - is it retractable ?? - or just a mockup ??

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Ken

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Niallxg »

Super shots, Pete.

Ken, if you look closely at Pete's underside shot there appears to be a circle just aft of the nose so I guess the FLAIR is retractable.

Niall

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Niallxg »

Super shots, Pete.

Ken, if you look closely at Pete's underside shot there appears to be a circle just aft of the nose so I guess the FLAIR is retractable.

Niall

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by sylvancatharsis »

Outstanding images; the Scorpion sure is an awkward-looking contraption, but the T-6s look sweet low-level. #20 in particular is a peach!
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by tink_norfolk »

Throwing a different aspect on the FLAIR question, at the end of the day on Saturday the Textron team were in the process of removing the mock up weapons fit & I thought that was 1 of the items that was removed. Will check my photo's when girls give me the chance, unless some one else more in the know beats me to it.

petefletch
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by petefletch »

Thanks very much for the kind comments. To answer the question, the FLIR is indeed a mock up and is removed before flight along with the weapons and pylons.

HTH, Cheers

Pete

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by umea4 »

Superb pictures from an amazing photo opportunity. Thanks so much for posting these,

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Airwolfhound »

Outstanding shots from an incredible experience :-)
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Ewart
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Ewart »

A fantastic set of photos. Love those T-6's.

Great set, thanks fella.

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Agg
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Agg »

Really nice set! Well done :clap:

petefletch
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by petefletch »

Thanks once again for the interest in these shots.

Much appreciated

Pete

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by timuss »

Cracking shots its a very strange looking jet, what's its intended market then?? And those T-6's are beauties :clap: :clap:
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petefletch
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by petefletch »

timuss wrote:Cracking shots its a very strange looking jet, what's its intended market then?? And those T-6's are beauties :clap: :clap:


Thanks very much. As I understand it the Scorpion is being marketed towards air arms and governments that can't afford to run several different types of aircraft for different roles. I understand that the Scorpion is a multi platform multi role aircraft, capable of CAS missions and anti insurgency roles as well as having a high loiter time with ISTAR capabilities.
Personally I can see small/new/upcoming airforces like the Afghan airforce being the type of customer that would potentially purchase this aircraft.

Cheers

Pete

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by timuss »

petefletch wrote:
timuss wrote:Cracking shots its a very strange looking jet, what's its intended market then?? And those T-6's are beauties :clap: :clap:


Thanks very much. As I understand it the Scorpion is being marketed towards air arms and governments that can't afford to run several different types of aircraft for different roles. I understand that the Scorpion is a multi platform multi role aircraft, capable of CAS missions and anti insurgency roles as well as having a high loiter time with ISTAR capabilities.
Personally I can see small/new/upcoming airforces like the Afghan airforce being the type of customer that would potentially purchase this aircraft.

Cheers

Pete


Ah Ok i see a jack of all trades as it were thanks :smile:
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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by Sietse »

Great shots. :clap:

Sietse

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Re: Textron AirLand Scorpion & Beechraft Texans Low Level

Post by XP282 »

As much as I like the look of it (at some angles!), I would be very surprised if we ever see an air arm anywhere in the world buying the Scorpion.

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