RIAT 2017

[Seamus]

Morning all,

Thought I'd begin my coverage of RIAT with a selectin nof images from the two arrival days. Wednesday proved a frustrating affair with the switch to RWY 09, resulting in hazy approach shots, but the quality of trade up to that point more than made up for it. Thursday saw the usual West end frustrations, but again, it was a case of quality over quantity, though we were all incredibly grateful to ATC bringing the Flanker up our way after the initial communication difficulties!

Rockwell B-1B Lancer 85-0060/EL US Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed U-2S 80-1067 US Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado IDS CSX 7041 Italian Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 60-0022/LA US Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas EF-18M Hornet C15-14/15-01 Spanish Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II 01508 Hellenic Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed C-130E Hercules 153 Pakistan Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Aero L-159 ALCA 6053 Czech Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000D 602/3-XJ Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale C 133/4-GL Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rockwell B-1B Lancer 85-0060/EL US Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado IDS CSX 7041 Italian Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Saab JAS-39C Gripen 39244 Czech Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Aero L-159 ALCA 6060 Czech Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon 'The Thunderbirds' US Air Force RAF Fairford 12/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27UBM1 Flanker 71 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Sea King Mk 41 89+70 German Navy RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

NHI NH90 TTH NH-214 Finnish Army RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing CH-147F Chinook 304 Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid 78820 Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado GR4 ZG750/128 Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27UBM1 Flanker 71 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon 90-0813/SP US Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-132 Belgian Air Component RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Transall C-160D 51+01 German Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing CH-147F Chinook 304 Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado ECR 46+54 German Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27UBM1 Flanker 71 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 13/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Will update with the showdays in due course, the backlog is pretty substantial!

Thanks for looking, comments welcomed

Shaun

[Downes0106]

Some really nice images there Shaun - Especially like the F4 touchdown and U2 shots. Thanks for sharing.

[Tilehurst Bee]

Top quality,really excellent photo's Shaun, but can I please ask, can you state what settings you use per photo, Aperture / speed, ISO setting etc and how much Photoshop time you spend on the photo, it's just I took 1000's of photos and although I'm pleased with a fair few I just can't replicate to your standard, I use a Canon 70d and a Canon 100-400 grey lens, many thanks

[Seamus]

Thanks chaps, much appreciated

Top quality,really excellent photo's Shaun, but can I please ask, can you state what settings you use per photo, Aperture / speed, ISO setting etc and how much Photoshop time you spend on the photo, it's just I took 1000's of photos and although I'm pleased with a fair few I just can't replicate to your standard, I use a Canon 70d and a Canon 100-400 grey lens, many thanks

No problem, all except the B-52 were shot at ISO 200, always keen to keep that as low as possible to reduce noise, although my 7D Mk II is excellent in the respect anyway. Shutter speeds will vary, but jets were typically 1/640, adjusting as necessary to yield around F8 or higher. A lot of people will shoot at jets at F8 in AV mode, but I find it easier to correct the exposure in TV mode. Props and helicopters were shot at a maximum of 1/250 for a safe shot, before dropping to a minimum of 1/60 for added blur- the Transall for example was shot at 1/60, nice and easy when it's sat stationary! Time wise, it's hard to quantify as I get easily distracted, but I've put a few hours in already. Hope that helps

Moving on with my coverage, here's a selection from the Friday and Saturday. I thoroughly enjoyed the Friday, a nice and relaxed day out with some excellent flying, and in sunshine! Saturday was a more frustrating affair given the poor weather, and whilst it's understandable to lose displays due to the low cloud, I can't help feel the Raptor should have at least got up to do its own weather check. I'm sure there's a valid reason why it didn't/couldn't get airborne, but there was a lot of people left disappointed to see one of the star items turn back off the runway... Regardless, a terrific day of flying, with the Flanker the star item, and another ridiculous demo from the ever incredible Rafale, but special mention must go to the Czech Gripen and Tornado for displaying in horrendous conditions

Dassault Mirage 2000D 652/3-XN Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000D 652/3-XN Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle 86-0174/LN US Air Force RAF Fairford 04/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon 96-0083/SP US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

British Aerospace Hawk T1A 'The Red Arrows' Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey 12-0061 US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Avro Lancaster BI PA474 Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

British Aerospace Hawk T1A 'The Red Arrows' Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon 'The Thunderbirds' US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Airbus A400M Atlas EC-404 RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 ZK352/BV Royal Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker 58-0118/D US Air Force RAF Fairford 14/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000D 652/3-XN Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale C 133/4-GL Armee de L'AirRAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Airbus A400M Atlas EC-404 RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon 'The Thunderbirds' US Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado IDS CSX 7041 Italian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Leonardo T-346A Master MM55220/61-16 Italian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale C 133/4-GL Armee de L'AirRAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000D 618/3-XC Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Saab JAS-39C Gripen 39215 Swedish Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000D 652/3-XN Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Bell-Boeing CV-22B Osprey 12-0058 US Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon 'The Thunderbirds' US Air Force RAF Fairford 15/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sunday and Monday will follow in due course...

Thanks for looking, comments welcomed

Shaun

[Hatstand]

Lovely collection! I especially like the opening B-1 and B-52 shots!

[Seamus]

Thanks very much

Rounding off my set, here's a selection from the Sunday and Monday. I think Sunday was just about the best flying display I've attended since the glory days of the late 90s, just terrific variety and quality throughout, not the least the Flanker, which gave me my moment of the year as it launched into the air in some delicious light, whilst special mention must go to the Spanish Hornet, which was absolutely mental! Monday was a terrific day, seeing everything off for another year in glorious sunshine, with the Eagle drivers taking the award for deaprtures of the day, wonderful stuff!

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit 'Spirit of Pennsylvania' 93-1087/WM RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas EF-18M Hornet C15-39/15-26 Spanish Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland WAH-64D Apache AH1 ZJ230 Army Air Corps RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas EF-18M Hornet C15-39/15-26 Spanish Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Mirage 2000D 652/3-XN Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Sea King Mk 48 RS-02Belgian Air Component RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

British Aerospace Hawk Mk 51 'The Midnight Hawks' Finnish Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 09-4180/FF US Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit 'Spirit of Pennsylvania' 93-1087/WM RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27P1M Flanker 58 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 16/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle 86-0156/LN US Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II 01618 Hellenic Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27UBM1 Flanker 71 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale C 133/4-GL Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado IDS CSX 7041 Italian Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-27UBM1 Flanker 71 BLUE Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing CC-177 Globemaster III 177703 Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed U-2S 80-1073 US Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon J-511 Royal Netherlands Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing E-7A Wedgetail A30-006 Royal Australian Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Ilyushin Il-76MD Candid 78820 Ukrainian Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules (Shimshon) 667 Israeli Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Dornier Alpha Jet E E42/705-TA Armee de L'Air RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II 01508 Hellenic Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Lynx Mk 88 83+25 German Navy RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-70 Belgian Air Component RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing KC-767J 87-3601 Japanese Air Self Defence Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado ECR 46+54 German Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon FA-123 Belgian Air Component RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Eurofighter Typhoon S 30+26 German Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing CH-147F Chinook 147304 Royal Canadian Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon 91-0412/SP US Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle 84-0027/LN US Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Transall C-160D 51+01 German Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon 'The Thunderbirds' US Air Force RAF Fairford 17/07/17 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Thanks for looking, I appreciate that's pretty extensive coverage, but it's always hard to whittle down six days worth of shots, especially when there are so many highlights. As ever, comments welcomed.

Cheers,

Shaun

[Tilehurst Bee]

Hi Shaun, again a nice set of photo's, also many thanks for your feedback on the camera settings

[Airwolfhound]

A fabulous selection of shots Shaun, well processed and composed.

[ShutterPlane]

Great photos, nice bright colourful well exposed photos, enjoyed looking at them.

[Tbolt]

Really great set of shots. You display ones are superb but it's hard to beat the departures with all that sun on them. I wish I could use s lower SS like you, but I'm just not steady enough.

[Seamus]

A belated thanks for the replies chaps, much appreciated

Really great set of shots. You display ones are superb but it's hard to beat the departures with all that sun on them. I wish I could use s lower SS like you, but I'm just not steady enough.

None of these were taken at silly low speeds, 1/250 for the helicopters is about as low as I'll go when they're in flight. When they're on the ground I will drop it to 1/60 minimum for some decent blur, but when they're barely moving/staionary you can't really miss! To be fair, your photos are fantastic regardless of the speeds you use, always enjoy looking through your threads

Thanks again,

Shaun