jalfrezi wrote:Hi, I'll try and address a few of your points!
So, regarding the Su-57 and Tu-160, I expect the Su-57 will be in the flying display, maybe as a pair, but I don't expect to see one in the static park for security reasons, for the Tu-160 this will probably be the opposite, i.e. in the static but not flying. There is an outside chance of a Tu-160 in the flying display as they are in the process of modernising the fleet, however this a remote chance at best.
From the photography side it will depend on the type of photography you're looking to do? If you're looking at photographing the static park then you'll need a fairly wide angle lens, as some of the aircraft are very large and you will be very close, most of my shots at the 2017 show were in the 16-60mm range on a full frame camera. The flying display needs a 200-500mm focal length, and I'd say 400mm is the minimum to fill the frame without excessive cropping. From the showground you also face the problem of looking into the sun, providing it's sunny of course! This is why many people either choose the media enclosure (£130ish) on the south side of the runway, or head over to the fields on the other side of the river where the aircraft are literally overhead at times.
There isn't a planned forum meetup as many will be going on different days, some with tour groups, others with friends. I'm heading over with 4Aviation and (I think) we're at the show on the Thursday, and outside on the Saturday and Sunday.
Finally, if you plan to attend on a public day be prepared for HUGE crowds, as the show is very popular!
Hi "jalfrezi"
thank you very much for your answer.
I looked at your pictures on your flickr and Instagram accounts. I am amazed how sharp they are. I am not sure how you get them so sharp if by using a tripod or hand held? Are you using image correction software at all? Photoshop/Gimp or whatever else?
You asked me about my camera equipment.vI always used Nikon from the days of 35mm film I had a couple of Nikkormat and a Nikon F with prisms. I also borrowed a Hasselblad for architecture from time to time.
I have a Nikon body with a 28-55 mm VR and also a 70-300 mm VR both Nikon lenses. I am now retired so not rich. I would like to buy another Nikon body and a 500 mm VR lens some day.
VR lenses are good to have for someone like me but they tend to be on the heavy side carrying them around as I am more on the frail side.
I have of course heard of the huge crowds on the public days. I don't do well with huge crowds. I doubt they will even have any "disability" sections on the ground for those with regular tickets. It will just be with zillions of people probably pushing in all directions. Russia is not Japan.
The media platform is off limits for my finances. Knowing how to get to the fields on the other side of the river and reach there would be great. I will be without a car. I suppose it will be crowded there also but probably not as bad as the air show grounds itself.
I was thinking of going the first day of the trade show. I am thinking if President Putin comes with his security and some of his Ministers, they will block a lot of places and we will not be able to access some of the places?
I was at Paris Air Show on Tuesday. I was told that Macron was there the day before with a cohort of 100 persons and no one could access any of the sectors in the air show everything was blocked and the whole place was a gigantic mess. Tuesday was a repeat of that without Macron as those who were there on Monday could not do anything. The Airbus chalet was like Grand Central Station at rush hour. Awful. I was there again Saturday. I was OK once I had reached the Airbus chalet it was really nice and comfy.
I don' t want to go all the way to Moscow and get crushed by the crowds!
I want to be able to enjoy my visit. I have no idea what MAKS trade days are like as I have not been before.