Topic of the week#83 2023

[rebel14]

Plenty of scope for this one. As we are getting towards the end of 2023 ,post you favourite five images from this year.

[Professor_M]

Swedish Hercules arriving into Cambridge in January...
Swedish Air Force Tp.84 - 84002 by Professor M, on Flickr

Indian Mirages taxiing out at Waddington in March...
Indian Air Force Mirage 2000TI by Professor M, on Flickr

Blenheim displaying at Old Warden in May...
Bristol Blenheim IF (L6739) (2) by Professor M, on Flickr

Jungmann coming into land at Duxford in October...
G-BSAJ (1) by Professor M, on Flickr

RC-135U returning to Mildenhall in October...
USAF RC-135U Combat Sent (2) by Professor M, on Flickr

[PeteFenwick]

Pretty good year overall, here's my 5-

These wingtips are seriously close at this end of year show for the Blue's

2023 Grand Junction-Blue Angels by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

2023 Kleine Brogel USAF Lockheed F-35A 20-5617 by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

2023 Shuttleworth Silver Spitfire Mk IX MJ271 G-IRTY by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

2023 Red Flag Rockwell B-1B Lancer 86-104 37thBS Tigers by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

2023 Kleine Brogel Saab Sk35 Draken by Peter Fenwick, on Flickr

[FarnboroJohn]

Reckoned over-thinking was the greatest risk so a quick selection process.

20230617 (31)_Kings_Birthday_Flypast_Voyager_KC3_and_A400M_Atlas_C1 by John Dixon, on Flickr

20230715 (107)_35776_Lockheed_MC-130J_Hercules_and_0058_Bell_Boeing_CV-22_Osprey by John Dixon, on Flickr

20230903 (234)_Tiger_9_Synchro_Pair by John Dixon, on Flickr

20230903 (304)_Z7015_Hawker_Sea_Hurricane_Ib by John Dixon, on Flickr

20230903 (324)_Avro_Triplane by John Dixon, on Flickr

[DerekF]

In no particular order

zzD750_03_DSC_4325 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

UKAR_D750_04_DSC_0045 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

eeD750_04_DSC_5574 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

UKAR_D750_04_DSC_0008 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

UKAR_20230819_111808 by Derek N.Ferguson, on Flickr

[capercaillie]

Limited to four ventures this year Cobra Warrior 1, Military Show at Old Warden, RIAT and the Victory Show.

The Italians provided some great personal highlights at RIAT, thrilled to see the special AMX attend and particularly the S208s, especially the camo one after a special request.
AMX A-11B Ghibli MM7163/51-72 132 Gruppo/51 Stormo (103 Gruppo marks) Italian Air Force by Paul Downes, on Flickr

S208M (U-208A) MM61936/60-23 60 Stormo Italian Air Force by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Managed to get some better results of the two Middle East teams this year as well under some kinder conditions
Hawk Mk65A 8820 Saudi Hawks 88 Squadron Royal Saudi Air Force by Paul Downes, on Flickr

The Victory Show on Sunday was held under cracking blue skies and having missed similar conditions at OW a few years ago with the Lancaster was nice to catch up
Lancaster BI PA474/AR-L Battle of Britain Memorial Flight RAF Coningsby by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Even the evening light was kind and atmospheric by the time the last aircraft left the Duxford based Lysander
DSC_3325 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr

[xkekeith]

8Q-TAG DHC-6 Twin Otter Trans Maldivian Airways by Keith Heywood, on Flickr
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G-ZABH Falcon 900LX Envoy IV CC.1 32 Sqn RAF by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

G-AGRW Vickers Viking 1A Blackbushe Heritage Trust by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

99+18 OV-10B ex German AF (G-ONAA) by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

G-HIOW Airbus H135 / EC135T3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance by Keith Heywood, on Flickr

[Bernard]

Fairford


Radom


Kleine Brogel


Florennes

[Seamus]

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B+ Harrier II | MM7200/1-04 | Italian Navy | RAF Fairford | 13/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0125/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet | 188757 | Royal Canadian Air Force | RAF Waddington | 07/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II | 19-5493/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint | 64-14844/OF | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 05/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

[Blackbird]

Avro Lancaster B1 PA474 BBMF Old Warden Season opener by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

Fairey Swordfish W5856 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

Royal Saudi Air Force BAe Hawks Mk65 Saudi Hawks RIAT 2023 by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

Mil Mi-17 Kenya Police Air Wing 5Y-SFA Nairobi Wilson Airport by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

Fokker 50 (F27 Mark 050) 5Y-IFL I-Fly Air Nairobi Wilson Airport by Andrew Shaw, on Flickr

Andy

[sylvancatharsis]

'Twas a good year for me, aircraft-wise.

Finally caught the C-123 with its engines running!
The Pig Arrives by Sean E. Kelly, on Flickr

Didn't quite nail the focus, mostly because I wasn't expecting the skydiver to jump at the exact moment the Extra crossed paths with the Bo 105, but holy catfish:
Red Bull Air Force by Sean E. Kelly, on Flickr

I just posted this one, but posting it again.
Moonlit Hawks by Sean E. Kelly, on Flickr

Cloud Maker by Sean E. Kelly, on Flickr

Mobile's Protector by Sean E. Kelly, on Flickr

[GeorgeP]

I had the good fortune to cross the ditch to NZ for the Classic Fighters airshow in April and then to Oshkosh in July. Here are my five:


361 Spitfire LF Mk IX ZK-SPI. by George Pergaminelis, on Flickr


Fw-190A ZK-RFR. by George Pergaminelis, on Flickr


P-47D Thunderbolt NX4747D. by George Pergaminelis, on Flickr


P-51C Mustang N5528N. by George Pergaminelis, on Flickr


C-121A Constellation N422NA. by George Pergaminelis, on Flickr

[aviationanoraks]

Vulcan B2 XL319 at NELSAM, our first visit to the museum (June)
NELSAM Vulcan by aviation anoraks, on Flickr

Chipmunk at the delightful Eshott airfield in Northumberland (June)
IMG_5177 (1) by aviation anoraks, on Flickr

Norwegian F-35A on approach to Lakenheath (September)
IMG_5395 by aviation anoraks, on Flickr

Hawker Fury ISS at the Duxford Battle of Britain show (September)
IMG_5876 by aviation anoraks, on Flickr

Stearman at Old Warden (October)
IMG_7822 by aviation anoraks, on Flickr

[Tommy]

As a year, I’ve been pretty light on shows but heavy on spotting. RIAT was typically good despite the weather, UK Herks retiring, Poland was decent, But I have to be honest and say that all my aviation highlights came from my very recent trip to Japan (and v.difficult to choose just 5!):

[shorsley]

In the order they were taken:

HurricaneUnsungHero_46 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr

AmericansEvening_34 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr

BournemouthAirFestival2023_214 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr

DuxfordInADifferentLightBoB2023_33 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr

NortholtXXIX_52 by Sarah Horsley, on Flickr

[Mictheslik]

Quality over quantity for me this year. 2 Major overseas shows in Italy and Switzerland, along with a few low level opportunities along the way. Absolute highlight has to be the T2: Legitimately one of the best days of the year, let alone aviation moments!











.mic

[Tuckat]

There are some absolutely stunning photos entered on this one, best of luck picking a winner Mark!

[rebel14]

Wow, some great images posted, thanks to all for taking the time to post.
Not easy to pick a winner but I have chosen Mictheslik and his Greek T2. A type I have never seen and probably never will. Captured by Mic with a great back drop and perfect lighting. Over to you Mic

[Mictheslik]

Thanks rebel. Certainly a day to remember! New topic is up