Sorry I’m a bit late to the party! I haven’t posted on here for a while but here we are, a chance to look back at 2021 which luckily gave us a pretty full calendar of events. After 2020, I wanted to make the most of the 2021 airshow season so I decided to opt into IWM membership and it turned out to be excellent value for money as discussed here: https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2 ... lying-day/. Though the May flying day wasn’t the best or the most exciting airshow, it was a good way to kick off my season with some familiar faces and aircraft.
Hurricane 303 Squadron by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Next, it was the D-Day Flying Day: https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2 ... lying-day/ - which boasted one of the stronger line-ups of the year.
RAF Dakota by Jakub Z, on Flickr
FG-1D Corsair | The Fighter Collection | Duxford D-Day Flying Day by Jakub Z, on Flickr
FM2 Wildcat by Jakub Z, on Flickr
P-47D Thunderbolt Nellie B by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Next up, I made my first ever visit to Headcorn and their Battle of Britain airshow. Sadly, the weather was quite poor (especially on Sunday with all flying cancelled) and displays felt very far away so any flying shots were mostly limited to take-offs, formations or the larger aircraft. However, it was pretty cool to be back at a ‘normal’ airshow with a large crowd.
Spitfire HF Mk. IX TD314 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Ia N3200 | Battle of Britain Airshow Headcorn by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Flying Fortress | B-17 'Sally B' Over Headcorn Airfield by Jakub Z, on Flickr
The Silver Spitfire | Spitfire Mk. IX G-IRTY/MJ271 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Then onto July and my only Shuttleworth show of the year, the sold-out military airshow. Arrived at silly o’clock to grab a space in the first row of cars. Much has been said and discussed about OW this year, and I hope their shows manage to get back to the same sort of level as their 2018 events (which remain a classic in my opinion with a mix of great aircraft and great weather). More pics in Tom’s review here: https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2 ... -air-show/
Westland Sea King HC.4 ZA314 | Shuttleworth Military Airshow 2021 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Sadly, with Legends cancelled, the rest of July turned out to be a quiet month for me. I spent most of it looking forward to the highly anticipated Historic Helicopters open day at Chard in August. It was definitely one of my favourite events of the year and hopefully we get more of the same in the future preferably on a weekend this time!
Wessex HU.5 XT761 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Historic Helicopters - Sea King HAR.3 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Westland Wasp HAS Mk I XT787 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Westland Wessex HU5 XT761 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Historic Helicopters - Sea King HAR.3 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Then, it was time for Little Gransden with a unique, varied line-up: https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2 ... -car-show/. Again, not the best weather for aviation photography sadly, but the sun did come out just in time for the Hurricanes to depart after the show.
Hawker Hurricane Mk. I by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Yak-52 G-YOTS by Jakub Z, on Flickr
The Victory Show on the first weekend of September was a pretty sublime couple of days with some of the best topsides and take-off/landing shots you’ll get in the country and by far one of the best atmospheres you could experience. I’m already looking forward to next year. Despite the CAA/display line issues, this show has really cemented itself as a highlight in my calendar. It’ll be a huge loss if/when it’s gone. https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2 ... tory-show/
Grace Spitfire by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Hispano HA-1112-M4L Buchon "Red 11" by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Hawker Hurricane R4118 | Battle of Britain by Jakub Z, on Flickr
DC-3/C-47 Dakota/Skytrain Pair at Dusk by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Griffon Power | Spitfire FR Mk. XIV by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Spitfire LF Mk. Vc EE602 | The Victory Show 2021 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie B' | The Victory Show, Foxlands Farm by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Spitfire Mk. IX MH415 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Nellie B Take-off by Jakub Z, on Flickr
ML407 | The Grace Spitfire by Jakub Z, on Flickr
The Ultimate Fighters by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Hawker Hurricane R4118 Landing by Jakub Z, on Flickr
C-47 Drag 'em oot | The Victory Show by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Abingdon - another first for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it (and the nightshoot the day before). I’d love to go back, but next year it sadly clashes with Duxford. Some more pics in Andy’s review here: https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2 ... ntry-show/
B-17G Flying Fortress 'Sally B' at Sunset by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Yakovlev Yak-3UTI Sunset | Abingdon Air and Country Show by Jakub Z, on Flickr
B-17G Flying Fortress 'Sally B' Nightshoot by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Westland Wasp HAS.1 XT435 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Miss Helen Take-off | P-51D Mustang by Jakub Z, on Flickr
The Battle of Britain airshow at Duxford was next and though pricey, the fog on Saturday morning made it all worth it: https://www.airshows.co.uk/reports/uk/2 ... -air-show/
Spitfire in the Fog - 303 Squadron RAF by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat G-RUMM by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Westland Whirlwind | Duxford Flightline by Jakub Z, on Flickr
The Duxford 'Big Wing' by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Hawker Hurricane Mk. I R4118 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Supermarine Spitfire HF Mk. IX TD314 | Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Friday before the show was also pretty great with some epic topsides at the M11 end of the airfield.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vc JG891 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Spitfire Mk. VIII MT928 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
A cold, wet and windy nightshoot at Kemble to say hi to the Buccaneers after their move from Brunty.
Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XW544 | Kemble Nightshoot by Jakub Z, on Flickr
In October, it was another return to Duxford for a flying day which pretty much felt like a full airshow. Clearly, IWM thought the same and have decided to charge full airshow prices for it in 2022. Not too sure how it’ll play out if the season starts a bit earlier for the warbird operators and display teams, but overall I think we all very much welcome the ‘official’ return of the October/Autumn airshow.
Lancaster PA474 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Battle of Britain Spitfire Mk. II P7350 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Westland Lysander Mk. IIIa V9312 | G-CCOM by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Curtiss Hawk 75 | The Fighter Collection, Duxford by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Lastly, a delayed TLE event at North Weald with Teichman’s Lend Lease Soviet Spitfire.
Lend-Lease Soviet Spitfire Mk. IX PT879 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Lend-Lease Soviet Spitfire Mk. IX PT879 by Jakub Z, on Flickr
And finally, RAFM Hendon in December and some playing around in Lightroom to create this to ease my airshow withdrawal syndrome during the winter.
Avro Lancaster R5868 | RAF Museum London by Jakub Z, on Flickr
Thanks for looking and making it this far!
Plenty more images are on my Flickr, Instagram and airshow reviews I’ve linked in this post if you’re interested and there will be plenty more to come until we start to get back into the swing of things and kick the 2022 season off. Here’s hoping we’ll see the return of some of the larger shows we’ve all missed.
Jakub’s 2021 (Warbird Heavy!)
- Jakub.Zurek
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Re: Jakub’s 2021 (Warbird Heavy!)
Impressive panning and use of shutter speeds in this lot, great shots
Re: Jakub’s 2021 (Warbird Heavy!)
Sensational, mate, as per. Impossible to pick a favourite.
Also, great to finally meet you this year! All the best for 2022, buddy!
Also, great to finally meet you this year! All the best for 2022, buddy!
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomdjones/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tomd.jones/
Hell is other people.
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tomd.jones/
Hell is other people.
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Re: Jakub’s 2021 (Warbird Heavy!)
Absolutely sensational selection of super-sharp images.
Re: Jakub’s 2021 (Warbird Heavy!)
Many fine examples of an excellent panning technique with slow S/S and relatively large effective focal length. Nice work!
Re: Jakub’s 2021 (Warbird Heavy!)
Amazing work, love them. Especially the Spitfires!
I've sent my Dad up twice in a Spitfire now, it's been his obsession since childhood, so it's also rubbed off on me too!
I've sent my Dad up twice in a Spitfire now, it's been his obsession since childhood, so it's also rubbed off on me too!