With all due respect to all concerned:

Never do air to airs unless the pilots are briefed on the formation (or in plain english, don’t go along for the ride if people are playing)

Air to airs depend on the pilots being good and briefed.

You need to be able to shoot backwards, no one uses rear three-quarters.

Only do it with pilots that are very good at close formation and are briefed (did I say that? Can’t stress it enough)

Accept the fact that if you go along for the ride you will only ever get “going along for the ride” photographs.

Shoot into clear air if you can.

It might get cold.

I fully understand and appreciate ALL that you have said here. It was briefed and the pilots that were involved were experienced in formation flying. Taking my camera was for my own selfish benefit to record the fact basically of another type flown in ‘along for the ride’ so to speak and so when the chippie came alongside I duly tried a few snaps (they were nothing more than that).

I’m quite embarrassed now, but again I agree with everything you have said. I’ve flown in formation lots of times before (Chipmunks, T-6s, T-28s, Yaks, etc) and then again with chaps that think they know it all (they are the dangerous ones) and for instance take their eyes off the leader – that it isnt the case with yesterday. I learnt a big lesson then as I value my life and dont want to loose it from someone that’s seen the Arrows and thinks they can emulate them. Yesterday it was just down to pure bad communication between myself and my pilot.

The photo taken yesterday was just to illustrate the fact that it was (very) badly taken – thats all, but I appreciate your comments, I really do.

Apologies,

Martin