Elliott's Flying Legends 2009 experience – Friday 10 July

Hi Elliot.

Great shots, Thanks for posting not self-indulgent, BRILLIANT

Absolutely fascinating shots

Hi Elliot,

Certainly didn’t stike me as self indulgant….I enjoy all the posts on here, and your diary type posting was very informative and the pics were great too!

I love Legends but have not been able to make it for a couple of years, so to read and see was fantastic…

thanks
Wes

I don’t think anyone’s complaining Elliot!

cheers and thanks for ther great shots!

-John

Sorry, this has been a very self-indulgent post. I’ll try to be more reserved in my picture selection next time!

Again, hope you’ve found something of interest here.

A fair few more at www.flickr.com/photos/esmarsh

Back to Saturday for some flying shots.

I hope they’ve spotted the Hun on their 6.

[img] http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4293701398_1445e9ba06_b.jpg/img]

Not a perfect shot by any means, but I think this sums up the first 15 minutes quite nicely!

Thanks for the comments, one and all. I’ve now uploaded some shots from the weekend, thought I may as well throw them into the fray too. 56k users, I do apologise.

Saturday did not dawn well…

Sunday was a different story, thankfully!

Firstly, thanks for the comments, always appreciated.

Nope, all shot with a Canon EOS400D. All but the final Yak 3 close-ups were taken using the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (to be all technical). The ‘White 100’ shots were taken with the small lens that came with the camera – something like a 30-75mm, or thereabouts – so nothing special at all!

Unfortunately, the 300mm lens was suffering for much of the 2009 season. It was damaged in the car at North Weald in March when I carelessly left it on the passenger seat whilst chasing the Hurribomber to the end of the runway on the peri-track – it fell onto the floor and was never quite the same, particularly in focusing. It had been very quick focusing and reliable, but after the fall, it struggled badly. Very stupid mistake on my part, but you live and learn. Even more gutting was that my larger zoom lens was knocked out of my hands whilst changing lenses on the flightline walk by a family member who will remain nameless *glares*!

Still, onwards and upwards – I have new and improved kit for the 2010 season and can’t wait to start using it. 😀

Well if these are the results of 2009 I look forward to looking at the 2010 efforts. And I suppose the damage to the 300mm lens was in a good cause, as long as you got the Hurribomber in a different lens!

Firstly, thanks for the comments, always appreciated.

Fantastic photos – you almost feel you were there – wish I had been. I’m not a photographer but is your “kit” very professional?

Nope, all shot with a Canon EOS400D. All but the final Yak 3 close-ups were taken using the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (to be all technical). The ‘White 100’ shots were taken with the small lens that came with the camera – something like a 30-75mm, or thereabouts – so nothing special at all!

Unfortunately, the 300mm lens was suffering for much of the 2009 season. It was damaged in the car at North Weald in March when I carelessly left it on the passenger seat whilst chasing the Hurribomber to the end of the runway on the peri-track – it fell onto the floor and was never quite the same, particularly in focusing. It had been very quick focusing and reliable, but after the fall, it struggled badly. Very stupid mistake on my part, but you live and learn. Even more gutting was that my larger zoom lens was knocked out of my hands whilst changing lenses on the flightline walk by a family member who will remain nameless *glares*!

Still, onwards and upwards – I have new and improved kit for the 2010 season and can’t wait to start using it. 😀

Nice picture-story, Elliot. Your Flick link is broken, though.

Fantastic photos – you almost feel you were there – wish I had been. I’m not a photographer but is your “kit” very professional?

Stunning shots Elliott.

All that was left was a much appreciated closer look at the gorgeous Yak 3 ‘White 100’ while Paul Boschung displayed his Yak 9.

Thanks for looking – I hope there’s something of interest in there. C&C’s welcome. 🙂

More at http://www.flickr.com/photos/esmarsh/sets/72157623111015605/ or http://www.flickr.com/photos/esmarsh

The distant sound of Merlins and the departure of the A-109 cameraship signalled the return of the Horsemen, who had been down south on a photo-shoot earlier in the day. Tim Manna’s Westland Wasp had also popped in for a few hours. The last of the Yaks arrived, with Chris Vogelgesang in the Yak 3.

With the cameras in place, the Horsemen performed a full rehearsal of their display. Personally, I thought it was excellent. Formation flying that close takes a Hell of a lot of skill – hats off to them.

The Morane is a strange looking aircraft, but I think it has a certain amount of charm, a bit like a 1940s version of the A10 in that respect. Here, Patrice Marchasson brings it into land on the grass following a practice display. More French flavour followed, with Eric Goujon taking the P51D for a solo display. No sooner had the P51D cleared the circuit, the Dutch B25 took of into two consecutive routines. On the ground, engineers tended to the Spitfire XVI and MS406.

As Stephen Grey departed in the Sea Fury, the WWI quartet arrived en masse. ‘Pink Lady’ arrived somewhere between their arrival and Stephen Grey’s first Sea Fury display. Frederick Akary’s Fury joined The Boss in the air, flying a very dynamic routine with some precision aerobatics you don’t usually see from warbirds. As things started to wind down, the B25 returned from France with Christian Amara’s P40 Kittyhawk.

Following a barely edible “pasta” bake, it was all go with Patrice Marchasson taking up the Spitfire PRXIX for a display, while the FW-190s was towed onto the flightline. Shortly thereafter, the Dakota Norway C-53 arrived, looking great in the best weather of the day. The Sea Fury when went up for another display with an unidentified American pilot at the controls.

Further down the line, Pete Kynsey was taxiing out in the Yak 9, while Paul Boschung arrived in the second of the German Yaks. The flightline was beginning to take shape. With PK in the circuit, I headed to the tank bank, where I caught the departure of the locally based Auster and the Dutch Spitfire TIX, which Alan Walker displayed later in the day. PK returned around 40 minutes later, putting on an excellent solo display consisting of hesitation rolls, Cubans, rolls at the top of loops and graceful aerobatics. The only other arrival during this time was the Ju52.

Meanwhile, the Salis Skyraider was prepped by the ground crew while John Romain ran up the Spitfire XVI prior to departure into the hold.

After a nice, tight solo display, the Skyraider came back to earth. Meanwhile, Pete Kynsey departed in the Sea Fury, to the excitement of all. What a display it was! Unfortunately, the Lufthansa Me108 just couldn’t follow it…

Unfortunately, engine problems meant ‘Old Crow’ was down and out for the weekend (and several weeks, as it happens). Out on the field, ARC were re-organising the HFL hangar to get the Spitfire IX and FW-190 out. A quick look in hangar 3, and it was time for lunch. Managed to miss Frederick Akary’s Fury and the Fighter Academy Yak 9 arriving, typically!