Hi

Saw this one at Sun’n’Fun last year………look forward to seeing it again, hope the weather can be as good!

Chris 😀

Sounds interesting, got permission from Mrs M to attend so see you there!!

Hi

For what it is worth, my thoughts on RIAT. I must say that I really enjoyed the airshow this year. After last years hassle with traffic jams, security queue’s and the like I vowed never again, but once I saw the plans for the show I changed my mind (weak willed!!). Flew in on Saturday in the BA 747-400, after a few delays due to the problems with BA ground staff at Heathrow, and spent most of the afternoon display camped out at the eastern end of the runway, by the taxiway from the flightline.

The static at Fairford has always been a bit hit and miss in terms of getting decent pictures. They have had some great aircraft in the past but too often there is a bouncy castle in the background. I was pleased that the centenary of flight exhibition was not spoiled like that, and it was great to see some of the museum exhibits that they had arranged. My personal favourites were the SR53 and the Lightning T5…..though all the aircraft were interesting. The only problem with Fairford is the distance you have to walk to see all the aircraft, I think that it has got too big for day visit.

I would highly recommend the departure day to anyone. I got there at 07:00 and was able to sit by the taxiway, all the spaces at the intersection of the taxiway and runway were filled by the first people in. From 08:30 until I left at 16:00 it was pretty much constant movements (formations and single ships), and I was able to get good shots of all the aircraft with a 70-300mm lens. I left after the two B-1’s had departed one after the other, there were still a/c to depart but I wanted to get home. I was quite amusing at one point to have Tornado’s, C-130’s, a DC-4 and the Jordanian Extra team all in the same queue. Took far too many pictures, but what the hell!

At the end of the day we are lucky in the UK, in the space of four weekends I have managed to go see RAF fast jets at Waddington, two Lightnings running at Bruntingthorpe, the warbirds at Duxford and then Fairford. All were good, but for different reasons. Time for a relax through August I think!!!

Chris

Hi

Just bought a Minolta Scan Dual III which seems to be recommended by many folks to scan slides, got mine from http://www.cameras2u.com – good price and swift delivery. Does anyone have any advice as to the settings I need to select to get this beast to work to the best effect?? I have Photoshop 7, so I can either scan the images via that or using the Minolta software I guess….anyhow, all advice gratefully received.

Chris

Hi

Will there be any other open days at Bruntingthorpe this year as can’t make the weekend and would love to see Lightnings in action?

Chris