A shot taken today at the press day – RAF Coningsby. I was hoping for some landing shots, but the pilot decided to use the other end!

TJ

Thanks TJ –
the video is a keepsake. Interestingly the rain (messy though it was) gives an amazing and different effect to some of your photographs (the moisture trail, seems to surpass a vapour trail).

I wonder how much use and help the rain and other varying thermal effects in places such as the Welsh valleys, is to Computational Fluid Dynamics experts? Everything in CFD can be/is simulated on supercomputers but there is nothing that beats the real thing and excellent photography (such as yours) can show variances in trails that can mean a lot to scientists.

On board external micro cameras can also bring back excellent results which can make the future of modern aircraft safer and more resiliant.

Keep up the excellent work and thanks for sharing

Cheers, Jay.

Images from the Welsh valleys have been studied. These F-15E images were studied during 2006 at Boeing.

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SPEC%20INST/E+a.jpg

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SPEC%20INST/E+b.jpg

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SPEC%20INST/E+c.jpg

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SPEC%20INST/E+d.jpg

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SPEC%20INST/E+e.jpg

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SPEC%20INST/E+f.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/E1.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/E2.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/E3.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/E4.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c2/argonautical/Eagle14.jpg

Comment from engineer on Ricko’s images.

‘Stunning is certainly the right word to use. The interesting part for me is the change in flow viz patterns on the upper wing as angle of attack changes. I’ve been working F-15 aerodynamics for 20+ years and have never seen such a clear representation of the airflow as your photos. Just from these four photos I’ve got a much better understanding of the flowfield around the jet.’

Further details from the engineer on here

http://www.pprune.org/forums/military-aircrew/247911-welsh-air-display-usaf-style-6.html

TJ

They certainly were heading to and from the direction of Fife and I heard and saw a Chinook near my Uni which is a stones throw from Redford Barracks.

I missed seeing the Apache and the Merlin on this occasion.

The Merlin is a dream to watch doing air show displays – I last saw it at East Fortune 2 years ago.

I agree, Jay. Due to operational commitments not displaying this year. The RAF Chinook is also very impressive!

TJ

Jay,

Thanks. The RAF Typhoons are worked seriously hard in all environments and especially working up at low-level. When the Germans deployed recently to RAF Coningsby theirs were immaculate, but even they had the sooty APU exhaust marks!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Germany—Air/Eurofighter-EF-2000-Typhoon/1325754/L/

Cheers

TJ

yes it is true. i was out on a ship (the USS Oldendorf DDG-972) when this incident occurred. there were two Mig-25 flying in i believe in the southern no fly zone. two F-14 from the (Carl Vinson) shot one AIM-54 a piece and two F-15’s shot one slammer a piece. all four missiles missed their targets not because they did not work but when the Americans engages the targets they were already 90 miles BVR. the two Foxbats tucked tail and made a dash for it but in doing so ran out of gas and crashed so the Americans chalked up two bogies.

No kills ever assigned to any Coalition pilot/RIO or airframe(s) for this engagement.

TJ

I believe they have a naval port at eilat which can bypass the suez but then we come down to the subs going through the red sea then onto the arabian sea its a long way for those subs to go to carry out a dozen missile strikes, those subs have a defensive posture I cant see them being of any use in an offensive manner unless they are nuke tipped.

It doesn’t bypass it as the only water link between the Med and Eilat Port is via the Suez. I agree, it’s a very long way for a Dolphin to go!

TJ