Biggin Hill 2009

[Batchy]

An initial selection from two days of Biggin Hill.

Many more to follow.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb10.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb13.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb17.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb18.jpg

[Batchy]

A few more;

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb8.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb7.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb6.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb21.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb20.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb19.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb9.jpg

[Cornerstone958]

Thanks for posting great shots
CS

[PPRuNe Pop]

Wonderful Batchy, thanks.

PPP

[rog747]

great shots
thanks

the VAA 747 is 'clean' (no slats)

was she going fast?:ok:

[VeeAny]

Batchy

Top photos, thanks for posting them.

GS

[Jofm5]

Great photo's,

I notice you were there both days (the Virgin formation was sunday and the vulcan and lancaster were tech sunday) - you must be keen to pay twice.

I was there on the sunday, was still a good day even though a few planes went tech. Am thinking of going to RNAS yeovilton in a couple of weeks as looks like a good display there. I need to get a better camera as mine took pants shots over the weekend - may I ask what you used ?

Cheers

[Batchy]

Thanks Everyone,

I still have quite a few more to post.

They were all taken with my trusty Nikon D300, probably the best camera I have ever owned.

Batchy.

[Dop]

Great shots, nice to see the Sea Vixen in its proper paint job, last time I saw it was when it was advertising Red Bull.

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

Great pics.
"Hear hear" on the Nikon D300. I went Digital in 2005
(My last Film camera was a Nikon F100, another real classic)

I have a Nikon D300 and think its the Business.
I have an older Nikon D70s which is useful for putting on my second Lens.

I then use both lenses between them dependant on "Event/Location,
Making my D300 the Prime "Setup"

I would be interested in knowing the "Lens" you used.
I have 70-200mm f2.8 AFS VR Nikon (Non Digital) gives me effective 105-300mm
Plus a 300mm f 4, AFS Nikon.(Non Digital) gives effective 450mm
I have a Nikon 1.4 Convertor which extends the lenses more, not used this much but happy with results when I do.

As welll as the Lens you used I would like to know where you were "Located" at BH.

I have not been for a few years now and found staying on
the Crowd line side,the "Light" became a problem as the afternoon wore on.

Earlly years 70s and 80s I had access to the other side, drawback being
ground shots were compromised by the "Background" but great Air pics.

I gave the lens info. in anticipation it might help anyone looking for such
details.

OPF

[Batchy]

Thanks Again,

OPF, The shots were taken with a Nikon ED AF-S VR Nikkor 300mm f/2.8G IF.AFS with a Nikon 1.4 teleconverter.


Location wise, Saturday up in the hospitality area, Sunday at the Eastern end of the runway.

Batchy

[Jofm5]

Love the quality of the pics - not sure I am serious enough into photography to invest the sort of money required for the D300. I will have to look around for something a tad cheaper (around £300-400 mark).

But thanks for the info :ok:

[Batchy]

Have you considered buying a second hand body.

Batchy.

[mr fish]

Jofm5,
have a look at the new PANASONIC LUMIX G1.

my first DSLR after many years with a OLYMPUS OM4Ti.
being micro 4/3 it feels tiny at first, but is very well put together,
LOTS of features with a very useful full auto and liveview.

i've had mine about a month and its rarely out of my hands!!

oh, avoid the "coloured bodies", the traditional black is best:ok:

[Jofm5]

Have you considered buying a second hand body.


Had a look at the second hand market and the D300 holds its value well, one auction on ebay people are still bidding on and its well into the £700 range.

Lumix G1 looks good and black definately looks best - might try find a shop tomorrow with one just to have a look at in person.

Batchy - I am holding you personally responsible for my expenditure lol, had you not shown how pathetic my current camera is I would not be out to buy a new one lol

[Batchy]

A further selection from Biggin Hill, mainly taken on Sunday.

Sorry. ;) JoFM5, you really can't go too far wrong with a Lumix, Leica lens and all that, I would try and check how quick it focuses though.

Batchy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb24copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb23copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb33copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb25copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb26copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb27copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb28copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb29copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb30copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb34copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb36.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb35copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v157/woodlands/BigginHillweb37.jpg

[Jofm5]

I so need a new camera !, below is a sample taken from my 10mp Benq (cost around £60). Sorry could not re-sample as dont have any gfx packages loaded at the mo so have done as links

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jof/bhill/Typhoon.JPG

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jof/bhill/Virgin2.JPG

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jof/bhill/P_562.JPG

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jof/bhill/RedBull.JPG

[Batchy]

Hi Jofm5,

If your serious about improving the quality of your photographs you really need to get a DSLR,

I have had a quick look on ebay and there are several early DSLR cameras that would give you far better results than your 10MP Benq.

I would try a Nikon D100 or Canon 20D, you should be able to pick up a body and lens for around £ 300, this will get you started. Then its just a case of practising and learning the basics.

Good luck

Gary

[JEM60]

I really don't want to upset anyone here, especially the photographer, but in the '747 +Red Arrows,' The Hawks, which are LEFT of the 747 appear ridiculously small, or is it my ageing eyes? To me it just looks wrong. Humble apologies if I am mistaken. I do video, so can't 'adjust' my pics.

[Brewster Buffalo]

Outstanding work Batchy... you need good equipment of course but you are clearly a skilled photographer...look forward to seeing some more...

BB

[Batchy]

Jem60,

The Hawk is tiny in comparison to the 747, but the telephoto lens does tend to compress the distance between objects.

Batchy

[JEM60]

Thanks, Batchy. That is the logical explanation of course. Not being a camera guy, it didn't occur to me. Lovely pics, hope I didn't p..s anyone off.

[nippy1975]

Very nice picture there! My ones at Waddington were rubbish! Must practice more!

[Warmtoast]

Batchy

How I envy your expertise - brilliant photos - TVM for posting them.

I was stationed at Biggin from 1953 - 1956 and was a keen photographer, albeit mainly B & W using my modern (at the time) Voigtländer Bessar folding camera.

The B & W shots were taken at the Biggin Battle of Britain display in September 1954 and show the 2nd prototype Victor (the original had crashed a month or so previously killing all on board), and a Manston based USAF SA-16 doing a Rocket Assisted Take-off.
As can be seen, flying low and fast and near the spectator's was very much standard practice in those days.

The 41 Sqn Meteor F Mk8 was on of my first photos taken in colour when colour film was a horrendously expensive luxury. Considering that the photo was taken 55-years ago, the colours have retained their vibrancy over the years.


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/BigginBoBDisplay-HPVictor1-1.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/BigginBoBDisplay-HPVictor2-1.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/BigginBOBDisplay1.jpg


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/41SqnMeteor8-2-1.jpg

[Vino Collapso]

Great Meteor shot.

As a long term Biggin employee I am always interested in pictures from the 1950's. Can you remember the orientation of that photo? I am trying to place the taxiway in context with the modern layout.

[Warmtoast]

Meteor photo was taken looking south from the old control tower which was along the northern taxi-way running parallel with the main Westerham - Bromley road (A233). The rumway can be seen in the background together with what I think was the station arms or fuel dump.

The old control tower was a hundred yards or so west of where the newly-built control tower was located i.e. between the new tower and domestic site.

[Batchy]

Warmtoast,

Thanks for posting these great shots especially the Meteor shot, I don't suppose you ever popped over To Kenley with your oigtländer Bessar.

Keep them coming.:ok:

Batchy.

[Warmtoast]

Batchy

Never did get over to Kenley.

Another 1954/55 colour photo of 41 Sqn's Vampire T.11 taken at the same time and place as my earlier one of the 41 Sqn. Meteor.

Not sure I should really hog what is your thread after all, as I have dozens of photos taken at Biggin, including some of Neil Williams inverted about 20ft above the crowd in his Zlin, although this probably dates from the early 1960's.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/41SqnVampireT11.jpg

[Dop]

Nice photos Warmtoast, if you don't want to hog this thread I hope you'll start a new one for more, the colour ones are wonderful considering how long ago they were taken.

[Vino Collapso]

I second that!

More please!

[PPRuNe Pop]

Yes, please post your photographs. Perhaps you might care to post them in AH&N as they are of historic. If not I will copy them over after you have finished them - either way the Mil guys will see them.

[Jofm5]

Batchy,

Sorry to interrupt the thread again, got a D100 off ebay for £205 - have sent you a PM for a bit of advice re-lenses.

Will hopefully repay the intrusion with some cool pics soon :)

Cheers

[Batchy]

Well done Jofm5,

Check your PMs.

Batchy

[Warmtoast]

PPRuNe Pop

Re photos. Here are the screen grabs from my 8mm cine film of Neil Williams inverted in his Zlin at a Battle of Britain display at Biggin Hill which I estimate was shot in the early 1960's (I bought my cine camera in 1960).

I'll start a separate thread of my aircraft I photos taken at Biggin Hill in 1954/55.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Biggin%20Hill%20Early%201950s/LowPass1.jpg

Neil Williams in his Zlin Treiner approachs inverted


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Biggin%20Hill%20Early%201950s/LowPass2.jpg

Passing overhead - my guess is that he is 20ft above the crowd!

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Biggin%20Hill%20Early%201950s/LowPass3.jpg

Climbing away

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Biggin%20Hill%20Early%201950s/LowPass4.jpg

Still inverted

Apologies for the quality but cine-film screen grabs are no match when compared to still camera photos.