Pretty Cool Formation Shot - UK
 

Yesterday had the privilege to work with some very long time friends over at Starspeed and shoot a few of their machines in formation. Well briefed a number of times before we did it and nailed it :D:ok: I know many of you mil and ex mil guys will say yes but X is out of position etc but for a bunch of civvies I personally think it looks **** hot :ok::ok:

Love the English countryside to shoot over, some amazing scenery with all the old homes and properties. Well done to everyone involved.

http://i.imgur.com/Rk6nJe9.jpg

Ned, you can tell they are civvies because the rotor blades are a little out of phase. Close, but no banana.

How would one arrange for a four bladed rotor and a five bladed rotor to be in phase? :)

Nice shot. Flown two of those personally...

I've been in a lot worse military formations than that.. Nice photo:ok:

Me too. Great bit of flying.

Nice picture indeed.

Great photo.

What's do you use as your "go to" setting for aerial helicopter shots; Shutter Priority with speed set to something like 1/250sec?

... I'm an amateur/hobby photographer and just curious.

Another great photo Ned

Good job, easier seen than done:)

At £200? a minute not without a time pressure.

What is the largest number of rotary types flown in formation in UK? Is this it?

Mjb

Fabulous photo - must have taken a lot of planning and careful execution. But then Starspeed are an outstanding operation!

RMK - I shoot always at either 80th or 100th of a second, nothing faster than 1/125th as then you stop the blades and thats something I personally hate.

Rotorspeed - yep lot of planning, good briefs and very careful execution.

Excuse my ignorance, but if as mentioned all these aircraft belong to the same operator, why are they all painted differently?

Because they all belong to separate private owners, for whom Starspeed are the operator. Some are on the AOC - some are operated privately only.

Military....and the RAF I believe Crab meant to say!:E

Not only is it great formation flying, but in the military we generally cheat by using the same aircraft type whenever possible, so all the position keeping cues are the same. There aren't 2 aircraft the same here, so extra points for the difficulty factor!

Ow, harsh banter:ok:

Actually the massed approaches with the AAC was what I was thinking of - 80-ship line abreast anyone?:ok:

Only a little bit worse than the 24 Wessex and 12 Pumas in line astern at Odiham donkeys years ago. I should know - I was Puma No 12!

They may look good from the POV of the crowdline...

Easy, they'll be in phase every 20th....