January 2021 Photo of the Month Competition - Gulf War 30th

[StevenNFFC]

Hi all,

As I said previously, POTM as it was will be taking a break with the ongoing Covid regulations. Andy's idea of a specialist competition every month instead made a lot of sense to me so here it January 2021's competition.....

As we should all know, January 2021 sees the 30th anniversary of the first Gulf War and therefore the subject for the January competition is:

Aircraft loaded with weapons

All entries must feature an aircraft loaded with air-to-surface weapons and/or air-to-air weapons

Please try to look for pictures featuring aircraft involved in Gulf War I but this is not a necessity for entry

Photography Competition Rules

1. Only one entry per user, unless posting on behalf of another person who is unable to do so themselves (children for example). If this is the case, please state so on your entry.
2. The photograph can have been taken at any time.
3. The photo must feature an aircraft with weapons of any type loaded.
4. The image can be photo-shopped to some extent, levels changes, cropping, sharpening etc. are all acceptable. The photograph must retain it’s initial subject though, don’t make it something it’s not (cutting and pasting the moon into the shot, for example). HDR images are not acceptable. If you are unsure, please PM a moderator.
5. The competition will remain open until 23.59 on the 1st March 2021 (UK time), to enable anyone with last minute entries some breathing space
6. The voting will be carried out by you, the members of FC, by a poll which will be created at the closing of the competition.
7. Moderators/Administrators will not be exempt from the competition, but cannot vote for their own entry.
8. The decision of the moderating team is final.
9. All images must be posted in line with the usual FC posting rules
10. The rules may be subject to change, and these will be posted on this thread.
11. Please do not comment on entries other than your own.

[XWP29]

Hi all,

As I said previously, POTM as it was will be taking a break with the ongoing Covid regulations. Andy's idea of a specialist competition every month instead made a lot of sense to me so here it January 2021's competition.....

As we should all know, January 2021 sees the 30th anniversary of the first Gulf War and therefore the subject for the January competition is:

Aircraft loaded with weapons

All entries must feature an aircraft loaded with air-to-surface weapons and/or air-to-air weapons

Please try to look for pictures featuring aircraft involved in Gulf War I but this is not a necessity for entry

Photography Competition Rules

1. Only one entry per user, unless posting on behalf of another person who is unable to do so themselves (children for example). If this is the case, please state so on your entry.
2. The photograph must have been taken during the month in question. The date the photo was taken MUST be included in the post.
3. The photo can be of any subject you like, as long as there is some military aviation connection.
4. The image can be photo-shopped to some extent, levels changes, cropping, sharpening etc. are all acceptable. The photograph must retain it’s initial subject though, don’t make it something it’s not (cutting and pasting the moon into the shot, for example). HDR images are not acceptable. If you are unsure, please PM a moderator.
5. The competition will remain open until 23.59 on the 1st March 2021 (UK time), to enable anyone with last minute entries some breathing space
6. The voting will be carried out by you, the members of FC, by a poll which will be created at the closing of the competition.
7. Moderators/Administrators will not be exempt from the competition, but cannot vote for their own entry.
8. The decision of the moderating team is final.
9. All images must be posted in line with the usual FC posting rules
10. The rules may be subject to change, and these will be posted on this thread.
11. Please do not comment on entries other than your own.

Means anyone under 50ish won’t have a chance.

[reaper493]

Criteria is an aircraft loaded with weapons that saw service in Gulf War 1, no mention of the shot needed to have been taken during the crisis.

Surely an armed F-15/16/18, Tornado, Jaguar, A10, F-4G, F-117 and so on that you've snapped anytime since 1991 is applicable in the first instance?

If not an Armed Typhoon fits the bill from what I'm reading.

Mike

[Knife 04]

Hoorah! Maybe I will have a chance!

Just to clarify the rules on this one

1. You can enter a shot of any aircraft 'bombed' up?

2. Preferably if it was used in Gulf War 1?

Example - a shot of a B-52H taking off fully laden in 2003 for Gulf War 2 still qualifies as the type (B-52 and not G or H specific) was used in Gulf War 1?

A bombed up B-1 at Fairford for Kosovo in 1999 still qualifies as a 'bombed up' aircraft but not necessarily for either Gulf Wars?

F-111 'bombed up' at Heyford in 1992 qualifies as after the Gulf War but the type was used in the Gulf War?

Many thanks

Darren

[StevenNFFC]

Yes, all entries are permitted as long as they are loaded up - air-to-surface or air-to-ground - obviously bonus points for those featuring aircraft that operated during the Gulf War but at the end of the day won't win any ACTUAL bonus points because the vote will be held as normal and voted for by you the members!

For example, an aircraft loaded out on a practice QRA is permitted just as much as an aircraft engaged in an active operation in a warzone.

[Andyph]

having just re-read the rules.

So you want a armed aircraft AND taken in January?

Cant imagine many entries if this is the rules?

[Pune]

having just re-read the rules.

So you want a armed aircraft AND taken in January?

Cant imagine many entries if this is the rules?

Good point Andyph, can we get this clarified please

[Mike]

Yes, all entries are permitted as long as they are loaded up - air-to-surface or air-to-ground - obviously bonus points for those featuring aircraft that operated during the Gulf War but at the end of the day won't win any ACTUAL bonus points because the vote will be held as normal and voted for by you the members!

For example, an aircraft loaded out on a practice QRA is permitted just as much as an aircraft engaged in an active operation in a warzone.

Rule number 2 needs to be seriously amended, Steven :- 2. The photograph must have been taken during the month in question. The date the photo was taken MUST be included in the post.
It is causing great confusion!

Edit :- Rule 3 should also be amended.

[StevenNFFC]

Will do, the perils of copy and paste

[Andyph]

OK now the rules are sorted I'll take a punt with this:

IMG_4156 by Andy Heap, on Flickr

[Part Timer]

Upper Heyford 1992 Showing 5 mission symbols

Image391 by A M, on Flickr

[Pune]

RIAT 11.7.2014
F18 fully loaded by Paul Tursner-Upcott, on Flickr

[Buccs2b]

Fire and...
774439_13A_023 by Tony Adams, on Flickr
Tooled up Goldstar, Coltishall Jaguar Farewell Photocall 2005

[Cessna954]

RAF Fairford:EGVA - Saturday 16th February 1991 - A flight of 806thBW B-52Gs are armed, note the underwing stores, and prepared for a mission as part of Operation Desert Storm over Kuwait and Iraq. However, the mission was cancelled with the aircraft lining up for departure and those that had made it to the runway fast taxied down it to the western end and their dispersals.
United States Air Force B-52G Stratofortress by Neil Brant, on Flickr

[Mike]

Three armed GAF F-4Fs arrive at Kinloss on 01/06/10 after being diverted in due to tanker issues, they were on their way to Iceland to take over NATO air-policing duties.
Serials were 38+00, 38+26 & 37+85 which landed shortly after air spare 38+73.

[Knife 04]

Operation Iraqi Freedom - 23rd March 2003. A loaded B-52H 61-007, 23rd Bomb Squadron 'Barons' callsign 'Rattler' gets airborne from Fairford

B-52H - 61-007 / MT - 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB by Darren Currie, on Flickr

[mikee115]

91-0327/LN F-15E departing RAF Lakenheath fully loaded on a grey May bank holiday in 2015, as part of 'ABLE' flight on a live mission to Libya

ABLE Flight May 2015 (8) by Mike, on Flickr

[Phil H]

.
Grandma, with her full set of teeth. Scanned from a 35mm slide.

Buccaneer S2B, XW527, 12(B) Squadron @ RAF Lossiemouth, 1993.. by Phillip Hapka, on Flickr

[raaver]

My 15 year old contribution from the M-E...

IMG_0895 by ROB VER, on Flickr

Robert

[Ridgeback]

Neuburg back when they had F-4's, loaded for QRA.
20070627 Neuburg = F-4F 3824 QRA by Melvin Furster, on Flickr