2023 Review

[Seamus]

Evening all,

Thought I'd share a selection of images from what has been a fairly productive year for me, which began back in April with a grey couple of days on Dartmoor

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ122/F | Royal Navy | Dartmoor | 28/04/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ122/F | Royal Navy | Dartmoor | 28/04/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

May saw visits to Old Warden and Abingdon, largely to catch North Weald's Lynx getting out and about

Westland Lynx AH7 | XZ179/G-NCKS | Project Lynx XZ179 | Old Warden | 07/05/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Fairey Swordfish I | W5856/G-BMGC | Navy Wings | Old Warden | 07/05/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Avro Lancaster BI | PA474 | Royal Air Force | Old Warden | 07/05/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Lynx AH7 | XZ179/G-NCKS | Project Lynx XZ179 | Old Warden | 07/05/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rockwell OV-10B Bronco | 99+18/G-ONAA | Bronco Demo Team | Abingdon | 19/05/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Lynx AH7 | XZ179/G-NCKS | Project Lynx XZ179 | Abingdon | 19/05/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

I made several visits to the Cotswolds in June to make as best I could of the B-1B deployment, as well as getting one last chance to catch the Hercules in RAF service

Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0103/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 30/05/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0103/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 16/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0105/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rockwell B-1B Lancer | 86-0125/DY | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed U-2S | 80-1079 | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 16/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules C4 | ZH868 | Royal Air Force | RAF Brize Norton | 02/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Duxford's Summer airshow was a pleasant affair too

Hawker Fury II | SR661/G-CBEL | Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd | Duxford | 24/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Lynx AH7 | XZ179/G-NCKS | Project Lynx XZ179 | Old Warden | 24/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire LF Vb | EP120/G-LFVB | The Fighter Collection | Duxford | 24/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Hawker Fury II | SR661/G-CBEL | Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd | Duxford | 24/06/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

July kicked off with trips to Teignmouth and Old Warden

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 | ZJ920 | Royal Air Force | Teignmouth | 01/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress 'Sally B' | 124485/G-BEDF | Old Warden | 02/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Gazelle HT2 | XX436/G-ZZLE | The Gazelle Squadron | Old Warden | 02/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire LF IX | TE517/G-RYIX | The Spitfire Company | Old Warden | 02/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Then it was time for the big one at RIAT. Another superb week, full of highlights

McDonnell Douglas EAV-8B Harrier II Plus | VA.1B-26/01-916 | Spanish Navy | RAF Fairford | 12/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Agusta AH-129D Mangusta | MM81392/E.I/922 | Italian Army | RAF Fairford | 12/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Messerschmitt Me 262 | 501244/D-MITT | Flugmuseum Messerschmitt | RAF Fairford | 12/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress | 61-0029/BD | US Air Force | RAF Fairford | 12/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

SAAB Sk.60 | 60105 | Swedish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 12/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas TAV-8B+ Harrier II | MM55032/1-01 | Italian Navy | RAF Fairford | 13/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Sukhoi Su-22M4 Fitter | 8309 | Polish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 13/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II | 01518 | Hellenic Air Force | RAF Fairford | 13/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Antonov An-26 Curl | 810 | Romanian Air Force | RAF Fairford | 13/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia A-200A Tornado | MM7062/6-74 | Italian Air Force | RAF Fairford | 13/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Dassault Rafale C | 113/4-IR | Armee de L'Air | RAF Fairford | 15/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

SAAB Sk.60 | 60125 | Swedish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 15/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Panavia Tornado ECR | 45+14 | German Air Force | RAF Fairford | 15/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing F/A-18C Hornet | HN-411 | Finnish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 15/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Aermacchi MB339 | 442/7 | United Arab Emirates Air Force | RAF Fairford | 15/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Eurofighter Typhoon S | CSX7352/36-55 | Italian Air Force | RAF Fairford | 16/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

SAAB JAS-39E Gripen | 396003 | SAAB | RAF Fairford | 16/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AMX A-11 Ghibli | MM7163/51-72 | Italian Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon | E-191 | Royal Danish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B+ Harrier II | MM7200/1-04 | Italian Navy | RAF Fairford | 17/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 | ZR515/QA414 | Qatar Emiri Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II | 01518 | Hellenic Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon | ET-615 | Royal Danish Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AMX A-11 Ghibli | MM55043/51-81 | Italian Air Force | RAF Fairford | 17/07/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

August was fairly low key, only attending a small event up the road at Dunkeswell

Westland Wessex HU5 | XT761/G-WSEX | Historic Helicopters | Dunkeswell | 06/08/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire LF IXb | RR232/G-BRSF | Dunkeswell | 06/08/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

September was much busier, starting with another superb show at Cosby

Vought (Goodyear) FG-1D Corsair | KD345/G-FGID | The Fighter Collection | Cosby | 03/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Lysander IIITT | V9312/G-CCOM | Aircraft Restoration Company | Cosby | 03/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Avro Lancaster BI | PA474 | Royal Air Force | Cosby | 03/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie B' | 549192/G-THUN | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Cosby | 03/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 'Nellie B' | 549192/G-THUN | Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd | Cosby | 03/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

The following week I spent a few days chasing Cobra Warrior participants at Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Waddington

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II | 22-5684/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 05/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon | 96-0080/SP | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 05/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon | 91-0352/SP | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 05/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint | 64-14844/OF | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 05/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16D Fighting Falcon | 91-0472/SP | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 06/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon | 91-0338/SP | US Air Force | RAF Mildenhall | 06/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet | 188757 | Royal Canadian Air Force | RAF Waddington | 07/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

McDonnell Douglas CF-188A Hornet | 188757 | Royal Canadian Air Force | RAF Waddington | 07/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

I returned to Lakenheath the following week for my first go at fast climb Friday, before popping into Duxford on my way home

Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle | 91-0312/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II | 19-5493/LN | US Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II | 5386 | Royal Norwegian Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Douglas A-4N Skyhawk II | C-FGZE | Top Aces | RAF Lakenheath | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II | 5664 | Royal Norwegian Air Force | RAF Lakenheath | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Seafire XVII | SX336/G-KASX | Navy Wings | Duxford | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Curtiss P-36C Hawk | NX80FR | The Fighter Collection | Duxford | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire F XIVe | RN201/G-BSKP | Aerial Speed Icons | Duxford | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Supermarine Spitfire Vb | BM597/G-MKVB | Historic Aircraft Collection | Duxford | 15/09/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Rounding off my year was the Navy Wings nightshoot at Yeovilton

NHI NH90 NFH | N-319 | Royal Netherlands Air Force | RNAS Yeovilton | 12/10/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

AgustaWestland Merlin HC4 | ZJ119/C | Royal Navy | RNAS Yeovilton | 12/10/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Westland Sea King HC4 | ZA314/WT/G-CMDO | Historic Helicopters | RNAS Yeovilton | 12/10/23 by Shaun Schofield, on Flickr

Thanks for looking, a lot of images I know, but hopefully they were of interest.

Merry Christmas,

Shaun

[DanBeeden]

Lovely set of images from a productive year! Hard to pick a favourite and despite all the exotic visitors, the highlights for me are the 'local boys'; RC-135 head-on shot and LN Strike Eagle going ballistic on a quick climb. Great work.

[747woody]

Cracking set there Shaun.

[F3]

One of the best sets of images I've seen here Shaun. Definitely a most productive year!