FighterControl

With the announcement of the planned attendance of a French EC725 Caracal following not long after a CN235 from the same air arm, it seemed about time to make a first visit to a Northolt Nightshoot, a first Nightshoot for me too.

No engine runs from the Caracal, but the crew did take the cover of the refuelling probe...
French Air Force EC725AP Caracal | F-UGSC by Professor M, on Flickr

RCAF CC-130J Hercules | 130601 by Professor M, on Flickr

The first engine run of the evening came from this recently imported Bell 47H-1...
Bell 47H-1 | C-FJWF by Professor M, on Flickr

The French CASA followed...
French Air Force CN235 | 64-HD | 196 by Professor M, on Flickr

All three of the British Helicopters started up around the same time, departing home...
RAF Puma HC2 | XW224 by Professor M, on Flickr
AAC AH-64E Apache | ZM705 by Professor M, on Flickr
AAC Wildcat AH1 | ZZ384 by Professor M, on Flickr

A couple of the "Home Team"...
BAe 125 CC3 | ZD621 by Professor M, on Flickr

London Air Ambulance H135 | G-LAAB by Professor M, on Flickr

I'll be back...

Cracking set, Prof.

Thanks for sharing.

Brilliant set! Shame the caracal didn't run but the others made up for it!

Thanks, both.

Seeing as I suspect I won't see another Puma in RAF service, here's one more of XW224 from last Thursday...
RAF Puma HC2 | XW224 by Professor M, on Flickr

Awesome

Are you using a tripod ?

slogen51 wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 11, 2025 6:02 pm

Are you using a tripod ?

I was indeed - I don't fancy my chances shooting handheld for 2-5 seconds for these photos.

All photos taken on a 10s self-timer (enough time to let the minor shake of pressing the shutter button decay - I couldn't get my phone working as a remote shutter release) on a very short tripod (having it initially fully extended meant too much wind-rock - it's rather flimsy).

Lovely shots. Especially love the French Puma! I'll have to get myself along to one of these events at some point.