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VCM-Photography
Welcome to VCM-Photography, a website designed and written
by myself Vernon Metcalfe to showcase my photographic passion for
military aviation and wildlife.
My aviation photography is orientated towards the dynamic aspect of military low flying,
where aircraft are captured flying landlocked against the countryside, rather than
airshow photography, where aircraft are captured against the sky.
My parallel passion is wildlife photography, encompassing all species, but with a preference
for the ‘Big Cats’, which has taken me to places such as India, looking for the
elusive tiger, Africa for the lion, leopard and cheetah and to the Brazilian Pantanal for the
iconic jaguar.
Boeing EA-18G Growler low-level in the Jedi Transition. California, U.S.A.
Nkuhuma Pride, lion cub. Sabi Sands, South Africa.
Copyright Notice
All applicable copyright laws pertain to all content on this site. Downloading, hot‑linking, copying and/or distribution (by print, electronic media or other means) is strictly prohibited. If you wish to purchase high quality images, or use any images for personal or commercial use please email: vcmetcalfe@btinternet.com
Trip Report February 2025
In February I had my first U.K. military low flying trip of the year with the hope of capturing photos of
military aircraft as they conducted their low‑level training sorties. My plan was to spend Wednesday 26th
to Friday 28th in the Lake District LFA17. The weather forecast for the three days looked promising, but the day
before my trip the forecast for Wednesday 26th had changed with a predicted weather front bringing heavy rain for
the day. The rain was forecast to clear overnight leaving dry and sunny conditions for Thursday 27th and Friday 28th.
Looking at the BBC weather for Scotland, the forecast predicted a nice sunny day on the Wednesday with light winds,
so rather than risk a wasted day in the Lake District I decided to visit Cammoch Hill near Pitlochry.
I have not visited Cammoch Hill since October 2013 due to blanking so many times at the location (where no aircraft
were seen). Apart from the weather, the reason I blanked so many times could be attributed to the fact aircrew
have a greater choice of low flying routes compared to the Lake District and the Mach Loop. On many a visit I had
seen aircraft avoid my location and route down a different valley. With the closure of RAF Leuchars and the retirement
of the Tornado GR.4 with RAF No. 15(R) Squadron at Lossiemouth the volume of traffic using the low flying
system in Scotland had greatly reduced, making the chance of capturing an aircraft even harder. With my limited holidays
I wanted to maximise my chances, so I always visited the Lake District LFA17 or the Mach Loop LFA7. RAF Lossiemouth is now
home to four Eurofighter Typhoon squadrons so a visit to Scotland looked more promising.
Wednesday 26th ‑ Driving north from Dunkeld towards Pitlochry, the weather was not as forecast. The valley
was blanketed in low cloud and the updated weather forecast was for the possibility of rain showers. After making the
forty‑minute climb up Cammoch Hill, I arrived at my chosen vantage point for the day at 09:00. At Cammoch Hill
aircraft can approach from three directions, so you must be very alert. Looking east towards Pitlochry the
valley was clear, though low cloud was hanging in the valley further south towards Dunkeld. To the west, Loch Tummel had
low cloud but this cleared after an hour. For the remainder of the day the visibility was good with light winds, though
there was a couple of light rain showers which quickly passed over.
Low cloud hanging over Loch Tummel.
To the north, beyond the hills on the opposite side of the valley from where I was located lies the village of Blair Atholl. At 11:54 I heard the noise of a jet aircraft routing past the village towards the Pass of Kiliecrankie. A few seconds later Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4, registration ZK312 of RAF No. 6 Squadron appeared through the pass, followed by a second one, ZK302 wearing the markings of RAF No. 1(F) Squadron. Disappointingly both aircraft did not turn in my direction, but routed south towards Pitlochry. After they disappeared they pulled out of low level and routed towards Leuchars Army Station where the RAF continue to operate a fully operational airfield. At 14:15 I left the hill and started my journey south towards Penrith (located on the edge of the Lake District) where I was based for the next three nights.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4, ZK312 of RAF No. 6 Squadron (first of a two‑ship) heading towards Pitlochry.
Thursday 27th ‑ Today I made the long climb up to Raven Crag which overlooks Thirlmere Reservoir. Another photographer arrived later and located nearby, unlike Smaithwaite Banks Crag which had accumulated a large crowd of photographers. The first aircraft to appear at 10:57 was a BAE Systems Hawk Mk. 167, ZB133 of the Joint QEAF/RAF Training Squadron based at RAF Leeming. This was followed by another, ZB138 at 11:12. At 12:36 two USAF F‑35A Lightning II's of the 495th Fighter Squadron “Valkyries” from Lakenheath appeared with BuNo. 19‑5485 leading BuNo. 20‑5587. Both aircraft routed past again at 12:51. At 13:02 a four‑ship of USAF F‑35A Lightning II's of the “Valkyries” routed past. The lead aircraft, BuNo. 20‑5590 was followed by BuNo. 19‑5476, BuNo. 20‑5601 and BuNo. 20‑5603. The last aircraft was high and passed overhead.
USAF Lockheed F‑35A Lightning II, BuNo. 20‑5590 of the 495th Fighter Squadron “Valkyries”.
At 13:23 a Hawker Hunter T.72 of Hawker Hunter Aviation Ltd based at RAF Leeming routed through Dunmail Raise heading in my direction. My excitement at the prospect of capturing photos of such an iconic aircraft soon diminished when halfway along Thirlmere Reservoir the aircraft pulled out of low level and passed my location above the hills on the far side of the valley. The disappointment of missing the Hawker Hunter was softened slightly when twelve minutes later at 13:35 an RAF Airbus A400M Atlas C.1, ZM416 did a nice low pass. The Atlas was followed at 13:54 by two USAF F‑35A Lightning II's, again from the “Valkyries”. The first aircraft, BuNo. 20‑5615 was followed by an airframe whose serial I did not observe. At 15:26 two more USAF F‑35A Lightning II's appeared (no squadron markings or serials observed), but halfway along Thirlmere Reservoir they pulled out of low level and passed overhead my location. At 15:35 a Eurofighter Typhoon T.3, ZK382 of RAF No. 29(R) Squadron based at Coningsby made a welcome appearance. At 15:39 the last aircraft to appear were two USAF F‑35A Lightning II's of the 493rd Fighter Squadron “Grim Reapers” from Lakenheath. The lead aircraft, BuNo. 20‑5616 made a nice low pass, but the trail aircraft pulled out of low level as it approached Thirlmere Reservoir and roued over the hills to the west. I left the hill at 16:15.
Eurofighter Typhoon T.3, ZK382 of RAF No. 29(R) Squadron, Coningsby.
Friday 28th ‑ Today I visited Arnison Crag which overlooks Greenbank Farm, Bridgend near Hartsop. I was in
position at 09:00 ready for any activity. Looking to the south towards Kirkstone Pass the visibility was good, but low
cloud soon began to envelope the surrounding hills which would prevent any aircraft routing through the mountain pass.
At 11:07 as I looked through the gap below the cloud cover at Kirkstone Pass I could see in the distance a USAF
Hercules passing high over Ambleside as it routed north through the Lake District. At 11:50 a RAF Phenom T.1 approached
from Kirkstone Pass and passed overhead at approximately 2000ft. With the hilltops still obscured by low cloud I decided
to leave the hill at 14:20. At 15:54 whilst driving through Glenridding I observed an RAF Phenom T.1 approach from
the south and fly low over the lake. Typical, the cloud cover must have lifted after I left the hill.
Saturday ‑ As I was in the area, I decided to pay another visit to the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums
(NELSAM) near Sunderland. I'm pleased I decided to visit again as some of the aircraft displayed outside had been
moved around, which allowed me to get photographs from different angles with a more favourable background.
