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.
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
In July I took a week off work to do some military low flying photography and attend the Royal International Air Tattoo
(RIAT) at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
My planned itinerary was to visit the Mach Loop LFA7 on Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th prior to attending RIAT on Sunday 20th and
departures day on Monday 21st. On Tuesday 22nd I would visit the Lake District LFA17 on my way home.
Tuesday 15th ‑ After a full day at work I left home at 18:30 to make the 420‑mile drive to Wales.
Wednesday 16th ‑ At 02:45 I arrived at the Bwlch Oerddrws car park, my chosen location for the day, where
unlike last year there was plenty of parking spaces for me to park‑up and catch up on some well‑needed sleep.
Around 06:00 more people started arriving and it got so busy that they were starting to double park on the grass verge further
down the road. I was asked by someone if they could park their car behind mine which would have blocked me in, but it wasn't
an issue as I was planning on staying for the day. At 07:00 I started the climb up to the top ledge of the Bwlch and was
in position ready and waiting for any aircraft by 05:45.
The weather was favourable with light winds, clear skies and unlimited visibility. The hill was packed with photographers, as today
was RIAT arrivals day and people were hoping that something unusual would route through the Welsh valleys on their way there.
The first aircraft to appear at 11:22 were two Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4's, ZK365 and ZK315 of RAF No. 41(R) Squadron,
Coningsby on a normal training mission. These were followed at 11:34 by a Eurofighter Typhoon T.3, ZK379 from the same squadron.
At 11:39 a two‑ship of Beechcraft Texan T.1's appeared with ZM341 leading ZM332, both from RAF No. 72(F) Squadron,
Valley. At 14:22m an Airbus Helicopters EC‑135 Juno HT.1, ZM508 from RAF No. 60 Squadron, Shawbury routed through. This was
quickly followed at 14:27 by two USAF Lockheed Martin F‑35A Lightning II's, S/N. 19‑5484 leading S/N
19‑5495 of the 495th Fighter Squadron “Valkyries” from Lakenheath. Both aircraft did a second pass at 14:29 after
doing a circuit of the Mach Loop. The last aircraft seen at 14:22 was a Beechcraft Texan T.1, ZM341 of RAF No. 72(F) Squadron,
Valley. I left the hill at 17:15.
USAF Lockheed Martin F‑35A Lightning II, S/N 19‑5484 of the 495th Fighter Squadron “Valkyries”.
Thursday 17th ‑ Today I visited the Spur. Low cloud was covering the tops of the hills which did clear a little as the
day progressed, but generally the conditions were not favourable for any low flying. I arrived on the hill at 10:15 and left at
15:30 with no aircraft seen.
Friday 18th ‑ Today i was undecided which hill to climb as the weather early morning was not favourable for any low flying,
due to low cloud covering the hill tops and hanging in the valleys. There was also a high possibility of rain. By midday it looked
like the weather might start to clear, but I was informed earlier that RAF Coningsby and Lakenheath were closed so there was little chance
of any frontline fighter aircraft appearing, so I decided to leave the Mach Loop and drive to Shrewsbury where I had a hotel booked
for the night.
Saturday 19th ‑ I was up early and on the road by 07:15 as today I was driving to London Colney, Hertfordshire
to visit the de Havilland Aircraft Museum, formerly known as the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre. The de Havilland Aircraft
Museum's mission is to preserve and communicate the de Havilland heritage to ensure that current and future generations of all ages
will understand de Havilland's contribution to innovative British Aviation technology. The volunteer‑run aviation museum
collection includes three wooden‑wonder DH.98 Mosquito's which are displayed in the Walter Goldsmith Hangar, one being the Mosquito
prototype, serial W4050.
De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito FB Mk.VI (TA122 ‘UP‑N’) in the Walter Goldsmith Hangar.
When I arrived at the museum mid‑morning it was raining very heavy, and it continued to rain into the afternoon. The museum
has some aircraft displayed outside and I was beginning to resign myself to the fact I would not be able to photograph them if the rain
continued, which would have been disappointing. Surprisingly by mid‑afternoon the rain had stopped and the clouds had parted
and the sun was shining which allowed me to continue my photography outside. Throughout my visit the staff were very informative and
helpful, allowing me to temporarily move barriers so I could capture clear views of the aircraft without cones and other clutter obscuring
the aircraft undercarriages and so on. After leaving the museum I travelled to Tewkesbury where I had accommodation booked for the
next three nights.
Sunday 20th ‑ For the fourth consecutive year I visited the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford,
Gloucestershire which was held this year from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th. The weather for the event looked promising with the forecast
predicting a twenty percent chance of rain in the morning and diminishing as the day progressed. There was a couple of heavy rain showers
throughout the day, but they soon passed over, though one of them temporarily halted the flying display for approximately thirty minutes
till it passed. This year I had booked the Friends of the Royal International Air Tattoo (FRIAT) six‑day package which
allowed me access to the park & view on the Wednesday and to the FRIAT enclosure from Thursday to Monday. The FRIAT enclosure had an
elevated grandstand, central marquee, comfortable seating, dedicated catering, Wi‑Fi, private toilets, left luggage facility
and Official RIAT Merchandise. In the central marquee the Centre of Aviation Photography (COAP Wings) were hosting editing
tutorials where people could download their photos and one of the staff would take you through their editing process of your photo,
passing‑on tips and tricks. COAP were also letting photographers test drive top of the range lenses for an hour
(Canon/Nikon 400 f2.8, 600 f.4 etc) which was good for anyone considering purchasing such expensive lenses.
Though I had a six‑day pass I only intended to visit the airshow on the Sunday. The main reason I purchased the package was so
I could gain access on the Monday for the departure day when all the aircraft in the flying or static display departed for their
home bases. A few weeks prior to attending the airshow, the FRIAT organisers notified its members that the FRIAT Grandstand would be
moving 175 metres west and 45 metres south from its previous location due to safety issues. Being my first time in the grandstand I
couldn't comment whether this change of location was a bad move or not, but there was a couple of issues that made me question
whether I would use the FRIAT enclosure again. Firstly, the grandstand seating is very tightly packed which gives you little
shoulder space with your neighbour, which can make panning difficult. Thankfully the grandstand seats were not all occupied in my
area, so people were able to spread out to give themselves more room. I assume there were vacant seats because some people decided
not to attend that day or they were on the grass area in front of the grandstand adjacent to the runway. Secondly, because the
grandstand had moved further west along the runway, the aircraft departing on runway 27 (tends to be the normal direction)
were airborne and quite high above the ground by the time they passed. Not an issue for some people, but I like to portray the
speed of the departing aircraft by using a slow shutter speed and blurring the background whether it be buildings or the landscape.
You can't do that if the aircraft is against the sky. The biggest bug bearer I had was the positioning of four public‑address
system speakers and associated cables to the east of the grandstand which were positioned where aircraft were lifting off the runway.
I don't know how many photos I had to delete due to speakers passing through the middle of aircraft and obscuring cockpits
and undercarriages. With Lightroom and Photoshop you can clone and remove objects to a certain degree, but I prefer not to do this
if possible.
Photo of a departing USAF Boeing C‑17A Globemaster III shows the bad positioning of the public address system speakers.
The theme for this year's RIAT was ‘Eyes in the Sky’ which was to celebrate and highlight the vital role aviation plays across domains of aerial surveying, airborne early warning, maritime patrol, search and rescue, reconnaissance, signals intelligence and surveillance. In that theme, the highlight of the show for myself was the display by the Lockheed U‑2S from the RAF Fairford based USAF 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. The U‑2S was displayed in a full mission fit with a sensor equipped‑nose and a Senior Span pod on the aircraft upper fuselage. The display started with a performance take‑off followed by a wheels‑up flypast and simulated flame‑out landing and go‑around. In the static display the highlights included a Antonov An‑74T ‘Coaler’ tactical transport aircraft brought by the Egyptian Air Force who were attending RIAT for the first time, while the Pakistan Air Force brought a very impressive painted Lockheed C‑130E Hercules. Pakistan also brought two JF‑17C Thunder multi‑role combat aircraft, supported by an Illuyshin IL‑78MP ‘Midas’ aerial refuelling aircraft. The USAF had an impressive static display with a Boeing KC‑46A Pegasus, Boeing KC‑135R Stratotanker, Boeing RC‑135V Rivet Joint, Rockwell B‑1B Lancer and a huge Lockheed C‑5M Super Galaxy.
Lockheed U‑2S, S/N 80‑1094 landing after its flying display on the sunday.
On the downside, the USAF were going to have a flying display by the B‑1B Lancer on the Saturday, but the aircraft went
unserviceable and a second one which was scheduled to attend the airshow had cancelled earlier in the week. I would not have seen the
B‑1B display as I didn't attend on the Saturday, but I was hoping to see it depart on the Monday, which was not to be. During
the Sunday airshow a USAF Boeing C‑17A Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base brought in spares and
equipment to repair the unserviceable B‑1B and departed shortly after. Another major disappointment was the cancellation
by the Spanish Navy of their McDonnell Douglas EAV‑8B Harrier II due to airframe unavailability. Overall, I can't complain
as the airshow was still very enjoyable with some superb aircraft and flying displays.
Monday 21st ‑ Today I atended the RIAT departures day when all the aircraft attending RIAT, whether in the flying or
static displays departed for their home bases. The first aircraft started leaving at 08:00 and the flow of departing aircraft
totalling nearly two hundred continued non‑stop till 16:45 with the grand finale being the Lockheed C‑5M Super Galaxy.
Thankfully, the weather forecast which predicted unsettled weather with the chance of rain got it totally wrong and I spent the a
thoroughly enjoyable day in sunshine with warm temperatures.
Lockheed C‑5M Super Galaxy S/N 86‑0012 departs RAF Fairford.
Tuesday 22nd ‑ Today was the last day of my trip and I planned on visiting the Lake District for some military low flying photography. At 07:30 when I arrived at the car park at Thirlmere dam there was already some photographers waiting in their vehicles for the dull, overcast miserable weather to clear. By 10:30 it looked like it might start to clear, and the other photographers had left their vehicles and started the climb up to Smaithwaite Banks or Raven Crag. I decided to wait, as the weather still looked unsettled and after an early start and long drive I tried to catch up on some sleep. By midday the weather looked to be improving but not enough for my liking, so I decided to leave as I had a long drive ahead and wanted to get home a decent time because I was working the following day. Looking on social media, I was pleased to see that the photographers who decided to climb the hill did get lucky in the afternoon with passes by a Grob Prefect T.1 and a Boeing CH‑47 Chinook HC‑6.
