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Breath in


Breath in
Photo Information
Copyright: Andy Manning (toucan1967) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 723 W: 131 N: 828] (4575)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-14
Categories: Transportation, Event, Action
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dawlish airshow 2008 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-08-28 9:13
Viewed: 279
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is the world famous Red Arrows, it is one of the best shots of them I have ever taken, I was tracking left to right on the plane with the blue trail using AIServo mode and managed to hit the shutter at the right time (I was only using single shot) the plane with the red trail looks slightly blurred due to the fact I was panning on the other and the crossing speed was about 500mph.

Thanks to all who view and comment on my pictures.

PP
Converted from RAW
Cropped
Added Contrast
Added Saturation
Added Border
Resized for TL
USM

Team History
The 1950s and 1960s were the heyday of Royal Air Force jet aerobatic display teams. By the mid-60s almost every Flying Training School, and several operational squadrons, had their own teams. So much time, effort and money was being expended on these non-established tasks that the Royal Air Force eventually decided to disband them all and form a single, full-time professional team. Thus, in 1964, the Red Pelicans flying six Jet Provost T Mk 4s became the first team to represent the Royal Air Force as a whole. In that same year a team of five yellow Folland Gnat jet trainers, known as the Yellowjacks, was formed at No 4 Flying Training School at Royal Air Force Valley in north Wales, led by Flight Lieutenant Lee Jones. The following year Jones was posted to the Central Flying School (CFS) to form the Red Arrows. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (RAFAT), the formal name of the Red Arrows, began life at RAF Fairford in Glouces­tershire, then a satellite of CFS. Initially there were seven display pilots and ten Gnat jet trainers. The name ‘Red Arrows’ was chosen to combine the appeal and expertise of two earlier teams, the famous Black Arrows and the Red Pelicans.

Red Arrows' first display season!
In their first season, 1965, the Red Arrows flew 65 displays in Britain, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Germany, and the Team was awarded the Britannia Trophy by the Royal Aero Club in recognition of its outstanding contribution to British prestige in the field of aviation. When the Royal Air Force decided to retain the Team for 1966, two spare pilots were established but the Team continued to fly just seven aircraft in most displays. The first display with 9 pilots was in July 1966 for the benefit of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The practice of carrying spare pilots proved unsatisfactory because the display was so specialised that each position had its own demands. To be of any use at all, the spare pilots had to be capable of filling any position at very short notice. Thus, they required more training than any other member of the team and, as a result, became more skilled. Not surprisingly the spares became dissatisfied with their roles as reserves.

Diamond 9
The Red Arrows flew nine aircraft in displays from time to time from mid-1966 onwards, but it was not until 1968 that the Team was officially increased in size to nine. Although there was nothing new in flying nine aircraft in a diamond-shaped formation, the Red Arrows’ perfectly symmetrical Diamond Nine quickly came to represent the peak of precision flying and it was eventually registered as an official trade mark.

The Hawk arrives...
The Red Arrows took delivery of the British Aerospace Hawk trainer in the autumn of 1979 and during that winter the pilots converted from the Gnat and worked up a display using the new aeroplane in time for the 1980 display season. Since being introduced into service with the Red Arrows, the Hawk has taken the Team on tours of eastern and western Europe, the USA and Canada, the Middle and Far East, Africa, the former Soviet Union and Australia. The 4000th display flown in the Hawk was at Royal Air Force Leuchars' Battle of Britain Airshow in September 2006.

Since the Team’s creation in 1965, the Red Arrows have flown over 4,000 displays in 52 countries. Today the Red Arrows are renowned throughout the world, acting as ambassadors for Great Britain when displaying overseas. They also support UK industry by demonstrating the capabilities of British equipment and expertise.


Info from http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/behindthescenes/teamhistory.cfm
jvachon, Derona, jean11-3, vsinopoulos, shelbeesmom has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PaulH: Vulcantoucan1967 1 08-29 08:29
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Critiques [Translate]

Perfect timing (a cliche used by many critiquers, but here it works)... Nice sharp (on the one) photo, you'd need at least 1/3000 for them to be both sharp.
Nice format, pano works well.
Cheers
DAvid

Hi Andy well done on this shot.....tried by many caught by few..... :-)

Ron

  • Great 
  • Derona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 189 W: 113 N: 518] (2943)
  • [2008-08-28 12:05]

Hi Andy

Great shot, you did very well to capture this with a single shot.
I have seen them flying before and their formations are amazing.
Very well done.

Regards Derek

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1528 W: 137 N: 2149] (19224)
  • [2008-08-28 14:25]

Hello Andy, you are very very good at shooting airplanes, you have the eye and the instinct to shoot at the right time. Technically it's great too, well done again, thanks!

Mario

Hello Andy,a fantastic shot perfectly timed.
Yes, there is some blur, but hardly noticeable, especially considering the speed that these guys fly at!
The weather was just great,with a beautiful blue sky for your bg.
Tfs, regards Jean.

  • Great 
  • lican (63)
  • [2008-08-28 16:44]

very nice shot :D in the decisive moment.
the colors are really nice!

Think I could copy and paste from some of my previous comments on your air show pictures - great technique to capture these fast moving aircraft, superbly sharp details and well saturated colours. A great capture.
Thanks for sharing
Mark

Hello Andy,
That is some shot. The planes look a hair's breath apart on crossing.The panning worked very well in a well composed shot with brilliant colour.
Joni

  • Great 
  • PaulH Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 30 W: 0 N: 78] (493)
  • [2008-08-29 6:03]
  • [+]

Hi Andy, superb timing to get this - very impressive. We have an Airshow here in Bournemouth this weekend, hoping to capture the Vulcan in all it's Glory!
Paul

Fantastic timing and composition, brilliant.
best wishes
Rob :)

Hi Andy,

Congratulations for your excellent timing, this is a great action shot! Vivid colors and nicely composed, by the way great note too!
TFS,
Vassilis

No KIDDING!! I'm holding my breath!! WOW...what a moment and you got it perfect Andy! Nice work on this one! Excellent sharpness, superb catch here! This certainly deserves more attention!
B-)
Linda

Hi Andy,

Wow you must have been pleased when you saw this one! It is perfect, the timing and sharpness and compostion and colours and etc etc are amazing 10 points.

Cheers
Tom

Lovely shot.
Nice and colourful, good moment to capture.

Thomas

  • Great 
  • codge Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 100 W: 13 N: 73] (611)
  • [2008-09-08 12:49]

Well Andy what can i say. What a fantastic capture. You have made the perfect capture. I find that there is not much else i can say its so good. I look forward to seeing if you can get them both in focus next yr lol
Codge

  • Great 
  • rewind Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 101 W: 6 N: 124] (1028)
  • [2008-09-10 12:04]

Wow, absolutely perfect, one chance for this and you did it! I took a similar one back in the early '80's on film which I photographed recently with the digital and posted a few weeks ago! Well done, you must be proud of this one! TFS, Les

  • Great 
  • deains Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 200 W: 32 N: 1134] (4691)
  • [2008-10-02 13:54]

Hello Andy, very good capture here, well done! My compliments. Thanks much for the comments on my "Splish Splash". Still not in so much but probably will be when the snow comes! TFS :} Don

  • Great 
  • Mitch Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 15 W: 0 N: 29] (158)
  • [2008-10-15 12:50]

you lucky lucky man.

I really like this one, and the timing could not have been bettered.
The blurred plance as you put is nothing to worry about in this shot.
The whole thing oozes movement

Absolutely brilliant.

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