February 2015

Only a few days out again this month, and with mostly dull weather throughout the latter part of February, and a busy period in work, the mission to get some "snowy" images was accomplished.

The location choice for my 2 days in The Mach Loop was the Bwlch Exit. For me, the only place to get the best of the light in the short days. The other locations do get passes, but the low sun in the afternoon through the Cadair Idris pass can sometimes send the aircraft a little high.

With the forecast giving clear skies and crisp winter sunshine, the Bwlch car park filled up as quickly as I thought it would. Time to don the YakTrax snow and ice grips for the journey to the top. The paths were reasonably slippery with the compacted snow now a layer of hard ice, but there was a good few inches of snow lying just off the main tracks. So, first job was kettle on, then a few iPhone shots of the scenery.

The Bwlch pass...


Towards Cadair Idris...


The speculation in the hills was that there was a TV crew filming for a documentary for Forces TV, so hopes were high that they would have something lined up for us to photograph... And just before lunch, a pair of Marham Tornado's gave us 2 passes, with the 2nd jet in the wing swept 67-degree configuration for both passes. After a Hercules C130J, and a few RAF Valley hawks, including a 100yr anniversary special T2, the same pair of Tornado GR4's were back for another pass, quickly followed by the other 100yrs Anniversary special Hawk T2.

So with the light fading, and the shadow climbing up the opposite hill, it was time to pack up for the day and make my way down to the car.




I decided not to stay overnight, so after some great food in the Red Lion, in Dinas Mawddwy, I headed back to South Wales. The drive through Wales in the winter months is a great experience in itself and with a car that thrives on ice-cold air in the intercooler it's a pleasure.

After another early start, and another climb to the top of the Bwlch Exit, day two started with a Hercules C130J, and a few USAF F15 Eagle passes all before 10am.

Traffic wise, it continued to be a great day, with lots of Eagle passes, 3 Tornado GR4 passes, including the same pair from yesterday, another Hercules and even a fly-by from the Welsh air ambulance...



You would be forgiven thinking that I'd have a load of shots to show from all that traffic, but, and here come the excuses, the light wasn't as good as yesterday, at least when the jets made an appearance, and many of the Eagle passes were on the high side, usually down to new students "feeling" their way around the Mach Loop.

So, that was that from my fragmented two-day trip.

Here are my pick of the stills from the 2 days in the Mach Loop...

The Pitts and the Dams...

It was another early start to get to the Craig Goch Dam in the heart of the Elan Valley for a photo shoot with Lauren Richardson flying her Pitts Special S1-S – G-BKDR aerobatic biplane. Lauren wanted some promotional shots for her website and for the upcoming display season, and after she had seen some images we had done for Ben Lovering and his biplane, G KLAW Raging Bull, she wanted something similar, and we were only too happy to oblige. So after the coffee and bacon rolls were dispatched



it was a small climb to an elevated vantage point, and what a view. A bit of prior knowledge and working out where the sun would be for her arrival, we knew it would deliver some head on climbing shots with the water as a backdrop.

A fantastic vantage point

With the weather still holding off, Lauren performed a full display programme, which gave us some great passes, and ensured Lauren had exactly what she wanted for her promotional needs. Here are a few of my favourites from the day...