DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
Apr 29, 2022 10:48:06 GMT 12
Dave Homewood, skyhawkdon, and 7 more like this
Post by ZacYates on Apr 29, 2022 10:48:06 GMT 12
On Monday I turned up at the local aero club to see the Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand's Anzac Day flypast. Darren Luff, club president and owner of Tiger Moth ZK-BEF, saw me and asked “what are you and your camera up to later?” and I was honest in saying “nothing really!”. After the flypast I found Darren and his dad John, who owns (believed to be the only flying) DH Venom ZK-VNM, chatting and so sat with them. They were discussing comparative speeds and flypast - due to speed not so much formation - positioning and it was when John asked me “where would be best for you?” that I realised I was to take photos of the Venom from the Tiger Moth.
I’m not sure anyone else has ever done this. Let’s just say 1) a bigger lens would have helped and b) those shoulder straps really make it tricky to shoot very far behind! I’m still kinda stunned (and humbled beyond words) I was asked to do this and, despite experience and equipment limitations, that I was able to get anything at all! Considering it was the first time they’d flown these two aircraft together John did a terrific job slowing down to allow for photos, no mean feat given the difference in performance! And yes: Darren had the Tiger going full throttle!
We had three photo runs. John flew the Venom past us a little too far for me first time, swung round and came in closer for the second attempt which made for some good front-3/4 shots, then we turned back to Whanganui and he came past even closer with everything hanging out - a surreal sight while sitting up front in a Tiger - before we parted ways: John back to do a circuit or two, us to drop in to Richmond Harding’s place (my first visit since I was a baby) for a catch-up and then home.
Processing the photos confirmed what I thought midflight: the same lens I complain is no good for airshow photos isn’t particularly suited for air-to-air either! However I’m pleased with what I got. Here’s hoping I can track down a bigger lens to get the photos John and Darren were looking for.
As we were getting ready to go, and when we arrived back at the clubrooms, I kept telling people “I just came here to see the flypast!!”
DSC_3691 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3701 (2) by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3713 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3753 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3768 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3780 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3793 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3797 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3805 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3810 (2) by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3821 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3827 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3832 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3838 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3844 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3846 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3847 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3848 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3852 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3859 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3860 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3862 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3863 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3865 (2) by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3867 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3906 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3911 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
All my photos from Monday can be found here.
I’m not sure anyone else has ever done this. Let’s just say 1) a bigger lens would have helped and b) those shoulder straps really make it tricky to shoot very far behind! I’m still kinda stunned (and humbled beyond words) I was asked to do this and, despite experience and equipment limitations, that I was able to get anything at all! Considering it was the first time they’d flown these two aircraft together John did a terrific job slowing down to allow for photos, no mean feat given the difference in performance! And yes: Darren had the Tiger going full throttle!
We had three photo runs. John flew the Venom past us a little too far for me first time, swung round and came in closer for the second attempt which made for some good front-3/4 shots, then we turned back to Whanganui and he came past even closer with everything hanging out - a surreal sight while sitting up front in a Tiger - before we parted ways: John back to do a circuit or two, us to drop in to Richmond Harding’s place (my first visit since I was a baby) for a catch-up and then home.
Processing the photos confirmed what I thought midflight: the same lens I complain is no good for airshow photos isn’t particularly suited for air-to-air either! However I’m pleased with what I got. Here’s hoping I can track down a bigger lens to get the photos John and Darren were looking for.
As we were getting ready to go, and when we arrived back at the clubrooms, I kept telling people “I just came here to see the flypast!!”
DSC_3691 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3701 (2) by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3713 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3753 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3768 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3780 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3793 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3797 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3805 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3810 (2) by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3821 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3827 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3832 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3838 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3844 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3846 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3847 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3848 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3852 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3859 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3860 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3862 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3863 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3865 (2) by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3867 by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3906 by Zac Yates, on FlickrUntitled by Zac Yates, on FlickrDSC_3911 by Zac Yates, on FlickrAll my photos from Monday can be found here.
I admire Gavin immensely!