Formation of F-111’s and Amberley air show Oct 4-5th 2008

[Dennis]

Hi

We were bird watching near the Port of Brisbane Visitor Centre (18th July) when we spotted a formation of F-111’s approaching from seaward. It looked like they were training for an air show and sure enough, there is one planned for Amberley 4-5th October 2008.

Grabbed with the Canon 400mm F5.6, 1/1600 at F5.6 – pigs in flight are a LOT easier than birds in flight!

Cheers

Dennis

[AlexN]

You going to head to the airshow mate? I'm thinking that would be a good day to test out my new BIG MUMMA toy

[AlexN]

oh - awesome shot by the way.

[Dennis]

Hey Alex

I used to work there a couple of years ago – it was really fantastic as we got to see all the flying! We were doing some testing outdoors once and a pig flew over, fast and low and did a dump and burn; I swear I could feel the heat from the burning avgas on my face as I looked up!

The Yanks came out with their B1-B’s whilst I was there and the pilot hit Mach 0.9 over the air field and you could see the air waves shuddering around the leading edges of the wings!

I’m going to contact my old boss to find out more details before I decide to go, as it gets so busy it’s a real pain to get to.

Cheers

Dennis

PS - what is the big un? A 500mm F4, or the 800mm F5.6?

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

More "Birds in Flight" eh Dennis.
At least they're not as erratic as the feathered ones.
Nice piccie.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Great pic Dennis. You don't see that every day.

Peter

[Bloodbean (Troy)]

Great shots! Good to see something different. What ISO setting was that on?

Troy

[Kal (Andrew)]

Great pic! The F-111 has gotta be one of my all time favourite planes

[Matty P (Matt)]

Awesome shot Dennis!

Thanks for posting.

[AlexN]

new big toy... 300mm F/2.8 and a 2x TC 600mm 5.6 !!

Gonna be a ball!

[Dennis]

Thanks Jeanette, Peter, Troy, Andrew and Matty, it was a spectacular if somewhat distant sight.

The ISO setting was 400ASA Troy.

Yes Andrew, the F-111 has quite a following at Amberley, amongst the RAAF and the commercial organisations such as Boeing who support it.

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by AlexN

new big toy... 300mm F/2.8 and a 2x TC 600mm 5.6 !!
Gonna be a ball!

Wow – I hope you’ve been working out and have a decent tripod and head!

Cheers

Dennis

[AlexN]

im a construction worker.. I move >900kgs a day.. day in day out.. by hand.

Will probably have it on a mono pod for a while, see how i can control it like that... will get a big tripod with a gimbal head if need be... ($$$ )

[middy]

Thanks for the heads up on the airshow Dennis, I might try and go along.

[wmzaphod]

Originally Posted by AlexN

new big toy... 300mm F/2.8 and a 2x TC 600mm 5.6 !!

Gonna be a ball!

Now that's a lens......... Canon or Nikon (both are great) - I could only afford a 300 F4

I am green