Author Topic: DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!  (Read 1297 times)

Offline KiwiZac

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DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
« on: May 11, 2022, 08:56:22 AM »
On April 25 I turned up at the local aero club to see the Air Force Heritage Flight of New Zealand's Anzac Day flypast, consisting of a Spitfire Mk.IX, Grumman TBM Avenger and two RNZAF T-6C Texan trainers. 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 the only flying de Havilland DH-112 Venom Cold War jet fighter, 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 local aviation identity Richmond Harding’s place 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_3706 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3708 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_3709 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 the day can be found here.
« Last Edit: May 11, 2022, 09:20:44 AM by KiwiZac »

Offline DaddyO

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Re: DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2022, 03:33:44 PM »
Great story and good to see how the photos finished.  (Favourite is 3838)

Look forward to knowing if you sort out a different lens for a second go  ;D

Paul
There cannot be a crisis today, my schedule is full

Offline macsporran

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Re: DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2022, 04:42:54 PM »
Oh, you lucky b****r! 😃
Sandy

Offline PrzemoL

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Re: DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2022, 04:10:22 PM »
Oh, you lucky b****r! 😃
Sandy

I was just about to write the same words...  :)

Just great...
Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Offline KiwiZac

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Re: DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2022, 07:34:24 AM »
Right place, right time, generous and good people  :) Thank you for the kind words, folks!

Offline gbrivio

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Re: DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2022, 09:41:35 PM »
Great pictures, I'm sure you had a great day too. Thank you for sharing.
Ciao
Giuseppe

Offline KiwiZac

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Re: DH Venom air-to-air...from a Tiger Moth?!
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2022, 06:16:23 AM »
Thank you Giuseppe - I'm still smiling!

I spoke with both John (Venom) and Darren (Tiger Moth) yesterday and they're very keen to get the three of us up to try again. I just need to borrow a decent lens and wait for good weather...