posted 11-25-2015 10:34 AM               

Originally an aviation enthusiast, I got into the space side of things after photographing one of NASA's WB-57Fs at RAF Mildenhall back in 2012. I now collect patches from all of NASA's research, test and support aircraft. My main interests are the WB-57Fs, SOFIA and its predecessor the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, although I'm not doing too well with the SOFIA and KAO patches, so I might need a little bit of help with those!

Being a Tristar fan, I also collect patches from Orbital ATK's Stargazer L-1011 aircraft and the Pegasus H/XL launches with which it is involved.

I've very recently started collecting models to accompany the patches, although I seem to have missed the boat with some of the earlier models, I've got two Jet-X 1:400 models of Stargazer and that's it at the moment.

posted 11-26-2015 11:39 AM               

And boy do you and I have something in common, I too collect the research aircraft (and space mission patches) but have only just started.

RAF Mildenhall, started with the airshow in 1975 and every year from 1983 to the last one in 2000 (work there too) I miss going to it no end. The airshows at RAF and USAF Air Base in the UK now a days are just not as friendly as then, and on think back on it then too, as the shows at Mildenhall just had an atmosphere of friendliness.

Been a modeller for years too, but not as good as the guys on here, have a look at some of the models they do.

Last of all, I to am a semi-professional photographer. Started with aircraft at the Mildenhall airshow with an Kodak 110 instamatic and got back 24 lovey shots of black spots in a blue sky, so upgraded to an old Pratikar SLR with a 300mm telephoto lens and now use a Canon 300d with all the bells and whistles and a Sigma 50-500mm zoom lens. And I do motorbike and trikes too now. I've had a good number of photos and articles published and at one time was the regional photographer for a bike magazine.

posted 11-27-2015 01:27 PM               

Butch - I remember the Air Fêtes very fondly, some of the best airshows I've been to, although I was only nine when they were cancelled. Leuchars was similarly friendly, but that's gone the same way, unfortunately.

I'm a terrible modeller and only stick to diecast models, that way I can't make a mess of them!

I've got a Nikon and a few lenses, although bar a couple of events every now and again, it's been the best part of eighteen months since I photographed aircraft properly - this is mainly down to university, but I've lost a bit of enthusiasm in recent months.