Military Low-Flying in the UK: The Men Who Fly and the Skill of the Photograhers that Capture Them by Michael Leek - 2012-03

Mainland UK has some of the most dramatic landscapes for RAF, RN, British Army, USAF and NATO pilots to train in the important skill of low flying. It also offers splendid opportunities for photography of close-up dramatic shots taken from usually remote hillsides and mountains of Wales, England and Scotland. Pilots training for operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and other potential war zones learn their skills flying through the valleys of the UK, sometimes at near subsonic speed. In a low level environment aircrew are at work; sorties are flown as part of an intensive training schedule or to hone already developed skills. Low level flying is not for the benefit of spectators. For those prepared for sometimes long, cold days on hillsides the opportunities are unique as nowhere else in the world is it possible to photograph low flying military aircraft. And un-like pre-planned air show displays, none of the photographs in this book were staged. This is the first book to be published anywhere on the subject of military low flying.