Northern Ireland Aviation Enthusiast's Forum

General Aviation Discussion => Spotting Trips => Topic started by: Dave on August 30, 2012, 02:10:23 AM

Title: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: Dave on August 30, 2012, 02:10:23 AM

Hey folks, after missing out both RIAT and Farnborough airshows, I decided to head off to Amsterdam and Zurich for my summer holidays. Amsterdam was supposed to be the spotting half of the trip whilst Zurich was organised purely to meet up with friends and relatives living there. However I did manage a good chunk of spotting whilst in ZRH. We were pretty lucky with the weather, over 30oC+ every day and clear skies every day, with the odd thunderstorm at night. :)
ZRH airport has got to be the most spotter friendly airport within Europe with two dedicated spotting terraces above the terminals, as well as ramp bus tours etc. Also a large variety of spotting options around the airport perimeter, and luckily, two of the friends we were visiting were both also dedicated spotters like myself so we got free transport around the airport to the various photography locations.  ;D
Included in the thread are the first half of some of my images from ZRH. I havn't even touched the photos from Amsterdam yet despite having the most images from there.  :)

(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9275/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9275/)
HB-JRC at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9275/)
 

(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9273/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9273/)
HB-JME at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9273/)

 
(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9290/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9290/)
Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9290/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9297/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9297/)
Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9297/)
 

(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9298/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9298/)
D-AOLT at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9298/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9309/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9309/)
SU-BPU at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9309/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9314/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9314/)
4R-ADE at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9314/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9431/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9431/)
HB-IYU at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9431/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9560/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9560/)
HB-JHB at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9560/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9569/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9569/)
HB-IHX at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9569/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9568/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9568/)
HB-IOX at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9568/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9570/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9570/)
HB-JVE at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9570/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9576/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9576/)
HB-JMM at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9576/)

Title: Re: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: Dave on August 30, 2012, 02:12:10 AM

(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9586/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9586/)
9V-SKQ at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9586/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9681/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9681/)
HB-JHA at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9681/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9195/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9195/)
HS-TNB at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9195/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9686/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9686/)
D-AOLB at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9686/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9689/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9689/)
HS-TNB at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9689/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9741/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9741/)
HB-JHQ at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9741/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9736/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9736/)
HB-JHL at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9736/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9733/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9733/)
9V-SKQ at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9733/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9196/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9196/)
B-6118 at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9196/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9192/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9192/)
HB-JMF at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9192/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9193/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9193/)
HL7752 at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9193/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9194/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9194/)
A6-ECJ at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9194/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9731/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9731/)
A6-ECV at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9731/)

Sorry for the picture count, these were just the best images so far, part 2 to come when I have time to edit more of them.  :angel:
Dave

Title: Re: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: Dave on August 30, 2012, 02:26:07 AM

Almost forgot about the highlight of the trip, my first opportunity to photograph an IL-76, great looking aircraft!  ;D

(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9742/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9742/)
4K-AZ101 at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9742/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9744/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9744/)
4K-AZ101 at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9744/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9743/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9743/)
4K-AZ101 at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9743/)

Title: Re: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: stcolin on August 30, 2012, 02:38:52 PM

Top job as always Dave. Weather held out for you then? Enjoying the new 120-300?

Title: Re: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: Jake Lewis on August 30, 2012, 04:49:28 PM

Absolutely fantastic set Dave! Well done! :)

Off to Malaga on Sunday, hopefully get some shots there!

Jake

Title: Re: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: Paultojo on August 30, 2012, 05:29:26 PM

Very nice Dave as usual do like the 76
 
P

Title: Re: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: hammerhead on August 30, 2012, 05:39:30 PM

Great set of pics as usual Dave....... :goodjob:

Title: Re: Zurich 17th-23rd August
Post by: Dave on August 31, 2012, 01:19:54 AM

Thanks guys! Have fun in Malaga Jake, I've seen some nice images from there when screening on JP.
Colin, the weather was perfect, 6 days of pure sunshine at Zurich, on several days it was even clear enough to see the Alps over 100km away. Got a great tan/burn too!  8) As for the new Sigma 120-300mm, I still have mixed opinions on it at the moment. My copy seems softer than I'd have expected from it so I'm sending it into Sigma along with my Canon 7D for a free recalibration, the 3 year warrenty will be a handy over the next few years should any problems arise. My old Canon 100-400mm was just as sharp to be honest.
The main detracting point about the lens is the twist zoom feature... it's very stiff so when zooming, it takes alot of effort to physically twist, whist already putting effort into holding the 3kg beast, all of which results in quite shaky panning. In comparison, the twist zoom on the Canon 70-200mm is a thousand times easier to twist.
All the negatives aside, it was great being able to go down to F3.5 and get perfectly editable shots whenever the focus would work.

<img alt="Aviation photo" src="[url=http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9559/hottestbrick_main.jpg]http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9559/hottestbrick_main.jpg (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9559/)" />[/url]
HB-JHB at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9559/)


(http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9556/hottestbrick_main.jpg) (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9556/)
HB-JMO at Zurich - Kloten
by Dave Henderson on netAirspace.com (http://www.netairspace.com/pic/9556/)
So if the recalibration fixes the softness and the twist zoom gradually loosens, then it should be a cracking lens.  ;D