*** June 2025 Image and Video Thread ***

[RuleOfThirds]

Castello di Larciano

• Panasonic - DC-S5M2
• LUMIX S 24-105/F4
• 85.0 mm
• ƒ/7.1
• 1/80 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 100

 

[GeorgeHudetz]

A Bullock's Oriole. Don't see these very often in my area. They seem to want to stay hidden in the leaves & jump around a lot. S1RII w/Sigma 150-600 & 1.4 TC. 100% crops.

• Panasonic - DC-S1RM2
• 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | S 021 + TC-1411
• 840.0 mm
• 1/800 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 3200

• Panasonic - DC-S1RM2
• 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | S 021 + TC-1411
• 840.0 mm
• 1/800 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 3200

• Panasonic - DC-S1RM2
• 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | S 021 + TC-1411
• 840.0 mm
• 1/800 sec
• Pattern
• Manual exposure
• ISO 4000

 

[Travis Butler]

The Michigan Flight Museum aircraft selection was unfortunately a bit disappointing, because I'd seen all but one of them before; indeed, I'd seen the F-84F, F-18, A-4, F-4, the SeaCobra, even the SPAD, at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo earlier in the trip. But there was one plane I'd never seen in person...


20250531-SDIM6729 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Sigma fp, MD 35-70/3.5 Macro

The Harrier jump-jet, first VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) jet to enter service.

It was a bit of an awkward, ugly aircraft:


20250531-SDIM6726 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
(The air intakes were so large they were nicknamed 'Elephant's Ears'.)

But it did things no other aircraft could do.


20250531-SDIM6718 by Travis Butler, on Flickr

The 'business end' of the Harrier - four of these rotating nozzles swiveled to let it hover like a helicopter, or swivel back for conventional jet propulsion.


20250531-SDIM6716 by Travis Butler, on Flickr

The nozzles got in the way of conventional landing gear, so the Harrier had bicycle gear on the main fuselage, and these weird outriggers at the wingtips.

 

[xaviergut]

I like this June stormy afternoons:

• Panasonic - DC-S5M2
• LUMIX S 18-40/F4.5-6.3
• 28.0 mm
• ƒ/8
• 1/100 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 100

I traded the Lumix 26mm f8 for the Lumix 18-40mm. I was too lazy to focus manually... And the WA zoom is a much more versatile Lens.

• Panasonic - DC-S5M2
• LUMIX S 18-40/F4.5-6.3
• 18.0 mm
• ƒ/4.5
• 1/500 sec
• Pattern
• Auto exposure
• ISO 100

 

[CharlesH]

But it did things no other aircraft could do.

The Harrier is still in service with the U.S. Marine Corps, and will retire in 2027. It may be in service other places around the world.

 

[Travis Butler]

The Harrier is still in service with the U.S. Marine Corps, and will retire in 2027. It may be in service other places around the world.

True! This was the first-generation AV-8A Harrier; I think they were all replaced by the second-gen AV-8B Harrier II's.

Unfortunately, it still gets dinged as a terrible, dangerous plane.

 

[CharlesH]

Unfortunately, it still gets dinged as a terrible, dangerous plane.

I'm a pilot and pretty bold but the thought of flying a Harrier scares the bejesus out of me. I really take my hat off to those pilots that have mastered this aircraft.

The Harrier has improved over time and with design changes, but its safety record is still not up to other military aircraft. It has largely been replaced with the F-35B Lightening II, which is also VTOL, and it has a much better saftey record.