View allAll Photos Tagged FORMAL
Since I am now "officially" a photographer, the family has requested (demanded) a formal capture of us all each year. Here we all are on the dunes at Destin, Florida.
The formal part of Bournemouth Gardens, including the rockery, looking beautiful in the sunshine.
02.11.2016
Man has invented computers and robots and has reached to space but still the celestial bodies have attracted us. Since years, mothers have used moon and stars to pacify their infants, their lullabies have beautifully mentioned them and have made them curious to know more about these fascinating objects hanging in the sky. These planets have secured an important place in the curriculum of these children. Books have provided a great amount of information but to quench the thirst of our students to know more about planets, stars, and constellations, a visit was organized to the prestigious Nehru Planetarium, Delhi. Children enjoyed their bus ride sang songs, played riddle games. As they entered, they were welcomed by the first satellite launch vehicle-SLV-3 which brought a seven-mile smile on their faces. After reaching there they enjoyed their lunch and gave the shutterbug a chance to capture their fun filled activities. Now it was the time to enter the dome, their excitement was doubled. They were thrilled to see the space suit worn by Sq. Ldr. Rakesh Sharma during his maiden visit to space. Though it was dark inside the dome but the whispering of excited little wonders was telling the level of enthusiasm. The Science teacher and the Social Science teacher explained them more about these sparkling objects in the sky. Now it was the time to visit The Nehru Sangrahalay. Children were thrilled to see the newspapers’ cuttings with the news of Non-Co-operation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, and Quit India Movement. They got back to school with a bag mixed with excitement, pride, and knowledge.
+++ DISCLAIMER +++
Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!
Some background:
Tunisia has, considering its size, one of the relatively small Air Forces in the region. Tunisia established the first air arm in 1959, after being controlled by France until 1954, but it took until 1960 before the first aircraft were delivered.
Eight Saab 91's became the first service aircraft. They were transferred after the first personnel had done their training in Sweden. The eight aircraft were to be followed by seven more. In 1961 two Alouette 2 helicopters were taken on strength. In 1963 the French government supplied three MD315's and twelve T-6 Harvards to the Tunisian Republic Air Force.
The jet-age in the Tunisian Republic Air Force started in 1965 when eight MB326 aircraft were delivered and the Advanced Flying Training Squadron was established. In 1969 twelve F-86's were delivered from the Unites States providing more air power.
In 1973, sixteen A-4F Skyhawks were offered to the Tunisian Republic Air Force. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was a single seat carrier-capable attack aircraft, originally developed for the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. The delta winged, single-engined Skyhawk was designed and produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, and later by McDonnell Douglas.
At first, these were refused because of the amount of work (and cost involved) to be done on the (AMARC) aircraft. The ageing Saab 91's basic trainers were replaced by twelve SF-260WT's in 1974.
Then, in 1975, the Tunisian Republic Air Force eventually acquired ten new A-4's, despite the high cost involved, since the country's F-86s had to be replaced and a more effective fighter bomber was direly needed: Recurrent guerilla actions on Tunisia's border with Libya, probably even supported from that country, called for a veritable improvement of the Air Force.
These Skyhawks, designated A-4T, were brand new and almost up to the contemporary A-4M standard: compared with the A-4F these machines had improved avionics, a more powerful J52-P-408a engine with 11,200 lbf (50 kN) thrust, an enlarged cockpit and an IFF system.
Two UH-1N and two UH-1H helicopters were also taken on strength in 1975, followed by eighteen Italian built AB205's in 1980. Later, at least four AB412's were purchased.
The backbone of the Tunisian Republic Air Force nowadays is formed by thirteen (twelve F-5E and three F-5) which were bought from the United States in XXX and fill the interceptor role. Also, the MB326 are still going strong with 11sq at Sidi Ahmed, and the A-4Ts (eight are still operative).
The transport-role has been fulfilled by eight ex AMARC C-130B's and three newly built C-130H's. In 1995 Tunisia was offered eleven ex AMARC HH-3E's. Although it is widely believed the offer was refused, two HH-3E's wearing Tunisian roundels and serials were seen in late 1999. The serials suggest that at least seven were taken on strength.
AMARC files show eleven HH-3's to be delivered to the Tunisian Republic Air Force. Also in 1995, Tunisia took delivery of twelve new L-59T armed jet trainers and three L-410UVP's. Latest deliveries are two G222's (2001, ex AMI) and an extra C-130 (2002).
The Tunisian Republic Air Force uses a squadron/flight structure and has four main bases (Bizerte/Sidi Ahmed, Gafsa, Bizerte/La Karouba and Sfax).
Aircraft of the Tunisian Republic Air Force are rarely seen outside Tunisia although some visits to Spanish bases of Tunisian F-5's and A-4's were made in the past years.
In 2010, Lockheed Martin signed a contract with the Government of Tunisia for the delivery of two C-130J. The aircraft, including three years of support, will be delivered in 2013 and 2014 and will be assigned to 21sq, already equipped with eight C-130B and one C-130H.
In 2010 as well, hhe Government of Tunisia requested US Government the sale of twelve (refurbished) SH-60F to Tunisia. No further details are known yet, as this is just the formal request for the sale. The helicopters, if acquired, would replace the fleet of HH-3Es currently in use with 36sq.
General characteristics:
Crew: one
Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.22 m)
Wingspan: 26 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Height: 15 ft (4.57 m)
Wing area: 259 ft² (24.15 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 0008-1.1-25 root, NACA 0005-0.825-50 tip
Empty weight: 10,450 lb (4,750 kg)
Loaded weight: 18,300 lb (8,318 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 24,500 lb (11,136 kg)
Powerplant:
1 × Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408a turojet, rated at 11.200 lbf (50 kN)
Performance:
Maximum speed: 585 kn (673 mph, 1,077 km/h)
Range: 1,700 nmi (2,000 mi, 3,220 km)
Combat radius: 625 nmi (719 mi, 1,158 km)
Service ceiling: 42,250 ft (12,880 m)
Rate of climb: 8,440 ft/min (43 m/s)
Wing loading: 70.7 lb/ft² (344.4 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.51
g-limit: +8/-3 g
Armament:
2× 20 mm (0.79 in) Colt Mk 12 cannon in the wing roots with 100 RPG
4× under-wing & 1× under-fuselage pylon stations for up to 9,900 lb (4,490 kg) of ordnance
The kit and its assembly:
This is one of those what-if models I actually love the most: a hardware from of something that almost happened in real life. The Tunesian Skyhawk was a potential child of the mid-70ies, but despite American offers the type was not adopted, instead the F-5E was introduced. Anyway, I found the idea of such an exotic aircraft interesting, and when I finally saw the Tunesian F-5's unique paint scheme I knew that I had to build a model on this basis.
The kit I used is the venerable Italeri A-4M, which is, despite ist raised panel lines and surface details, IMHO a very good model of this type, esp. for the late USMC versions with the 'Hot Dog' antenna on the fin.
The kit was built almost OOB, the standard fin tip comes from the Italeri kit (optional part), and I left away some radar warning antennae, for a conservative look. I also changed some blade antennae, and the ordnance - while being the same as provided with the kit - is new. Both the drop tank and the rocket launchers are donation parts.
Another modification are the lowered flaps and slats in landing configuration - including bright red insides on the wings' leading edges. No extra parts were used here.
The cockpit is OOB, and a ton of lead fills the model's nose; the Matchbox pilot was only used for the beauty pics.
Painting and markings:
More interesting. The paint scheme was lent from Tunisian F-5E/Fs, and the pattern is based on the 'Minor Asia' paint scheme, just with different colors: it consists of Dark Green (probably FS 34079), Tan (FS 30219) and a bale, almost bluish gray of which I am not certain if it is FS 36231?
I tried to simulate the colors based on pictures of real world aircraft and ended with Humbrol 116, 118 and 165 - the latter is an RAF tone, a bit light for the original gray, but on many pics the aircraft look pretty sun-bleached, esp. the gray. For thenunderside I used FS 36440 (= Humbrol 129).
As usual, the kit received a black in wash, some panel shading with lighter tones, decals and finally a dry brushing treatment with a brownish gray tone.
The decals were a lucky find - there's actually a Colorado Decals sheet available that contains Tunisian F-5E markings, and these were simply transferred to the kit, plus some typical Skyhawk stencils. Just the "01" on the nose is a personal addition.
Finally, everything was sealed with matt acrylic varnish.
A simple whif, almost OOB, but with an exotic touch of a small Air Force. And, judging the beauty pics, the paint scheme appears to be pretty effective!
© Lindbloom Photography
Yesterday I photographed a group of high school students. They are all officers of the state FBLA organization. We did about 20 portraits in an hour in the lobby of the hotel where they were meeting. It was a fairly simple lighting set up with one main light in a fairly large soft box set up to the left of the camera. I used the natural window light for a bit of accent on the subjects left side. The background is illuminated by a mix of window light and tungsten light. I used a high iso and slow shutter speed to bring in the background.
This tailored fit suit is a stitched trim design and comes with a complete blazer and trouser. bit.ly/U1ICMP