iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Hellenic AF/340Mira Viper down low in the Greek mountains.

Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

One more from #andravida #iniochos2025 These beauties are always a pleasure to shoot and continue to look the part in today’s 4/5 Gen combat aircraft world.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

First #Iniochos for the Qatari F-15QA Ababil and what a fine looking machine it is. Happy to get those in the bank.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Great to watch the Italians putting the Tornado through its paces this week. A fantastic workhorse with the AMI for over 40 years and looking like there’s a few years left in the old girl yet.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

First shot of this visit to Greece was one of a pair of 111 Combat Wing/330 Sqn F-16C out of Nea Anchialos last Monday. Nice to see them passing through from north to south.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

A visit to Greece for some Spring sunshine and some aviation action seemed a good idea last year. The reality is that the weather is challenging and frustrating, although the aviation when it happens just keeps the interest levels up. #Iniochos2025

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

801 NAS Sea Harrier FRS1 ZD614/004 pictured at Lossiemouth in December 1992, a little over ten years after the type made its combat debut in the South Atlantic.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

February 2016 and a long road trip to NAS Fallon, Nevada to shoot USN jets at the home of the NAWDC. 166972/NA-111 F/A-18F Super Hornet VFA-22 'Fighting Redcocks' enveloped in the efflux of the departing flight lead pictured about to start its take off run.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Fairford and RIAT 2003, a rare appearance of a Latvian AF Mi-8MTV-1 from 1 Aviation Squadron (Helicopter Flight). The following year I took my first steps into the digital world and said cheerio to K64.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

A (very) late afternoon arrival for the 2024 Athens Flying Week show was this Italian AF/32 Stormo, 13 Gruppo F-35A pictured holding station at high alpha behind the Skyvan photoship.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

A look back to June 1992 and Air Tournament International held at Boscombe Down. This was a superb show with some outstanding participants including the Czech & Slovak AF with a variety of aircraft including this MiG-29 from 1 Sqn, 11 Wing then based at Zatec.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

ZJ994/AC AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3A Royal Navy pictured operating out of Okehampton Camp in May 2018 whilst supporting the Ten Tors event.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Souda Bay, ten years ago and a fabulous few days with the men and women of 340 & 343 Sqns. F-16’s a plenty, day and night ops and plenty of photo opportunities …. wonderful. Here’s a big spine 340 Sqn F-16D about to head out as part of a four ship for a night sortie.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

A rare day of sunshine yesterday saw me down at Glasgow Airport for a few hours. Traffic was a little slow however an opportunity to catch old and new did present itself. Emirates Airbus A380 arriving with the 1907 Titan Clydebank dockyard crane in the background.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

In early April 2014 the French Air Force held a ‘Recce Meet’ at BA118 Mont-de-Marsan. The event also provided one of the last opportunities to capture the Mirage F.1 in action, in sunshine and on home turf. F.1CR 642/118-CG pictured getting smartly airborne.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

One for #PhantomFriday before the pub lunch. Sunset was fast approaching and I had visualised the shot. Eyes closed at the right time and fingers crossed whilst panning with this JASDF/501 Hikotai RF-4E at Hyakuri Air Base (RJAH) Japan, January 2019. Thankfully I fluked a keeper!

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Thanks to @mclothier.bsky.social for the kick up the backside! One for the weekend as I’ll be busy watching the 6 Nations. Here’s a pair of Spanish AF/Ala14 Hornets inbound to KB for the 2016 Sanicole Airshow, just love the cloudscape in this shot.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Well it didn’t take long for me to decide that I need to take a break from #Bluesky …. It’s currently a long scroll through the timeline to find some positivity. So for now, here’s a Typhoon FGR4 rolling out at Lossiemouth back in November 2021.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Never to be seen again ….. J-006 F-16AM R.Netherlands AF/322 Sqn, pictured returning to Leeuwarden following a Frisian Flag sortie, April 2016

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

#TornadoTuesday one from 1998 in the South Atlantic. 1435 Flight Tornado F3 ZG751/C at Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Been away for a few days and back just in time for a late ish #SeaKingSaturday HU5 XV670/17 of 771 NAS pictured at Dawlish, Devon back in 2013.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Not what I expected to photograph today at Glasgow International this morning. Antonov An-32 UR-UZR of Xena departing for Czechia on the next stage of a long journey from South America.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Not a scheme to set the world on fire but so good to see and hear this old girl at Prestwick this week. 40 year old 747-281F still earning a crust, now operating under the Moldovan flag and registered ER-BAQ with Fly Pro.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Prestwick (EGPK) yesterday. 05-0419 U-28A Draco ‘SWASH52’ thought to be operated by the USAF’s 27 SOW taxying for departure to Keflavik, Iceland. The aircraft arrived 11 days earlier from Stuttgart and was held hostage by the storms that gave the west coast of Scotland a bit of a battering.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Doubt I’ll ever again see this particular airframe. Pictured at Prestwick, August 2020 on delivery to Afghanistan following use with the USAF for the training of Afghan AF personnel. Reported having fled to Uzbekistan following the collapse of the Afghan government and armed forces in 2021.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Another look back to Lossiemouth c.30 years ago. February 1994 and 12 Sqn Tornado GR1B ZA474/FF, in the unusual (for UK Tornado units) ‘3 bag’ fit, basking in the winter sunshine.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

A Tornado GR hammering through the UK LFS at OLF heights is a sight I’ll always miss. Unmarked ZG777/135 pictured pulling hard through the valleys in LFA20T back in October 2007.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

The Royal Air Force’s 1 FTS marked its 80th anniversary in July 1999 at Linton-on-Ouse. Amongst the international participants at the event were a pair of Italian AF/61 Stormo MB-339CD from Lecce.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Spotting in the sun from the hill at Toulouse-Blagnac is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Prototype Beluga XL (msn XL1), F-WBXL pictured in May 2019 taxying to depart for continued test flights.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Rolling back the clock thirty years at Lossiemouth. 54 Sqn Jaguar GR1A XZ391/GM parked on what was ‘Lima’ during a short detachment to conduct live bombing at Garvie Island.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Extensive runway and taxiway improvements at Lossiemouth in 2020 saw the resident Typhoons relocating to nearby Kinloss Barracks, the former RAF Nimrod base. 41 Sqn FGR4 ZJ947 pictured rolling out on return from an afternoon sortie in late October 2020.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

2018 saw the Royal Air Force commemorate its 100th anniversary. A number of nations were invited to the UK to help mark the occasion at a number of airshows and events. The RCAF put in a strong showing including the Hornet Demo Team, ‘Porcelain’ pictured here over the East Devon coastline.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

@scottyrathbone.bsky.social thanks for the nudge. A quick look in the archives for #SeaKingSaturday and came up with one from Lossiemouth in March 95. HAR3 ZE368 of 202 Sqn D Flight carrying 80th Anniversary markings and pictured on the D Flight ramp along with XZ593.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

It’s coming up to five years since the first P-8A Poseidon was delivered to the RAF at Lossiemouth, Scotland. The UK P-8 fleet now totals nine aircraft and is operated by 42, 120 & 201 Squadrons. ZP802/02 “City of Elgin" pictured at Lossiemouth in November 2020.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

Last Friday was my first day out shooting military aircraft this year. Great conditions and plenty of traffic made for a grand day out.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

As #PhantomFriday appears to be a ‘thing’ here as it was at the other place, I may as well make a contribution. 561FS, Nellis AFB, October 1995.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Always a favourite on the European Airshow circuit was the R.Netherlands AF F-27 demonstration. Specially marked C-10 pictured prior to the 1993 Mildenhall Air Fete show weekend.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Amongst many ‘wow’ aircraft to be seen at the 2006 Edwards AFB Open House was NASA B-52H 61-0025. Arriving at Dryden on the 30th July 2001 from the 23 BS/5 BW at Minot AFB and initially placed on loan. Due to restructuring at NASA the aircraft was returned to the USAF at Sheppard AFB in May 2008.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

A pit stop at Lancaster, General William J.Fox Field (KWJF) California in October 2006 following two busy days at the Edwards AFB Open House. A great breakfast, hot steaming coffee, blue skies and a resting SP-2H of Neptune Aviation awaiting the call to action.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

A look back to April 2016 and Frisian Flag held at Leeuwarden. Very welcome participants were the Air National Guard F-15C/D Eagles from the 144 FW/194 FS “Griffins” California ANG & 104 FW/131 FS “Death Vipers” Massachusetts ANG. F-15C 84-0016/MA pictured taxiing for departure.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

A bit of a change for my first 2025 aviation outing. An evening visit to Edinburgh for the arrival of the first Emirates Airbus 350 to visit the UK, operating the EK23 service from Dubai. Bitterly cold and dark but a notable occasion nonetheless, looking forward to the longer days!

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

September 2022, I had a great opportunity or two flying with #aviationphotocrew during Athens Flying Week. US Navy/VRC-40 Det III ‘Amigos’ Greyhound 162155/23 spent a few minutes behind the photoship prior to arrival at Tanagra AB.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

It gets dark pretty early in Scotland during the winter which gives the photographer the opportunity for something a little different. LN-RTO Dassault Falcon 2000LX S Rely A/S arriving at Dundee, 1644L 30 November 23.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Following the cancellation of the F-35s UK Airshow debut in 2014 the aircraft made it to the UK for RIAT and FIAS in 2016. VMFAT-501 ‘Warlords’ F-35B, 168727/VM-19 pictured posing nicely for the camera behind the KC-130J photoship enroute Farnborough from Fairford.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Complementing my last post and taken just over 3 years later, also at Prestwick was this shot of CC-330 330002 Royal Canadian AF/437 Sqn (Government of Canada). This aircraft was previously 9K-APC with Kuwait Airways before delivery to the RCAF in August 2023.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Prestwick, Jul 20, the only time I managed a shot of RCAF/437 Sqn CC-150 15003 in good light. Del to Wardair in Jan 88 as C-FWDX and also operated by Canadian Airlines and Compass Airlines before delivery to the Canadian AF in Dec 1992. Damaged beyond repair at Guam and broken up in situ Feb 2024.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

As we prepare to say goodbye to 2024 and 2025 gets ever closer I’m eagerly anticipating what aviation delights the coming year will bring. I’ll get in early to wish you all a Happy New Year! Best wishes!!

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

RAE Hunter T12 XE531 was unique. A Hunter F6 converted by Hawker and initially fitted with Head-Up Display for TSR2 trials she was later used by RAE Farnborough and RRE Bedford for research and Harrier avionics tests. Pictured at Greenham Common 31 Jul 1976.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

A look back 15 years when the Harrier was prolific in the UK Low Flying System. Late afternoon in LFA7 and 800/801 NAS (Naval Strike Wing) GR9 ZG508/79 was one of a four ship passing through low and fast. Sure miss seeing these down low in the valleys.

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Tom Gibbons @tomg701.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Being more used to seeing the Mil Mi-8/17 family in camouflage guise it was great to get up close to the Czech AF/243 vrlt VIP examples at Kbely AB back in September 2004. Mil Mi-8PS 0834 was one of three to be seen during the visit.

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