A selection of some of the best photos of aviation released by the UK Ministry of Defence taken during 2023.
The UK Ministry of Defence Picture Editor Panay Triantafillides has selected the best photos from 2023 commenting: “Our photographers who are first and foremost sailors, soldiers, and aviators play an essential role in providing accountability and transparency to the public by providing images and videos of defence activity at home and abroad.” He added: “The versatility of our photographers is clearly evident in this year’s release.”
A 617 Sqn F-35B Lightning aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth preparing for night flying training. AS1 Natalie Adams/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023 The Red Arrows flying a mixed formation flypast with the Patrouille de France over Paris in honour of a state visit from King Charles III. Cpl Phil Dye/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, ZH867, flying as Striker 37, crewed by 47 Squadron with members of 47 Air Despatch Squadron on-board lining up for departure at RAF Brize Norton. The sortie involved night vision goggle (NVG) low flying, lights-out approaches and landings, and air-dropped light stores onto Abingdon drop zone. Cpl Lee Matthews/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023Swordfish MkI W5856 is owned and flown by Navy Wings and is the oldest surviving airworthy example in the world. This aircraft first flew on October 21, 1941. AS1 Emily Muir/UK MOD © Crown Copyright 2023A Chinook on a training sortie in Snowdonia on March 21, 2023 as a part of Exercise Kukri Dawn. This training event involved three Chinooks from 28 Sqn working out of RAF Valley from March 15-24, 2023. An Atlas C1 at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus. Cpl Tim Laurence/ UK MOD © Crown Copyright 2023The Typhoon Display Team specially painted jet was captured over the Menai Straits. Flt Lt Andy Donovan/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023The cockpit of an RAF A400M flying into Morocco to deliver aid following an earthquake. AS1 Jake Hobbs RAF/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023An F-35B Lightning creating a vapor cone as it flies past HMS Queen Elizabeth. An Atlas C1 over Antarctica. The 400M, supported by a Voyager, delivered 300 drums of fuel to the Sky Blue DZ. A long exposure image of a US Air Force CV-22B Osprey, based at RAF Mildenhall, conducting deck landing training on HMS Queen Elizabeth. In the foreground is a 617 Sqn F-35B Lightning . LPhot Belinda Alker/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023The Red Arrows flanking an Envoy during the King’s birthday flypast on June 17, 2023, over The Mall and Buckingham Palace. Cpl Will Drummee/UK MOD © Crown copyright 2023
