Lost Submarine

German U-Boat © Airads

It's been a fine day and as you can see from the first photo, I've been busy looking for the wreck of the recently exposed German U-Boat on the Hoo Peninsula, near Sheerness.

From the air, you can gain a much better idea of it's condition now the tidal surge has freed most of its structure from the mud. There's also a link to my Flickr gallery where you can find my other photos of the wreck.

What the submarine's story was is still to be revealed but if you know, perhaps you can share it here. It must have a a history and there must be records of its crew and actions in World War One.

Over at Manston I spotted the KLM flight returning to Amsterdam, as well as an RAF Tornado blazing through at low level. One had a bird-strike yesterday and I'm wondering if it was the same one returning home. It led me to speculate that at the present rate of attrition we will soon have more operational Spitfires in private hands than front-line fighters in the RAF.

KLM Flight Departing

First4Lawyers TV Advert Appears with an Airads Plane Banner

The latest TV advertisement for 'First4Lawyers' made its debut appearance this week and so that means Airads now has two ads running on TV at the same time with plane banners. The first is of course the latest Go Compare installment, filmed with two aircraft but you can see the result below on YouTube.

 

Wyjdziesz Za Mnie Iwonko

A very Polish proposal at Leeds Castle in Kent today. Andrzej's flying proposal to Iwona. It all worked out in the end despite the thick fog at first.

The day started with fog down to 100 feet but with luck, it lifted just in time for Andrzej to "Pop the question."

The new telephoto lens at just under £1,000 makes a huge difference from a 1,000 feet and almost 100 mph trying to capture the moment.

Fighters at Lakenheath

(C) Jim Bennett

United States Airforce F15 fighters photographed while passing over the Lakenheath airforce base in Norfolk. Possibly more operational military aircraft below than the entire RAF on any one day?

Airads Appears in Latest Go Compare TV Advertisement

Originally filmed in March outside Blackbushe airport at the Sun Microsystems offices, the Go Compare advertisement featuring two banner aircraft has appeared.

You wouldn't realise how long we were orbiting from the film and in fact the letters were red. However, it's amazing what a little post-production CGI can do these days.

Special K's Magic Moment

A special proposal moment captured at Leeds castle in Kent this morning as Del proposes to his partner, 'Special K.'

Is that a ring he is giving her?

Is that Ed Milliband?

A banner pilot's view at 11:15 this morning, as the Airads plane arrives as scheduled, over the TUC Congress in Bournemouth, flying a special, "Leave the EU' banner message, to the Labour Leader from Bob Crow of the RMT Trade Union.

Ice Pilots Series Theme

If you wondered what the theme song for the series Ice Pilots was, then here it is. It's by David Usher and here's the YouTube track. We will have to cut it into the next Airads video.

A Wedding and a Proposal on a Wet Afternoon

Two different scenes on a very blustery September afternoon.

A banner for the wedding of Chris and Rachel at the Ashdown Country Club and Marijus proposes to Viktoria at Leeds Castle in Kent.

 A good result all round in trying weather conditions.

Daredevil Proposal

Wayne proposes to Alex in a most unusual way. Wing-walking at Damyns Hall aerodrome on a Stearman Biplane with an Airads proposal banner at just the right moment.

The first time I've ever met a happy couple in all these years.

The BBC One Show Display

Wondering what the BBC's One Show will include or leave on the cutting-room floor this Wednesday evening, as I've been told, that the project which took almost a year in planning and preparation will be screened at 7pm and here's a link to the programme on BBC iPlayer.

Can't tell you what happens before that but here's a little behind the scenes filming.

A Norwich Romance

The weather was perfect on this Bank Holiday Monday, for another successful plane banner proposal flight.

This time it was Norwich and Jamie was popping the question to Georgia, who of course said "Yes."

Airads was operating from the old USAAF WWII bomber base at Seething, ten miles from Norwich and after the first flight was postponed by Saturday's thunderstorms, this one was spot on!

Over Samsung with a Summer Message

Dunsfold was preparing for its big "Wings & Wheels" event on Saturday, when we picked-up a banner to fly at a special corporate event at Samsung's HQ near Chertsey.

Lot's of interesting aircraft flying into Dunsfold to prepare for the airshow and equally many people seen at Samsung's summer event when we arrived overhead.

The photo gallery is up on our Facebook page.

A Special Evening at Newmarket's July Course

Congratulations to Andrew and Lainey, after a unique proposal at the July races at Newmarket.

It took a month to set this up with the Jockey Club and our thanks to them for helping make such a special evening by agreeing a special flyover time between the races.

Certainly an August evening to remember and a mention in the papers too!

Andrew & Elaine

Camera Angle

New Archaeological Site at Canterbury

I promised readers a photo of the large new Iron or Bronze Age archaeological site in front of the University of Kent at Canterbury and its huge as you can see from the photo at the side.

I've taken quite a few so will give Kent Archaeology a call this week and ask if they would like some.

Today, I've been filming with the BBC's One Show since breakfast time and I'm sunburned and shattered. It never ceases to amaze me how long it can take to deliver exactly what the producer wants, when and where. With aircraft involved, that can prove a bit of a challenge at the best of times.

The results of today's little exercise, I'm told, should appear around September time.

Natalie Loves Alex

"Natalie Loves Alex," the flying message at St Giles Church at Kingston in Kent this afternoon for an Airads flypast.

Most surprising of all is that the storms forecast for mid-afternoon did not appear and so a very lucky day for the happy couple in hot sunshine.

Tolpuddle Rally 2013

Community Banner

Just a couple of photos from the Tolpuddle Martyrs Rally this afternoon in deepest tropical Dorset.



The South-west is still basking in Mediterranean-like heat as you might notice but the weather changes past Ashford to a much cooler climate indeed.

Listening to the radio traffic, I gathered that a light aircraft has crashed in the English channel some fifteen miles from Dungeness, with no sign of any survivors at present. At the moment it remains a mystery and I can only hope the Coastguard searchers from France and RAF Wattisham, find something in the next three hours as both daylight and hope fade.

RMT Banner

More news later I hope but here's a passing photo of HMS Victory.

HMS Victory

An Albanian Birthday - An English Proposal

All happening in the last 24-hours with Argita's birthday message to her partner, in Albanian over the pier at Brighton - that's Argita in the green dress - and Kyle proposing to Michaela at Harefield on Saturday afternoon

Never a dull moment this summer for Airads and with the BBC's One Show asking us to do another little job next weekend.

Brighton's Big Wheel

Lots happening today in blazing sunshine for a change. A birthday in Brighton and a marriage proposal in Essex as Airads worked two different coastlines.

Here's a photo of Brighton's Big Wheel, caught in passing this afternoon with a Happiest 50th Birthday banner.. The beach was packed.

Jesus Saves Over Brighton

An unusual banner to fly over Brighton this weekend, with a message to the thousands of beach visitors that Jesus Loves and Saves.

Some activity noted on Twitter, as onlookers tried to work-out what it was all about.

Will You Marry Me Cheri?

A very special surprise for Cheri over Colchester this afternoon on what may have been the first day of a very delayed summer.

Lovely weather and what looks like a celebration in the garden below!

Peter Loves Beagles

Given the nasty weather this weekend, quite how we were lucky enough to pick-up the banner on a wind-swept Rochester runway and get it over a cottage in Meopham, remains a mystery?

Even better, the Sun came out at the vital moment too and for a minute, you might even think from the lovely photograph that summer had arrived. It hadn't.

Maybe next week?

A Summer Wedding at Preston Court

Congratulations Amie and Danny, photographed this afternoon, at Preston Court, outside Canterbury from the Airads banner aircraft.

The first truly warm day of summer so far in this part of Kent.

We liked the traditional "Merry-go-round.'

Congratulations Tony and Becky

Congratulations Tony and Becky at Brighton Pier this afternoon. The Sun came out at just the right moment giving a perfect moment for another Airads flying proposal and the first at Brighton this summer, since the Big Wheel went up at the beginning of the pier.

Congratulations Matthew and Jessica

See at the Oake Manor Golf Club at Taunton this afternoon, the wedding of Matthew and Jessica with a special Airads congratulations banner flown overhead

It wasn't the warmest spring day I can remember but at leas the Sun appeared at just the right time, even if the wind had a Siberian feel to it.

Success at Silverstone

Despite a howling gale and conditions we would not normally display in, Airads managed to fly a banner at Silverstone racetrack today to celebrate Aston Martin's 100th birthday and the FIA World Endurance Championship race taking place on the famous track.

Quite how we succeeded in the conditions remains a mystery but it came as a nice surprise to the client and most of all to us!

Congratulations Rachel

Rachel Will You Marry Me?

Congratulations Rachel and Najnder after a flying marriage proposal at a bitterly cold Leeds Castle in Kent this afternoon.

We thought the threat of snow might stop the show but in the end the happy couple's luck held and the plane appeared right on time as Najinder 'Popped the question.'