Lyle's Lens

Case record 05

100 Squadron RAAF: Warbirds Over Scone

Signature portrait and documentary coverage for No. 100 Squadron's heritage flight operations.

FLTLT Chris Tulk, Mustang command portrait
FLTLT Chris Tulk in front of the Mustang's shark-mouth nose FLTLT Chris Tulk beside the Mustang's propeller

Context and strategy

No. 100 Squadron RAAF looks after the RAAF's heritage fleet at Point Cook. When the squadron takes a Mustang to an airshow, the photos have to work for Defence media, heritage programme reporting and public engagement, all at once and straight away.

Lyle produced signature portraits and full documentary coverage in one planned shoot. The photos were made for the squadron's official use.

The aircraft

A CA-18 Mk.23 Mustang, built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Melbourne and delivered to the RAAF in February 1950. Following a decade-long restoration, it returned to the skies in 1999. It wears the markings of Squadron Leader Ron Susans' personal mount from 77 Squadron in occupied Japan. Recently reregistered as A100-750, it is one of eleven heritage aircraft selected by the RAAF for continued active flying operations.

The coverage

One planned shoot on a busy, active flight line at Warbirds Over Scone: cockpit portraits of the pilots, the Mustang on the ground and in the air, and the ground crew, photographers and lighting around it.

Pilot in the Mustang cockpit, canopy open Pilot in the Mustang cockpit, seen from the side Pilot in the Mustang cockpit at dusk Pilot in the cockpit before flight, canopy open Pilot fitting a helmet in the cockpit Mustang taxiing towards the camera, propeller turning Mustang low over the runway, hills behind Mustang at speed on the runway Air force photographers on the flightline Ground crew member in a hi-vis vest on the flightline Lighting set up beside the Mustang's shark-mouth nose, with RAAF personnel Ground handler beside the Mustang and another warbird on the grass

The lighting set-up photo: courtesy of The Ground Crew, on Facebook: The Ground Crew (opens in a new tab) / Instagram: The Ground Crew (opens in a new tab).

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Or email lyle.holt@lyleslens.com