In the realm of aviation enthusiasts, those who have a passion for capturing aircraft images are affectionately known as ‘spotters.’ Among them, there are individuals who possess an extraordinary talent for turning aircraft photography into an art form.
One such remarkable spotter is the Polish photographer Sławek Krajniewski, who goes by the pseudonym Hesja. His website serves as a virtual gallery of some of the most breathtaking airplane photographs, you’ll ever come across. Personally, I became acquainted with his work through the stunning images he regularly captures of Polish Air Force planes.
Last Saturday, Hesja posted an exciting update on her Facebook page, stating, “On July 7, I had the pleasure and honor of organizing and leading an air-to-air photo shoot with Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets participating in NATO Baltic Air Policing over Lithuania.” Hesja expressed her gratitude to the pilots of Wing 12 for their collaboration, which resulted in a collection of truly spectacular photos. (You can click on the images to enlarge them and appreciate the intricate details.)
Among these images, one stands out: the EF-18M C.15-62 12-20 releasing flares. These fighters are part of the Vilkas Detachment of the Spanish Air Force, which has been stationed at the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania since March. The deployment of flares serves as a countermeasure against surface-to-air missiles, particularly those guided by heat-seeking technology.
In another captivating photo, we get a glimpse of the AN/AAQ-28(V) LITENING target designator mounted on the belly of one of the Spanish EF-18Ms, specifically the C.15-44 12-02 (identified as the dark-colored nacelle between the plane’s air intakes). The false cockpit painted on the lower part of the aircraft is also discernible, a clever tactic to deceive adversaries in aerial combat. This fighter is armed with IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missiles on its wing mounts.
A striking image captures both the C.15-44 12-02 and the C.15-62 12-20, both equipped with external fuel tanks on their inner wing mounts.
The featured photo of the EF-18M C.15-62 12-20 in this collection is a true masterpiece. It skillfully combines the illumination created by the flares with the fighter’s navigation lights and the condensation trails along the leading edge extensions (LERX).
To complement this series, Juan José Calvo Martínez has shared two additional photos from the session, crediting Hesja as the photographer. While they may not appear on the Polish spotter’s Facebook page, they are equally captivating. In one of the photos, we see the two Spanish fighters soaring over the Lithuanian countryside, with the C.15-62 12-20 proudly displaying the Spanish flag on the front of its cockpit, visible through the HUD. These photos encapsulate the sheer beauty and power of these aircraft against the backdrop of the Lithuanian skies.
