Joe Hicks
For almost two years, Adelaide saw progressive deliveries of the new RAAF Pilatus PC-21 trainer aircraft. Upon being assembled in Switzerland, the aircraft would undergo a mammoth journey from Switzerland to Australia, with Adelaide being the final stop before arriving at their base – RAAF East Sale. This photo was taken mid-way through the delivery phase, and would become A54-037 (note the Swiss temporary delivery registration, HB-HWK).
One of my few shots taken at the Aldinga Airfield, South Australia. It’s a small airfield near Aldinga Beach, SA, and offers some brilliant scenic shots. Small events are often hosted here, allowing great opportunities to go airside, and get up close to fabulous and historic aircraft like these. It also offers a flight training facility, Adelaide Biplanes, allowing customers to train on a variety of light aircraft, ranging from the Cessna 172 and Evektor SportStar family to historic aircraft, like the Waco YMF-5. This photo shows two De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moths departing from Aldinga’s grass runway
Although the image isn’t the greatest in terms of weather and excitement, this is arguably the rarest aircraft I’ve photographed. Visiting Adelaide in midlate 2019, CAVOK Air Antonov AN-12 UR-CKM certainly attracted local spotters. The aircraft sports CAVOK Air’s vibrant orange scheme, and is seen mid-way through its stay in Adelaide at Bay 82.
A photo taken from the first air show I attended – the 2019 RAAF Base Edinburgh Air Show. Along with some terrible sunburn on the day, came some great photos, with the weather turning out just right for the occasion. RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III A41-209 is seen departing RAAF Edinburgh for its display
This shot is of a Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 (A7-AMF), arriving at Adelaide Airport. Taken over a year ago, it’s one of my oldest ‘good’ photos. On this particular day, the Qatar flight arrived on RWY05 (over the ocean), allowing for some nice background scenery, not usually able to be captured for this particular movement.
Certainly one of my most noteworthy shots; Qantas Boeing 747-400ER VH-OEH makes a late rotation off of Runway 05, operating a special tour of Antarctica. This was during the Qantas Boeing 747’s last visit(s) to Adelaide, operating a special return flight between Adelaide and Sydney, as well as this tour, commemorating the retirement of the Qantas 747 late last November.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 9V-SSE departing Adelaide Airport. At the end of 2018, Singapore Airlines upgraded its main flight to Adelaide from the A330-300 to the A350-900, however they still operated the A330 on their second service until early 2020, which only operates two months of the year. This photo is of the last departure of a Singapore Airlines A330 to Adelaide, accompanied by a fitting, brilliant sunset.
Cargolux Boeing 747-400F LX-KCL, smoking up the main landing gears at Adelaide Airport. This visit to Adelaide was Cargolux’s first in many years, and attracted many spotters here. The Adelaide hills are visible in the background, making this an iconic and rare shot.
Antonovs aren’t exactly an extreme rarity in Adelaide, with two-to-three arrivals per year throughout the last few years, but they’re always mesmerising to see and photograph when they do arrive. AN-124 UR-82008 is seen on final for Runway 23 at Adelaide Airport, late last year.
While not exactly a photo of an aircraft, this photo is still a very special ‘aviation’ photo to me; Qantas B737-800 VH-VXS departs out of Ayers Rock (Uluru) Airport, bound for Adelaide. On a return trip from Darwin to Adelaide, my flight stopped over in Uluru to pick up and set down passengers, before continuing to Adelaide. The departure included a magnificent climb out over Uluru, allowing for this iconic Australian wing shot!
What’s not to love about a morning golden hour arrival? Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 9M-MTJ arrives in some phenomenal light and contrast during the early hours of the morning at Adelaide Airport.
In this shot, Emirates Boeing 777-200LR A6-EWH is seen taxiing back to the terminal at Adelaide Airport, after arriving from Dubai. This shot, along with others from this day, are my only photos of Emirates in Adelaide during the day. The flight usually arrives at 8:50pm during summer, however due to aircraft technical issues with the aircraft operating this particular flight to Adelaide, it was rescheduled to the following morning. This allowed spotters in Adelaide to get rare photos of Emirates in good lighting, as seen here.
The Clipsal/Adelaide 500 race has always provided a great opportunity to photograph scheduled jet movements in Adelaide! Earlier this year, RAAF McDonnell Douglas F/A18A ‘classic’ Hornet A21-24 performed the display, for probably the last time. The recent decision from the SA government to discontinue the Adelaide 500 supercar event has meant that Adelaide will likely not receive these annual jet displays, making this year’s one extra special.
Towards the beginning of 2020, Adelaide received many visits from aircraft diverting from Melbourne. Of these, the diversion from Etihad Boeing 777-300ER A6-ETI was easily one of the best, as Etihad swapped to the Boeing 787-9 on the Melbourne flight only days later. A6-ETI is seen kicking up off of Runway 23, one hour late, and in some fabulous last-light.
One of many unique movements that occurred during this year’s devastating bushfire season; an RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan prepares for departure from Adelaide Airport, en route to Kangaroo Island. At the time, bushfires were at their peak on Kangaroo Island, so many military and firefighting aircraft were present there. Usually this particular aircraft would visit the far more secure and less photography accessible RAAF Base Edinburgh, so photographing it at Adelaide Airport was certainly rare.
Easily one of Adelaide’s best movements of 2020; the first visit of an Airbus ‘neo’ aircraft to Adelaide, a Lion Air repatriation flight operated by Airbus A330-900N PK-LEJ, is seen departing from Runway 05 in April.
‘Lord Howe Island’ parked at the Adelaide Airport during its first and last visit to Adelaide. At the time this was taken, VH-OJU was the last Rolls-Royce powered Qantas 747 in the fleet, and was withdrawn only a few months later.
The E-Jets are a rare visitor to Adelaide, with the majority of Australia’s fleet of them being based in either Western Australia or the Northern Territory. A rare visit from Embraer 170 VH-ANV was an attraction here a few months back, being the first visit of an E-jet for 2020.

Through The Lens

Joe Hicks

1. How did you get into aviation photography?

It all really started when a friend introduced me to the world of aviation around 5 years ago. Upon discovering the interest, I began collecting model aircraft. As of today, I’m still collecting models however the interest for photography and videography really came around in early 2018. At the time, I didn’t have a camera, and had completely no knowledge on photography, lighting etc – not even aircraft schedules! My first time plane spotting occured at a backlit lookout at Adelaide Airport, with my sitting in the car with my iPad, and filming aircraft out the window! At the time, it was really only domestic aircraft (737s, A320s etc), as I had no idea when the international arrivals came in!

2. Why aviation photography?

I chose to pursuit aviation photography, because it corresponded with my interest of aviation. Before aviation photography, I had no skills or interest in general photography – all of that really came from aviation photography! From this interest I have began experimenting with other photography, though I still find photographing aircraft enthralling and exciting – certainly a great way to get a feel for photography!

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Subscribe to Australian Aviation for unlimited access to exclusive content and past magazines.

Become a Member

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

Through The Lens

1. How did you get into aviation photography?

2. Why aviation photography?

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Premium Content

Premium Podcast: The mission to measure our atmosphere

Premium Podcast: Young Hayden’s epic solo flight around Australia

Premium Podcast: Bonza, 1 year on

Galleries

In Focus: The Galleries

EMS 2023

Resurrected

Latest Magazine

OUR PLATFORMS AND BRANDS

EVENTS AND STREAMING

LEARNING AND EDUCATION

STAY CONNECTED

LINKS

OUR PLATFORMS AND BRANDS

EVENTS AND SUMMITS

PODCASTS

LEARNING AND EDUCATION

MOMENTUM MARKETS NETWORK

LINKS

CATEGORIES