Stuart Ord
August 2026 - Miss Pick-Up
About the Image(s)
This was taken at an airshow in Kent a month or so ago. We are experiencing heatwaves here this year, and I was surprised and pleased that all the performers flew their routines despite cockpit temperatures of (they said) close to 50 degC. Anyway, here is a Consolidated Catalina called “Miss Pick-Up”, lining up for take off. A real head-turner!
OM Systems OM-1, Olympus 14-150mm lens at 80mm, 1/250 sec, f9.5, ISO 125. Processed from RAW in Canva Affinity.
14 comments posted
Great lighting on the nose and engines. Excellent detail. Nicely done.
Posted: 08/12/2026 00:38:18
Posted: 08/12/2026 00:38:18
Thanks, Jerry. I fiddled with the mono colour sliders to ensure the "Miss" was really clear, lightened the pilot, lifted the shadows as the under-wing was dark, and adjusted the overall contrast and brightness to make the rivets clear. Mono is such fun! Posted: 08/12/2026 09:01:54
A very dynamic closeup shot with good detail in plane.! Posted: 08/12/2026 14:55:04
Thanks, Don. It's one of my favourite WW2 era aircraft. I went inside one a few years ago at a big air display at RAF Fairford - it was very utilitarian! Anyone can buy a share in this aircraft, and presumably get some flights in it, but it's a bit on the expensive side for me. I'd enjoy a single flight, though! Posted: 08/12/2026 19:42:33
I was inside a Vickers Vulcan yesterday at Wellesbourne Mountford airfield. You might remember it, it's a huge delta bomber with 4 jet engines. There was far less room inside it than in the Cat! Amazing what those pilots coped with. Posted: 08/16/2026 15:01:16
I recommend RAF Cosford - you can see all three V-Bombers; and if you are lucky crew will be there and will chat to you for hours.
The scariest conversation was the pilot who told about the time he was dispersed at another airfield with his section in '62, and was sat at the end of the runway ready to go for days... Posted: 08/24/2026 11:59:53
The scariest conversation was the pilot who told about the time he was dispersed at another airfield with his section in '62, and was sat at the end of the runway ready to go for days... Posted: 08/24/2026 11:59:53
I've been to Cosford a few times, it's only 1 hr down the A41 for me. A good museum. But I don't recall the V-bombers.
I was at the Vulcan a on a Saturday when the volunteers are there and take you up (nearly) into the cockpit. I guess there were a few of those on readiness in '62, as well. I've not had chance to process the pics from there yet, but I might get one suitable for here when I do it. There are no airworthy Vulcans now as I'm sure you know. But Wellesbourne run theirs down the runway, hoping to get the nose lifted before slamming on the brakes, a few times a year. I wonder if I can get inside it?? That would be something!
Posted: 08/24/2026 21:13:58
I was at the Vulcan a on a Saturday when the volunteers are there and take you up (nearly) into the cockpit. I guess there were a few of those on readiness in '62, as well. I've not had chance to process the pics from there yet, but I might get one suitable for here when I do it. There are no airworthy Vulcans now as I'm sure you know. But Wellesbourne run theirs down the runway, hoping to get the nose lifted before slamming on the brakes, a few times a year. I wonder if I can get inside it?? That would be something!
Posted: 08/24/2026 21:13:58
(Groups 4 & 31)
Hi Stuart
Beautifully rendered image of this beautiful old lady,it holds a special place for our family as my Mums brother was Flt Lt John Tattersall who flew Catalinas for Coastal Command from 1942-45,I was also allowed into the cockpit of Miss Pick Up when I was one the official photographers at the Abingdon Air Show,I have also been in the cockpit of a Vulcan at newark I can confirm absolutely no room inside for the six man crew how they got up the ladder and through the hatch with all their flying gear is beyond me. Posted: 08/17/2026 11:48:53
Beautifully rendered image of this beautiful old lady,it holds a special place for our family as my Mums brother was Flt Lt John Tattersall who flew Catalinas for Coastal Command from 1942-45,I was also allowed into the cockpit of Miss Pick Up when I was one the official photographers at the Abingdon Air Show,I have also been in the cockpit of a Vulcan at newark I can confirm absolutely no room inside for the six man crew how they got up the ladder and through the hatch with all their flying gear is beyond me. Posted: 08/17/2026 11:48:53
Hi Ian,
The fact that they were all in their 20's whereas I'm in my 70's accounts for some of the speed difference in ascending / descending the ladders, I guess! But you're right, the war forced many heroic performances, on all sides I suppose. I've been meaning to make a Cat for many years (I fly R/C model aircraft) but have never got round to it. Maybe this winter.... Posted: 08/17/2026 17:42:16
The fact that they were all in their 20's whereas I'm in my 70's accounts for some of the speed difference in ascending / descending the ladders, I guess! But you're right, the war forced many heroic performances, on all sides I suppose. I've been meaning to make a Cat for many years (I fly R/C model aircraft) but have never got round to it. Maybe this winter.... Posted: 08/17/2026 17:42:16
The level of detail is outstanding and I like that you have gone in close on the most interesting part of the plane to fill your frame. Are those in the cockpit wearing fancy animal masks? The tonal range is good and the little bit of movement in the props works well. (We have a Catalina base a couple of km away at Rathmines protected on the State Heritage Register and was a strategic home for them during WWII). Posted: 08/19/2026 07:24:48
Thanks, Chris.
No, I don't think so; I can see the copilot's headset and the leg of his specs I think, although I didn't see them up close.
You made me wonder, how many Catalinas are there in the world now? According to Wikipedia, it's 78, with 17 airworthy. This is the only one airworthy in the UK, with another on display. Most are in the USA or Canada, but there are examples in New Zealand, Alaska, Germany, Denmark, Israel, Netherlands, and Brazil.
I saw a video on the TV years ago of a Catalina which flew from the UK to Capetown, celebrating the old, long-defunct, Empire flying boat service. They landed on water in Africa on high ground to refuel, and couldn't take off again with all the passengers! So most were kicked out onto road transport for travel to the next (less high) stop.
A great aeroplane, always worth a photograph or ten.
Posted: 08/19/2026 09:20:19
No, I don't think so; I can see the copilot's headset and the leg of his specs I think, although I didn't see them up close.
You made me wonder, how many Catalinas are there in the world now? According to Wikipedia, it's 78, with 17 airworthy. This is the only one airworthy in the UK, with another on display. Most are in the USA or Canada, but there are examples in New Zealand, Alaska, Germany, Denmark, Israel, Netherlands, and Brazil.
I saw a video on the TV years ago of a Catalina which flew from the UK to Capetown, celebrating the old, long-defunct, Empire flying boat service. They landed on water in Africa on high ground to refuel, and couldn't take off again with all the passengers! So most were kicked out onto road transport for travel to the next (less high) stop.
A great aeroplane, always worth a photograph or ten.
Posted: 08/19/2026 09:20:19
Thank you
Getting blur at 1/250th is interesting as I have to shoot much slower for more modern aircraft for blur
Great detail as mentioned above but I do miss her nose Posted: 08/24/2026 12:02:16
Getting blur at 1/250th is interesting as I have to shoot much slower for more modern aircraft for blur
Great detail as mentioned above but I do miss her nose Posted: 08/24/2026 12:02:16
True. I don't think I added to the blur in Affinity. But they are big props.
Maybe, but the nose is a bit functional and not very pretty in my view, and would distract the viewer I thought. Posted: 08/24/2026 21:08:12
Maybe, but the nose is a bit functional and not very pretty in my view, and would distract the viewer I thought. Posted: 08/24/2026 21:08:12
Interesting photo, I like the blurred propellers which adds a story layer to this photo hinting that it's going to go off somewhere. The Miss Pick Up logo adds another fun element to the image. Posted: 08/24/2026 23:11:31