When/Where:
This was captured at the Abbotsford International Airshow on the Saturday from the Photo Pit. The MBB Bo 105 was doing a loop as part of its airshow routine.
How:
This was shot handheld on a Canon R5 Mark II and a RF200-800mm lens at 800mm. As it was handheld I knew my keeper rate would be low so I blasted away at 30 frames per second hoping for a perfectly sharp photo. I shot at 1/100 sec shutter speed to get sufficient motion blur on the main rotor, but there was so much light I had to use ISO 100 and a f-stop of 13.
At such a slow shutter speed motion blur is always an issue. In many of the photos the body of the helicopter would be in perfect focus, but the tail boom and tail rotor would be out of focus or soft. Due to the forces on the airframe certain parts would flex more than others. In this photo the aircraft registration number is also in focus.
About the Aircraft:
The Red Bull Bo 105 is a mechanical anomaly. While standard helicopters utilize teetering or articulated rotor systems that cannot handle negative G-loads, the Bo 105 features a solid titanium, rigid rotor head.
This engineering allows for instantaneous control response and extreme structural integrity. It is the only civil helicopter certified to perform sustained aerobatic maneuvers, making it a rare sight on the international airshow circuit. Dressed in the iconic Red Bull livery, this machine transforms from a utility craft into a high-performance stunt platform the moment Fitzgerald hits the cyclic.
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