{"id":764,"date":"2024-05-30T17:07:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T17:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/?p=764"},"modified":"2025-06-28T21:35:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-28T21:35:30","slug":"fotomissie-cessna-172","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/luchtfotografie\/fotomissie-cessna-172\/","title":{"rendered":"Flying for the Lens: A Photo Mission to Saint-Pierre in a Cessna 172"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Flying for the Lens: A Photo Mission to Saint-Pierre in a Cessna 172<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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30 - 31 may 2024 | Photo mission | VFR | Northsea-operations<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Not every flight begins with a lesson plan or navigation exercise \u2014 some start with an unexpected phone call. That\u2019s how this adventure began on Tuesday, 28 May, when I got a call from a client who specializes in aerial photography of offshore objects. Was I available on 30 May to fly to Saint-Pierre (LFDP) to photograph a ship? A tight fit in the schedule, but in aviation, \"impossible\" doesn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Written by Olivier van Dijk, Flight Instructor & Safety Pilot<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The C172 made for photo missions<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A Special Aircraft for a Special Mission<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The mission would be carried out in a heavily modified Cessna 172 \u2014 anything but standard. It was equipped with long-range tanks, tip tanks, quick egress doors, two ELTs, a marine VHF radio, and gear for extended overwater operations. That meant dry suits, life vests, two handheld ELTs, and a life raft on board. During the photo sessions, we flew low and slow over open water \u2014 typically around 200 feet at a ground speed of 60 knots. These flights are some of the most intense I\u2019ve ever flown.<\/p>

To make photography easier, the passenger side window has been changed to go all the way up. In addition, the rear passenger windows can come out completely, giving the photographer more room to move around with the lens.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Weather Challenges: From Antwerp to Orl\u00e9ans<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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On 30 May, the client picked me up in Seppe (EHSE). Our first leg took us to LFOD, but the route wasn\u2019t easy. From Antwerp deep into France, we encountered low clouds, rain, and poor visibility. Despite its modifications, the Cessna had no modern avionics and was VFR-only. Navigating visually through this weather was a true challenge. Every 15 minutes, I was speaking to a new ATC frequency, requesting clearances through busy airspace due to the deteriorating conditions \u2014 a perfect mix of stress, focus, and satisfaction.<\/p>

LFOD turned out to be a simple but efficient stop: asphalt runway, no tower, minimal facilities \u2014 but crucially, self-service AVGAS 100LL. We refueled quickly, stretched our legs, and pressed on toward our destination: Saint-Pierre.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Above the harbor of Antwerp at around 1.000ft<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The only form of life, most likely in charge of the airport<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Arrival in Saint-Pierre (LFDP)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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LFDP is a 1000-meter grass strip with no active control. When we landed, no one was around. No landing fees, no paperwork \u2014 just an AVGAS pump and a phone number. After refueling, we reached someone from the airfield who brought bicycles to rent. We pedaled to the nearby village, checked in at our hotel, grabbed a bite, and got ready for the evening flight.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Photo flight at sunset and sunrise<\/span><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The ship we came for \u2014 carrying a load of \"boring\" monopiles (the foundations for wind turbines) \u2014 wouldn\u2019t be photographable until the next morning. Since the client had never been to the area, we decided to go up that evening. We captured lighthouses, harbors, and local landmarks in beautiful calm weather, right during the golden hour. As LFDP is not night-operational, we returned right after sunset, then cycled back to the hotel to rest for the real mission.<\/p>

After a local breakfast at the market, we returned to the airfield the next morning. Everything on board was checked, dry suits zipped, vests secured, ELTs ready. The photo flight went flawlessly: circling low over the sea around the ship carrying the monopiles. It\u2019s always fascinating how \"boring\" objects can seem mundane to us but are incredibly valuable for photographers and their clients.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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One of the beautiful lighthouses we photographed at sunset<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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A onboard breakfast after the photo mission<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Return Trip: AVGAS and Dodging Showers<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After the shoot, we returned to LFOD to refuel \u2014 once again pleasantly surprised by the AVGAS price. The flight back to Seppe was just as challenging as the outbound leg. The weather remained unstable, and we had to carefully dodge showers along the route. Eventually, we reached EHSE safely, where the client flew the final leg to his home base himself \u2014 one of the reasons he got his PPL in the first place: flexibility and passion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Interested in a Unique Mission with an Experienced Pilot?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Whether you're an aerial photographer, maritime professional, or adventurous traveler with a unique mission in mind \u2014 I\u2019d be happy to help you carry it out. From last-minute assignments to technically demanding operations, I\u2019m available as safety pilot or PIC. Safety, precision, and professionalism come first \u2014 with adventure included.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Not every flight begins with a lesson plan or navigation exercise \u2014 some start with an unexpected phone call. That\u2019s how this adventure began on Tuesday, 28 May, when I got a call from a client who specializes in aerial photography of offshore objects. Was I available on 30 May to fly to Saint-Pierre (LFDP) to photograph a ship? A tight fit in the schedule, but in aviation, \"impossible\" doesn\u2019t exist.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":770,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-luchtfotografie","category-c172"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=764"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":845,"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/764\/revisions\/845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/770"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blueskiesaviation.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}