Flying over Iceland. Was it dangerous, and was this picture worth it?

[Triskadecamus]

Me, I say, woo.

Tris

[jk1245]

That looks like a still from a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. Great photo.

[Alpha_Twit]

Best new wallpaper my computer has seen in a long time. Profuse thanks offered.

[Gagundathar]

Wow! That is amazing!
Nice job, Triskadecamus!

Did you take the shot?

[Triskadecamus]

@Gagundathar

Did you take the shot?

No, Astronomy picture of the day.

[shantih]

WOW. I need to update my definition of ‘spectacular.’

[lieu]

They showed that and a couple of others on the Weather Channel yesterday. Now that is spectacular.

[Pushkin]

Ah, lightning, spewing ash, searing flames and snow.

I guess it beats the simple lightning, spewing ash and searing flames combination. Sorry Mount Chaiten.

[Teacake]

Wow. Fuck yeah, it was worth it.

[turner]

This is on another website (Chive?) with the caption “One does not simply ‘fly’ into Iceland”

[Broomstick]

Sure, it’s safe as long as you don’t fly into the ash cloud, avoid air turbulence, and stay away from lightning.

Given that the air in the foreground appears very clear the pilot probably wasn’t pushing the envelope too hard. Probably approached from upwind.

[Salem]

Yep, new desktop photo, thank you very much!

[Skywatcher]

Variations on a theme:

US

[gardentraveler]

Whoa!!! Way cool.

Thanks for sharing, Tris.

[Northern_Piper]

recent news story: Why it’s possible to fly near Iceland’s volcano

The wind that carries the ash in a southeast direction means aircraft — mostly helicopters — can approach the volcano from the northwest. If those winds are accompanied by clear weather, the Helicopter Service of Iceland feels comfortable taking passengers to get a view, said Sindri Steingrimsson, the company’s director of flight operations.

The ash poses less of a danger for helicopters and propellor airplanes than it does for modern jet engines. Iceland’s Coast Guard sent propellor airplanes far above the volcano and brought photographers along for some of the missions. The Coast Guard aircraft is equipped with heat sensors and radar to detect trouble, said Gudruw Nina Petersen, a meteorologist at the Icelandic Met Office.

“They’re not doing anything that is not 100 percent safe,” Petersen said.

Wind direction was crucial, allowing planes with photographers to approach from the northwest. The international airport that serves Reykjavik, about two hours west of the volcano, has seen no service disruptions for any flights not in the affected European regions.

[PapSett]

Wow… every now and then, a photo just leaves me speechless, and this one sure did. I am another with a new wallpaper today. Thank you!

[AWB]

@Alpha_Twit

Best new wallpaper my computer has seen in a long time. Profuse thanks offered.

That was my first too! (Behind cute pics of my daughter, that is.)

[DMark]

Dammit Mr. Frodo - throw the Ring in already!!

[Olentzero]

That ain’t Mordor. That there is Ragnarök.

[PandaBear77]

Breathtaking. Thanks for posting this!