Leeming, Coningsby, Waddington, East Kirkby, Cranwell - 8/23
Sept 18, 2023 10:28:08 GMT 1
ian531, Barfluer, and 6 more like this
Post by viscount on Sept 18, 2023 10:28:08 GMT 1
RAF LEEMING, Tuesday 28th August
After driving down from Perth, with stops at NELSAM and Teesside (covered on another thread), with the afternoon drawing on, made for RAF Leeming. Once there discovered there was very little to see. A few other guys had been there all day watching two Chinooks sat some distance away, the only activity had been the departure of a third Chinook and a single Qatari Hawk pulled out a hangar, then pushed back in again!
Win some, loose some. Continued on for a night at Thirsk. On stopping the third Chinook on detachment crossed overhead clearly on its way back
to RAF Leeming.
RAF CONINGSBY, Thursday 30th August
Having spent Wednesday at both the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington and the South Yorkshire Air Museum in Doncaster, had made my way to a charming B&B in Lincolnshire. Woken up around midnight by 2 Typhoons launching on a QRA to intercept an airliner which had 'gone quiet' over Britain - although I never saw anything about this in the media. Anyhow, up early Thursday for a day at the New York end of RAF Coningsby and to visit the RAF Memorial Flight Visitors Centre and tour. Good warm day, clear with some cloud at times. Fairly active, although there were quiet periods, the eventual log of aircraft seen being longer than I thought at the time. Caught-out somewhat with a wrong combination of cameras and lenses by 3xF-35A Lightnings 'in trail' making a go-around/pass along the runway - although number 3 was high enough not to even lower the undercarriage.
Good to observe that squadron colours are being re-introduced on to the Typhoon fleet, which helps make the photographs look different, not just the same old grey plain aircraft again and again!
Thursday 31st August, RAF Coningsby, 1010-1245 & 1425-1730
ZJ914 Typhoon FGA.4 29 Sqdn, special scheme
ZJ920 Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZJ949* Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZJ309 Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZK311* Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZK319* Typhoon FGA.4 11 Sqdn
ZK323* Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZK327* Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZK329 Typhoon FGA.4 29 Sqdn * noted flying, the others were out on the main ramp
ZK339* Typhoon FGA.4 41 Sqdn or in the open-ended QRA style hangars on the main ramp.
ZK340 Typhoon FGA.4 12 Sqdn
ZK349* Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZK360* Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZK361 Typhoon FGA.4 29 Sqdn
ZK363 Typhoon FGA.4 11 Sqdn
ZK367* Typhoon FGA.4 41 Sqdn
ZK368 Typhoon FGA.4 -
ZK379* Typhoon T.3 41 Sqdn
ZK380 Typhoon T.3 29 Sqdn
ZK383* Typhoon T.3 12 Sqdn
ZK424 Typhoon FGA.4 29 Sqdn
ZK432 Typhoon FGA.4 2 Sqdn
ZK435 Typhoon FGA.4 -
G-OFLX* EMB-145 BAe Systems, dep 11:55 and returned 14:50.
approach & stepped go-around by 3 x F-35 USAF at 14:30.
The large main ramp, the one visible from just beyond the BBMF hangar is now considerably smaller, with a row of open-ended
QRA style shelters having been constructed.
The sole Typhoon not in standard light grey was the solo display aircraft ZJ914 with a 29 Squadron roundel bar.
Although on the ramp it did not fly during the day.
ZK329 on the ramp in 29 Squadron colours
The farmer's field track just outside the high chain fence along the boundary beside the threshold provides a great photography location,
although a step-ladder helps considerably. I had either to stand well back and use a big lens, or poke my compact through the fence which
is OK for aircraft on the taxiway, but useless for panning landing shots. ZK311 an FGR.4 without unit colours and Typhoon T.3 ZK383
in 12 Sqdn colours.
ZK582 plain
ZK323 plain
ZK319 in 11 Squadron colours
ZK383 a Typhoon T.3 in 12 Squadron colours
A pair of 11 Squadron Typhoon FGR.4s ZK363 & ZK319 returning as a tight pair for a run and break.
ZK339 of 41 Squadron
One of the three F-35 Lightnings of the USAF from Lakenheath making a 'in trail' pass along the runway
Embraer EMB-145 G-OFLX of British Aerospace, which departed at 11:40 and returned at 14:50.
Although rather distant, ZK432 was the only aircraft noted in No.2 Squadron markings
ZK319 with 11 Squadron badge
ZK340 with 12 Squadron badge
ZK329 with 29 Squadron badge
ZK367 with 41 Squadron badgeRAF CONINGSBY, Friday 0900-1200
Nothing moved aviation wise. Had been warned that Friday afternoons were usually quiet, so at midday I moved on.RAF WADDINGTON, Friday afternoon
Gave up at a silent RAF Coningsby, and lured by tales of Canadian F-18 Hornets at RAF Waddington, drove across only to be informed in the Spotters
Car Park that they could not be seen without a very long walk due to a closed side road (for resurfacing work) and absolutely no stopping
Police rules on others down by the remote dispersal.
Across the airfield could see the radar domes of 2 x E-3s and one RAF RC-135W with registration visible, but shimmering in the haze even
on a cloudy (but warm) afternoon and the tip of a T-tail behind low buildings.
RAF CRANWELL
Passed the south boundary of the airfield. Saw a Premier T.1 landing and there were a handful of Grobs parked in two locations, so did
not stop and continued on to a planned visit to the Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre and the Newark Air Museum.
