Spadeadam Range 25 & 26 June 2024: TAC Blaze exercise

[plug]

The weather was grey most of the time, although we did get a brief glimmer of sunlight on the 26th. No Apaches came by, but the flying from the Cougars and Chinooks was brilliant, even breathtaking at times. Multiple low passes by one of the Chinooks on the 25th were particularly good.

25 June.

L-R D-602 & D-472 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr
 

L-R D-602 & D-472 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-602 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

S-440 AS 532 Cougar by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

S-445 AS 532 Cougar by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

S-445 AS 532 Cougar by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

Two Cougars circled low over Wiley Sike as darkness fell.

AS 532 Cougar by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

26 June.

D-472 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

D-472 CH-47F Chinook by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

S-454 AS 532 Cougar by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

S-445 AS 532 Cougar by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

Dispensing chaff:

D-454 AS 532 Cougar by Dan Sprague, on Flickr

[vanguard]

Great Shots Dan aka Plug, thanks for posting them.

[ian531]

Fantastic shots

[acklington]

Got to be some of the best Chinook shots I have ever seen! And the rest.

[ronturner]

Fantastic shots in a pretty unique location.

[deteulada]

I always appreciate the quality and variance of all your posting but these are definitely at a higher level.  

Thanks

Bill

[plug]

Thanks for all of your comments. One of the advantages of being retired is having the time to spend sitting around for two days in the middle of nowhere hoping to be targeted by Chinooks!

I forgot to mention the fearsome Spadeadam midges, which are completely immune to insect repellent. They became a major problem when the wind dropped after 5 or 6 pm, and even followed me into the car to drink my blood during the drive back to civilisation.

[Airbus A346]

Some seriously good photos 👍👍😊😊