gary1701 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 (edited) Gents, A few from me, mostly at Mildenhall. The Nato birds tend to come over here a fair bit for circuit practise, I just wish that anniversary aircraft would come over when I'm about! 'Shuck 80' on departure. NATO E-3 on circuits same day. Another NATO E-3 on overshoots. I recall somebody once saying there was a very specific reason why these had never been re-engined, although I can't remember why. 'Shuck 85' smoking in at Mildenhall on a cold winters day in February 2008. And catching some nice light. Finally, a RAF example trying to get into Waddington in heavy crosswinds during the joint British/Indian exercise in 2007. As of 2010, this airframe has been reduced to a spares source, sums in whats happening at the moment quite well unfortunately. Gary Edited December 18, 2010 by gary1701 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Gary Great bit of photography and the Eye in the Sky looks MAGNIFICENT.. THANX for taking the time to post them :wub: HOLMES Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Great photos Gary - thanks for posting them. A little bit of trivia for you - the UK's E-3D's are the only aircraft in the RAF with both types of AAR - probe-and-drogue AND a flying boom receptacle. I can't think of any other aircraft that has both systems???? Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chigger Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Great photos Gary - thanks for posting them.A little bit of trivia for you - the UK's E-3D's are the only aircraft in the RAF with both types of AAR - probe-and-drogue AND a flying boom receptacle. I can't think of any other aircraft that has both systems???? Ken Ditto, Gary--I'm digging this outpouring of E-3 photos! I've always found the E-3D's dual AR-configuration interesting...now, though not yet operational, a "bolt-on" probe system is being tested/demonstrated on F-16's: http://www.f-16.net/gallery_item405276.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Ditto, Gary--I'm digging this outpouring of E-3 photos!I've always found the E-3D's dual AR-configuration interesting...now, though not yet operational, a "bolt-on" probe system is being tested/demonstrated on F-16's: http://www.f-16.net/gallery_item405276.html Sargent Fletcher developed a fuel tank/pod with a built-in probe called ART/S - to 'convert' any fighter into a receiver for a probe-and-drogue basket. Dunno if it ever went operational though..... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhino53 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Here is my contribution to this topic. The first 3 are E-3's, and the last two I thought would be of interest. This is NATO's special scheme from 1999. This next one is 8 and 23 Squadrons anniversary bird, with different colours either side of the tail. The third is a French E-3F, I don't think one has been posted yet. The next is a French Hawkeye. Finally,some history in the form of a Shackleton AEW2. Thie Radar on these are even older as they were originally used on the Royal Navy Gannets. Ted Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Nice sets Gary and Ted. It's just one of the local buzards on a surveillance flight :) :blink: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Keep 'em coming .. Ted and Gary Nice shots... :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 Antonov An-71..... My model of same..... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Antonov An-71.....My model of same..... Ken Ken....Those are quite old looking phtoos...how far do they go back.?.and your model is a BEAUTY.. you did the JUSTICE to the An -71... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Flankerman Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Ken....Those are quite old looking phtoos...how far do they go back.? About late 80's, early 90's........ The An-71 was rolled out on 23 June 1985 - and made its first flight on 12 July. Two prototypes were built - CCCP-780151 and CCCP-780361. Flight trials took place during early 90's and most bugs had been ironed out - but the tests were never completed - the dissolution of the USSR led to the programmes demise. With no state funding, the two prototypes were mothballed and placed in long-term storage - 780151 at Kiev-Gostomel and 780361 at Kiev-Svyatoshino..................... Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sentry30 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Just one for today, a NAEW&CF NE-3A: Daniël Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Just one for today, a NAEW&CF NE-3A: Very atmospheric shot - thanks! Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Finally,some history in the form of a Shackleton AEW2. Thie Radar on these are even older as they were originally used on the Royal Navy Gannets. It's even older - the AN/APS-20 radar sets installed in the Gannet AEW.3 were taken from the RN's Skyraider AEW.1's. Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sentry30 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Not the best conditions, but here's one from today; Daniël Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevan Vogler Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) -Deleted- Edited January 13, 2015 by Kevan Vogler Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gary1701 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Gents, Knew we had an old Sentry thread somewhere, I just didn't think it was this far back. 'NATO 01' on the Mildenhall circuit this morning, before it clouded over and went horrible. You always know when these guys turn up that they'll be around for a while, usually several hours of instrument and visual circuits. When I heard him call the change from instrument to visual circuits that was my chance to try an idea that I'd been thinking of for ages, just never had the right combination of circumstances before. NATO E-3's always pull very tight, banked base turns, so I charged down the little side road I'd never been down before, away from the approach and stopped where I guessed was about right - got him! Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kevan Vogler Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 Absolutely stunning! I've never seen a Sentry caught like that before. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vince Maddux Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Cool photos, but now I got the Alan Parson song stuck in my head, which isn't a bad thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
X-Plane Fan Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 How about the first ones of the series... or some cool concept art... Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.