Few pics shot recently.

[gary1701]

Gents,

 

There hasn't been many pics recently due to not getting out, but here's a selection from a couple of weeks ago here in the UK when I spent two days out and about. Actually timed some winter holiday with some bright weather for once.

 

I started off Monday morning with the 48th FW at Lakenheath. I knew they would be coming off towards me as I was in the usual spot at the end of runway 24 and they would be on 06. Unfortunately the old style low banking pics seem to be history as most departures seem to be high now. Real shame as over the years you could get some cracking pics. A few low ones, mostly C models from the 493rd FS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If only he'd turned the other way on the overshoot.

 

 

After that little lot for the morning I moved over next door to Mildenhall. Usual locals for the most part.

 

 

This was the first routine flying day after Thanksgiving so the transit area is empty.

 

 

Current TDY RC-135 on the way back in after a early morning departure.

 

 

 

Based tanker turning on the underrun before departing. He was about to have a little problem as he was climbing out at the departure end when ATC reminded him his gear was still down. He came back saying that he couldn't retract so after trouble shooting it for about an hour he came back in.

 

 

 

This was the highlight of the trip over as although the HH-60s are based over at Lakenheath where I had been that morning, the F-15 sorties in the afternoon brought him over to Mildenhall for some circuit work and stops over the runway. These little buggers are hard to get normally as they don't work to the main runway at Lakenheath, but straight to and from their dispersal on the North side so this was rather good. The 56th RS is still due to move out to Italy at some point I believe. A couple of these did some film work on the 'Transformers' (5 or 6, I don't know) set down on Salisbury Plain a couple of months ago with a mock up of Stonehenge, so if you really have to see that film, keep an eye out for the HH-60's from the 56th RS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the following day, still with blue skies, if below freezing I figured I'd go and do another RAF Typhoon session up at Coningsby.

 

Cheerful front seater!

 

Some of the two-seaters retain Sqn markings, but the majority of the single-seaters have had them removed and the new jets don't appear to be being marked.

 

 

Broke and heading back in.

 

 

This is the first of the final 40 airframes from the Tranche 3 order to operate with the RAF. Most have already been assembled but until now have been stored. Externally they differ from the earlier airframes in having a small raised 'bump' on the upper rear fuselage. This is a attachment point for possible future use of Conformal Fuel Tanks, although there are currently no plans to acquire them. Note this airframe is coded (for 29(R) Sqn, the conversion unit) but is also not marked up.
 

 

 

 

Some visits you get a lot of afterburner use, but mostly they don't use it.

 

 

 

The only visitor on the day.

 

 

Finally, another session at dusk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary

[Djack]

Ahh, thanks Gary for sharing again.  I can't wait until I get to see some Typhoons once again! My only time was when I came over for RIAT in 2103.  The Pavehawk shots are great, among my favorites. 

 

David

[Alternative 4]

Thanks for Sharing, especially those sunset photos.

[bdt13]

Beautiful photos as usual; both technically detailed and artistic. Thanks for sharing them with us!

[gary1701]

 

Thanks for the kind words gents. One I missed, KC-10 landing on a Sunday afternoon at Mildenhall about a month ago.

 

 

Gary

[757flyer]

Are the finless AIM-120s a common load nowadays?  I assume those are training instrumentation devices?

 

Mike

 

[Niels]

CATM-120's