1. As we had arrived two 17sqn aircraft performed their last circuits with a very gloomy backdrop and little light coming from anywhere else!
![Image](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7545648622_d1124f2c25_b.jpg)
The evaluators by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
2. Minutes later a pair of 3sqn aircraft performed reheat departures.
![Image](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7115/7545647842_e397c17ecf_b.jpg)
A force greater than gravity by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
3. Returning under a very strange sky, with storms approaching fast.
![Image](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7545646918_fb55dc3d27_b.jpg)
Turning finals by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
4. Then bizzarely, the sun made an appearance coinciding with this 11sqn aircraft.
![Image](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7545646208_5578b48bcc_b.jpg)
Recovery by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
5. 29(R)sqn then sent out 7 aircraft after the Lancaster returned.
![Image](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7545644928_7db58915f2_b.jpg)
Two eras of flight by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
Then things to a turn for the worse, for about an hour we watched as showers and thunderstorms passed over Waddington area and verged on us but managed to leave us unscathed. Our luck ran out soon after and we were hit with the thunder overhead and a durable load of rain falling like golf balls of water from the sky.
6. One of dozens of lightning strikes, no exaggeration.
![Image](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7545643450_b090d72971_b.jpg)
Storms over Coningsby by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
7. XI then sent out a pair of aircraft in just before the rain really got bad and the wind completely changed. Soon after a new aircraft from Warton arrived and about three of the seven 29sqn aircraft made sketchy recoveries whilst the others must have diverted. A couple of 3sqn jets taxied out, but had to taxi back because of the conditions.
![Image](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7545642196_90c4365da5_b.jpg)
Braving the conditions by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
8. The storms passed and the sun came out, four 3(F)sqn jets also decided to come out aswell as a Spitfire and two Chipmunks.
![Image](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8022/7545640770_f144c2022d_b.jpg)
Ready to roll by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
9. They returned under dramatic Summer skyscapes.
![Image](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8005/7545639254_d6ce17b4d5_b.jpg)
In the overhead by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
10. One of the diverts then returned, unfortunately so did the cloud for this one.
![Image](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/7545649794_4a77146197_b.jpg)
Joining the line by Maccphoto.co.uk, on Flickr
Chris