UK Trip 9-9-13 / 13-9-13

[Jutter]

9-9-13
We arrived with the ferry in Harwich and stopped on our way to Coningsby first at Mildenhall and Lakenheath. At Mildenhall we added a new type the V-22 Osprey to our collection.


Mildenhall_20130909_003 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Mildenhall_20130909_007 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

At Lakenheath we saw the last F-15's from the morning mission coming back and drove further to Coningsby. Near Holbeach we stopped for the preserved Hawker Hunter.


Holbeach_20130909_002 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

It looked like the weather at Coningsby was cloudy, but when we arrived we heard that the weather had been excellent. During the day more and more clouds appeared. But we managed to make some sunny pictures.


Coningsby_20130909_018 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_021 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_088 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_106 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_109 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_172 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_195 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_256 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_269 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_283 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130909_304 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130910_025 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130910_034 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

Very close to our camp site a couple of Whirwind wrecks are trying to withstand the forces of nature.


Coningsby Omgeving_20130910_001 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

Not much further this Lighting is preserved near Tattershall Thorpe.


Coningsby Omgeving_20130910_005 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


In the afternoon we visited Waddington and hoped to catch a Shadow R1 for the first time.


Waddington_20130910_009 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

The weather got worse during the day so we went to Newark Air Museum.


Newark Museum_20130910_003 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Newark Museum_20130910_013 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Newark Museum_20130910_083 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

This museum has a fairly large collection. To much to show them all. With a 18mm lens (EOS400D 1.6x) most aircraft inside can be photographed.

Wednesday was very cloudy, taking pictures from the north side of Coningsby at the crash gate is than possible.


Coningsby_20130911_055 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130911_082 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130911_100 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130911_133 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

Half way in the morning Waddington was visited again to get more Typhoons of 29Sq


Waddington_20130911_016 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Waddington_20130911_027 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Waddington_20130911_069 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Waddington_20130911_101 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

Photo opportunities were very good at Waddington. On the south side there's no trafic rushing by and only a small 2/3 step ladder is needed to shoot over the wooden fence.

After the morning mission it started raining again, so we went to plan B again, finding wrecks and relics. At Wickenby NE of Lincoln this Hawker Hunter can be found. In WWII Wickenby was home base for 12Sq and 626Sq flying Wellington and Lancaster bombers. A former RAF Chipmunk in civil colours, a former Swiss Schlepp and a Auster were parked outside as well.


Wickenby_20130911_001 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

At Thursday morning we tried to get make some photos without heat haze opposite the usual spotting place along the wooden fence.


Coningsby_20130912_003 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130912_008 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Coningsby_20130912_018 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

In the morning we left Coningsby and stopped at Waddo again. Then at Cranwell we scored some new King Air's. At Barkston Heath we were treated at a RAF Merlin. I have no picture of it because I didn't expected it to come that close. Via Wittering and Cambridge we arived at Mildenhall again. A RC-135 was making a lot of approaches. In the evening we whitnessed for the first time a V-22 flying, next time hopefully in daylight.

Friday 13-9-13 twelve F-15's from Lakenheath found there new teporary homebase at Mildenhall.


Mildenhall_20130913_002 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Mildenhall_20130913_020 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Mildenhall_20130913_035 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr


Mildenhall_20130913_069 by F-4 Jutter, on Flickr

Well that's a week spotting of Erwin, Elvin and I

Menno

O by the way Pippi's horse is called 'Klein Witje'

[Oscar01]

very nice report and pictures!

Oz

[Stephan Lodewijks]

Nice pictureshow!!! Great trip!

Steef

[Shunn31]

Nice pics

[Hawkeye67]

Very nice report and pictures!
Must have been a great trip.
Did you need the stepladder on every location were you took the pictures?

Peter

[oldschool]

Thanks for the nice report. I enjoyed reading it alot.

[Kane]

Great catch on that Alaska Herc!

[gold]

Very nice report and very nice meeting you guys.

Regards,

Hermen

[Jutter]

Peter, the height of the fences varies a lot. At Coningsby's regular spotting place you need at least a stepladder of 80cm+ when you are 1,8m high. With this height you just can take pictures between the barb wire and the 'fence'. I used a higher 'house stepladder' but even than the barb wire was to high.
On the north side there is a wooden fence that has no wire. it is about 2m+ high. So there is no problem using a low stepladder.
You can check street view for the crash gate place.

Waddington north side has a mix of low barb wire and more to the runway a wooden fence. A (3) stepladder is just enough, but a (4) is better. On the south side around the remote platforms there is a high fence such as Coningsby has. From there to the runway there is only a 1,8m wooden fence. Between the fence and the farmers field there is a fairly broad gras strip, so no problems standing there.

Cranwell landing east side near the Tutors you don't need a ladder.

Lakenheath landing east side no ladder.

Mildenhall landing east side, you can stand at the hill. When shooting planes just before landing above the runway, the fence can be a problem. Using a stepladder on the hill can just make the difference. A step ladder will help as well for departing planes lining up on the runway and taxiing.
On the west side ther is a high crash gate, but you can use the camp site / spotting place after paying 1 pound. At this site there is a old trailer with pallets parked aside the fence which gives you a clear view over the fence. A small stepladder would be handy.

Menno

[andel]

A nice report !!.
It shows you still can have some spotting fun nowaday,s in the U.K.
If you travel around you can see some nice planes.

[Piet Luijken]

very nice!

[De Verrekieker]

Yeah Menno, It was a great week dispite the weather sometimes but we had lots of fun especialy at RAF Cranwell

Greetz Elvin

[Hawkeye67]

Thanks a lot for the info Menno !

gr,
Peter

[Michiel62]

Hi Menno,
Your week started already with sun at Coningsby. We needed to wait until Thursday. . All-in-all a good trip. I am glad eventually "witje" joined the group

regards,
Michiel

[Tijgermot]

great pictures Menno, and nice meeting you guys at the Mildenhall hill (dudes from Leeuwarden)