An Air Display Just for Me!

 

I waited some time for some action but I was ultimately not disappointed. This pair of Qatari jets took off in formation and flew right above my head, breaking just above the perimeter of the airfield. As they flew overhead I didn't know which one to follow but I got a real buzz as they thundered above me.

Over the next 20 minutes these two did several low level fly pasts before coming back to land and then taxiing past me. More pictures tomorrow so if you like these do come back

Reach For The Sky

Today's shot is of a Typhoon flying past. This was at Coningsby last February.

I am hoping that in the coming week I will get down to Wales to get some shots of fast jets doing the Mach Loop. Wish me luck.

Flying High

Today I have gone back to last February when I spent a couple of hours watching and photographing the planes at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

I spent several of my teenage years in Lincolnshire, living on the flight path for a bombing range, so I got used to lots of military jets flying over at all times of day and night. I love the sound of these powerful engines and I am in awe of the technology that keeps these beautiful machines in the sky.

I have selected two shots for today of USAF F15's that made a couple of passes before heading off to wherever. Brilliant!

Defence of the Realm Two

Four more shots of the Eurofighter Typhoon for you today.

I could have stayed for hours watching and waiting but I had to call it a day and head home and I had just packed all my gear away when two jets flew back in to land.  I watched them come in and expected them to taxi left as they had done the previous day but then I saw them turn right so I quickly scrambled to get my camera and insert the battery just in time to get this last shot of Sqn Ldr Bond as he returned to base and looked for a free parking space. Shot through the perimeter fence it seems to frame the cockpit really well.

Defence of the Realm

Today's shots from my recent visits to Coningsby are of the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is a technological masterpiece and is the world's most advanced swing role combat aircraft.

The weather/light conditions weren't great to be honest and of course these magnificent machines were passing at terrific speed so getting a good shot was a challenge. I hope you like what I have posted today, tomorrow I will have a few last shots of these planes to share...

USAF F-15 Over Coningsby

It's well over 20 years since I lived in Lincolnshire but one of the things I still miss is the low flying fast jets from the many military bases around Lincolnshire and East Anglia. I was lucky enough to live for several years right on the coast near Freiston Shore, on the flight path for the bombing range at Wainfleet. Every day there would be a variety of British, European and American jets fly over and often I would head out onto the salt marsh with my brothers or friends to get a close look as they flew right over head. It was so exhilarating seeing them up close and feeling the roar and power of the engines  and listening to the sound of the cannons and the practice bombs as they went off in the distance.

This past week I had to go visiting and took a little time to myself so I headed off to RAF Coningsby to see whether there was any action. Shortly after I arrived two USAF F-15's took two passes over the airfield and I was able to get a few shots before they flew off to complete whatever exercise they were on.

I'm quite happy with these images and tomorrow I will post some other shots of the Typhoons that are based at Coningsby.

Past and Present

Yesterday's pictures were of the Typhoon and F-15s in flight, today the planes are all on the ground and there is a contrast between the old and the new with the 2nd World War Hurricane which is part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, and the Typhoon  of 3(F) Squadron, the first operational squadron of Typhoon fighters.

I really like the old aircraft but I also really like the new.  The sleek design, amazing technology, the speed and power is so impressive.  I grew up with regular flights of military aircraft flying over my house as they went on practice bombing runs on Wainfleet Marsh, I miss the sounds and smells of these amazing jets.

I particularly like the last of today's shots, the heat haze from the engines and I remember the sense of anticipation as the plane strained against its brakes before springing forward to take off.

Fast Jets

I had been driving past RAF Coningsby one day and saw the ground crew at work preparing some of the Typhoons for take off so I stopped to watch for a while and as I patiently watched through the perimeter fence a couple of F-15's flew past.  It was difficult to get a decent shot because of their speed, the distance from me and the fact that I wasn't well prepared.  All the same I am pretty pleased with the top picture.

The next two images show a couple of the Typhoons flying in formation, again they could be better focused however I really like these pictures.