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A big thanks to everyone who I saw over the four days - there's too many to name you all individually, felt like old times!
1. First movement on Monday was this 14sqn Shadow which departed back to Waddington.
Sly Shadow by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
2. The Canadian became the first victim of 'MPA cloud', so no head-ons, this was the best I could get.
Morning Aurora by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
3. After a trip to the Co-op to get food with Ben, we returned to 202sqn to see the Pavehawks starting up. Thankfully they were still hovering on the southern taxi-way and didn't depart until we arrived.
Outbound by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
4. The ETPS RJ100 departs after a morning visit.
"Learn to test, test to learn" by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
5. Then they turned the Pavehawks round so they faced towards the fence rather than away from it..
Moustacheless Pavehawk by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
6. A 12sqn jet returns back to the pan after cutting short.
Lone wolf by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
7. The CP-140 which had landed at Dalcross re-positioned and became the next victim of 'MPA cloud'.. Soon the hat-trick of 'MPA victims' was complete shortly after when the Atlantique departed in cloud.
Pathfinder One Zero by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
8. This Voyager KC.1 which had taken back XV(R)sqn from Hill AFB, Utah, caught the sun - possibly because it was not an MPA asset.
Bon Voyage by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
9. The Pavehawks departed again just after the Voyager left leaving just enough time to get round to 202sqn. Ben went to 05 to catch the departing down the taxiway but I stayed up at 202sqn.
Hairy Pavehawk by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
10. ..and I'm very glad I did. This Pavehawk took off right over me and re-positioned on the southern taxiway..
Overhead! by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
I returned on Tuesday morning to catch the Brazilian, thankfully the MPA and HH-60s were still flying in the crazy winds. All Tornado sorties were scrubbed..
11. Again, a victim of 'MPA cloud'..
Samba Sub Hunter by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
12. I left shortly after the Brazilian departed to go home and pack for my return in Edinburgh. Arrived back down just in time to be sandblasted for a good cause at 202sqn..
In the Moray dustbowl by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
13.
Pavehawk pair by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
14. Lossiemouth of Afghanistan?
Nice 'tache by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
15. The sand started to get worse.
In a cold, sandy place.. by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
16. The Canadian taxied out from the almost invisible MPA line.
Moray dustbowl by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
17. No 'MPA cloud' on this one thankfully, unless you count the dustcloud...
Brownout departure by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
18. I stayed for the Brazilian's return before heading home for some food and to catch my train, thankfully it arrived through the sand in the sun and didn't even struggle with the wind..
Brazilian arrival by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
After a day away from aviation handing in some coursework I was back at an airbase again on Thursday, this time at RAF Leuchars. My original plan was only Thursday but a friend in St. Andrews offered me his hospitality and so it quickly became a two day trip after checking the forecast.
I arrived around 9AM to meet Mark and we went to the 08 parking where we were greeted by two Typhoons with missiles underneath - QRA! Having seen the forecast we were aware that winds were going to be a problem with gusts reaching as high 45kts at times. Not much activity was seen until around 10 when the Etendard groundcrew started playing around with their aircraft - not long after the first Quaker flight departed.
19. I thought they would have been a bit lower but both were quite high.
High Etendard by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
After nothing seemed to be going on we decided to head via the shop to the beach end after missing the QRA who landed and backtracked before we even set off. We heard another couple of noises in the Spar which turned out to be another flight of Super Es and a QRA Typhoon. We arrived at the forest crash gate as 6 Rafale Ms taxied to the runway and thought we were in luck for a mass launch. Sadly these scrubbed because of the wind but another QRA Typhoon headed up to intercept some bears. Because the Super Etendards were tanking they arrived back a while after we reached the beach.
20.
Five five inbound by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
The first QRA aircraft, ET arrived back soon after which had Iain all pleased. Then the mission package of 6 Rafales, 5 SEMs, 4 Typhoons and 4 Hawks all departed in quick succession. The second QRA aircraft, EH returned shortly after.
21.
Armed and dangerous by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
22. He performed a second circuit which he landed off.
Live missiles by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
By this point the clouds and some rain rolled in and killed all the light on the recoveries, so the only shot I want to show is this of five Super Etendards in formation. According to Wikipedia that is 1/5 of the fleet!
23.
The twenty percent by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
Soon after we traipsed through the forest to the sound of the Hawkeye which departed in naff light France bound.
Friday was different, much different. The blue skies were present early morning, with fairly warm temperatures and little wind - the only threat being its direction. I caught the bus from St. Andrews and walked round to the beach end - thanks to Iain for squeezing me into the car for the last few hundred metres! A couple of Etendards departed as we journeyed through the forest at a bit of extra pace to make sure we were on the right side for the new Hawkeye arriving.
Six Rafales, four Typhoons, four Hawks and two more Super Etendards joined the original two in the morning mission package. A BAe 146 from RAF Northolt arrived in the meantime before the Joint Warrior jets recovered in beautiful weather.
24.
Sunny Super by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
25.
Dassault classic by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
26. Nice to catch big tanks on the Rafales.
Large tanks by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
The Hawkeye departed at lunchtime before the next wave at 1400 when I re-positioned to the crash gate to try catch some photos of the departures.
27.
The locals by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
28. Heat-haze and the angle of the sun ruined most of the shots.
Holding Super E by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
29. Knight 24 formation caused a quick dash further out to get a less underneath perspective on the mixed formation.
Knight formation by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
30. We then had to quickly run back to the approach to get the landings.
Turning short finals by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
31. Nice clouds produced a fine backdrop.
French Battle Flag by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
I then decided to try catch some topsides like Adam caught but my 200mm and poor position allowed for nothing but underside shots. Still a couple of shots turned out nicely.
32.
Over the beach by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
33. This photo made up for my error in judgement.
Curving in the approach by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
34. I quickly dashed back to the sunny-side for the Hawkeye recovery.
French E-2 by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
35. It was refuelled quickly and sent back up..
H'och aye! by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
36. It was on station for the five Rafales and five Super Etendards which went out to play late on Friday. Two Etendards of which departed in excellent conditions.
Dramatique 'dards by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr
That was it, a great week of spotting drawn to a close! I thought about waiting for the recoveries but I had an empty stomach and I was extremely tired. The light looked spectacular though!
Thanks,
Chris
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