United Kingdom 2024
Although we had of course already departed the Netherlands often by coach to visit an event elsewhere in Europe, this trip was a first as we left with a minibus and ourselves behind the wheel, something we had never done before.
Earlier in the year we had planned to visit the almost always interesting exercise Cobra Warrior at RAF Waddington and RAF Coningsby. However, we knew quite early on that the exercise would not take place, but nevertheless a visit to the United Kingdom is always worthwhile.
The group had a great week, was very lucky with the weather and saw a great variety of aircraft at the bases visited.
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On Saturday 27 April 2024, the trip officially started in the centre of Utrecht, where a number of participants were picked up, but before then two participants had already reported for the trip in Arnhem. The last participant took a seat in the van in Antwerp and the last mainland part was driven to Calais. The checks took a little longer than a few years ago, but we were in time for the ferry to Dover. Normally, during our trips to RAF Fairford, among others, we cover this section in the middle of the night, but now there was time to view ‘the white cliffs of Dover’ in daylight. The minibus was started again and after a short stop en route, RAF Mildenhall was the first plane stop of the tour and time for the first photos. Then to our hotel near Mildenhall where we would set up camp for a few days.
Sunday 28 April 2024 was scheduled for the fantastic Imperial War Museum at Duxford. Of course, before you leave for a tour you also look at the weather forecast and it didn’t look so good for the coming week. That wasn’t so bad for today, since most of the equipment is safe and dry inside, but it could spoil the fun for the rest of the days.
After a simple, but delicious breakfast, we first set course for Mildenhall, because we saw a few Andrews KC-135s on ADS-B heading for The Hall. Then it was Duxford’s turn, where we arrived just after opening time. In the meantime we had heard that a USMC KC-130J would be coming to RAF Mildenhall early in the afternoon and we agreed on a time to possibly leave when everyone at Duxford had finished. We had plenty of time to visit the half dozen large hangars at our leisure and to view and photograph the many dozens of museum aircraft, but also many dozens of warbirds. The volunteers were also not afraid to let you behind the rope to take a better photo, all very beautiful.
At the agreed time everyone was in the museum shop and everyone wanted to hunt for a tanker Hercules. Road works almost spoiled everything, but we arrived on time and positioned ourselves in the eastern approach for some nice pictures. The weather was not so good and we went to the nearby hotel until ADS-B alerted us to a local tanker. Everyone was informed via the WhatsApp group and we were able to participate in much better weather.
On Monday 29 April 2024 we first went to Mildenhall again in the hope that the RC-135 would go out. We were hopeful as he had been visible on ADS-B for quite some time and the lights were flashing, but unfortunately he didn’t move. That is why we set course for the northern approach of RAF Lakenheath where we had to wait until eight F-15Es took off. They returned relatively quickly and were all quickly back at the runway for the next mission. This was repeated one more time before the first F-35s showed themselves to the many dozens of aviation enthusiasts. Unlike in the Netherlands, everything goes out with afterburner, which is always a cool sight and sound. Low approaches and touch and go’s are also not uncommon, which means that there is almost continuous significant activity. The Lightning IIs flew several missions and were captured during taxiing and landing. In total we saw eight F-15Es and eighteen F-35As that day, numbers that would take us a few weeks to reach in the Netherlands.
After the last Eagle had landed we saw that there were still activities at Mildenhall and of course we went to visit there. The weather was lovely all day and luckily it continued. We saw several MC-130s and KC-135s leaving and arriving before it became quiet and time to go to the hotel, freshen up and visit the local pub for a meal and a pint.
Also on this Tuesday 30 April 2024, we first went to RAF Mildenhall for the RC-135 and today we were lucky, the wind was different compared to yesterday, but we were still able to take a nice picture. We had agreed to try our luck at RAF Marham this morning, an airbase that is not known for a lot of activity. There was not much wind and upon arrival we first investigated which runway was in use. At a distance we saw two F-35Bs take off, a sign for us that we had to look for another place to stand, but that was quickly done.
A small Grob first came over low before both F-35s came overhead, followed by a normal approach and then again with the typical ‘all flaps open’ vertical landing somewhere in the middle of the field. We were actually already satisfied with this catch, but the day was far from over. On ADS-B we saw an RAF Hawk T.2 coming our way and this turned out to be two of them as they entered the circuit. Then we heard the typical F-35 sound and saw two backtracking across the runway before taking off. That sound had just stopped when we heard F-35 sounds again, that sound lasted much longer and three of them appeared via the northern taxiways at the eastern runway side. Another Hawk appeared on ADS-B and this also turned out to be two for a full stop, an RAF Phenom got the hang of it and went around the track about ten times for several approaches. Then the first two Lightnings seemed to return, but they turned out to be two Lakenheath examples that passed just very low. Then the five RAF aircraft returned and it was time for the next item on the agenda, even though the day was already well advanced.
Just before our departure to the United Kingdom we had heard that RAF Coningsby would start night flying this week. We weren’t really happy with that at the time and it seemed to throw our schedule into disarray, but in retrospect we couldn’t have done better!
According to NOTAM, the field was open from 4:00 PM local time and a little later we were also present, just like many other enthusiasts. In radiant weather we walked along the fence and were able to photograph many Typhoons on the ramp, the demo aircraft in the old and new colour scheme were also outside. An advantage of our own van is that we could bring a set of stairs from the Netherlands and we could use them here. A two-seater arrived from 41 Squadron, the light was not quite right on the aircraft at that time, but after 5:00 PM the Typhoon sound came from all over the airfield and several aircraft took to the air. In the meantime, the light was perfect on the aircraft, and we were able to capture them on the taxiway and on the main runway during take-off and landing. Fortunately, almost half of the aircraft also had squadron markings, a nice change from the boring grey camo without markings. Around 9:00 PM a few more aircraft went out and we called it a day.
Due to the unpredictable weather in the United Kingdom and also the unpredictable movements at military airfields, we had planned our itinerary quite generously. But due to the beautiful weather and plenty of flight movements on all the fields we had been to so far, the main goals of all participants had already been achieved, and it was only Tuesday…
We had RAF Waddington in mind for Wednesday 1 May 2024 and, after a delicious breakfast, we drove early into the parking lot of the spotters’ spot and there we saw… nothing at all and it stayed that way. The alternatives RAF Cranwell and Barkston Heath were also very quiet according on ADS-B and that is why we visited the beautiful Newark Air Museum. Then had a look at Cranwell where a dozen Grobs of different plumes and a single Phenom were active. It was now time to visit Coningsby again for the second edition of the night flying. Some of us chose a few different positions than the day before and there was plenty of flying again in beautiful weather. At the same time as yesterday we called it a night, but now we still had to drive a bit towards Mildenhall for the hotel.
On Thursday 2 May 2024 we tried our luck for the second time at RAF Marham and we had a lot of time to chat with each other, because nothing happened at all. We saw and heard continuous fighter jet noise all around us and so we headed to RAF Lakenheath where we arrived just after noon. They flew from the other side than Monday and this produced some nice different pictures. In addition to the fourteen F-35As, we also saw four F-15s making their rounds. Just like on Monday, we ended the day at RAF Mildenhall with several local aircraft, but also an RAF Globemaster and the RC-135 that we now saw returning. Just after eight the day was over and we could go to the pub.
On Friday 3 May 2024, the weather was not good for almost the entire day, very cloudy and often rain. Nevertheless, we chose to go to RAF Lakenheath first, rain or shine, they just fly here. The advantage of the clouds is that you can stand at the spotter’s spot in the morning, where you normally have backlight, but now you are not bothered by it. This gives a nice contrast with the thick afterburners of the Strike Eagles, a few other photos. One of the F-15s had a problem and used the arrestor hook to land, accompanied by all the beautiful sparkles on the ground. When it started to rain really hard, we moved to the Royal Air Force Museum London at RAF Hendon. This museum has been completely redesigned in recent years and many aircraft can be photographed much better. After closing we stopped by a nice model shop before heading across the London ring road to our hotel in Maidstone for the last night of the tour.
We left early on Saturday 4 May 2024 for the port of Calais, where there was already a long queue for both customs. The check-in time for our ferry was approaching and passed quickly, but fortunately we were still able to catch the reserved ferry. The trip over the Channel was uneventful and the participants returned home via Antwerp, Utrecht and Arnhem, bringing an end to this first tour of this type for 4Aviation. It was a resounding success with a pleasant group where we saw and photographed everything that the participants had indicated in advance. We will certainly repeat this type of tour more often in the future.
