On the Tuesday of the week before last, I took myself off for a four-day solo tour around four airbases here in the UK.
Exercise Cobra Warrior 23-2 was the second part of a large-scale exercise between multiple airforces based at multiple sites across the country. The first part was held in March, and the second part was held over three weeks in September. Press releases and further information about the exercise are here, here and here. It has been a while since I went off chasing aircraft visiting this country; I could not resist taking myself off on a solo tour.
I spent time at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on the Tuesday for the F-16s over from Spangdahlem (plus locally based tankers). On Wednesday and Thursday morning, it was RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire for the visiting Candian CF-188 Hornets, NATO E-3A Sentry and the RAF's own RC-135 Rivet Joints. Thursday afternoon, I went to RAF Coningsby for the local Typhoons. Friday, I spent the morning at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk for the visiting Norwegian F-35s, plus the Canadian Top Aces contractor Alpha Jet A and A-4N Skyhawk II aircraft, plus the locally-based USAF F-15E and F-35A aircraft.
Various other aircraft popped up over the time, but I'll only show some examples of the ones I've mentioned here. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking. I’ve put an album of more pictures on Flickr.
BTW: the pictures shown here were all made with the Sony A1 and the Sony 200-600mm lens. The lens stayed on the camera the whole time (no 50mm needed!)
USAF 480 FS F-16C Fighting Falcon 91-0343/SP at RAF Mildenhall. Pulling up hard at low level after a missed approach. The pilot is making a W (??) gesture with one hand.
Boeing KC-135R 58-0100 Stratotanker taxying in at Mildenhall. This tanker is a piece of living history. It first flew in 1959 (ordered in fiscal year 1958, hence the 58 in the reg). It is still refuelling fighters 65 years on.
Canadian Hornets taxying at Waddington
NATO E3-A Sentry AWACS departs Waddington
Boeing RC-135W Rivet Joint (ZZ665)
Typhoon FGR4 ZK371 (371) takes off at Coningsby
RNoAF F-35A 5664 waits as 5502 begins its take-off run at Lakenheath
Norwegian AF F-35A 5666
Top Aces A-4N Skyhawk II C-FGZE 495
Norwegian AF F-35A 5385