lakenheath and marham 14 to 16 october 2020 скачать в хорошем качестве

lakenheath and marham 14 to 16 october 2020

Another enjoyable trip down to East Anglia in mid October 2020. Starting off on the 14th with my first visit to Marham since the Tornado finished and a couple of RAF F-35s were doing some circuits followed by a Typhoon too. Plus a guest appearance by an RAF Ambulance with lettering right out of the 80s. I then moved down to Lakenheath to find the fire extinguishers still stood up but no crew cars. Hmm methinks, they're usually desperate to get rid of the extinguishers when they've finished for the day - or at least lie them down anyway - so they must be planning another launch. Well my patience/insanity (delete as appropriate) was rewarded after a mere 2 1/2 hrs when they went back up after dark. And they were still on bloody runway 06! Moving to the 15th i made another trip to Marham to see a hawk take off. That wasn't the intention but it was literally all that happened in a 4 hour stretch. I'd forgotton how haphazard Marham can be! Headed back down to Lakenheath to see some of 492 squadron arriving back from the middle east after a 6 month long deployment with, it must be said, impeccable timing - they were literally on finals as I pulled up. Naturally most people then buggered off but those damned fire extinguishers stayed stood up again! Guessing it would be again after dark when they actually launched it was time to decamp into the village for some much needed fish and chips before heading off for a date with some afterburners in the dark. Onto the 16th (hereafter known as the low approach day) and again was on the ball with my timing as they were on last chance as I pulled up mid bacon roll. A few were heading out for an exercise north of Holland but pretty soon a couple were on the way back with 1 declaring an IFE. Cue lots of blue flashy lights to welcome Jackal 92 back with what we think was a pressurisation issue. Thankfully the pilot came over the radio to say no medical assistance was needed. Another jet, Jackal 91 had accompanied the IFE back to base and we heard on the radio that he was going to stay local and do circuits/low approaches. Cue what was probably the most entertaining 30 minutes I've ever spent down at Lakenheath - he did at least 8 low approaches going off in all directions and angles, you would have paid good money to see such a display at an airshow. Everytime he called up for YET ANOTHER one our jaws just dropped even more. A blistering performance and I made sure to give him a big round of applause as he eventually landed - he probably couldn't see me but I hope he knows what a legend he is! Eventually the other planes returned and they too gave some nice low approaches and passes - if we hadn't been so spoiled by Jackal 91 we'd have been even more impressed. Was certainly a great way to end the visit and more than made up for the 4 hours spent in a rainy field at Marham watching a solitary hawk! (No offence to the Hawk but Lakenheath does really spoil you for going to almost any other base!) Another great visit with smashing company and nice to see 492 back from overseas too. Roll on the next one (if we're not all locked down by then anyway!)