RAF Lakenheath - 05/03/2009

With most weather forecasting sites suggesting a vague possibility of Lakenheath being on 06 (windspeed was the only issue), and the promise of clear blue skies, I simply had to take the chance, and so off I toddled to this Suffolk base.

Arriving around 0845 there seemed little activity aside from a few Eagles (both 493rd and 494th birds - the 492nd are currently deployed) sitting outside their HASs. But, come 0900 the first wave taxied out, sadly for me, to the 24 end... Initially there were eight aircraft - making up two four-ships, and these were later joined by a pair and a singleton.

While the runway in use was a disappointment, aside from a little haze (that seems ever present when I visit!) the conditions were very good. I was joined by Dave Nairne who'd also hoped for some 'sixes' action.

We ventured into the field for some landing shots. I'd wanted to try some wide-angled stuff but later realised I'd left my 10-22mm lens at home, so the 24-105 it was!

Despite requests from the tower for multiple VFR patterns for controller training, only one aircraft had the fuel to fully co-operate.

As some of the aircraft recovered it was evident from the scanner that they were going to be 'hot-pitting', a process by which the aircraft is refuelled and prepared for an immediate turn-around with the engines still running.

By now the cloud had really filled and by the time they departed again and recovered, there really wasn't any point in taking pictures. It was just ugly.

Conditions did break once more mid-afternon and we hung around till 1600 but without further activity.