RAF Wyton - 29/07/2005

This was one of those days that really made me realise what I'd not made the most of in the past. It was RAF Wyton's 2005 Families Day.

Having done some digging on Damien Burke's excellent Thunder-and-Lightnings viewing guide, I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to be for the day ahead. It seemed that there should be a fairly low fence close to both the threshold and the taxiway, and that's exactly how it turned out. I didn't need to be there long to find myself cursing about missed opportunities. The Canberras, Nimrod R1s and 100 Sqn Hawks that would've come around that bend in years goneby...

Enough sentimentality. The movements during the morning were sporadic, but pretty good all the same.

First RAF arrivals were a pair of Tucanos from RAF Linton-on-Ouse, including 2005 display pilot Flt Lt Ben Mark, who would later display.

After one of 19(R) Sqn's Hawks landed, a very smart looking BAe125 of 32(TR) Squadron arrived from Northolt. It was almost certainly the last example I'd see in this scheme, and I made the most of it!

The first display of the day was performed by 56(R) Sqn's Tornado F3 display crew of Flt Lts Richard 'Dicko' Moyes and Gareth 'Gaz' Littlechild

Performing a flyby on a routine training mission was this 899 NAS Harrier T8 from RNAS Yeovilton.

A second rotary movement of the day (the first being a 21st SOS MH-53M from Mildenhall) came by way of this Chinook from RAF Odiham, conveniently flying an approach to the taxiway rather than the main.

The afternoon activity was commenced by Flt Lt Ben Mark in the Tucano. He departed immediately after his display.

When an Ascot callsign appeared on the scanner, the last thing any of us assumed it would be was one of the RAF's C-17 Globemasters, but that's exactly what it was! Following a clean pass and a dirty pass, a tactical landing was undertaken, the aircraft reversed down the runway, before commencing a new take-off roll and getting airborne extremely quickly indeed. It was a real treat to see a C-17 flown like this - not something that's seen on the display circuit - sadly!

The BAe 125 headed for home next but not before he too performed a rather spirited high-speed clean pass.

The spare Tucano also left for home.

Transiting to their location for the weekend were no less than eleven Hawks belonging to the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows.

The final proper display came courtesy of Flt Lt Derek Sington in the 41(F) Sqn Jaguar GR3A.

It was good to see a former resident being persuaded to make a single flypast, even if it was a little higher than ideal.

The final military departure was one that I'd not even seen arrive. It was a 41(F) Sqn Jaguar T4.

A really enjoyable day tinged with sadness at the opportunities missed in a previous life...