Legendary Moments in Military Aviation

Friday, October 18, 2019

Cobra Warrior 2019 striking high with Israeli F-15 Eagles.

The Royal Air Force's Exercise Cobra Warrior 2019 was held at RAF Waddington this time and maybe in future years. The 2019 exercise reached a classic high; close to the City of Lincoln, it became home to fast jets from Germany and Italy and, for the first time, F-15C and Ds from the Israeli Airforce. The tactical training exercise commenced on the 1st of September and continued for three weeks.

Road closures, speed limits, overtaking bans, and step ladder bans were all in place for this 2019 exercise. It soon became the norm for the Wave cafe and its spotter's parking area to be packed to capacity with an overspill on the former RAF dispersal area alongside the A-15 highway.

With a wall of photographers lined up along the airfield perimeter fence, a high Police presence with incident support units and motorcycles cruising up and down the roads, lots of road traffic cones and yellow traffic signs, and for good measure, the odd Israeli security person mingling amongst the crowds. This all made for a very agreeable time; what was not to like?

583 F-15C IDF
The IDF bought seven F-15C and D's known as "BAS" or "Falcon" from the 106 Sqn based at Tel Nof airbase.

583 F-15C BAZ 106Sqn IDF 'Golan.'

583 F-15C BAZ 106Sqn IDF 'Golan.' heads for the exercise area out in the North Sea.

980 F-15D IDF, all the D models are classified as multi-role fighters.

715 F-15D IDF named (Shoshout Ha'Ruchot) 'Rose of the winds'.

733 F-15D IDF BAZ 106Sqn (Raz Ha Melech) 'Kings Messenger.'

30+74 TLG73 GAF
No less than ten Eurofighters from the TLG73 based at Laage.

30+56 EF2000 TLG73 from Laage

30+65 EF2000 GAF

MM7321 37-12 F2000A 18º Gruppo Itaf.

MM7311 4-55 EF2000A 9º Gruppo coming from Grossetto Airbase Italy.

ZJ694 Sentinel R1 5(AC) Sqn RAF launches on its exercise mission.

30+65 EF2000A TLG73 GAF breaks for landing.

30+47 EF2000A GAF Landing at RAF Waddington. The jets were from Laage, but the pilots were probably from a mix of units.

ZJ694 Sentinel R1 5(AC) Sqn RAF recovering to RAF Waddington.

The RAF Waddington (ISTAR) assets are Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance.

733 F-15D BAZ IDF (Kings Messenger) note the (SATCOM) Satellite communication dome behind the rear cockpit.

715 F-15D IDF (Rose of the Winds) lands on runway 02 at RAF Waddington.

810 F-15C IDF (Desert Cobra), its mission is over.

980 F-15D IDF deploys its air brake for landing, which is the norm for most IDF landings on this deployment.

818 F-15C IDF recovering without the use of its air brake.

818 F-15C IDF
Aircrews welcome home their jet.

30+88 EF2000A GAF is nearly down.

30+50 EF2000A TLG 73 GAF.

ZZ418 Shadow R.1 RAF landing back at RAF Waddington.

715 F-15D IDF 'Rose of the Winds' taxiing for a complete stop.

810 F-15C IDF BAZ (Desert Cobra).

810 F-15C IDF

Busy busy...Waddo!

The IDF F-15C and D's crews employ the Elbit's display and sight helmet (DASH). This allows pilots to aim their weapons by looking at the target.

810 F-15C IDF BAZ (Desert Cobra) Holds for a complete stop.

"Mig Killer" On the 8th of June 1982, this aircraft 818 flying with 832 shared a Syrian airforce Mig-23 Kill. When both pilots locked on and fired their AIM-7F missiles, they shared a half-kill each. As for the total kill, I will have to pass?

Early morning Waddington, ground crews preparing for the day's missions.

Sadly, 706 suffered engine problems during my visit, necessitating another C-130 Hercules visit.

435 C-130H Karnaf 4X-FBT 103/131Sqn looking splendid behind 733 "Kings Messenger and 980 in the foreground, Ex Oregon ANG 80-0055.

Home team ZH103/03 Sentry AEW-1 8/54 Sqn RAF lands in copious rain, while MM7353/36-56 F-2000A taxis for taking off.

MM7311/4-55 F-2000A and MM7352/36-55 Itaf, taxi for line up.

810 F-15C "Desert Cobra" launches into the haar.

Mig killer 818 F-15C (Tamoon) "Octopus."

Mistiness, precipitation and lots of heat...

Tale tails!

A great few days out at what must be regarded as a significant moment in modern UK Military aviation.

Notwithstanding that, further south at RAF Fairford, three United States Air Force B-2 Stealth Bombers made a gracious impression over the Gloucestershire countryside while deployed to the United Kingdom, and that is my next stop.

Happy Days!

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Eurocopter EC665 Tigre live firing missiles Spain 2007.

Towards the bottom corner of Spain's Andalusia, along the coastline of the Donana National Park, there is a live firing range. I had never seen an Aircraft or Helicopter using it before. My dates here could be more precise, but I caught these photos in 2007.
I was drawn by a Spanish Naval ship close to the shore; this was obviously there to keep fishing boats out of the area and place the target balloon. Suddenly, the Tiger emerged from the Military test Establishment on the coast road between Matalascañas and Huelva, flying low along the cliffs.

5001/F-ZWBP HA.28-1 Eurocopter Tiger HAD

Eurocopter Tiger HAD Serial 5001/F-ZWBP HA.28-1 is currently owned by Eurocopter France but also carries the markings of the Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejercito de Tierra (Spanish Army Aviation).

5001/F-ZWBP HA.28-1 Eurocopter Tiger HAD.

Guess the photos tell the story?

Happy bygone Days!

RAF Boscombe Down and the Salisbury Plain Military Training area.

A visit to RAF Boscombe Down with blue skies and an afternoon visit to the Salisbury Plain Training areas.

Wiltshire is home to bases such as Boscombe Down, Middle Wallop, and the Salisbury Plain training area.

Unfortunately, they no longer are the bases they used to be in their glory days; Boscombe Down has passed into privatised hands (QinetiQ), and most of their aircraft now carry civilian markings. (Very sad). Middle Wallop has suffered from the financial cuts brandished on the Armed services; some days, you can pass it by wondering if there are any Helicopters still based there.

I digress, so here are the photographers from that trip in 2018.