|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 17, 2015 20:15:21 GMT
This time it's Lakenheath's turn. Arriving this afternoon were:
F/A-18s VMFA-232 Red Devils
165218/06
165194/05
165188/02
165230/11
165186/01 (special colours)
165191/03
Also present C-130J 165736/QB
The F/A-18s are due out tomorrow (Sunday) @11:00
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 18, 2015 21:22:01 GMT
Now slated for departure on Monday 19/10.
Also rumoured to be another 4 to 6 F/A-18s transiting through on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Busy, busy, busy!
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 19, 2015 22:31:27 GMT
The Red Devils departure was scrubbed again today (Monday 19/10).
Furthermore, a further four F/A-18s are said to be due to arrive at 14:30 local tomorrow (Tuesday 20/10).
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 20, 2015 15:13:52 GMT
The other F/A-18s are inbound and on London Mil at 16:10
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 20, 2015 18:26:24 GMT
The latest arrivals are:
165181/00
165192/04
165222/07
165227/10
If you're interested in mil, then I think a trip to the Heath may be in order. After all, you don't see 10 USMC F/A-18s every day.
|
|
|
|
Post by adola68 on Oct 20, 2015 19:22:39 GMT
I'm giving it a go tomorrow. There's an airspace reservation across the Atlantic for them tomorrow. But it could get cancelled (like all the previous ones this week!).
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 20, 2015 21:32:57 GMT
I expect it will be rammed with anoraks. After all, it is due to rain tomorrow ;-)
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 21, 2015 10:47:15 GMT
6 of the 10 present departed at 10:20 this morning (21/10). Sadly, one of them, Mazda 43 appears to have crashed shortly after take off. Fingers crossed that the pilot is okay. There's no news as yet (11:45).
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 21, 2015 17:45:01 GMT
The aircraft involved was 165181/WT-00 and sadly the pilot did not survive. RIP. Thankfully, there don't appeaer to be any other casualties.
|
|
|
|
Post by adola68 on Oct 21, 2015 18:35:04 GMT
A few photos from a wet and misty Lakenheath. As Andy has said, tragically one of the FA-18s crashed after take-off, killing the pilot. 87-0035 C-5M  165186 (WT/01) F/A-18C  165736 (QB/736) KC-130J  |
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 21, 2015 20:45:05 GMT
Please excuse the quality (as John said, the weather wasn't the best), but for the record, here's a shot of 165181/WT-00 climbing away from Lakenheath into the clag this morning.  Little did I know of the tragedy that would occur in the following few minutes. My condolences to the pilot's family, friends and VMFA-232 |
|
|
|
Post by adola68 on Oct 21, 2015 21:05:15 GMT
Worth forwarding your photo to AAIB? I've seen lots of photos of WT/00 taxying out (including my own) but none of it airborne.
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 21, 2015 21:44:04 GMT
As a US military aircraft is involved, I'm not sure whether it would be the AAIB, NTSB or some unit within the USDoD? That said, I expect the AAIB would know, so I might send them it anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by andypspotter on Oct 28, 2015 23:41:11 GMT
Today, 28/10/15, the remaining four F/A-18s at RAF Lakenheath set off on their much delay journey across the pond back to NAS Miramar.
The aircraft involved were:
165188/WT-02
165192/WT-04
165222/WT-07
165227/WT-10
|
|
