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Spadeadam 2011/2014

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catkins
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Location: Tyne Gap, Northumberland

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by catkins » Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:49 pm

Re recent JW traffic to Spade, I'm afraid I can't answer that as weather & other commitments not ideal for outings!
However, in the light of all that has been posted about the farmer's field problems at Leeming, could I just add that occasional issues are sometimes apparent at Spade with the resultant concerns about security on the MoD land.
Often access rights can be difficult to fathom, range signs only say 'no access when the red flag is flying' (which is rare even during range use), and most range use can seem rather distant for us low level aviation photographers and enthusiasts, which in some situations can lead to over-enthusiasm to get ever closer to the action. But the sensible option is to assume and keep to the public roads and footpaths, as 'open access' is not a feature of MoD ranges!
Local farmers are well aware of where the public footpaths are and of the lengths some people will go to, and they will contact the MoD security if necessary - if I am walking in the area I am more than happy with that.
Forum sites such as this are read by the usual 'concerned locals' and most regular users of the range are known, for good or for bad - hopefully the former!
Last time I was there it looked like a new camera mast was being installed at Wiley Sike, which in one sense is a good thing as it will perhaps make security issues more apparent to anyone visiting, but if new to the area, the following may be useful:
  • - that the single track public road to Chirnside has few parking places, is used regularly by locals (and the cattle do love to mooch on the road), the verges are often very soft as several know to their cost and as seen during the last JW Ex with a RNlA truck being stuck up to its axle, and a few of the limited laybys have priority for MoD use (especially Wiley Sike) if necessary
    - the largest area for parking is good for accessing the gorge and Crammal Linn waterfall (well worth a visit, although last time I was there a small landslip had affected the final bit of path to the waterfall)
    - there are few footpaths within the main range area, these abound the margins of the range, and often parking to access the routes is limited - none of these paths give you any real advantage (in terms of proximity to photo opportunities) compared to Wiley Sike especially in inclement weather but some give fabulous views over the surrounding countryside, of the Lakeland fells, the Solway Firth and/or the North Pennines
    - Wiley Sike tends to be the main meeting point for the LL watchers (but on many occasions it is a place of great solitude!), it would be great (tho don't hold your breath) if the MoD could open a café in the lovely new red and white portacabin, the LL pilots tend to know that photographers frequent Wiley Sike so if they have time or flexibility within their mission planning they often overfly in the vicinity (but guessing when is a good time to go there to photograph is a gamble and 'lady luck' is it seems in a different part of the country), and be prepared for 50 degrees of cooler temperature when there!
So be good to the locals, chat to the farmers and other 'users', and get down on your knees and beg for 'lady luck' to fly by, ideally with a rain dance at the same time to encourage the sun, and post your photos on the Forum so we can all enjoy a little bit of the 'Northern de-lights'!!

Regards
Chris
Last edited by catkins on Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If I'm out I'm Just Swanning Around taking photos!
So give a 'Like' to my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JustSwanningAround

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Reptile 1
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Location: Here and there.

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by Reptile 1 » Sat Oct 12, 2013 7:12 pm

Only stuff i have heard on Spade this week was some Typhoon's Vulcan 1-2 (Mirage 5F's) and Tarnish 69 and yesterday Monster 41flt cancelled there 1430 slot on the Range other than that it's not been really active with JW Trafic.

michael1970
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Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by michael1970 » Sun Oct 13, 2013 10:42 am

Well said Chris and I noticed the mast on Monday there is another to the north west about where the vehicles are.
Went on Monday and got a chinook and Merlin

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by johnhowe » Mon Oct 14, 2013 10:58 am

Notam for Mon 14th & Tues 15th, October, 2013. PJE at D510 RAF Spadeadam within 6 Nautical Miles of Spadeadam 542801N & 00140008W PJE will

be between 10am & 4.0pm on both days. Looking on the forecast Mon 13.00pm NE 14MPH mean speed gusting 26.MPH.

Tuesday 15th, 1oam. Wind NNE mean speed 9MPH gusting 18mph 13.00pm & 16.00pm 9mph gusting 14mph.

Tuesday looks to be the better day with no rain and sunny periods.

http://lfa17.port5.com/exercise_wycombe_warrior.htm
Last edited by johnhowe on Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

michael1970
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Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by michael1970 » Mon Oct 14, 2013 5:14 pm

Jump Canx today as the wind was a bit strong

Peted
Posts: 169
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Location: York, UK

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by Peted » Wed Oct 16, 2013 1:11 pm

Hi All - thanks for your response to my question about activity at Spadeadam for JW - and Chris for the detail.
As it happens, we stayed at Leeming because there was plenty to see
Thanks again
PeteD, York

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by johnhowe » Sat Oct 19, 2013 8:09 am

Notam for D510 & D510A RAF Spadeadam will be deactivated from the 21st, October throu to and including 24th, October, 2013 from 9.0am through to 13.30pm.

However on the 21st, it will be active from 17.00 to 21.30pm BST NVG required.
http://tommercerphotography.co.uk/2013/ ... errick-19/
Last edited by johnhowe on Wed Dec 04, 2013 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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catkins
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Location: Tyne Gap, Northumberland

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2013

Post by catkins » Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:01 pm

I believe that there may be some timber operations going on in or to the fringes of the range, possibly using helicopters to extract timber! Also possible Apache Ex due to use range over next few weeks.
If I'm out I'm Just Swanning Around taking photos!
So give a 'Like' to my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JustSwanningAround

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Tue Jan 21, 2014 7:39 pm

I go to Spadeadam on a regular basis and I always marvel at the skill of the rotary pilots especially when they fly down by the waterfall and along the river banks however accidents do happen.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVEo7f7y ... 0TMQM_vUes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0TMQM_vUes Mull of Kintyre Chinook Accident


http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/air- ... g-07042014
Last edited by johnhowe on Tue Apr 08, 2014 9:43 pm, edited 3 times in total.

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Tue Feb 04, 2014 6:39 pm

A Close Air Support Exercise is scheduled to take place at Brizlee Wood Northumberland on the 5th, 6th 11th & 12th February, 2014 the flying by multiple fast jets will

commence each day at 08.00 to 16.00 and wil be SFC to 20,000 feet under the control of Silver 357.225 or 397.900. This is another Pashtun Sabre 20 Exercise.

Otterburn D510/D510 has also been activated on the 7th & 9th, February, 2014 SFC to 20,000 feet Otterburn control is 279.00 and 130.025.

Throughout this week and next week there are numerous Notams, for Luce Bay, Fort George, Garvie Island F15s dropping ordinance, Cape Wrath, Tain and Druridge Bay.

I wonder if anything will fly through Spadeadam, there is an FAC at Barnard Castle and another Exercise in the Vale of York.

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Wed Feb 26, 2014 8:13 pm

http://ltpa.co.uk/site_range/west_freugh/index.asp Change of subject to something more topical with Joint Warrior.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=96026 FOB from W/F to Carlisle for Ex at Spadeadam on the 10th/11th April
Last edited by johnhowe on Wed Apr 16, 2014 10:38 am, edited 2 times in total.

PONSH
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Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by PONSH » Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:43 pm

What's this about, Frank? I've got a Mac system & can't run your link.

Cheers

Ponsh

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toom317
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Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by toom317 » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:59 am

I can't get it either, unless I download yet another viewing providers software.
No one gets out of life alive.



Equipment: Camera, Lens, Goretex Y fronts

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:48 pm

Notam For D510/D510A Spadeadam will be Deactivated from 9.00am to 10.00am on Monday the 14th, April, 2014. however another part of the Notam states that there will additional action Between 17.00BST to 18.00BST SFC to 5500 feet just for Monday the 14.4.14.

Wx For Friday the 11th, Sunny periods with wind 7mph gusting to 12mph. Wx for Monday sunny all day with slight wind.

Tronk 11
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Joined: Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:37 pm

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by Tronk 11 » Fri Apr 11, 2014 9:00 am

Just a note about Spade, and why it may be deactivated for an hour. British gas have a test facility here & 'blow things up' on certain days, I just wonder if this is one of the test days?

johnhowe

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by johnhowe » Mon Apr 14, 2014 8:09 pm

Log for Monday 14th, I popped into Carlisle Airport at 12.30pm The Merlin was still parked on the apron.

As I drove towards Spadeadam approaching the Bewcastle turnoff I saw a C130 low level over the range doing a couple of west to east runs had left by the time I arrived

at Wiley Syke.

At 14.30pm Spectre called up 30 miles to the east of the range they wanted to do a systems check but some equipment had gone tech, they promised to come to

Spadeadam in an hour, at the appointed time they called un on 371.875 asking for a direct track to Mildenhall.

Mid afternoon a Merlin was seen transitting the Haltwistle Valley towards Carlisle whether it was the one I had seen at Carlisle earlier or another is open to speculation.

My main reason for going to Spade was the Notam for D510/D510A bet 5.0pm *& 6.0pm I had the company of three other spotters they waited to 17.25pm and left to go

home to Carlisle.

17.30pm Vegas 41 calls up to enter the range but he has to wait as Tribal Flight Tribal 31 & 32 are already doing EW serials with Spade, although they never came below

15,000 feet they could be seen and heard clearly they were fair wizzing around the sky the engine noise was fantastic.

Dateline Spadeadam 14th Aoril, 2014 sunny periods no wind 19 degrees celsius.

Geoff Carlisle
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Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:09 am

Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by Geoff Carlisle » Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:47 pm

29/04/14


15:30-16:15 'Jolly 31/32' HH-60's performed several take off / landings before routing back to Lakenheath.

Earlier there had been 2 fast jets on range (possible Voodoo) around 14:00


Geoff Mackay
Carlisle

Geoff Carlisle
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Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by Geoff Carlisle » Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:52 pm

Seems it was Vengence...Hawks

Well at least I got the V bit right.

Geoff Carlisle
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Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by Geoff Carlisle » Sat May 03, 2014 7:59 am

02/05/14 10:10-10:55

Noted on the range this morning was MC-130J Commando of 67thSOS c/s 'Strix 06'. Should be 11-5733.
Various runs using R206 / R208.

Geoff Mackay
Carlisle

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PeteHemsley
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Re: Action at RAF Spadeadam/Otterburn in 2014

Post by PeteHemsley » Sun May 04, 2014 11:18 am

Great to see you still going up to the range Geoff!

Thanks for the logs

See you soon.

Pete

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