Ascot204 & Paulo1&2 at Spadeadam 16 Mar (photo heavy)

[catkins]

Two days of low grey cloud and drizzle and was a visit to Spadeadam going to be worthwhile?
Well for an hour or so I thought I'd wasted my day before hearing the welcome sound of RAF Hercules Ascot204 ZH878 approaching from the West. It stayed onsite for an hour, operating at low level due to ... the low cloud base! So as a result I had a few good passes and photo opportunities from it, before it departed back to Brize Norton. Even some visiting farmers were impressed by the way it was twisting and jinking around the area.
As soon as it left, AAC Apache Longbow pair Paulo1&2 came in from the North East, presumed from Otterburn Training Area. They again operated at very low level due to the low cloud base, mainly at the east part of the range. And again, some nice low passes from them were appreciated!
The light was rubbish, dull to dark most of the time, but at least without sunshine there isn't any horrendous glare or contrast! But a worthwhile visit helped by plenty of practicing and a good few low passes. And sorry, as a result of the variety of shots, I'll post a few 'aircraft in the landscape' photos which make Spadeadam such a great location, as well as a few closer too photos.

RAF C139J Hercules - Ascot 204:



Wing fluff


Chaff













AAC Apache Longbow - Paulo 1&2:
















Cheers
Chris

[TeeJay]

Hi Chris
Good set there considering the light, or lack of!!
Low level apaches nice to see, fav for me though, is the fluffy Herc
All the best
Trev

[wolfie138]

would love to get some Apache pics, is there any reliable way of knowing when they're going to be up there?

[catkins]

Hi Chris
Good set there considering the light, or lack of!!
Low level apaches nice to see, fav for me though, is the fluffy Herc
All the best
Trev

Cheers, definitely not ideal light! But positives of low cloud meant very low level, fluff, and even lighting on the aircraft ... but little colour showing on the Herc especially. Still, we all need a little challenge or two, and Spade always provides that.
Regards
Chris

[catkins]

would love to get some Apache pics, is there any reliable way of knowing when they're going to be up there?

No, for Spadeadam or elsewhere there isn't much in the way of advance clues. However, this Apache deployment had a few clues with 9 of them arriving at RAF Leeming, which tends to mean use of Otterburn, Spadeadam and a few other northern areas. A large deployment like this would normally be for a week or two. Otherwise, news of Exercises would possibly mention helicopter use of an area such as Spadeadam SPACES outlying low level training areas, though not in this case. Spadeadam is a huge training area with only one narrow public single track road (& very boggy verges!), and nowadays being in the right spot is unfortunately also part of the challenge - I've known many blanks even with Apache in the area!
Regards
Chris

[paddyboy]

Hi Chris

Cracking pics, considering the (lack of) light

A 'fluffy' Herk means that air must have been full of moisture and then some

Thanks

Paddyboy

[panta615]

Hi Chris.

Pics 2 & 3 are so good. Some brilliant shots there. Can't beat a bit of fluff.

Dave

[Chris Procter]

Good to see you getting some decent action Chris... funnily enough I was looking at your beach landing shots again last night and then you post on here today LOL

[catkins]

Hi Chris
Cracking pics, considering the (lack of) light
A 'fluffy' Herk means that air must have been full of moisture and then some
Thanks
Paddyboy

Thank you.
As I've been editing the photos I've realised that where the Herc is overflying the forest areas there seems to be more moisture showing by way of wing or propeller fluff/contrail - not sure if that's coincidence or that the trees release more moisture? But as seen in this shot (where the Herc's left wing is in cloud) the cloud base was very low too, so probably it's just how close it was to this moist layer. The photo also gives an idea of why the low cloud base helped keep the Herc and the Apache pair low!



Cheers
Chris

[WattieB]

That's a great set of shots Chris despite the poor light. I've yet to see a fluffy Herc

Cheers,
Walter

[catkins]

Hi Chris.

Pics 2 & 3 are so good. Some brilliant shots there. Can't beat a bit of fluff.

Dave

Cheers for the comments, appreciated! I guess every cloud has a silver fluffy lining!
Regards
Chrsi

[catkins]

Good to see you getting some decent action Chris... funnily enough I was looking at your beach landing shots again last night and then you post on here today LOL

Ah yes, even I was looking at the beach landing photos recently thinking it'd be good to see again ... but I think JW landings this year may be mainly in SW. But hopefully will catch up with soon during some local April action ....
Cheers
Chris

[catkins]

That's a great set of shots Chris despite the poor light. I've yet to see a fluffy Herc

Cheers,
Walter

Thanks Walter, I was saying to someone else that perhaps the saying 'every cloud has a silver lining' perhaps was true.
I've been editing a few others and found that I even managed to get another first for me ... spiralling propellor contrails, tho Herc was a bit distant for being a good photo.
I'll post it following this reply.
But here's another of the fluff sequence

Cheers, and hope you carpet hung a bit of action in the north ... roll on April!
Chris

[catkins]

With the last few edits come a little surprise ... my first spiralling propeller contrails catch as the Herc crossed over the forest area. The Herc was a bit distant for it to be a good catch but hey, i'm pleased!

[wolfie138]

would love to get some Apache pics, is there any reliable way of knowing when they're going to be up there?

No, for Spadeadam or elsewhere there isn't much in the way of advance clues. However, this Apache deployment had a few clues with 9 of them arriving at RAF Leeming, which tends to mean use of Otterburn, Spadeadam and a few other northern areas. A large deployment like this would normally be for a week or two. Otherwise, news of Exercises would possibly mention helicopter use of an area such as Spadeadam SPACES outlying low level training areas, though not in this case. Spadeadam is a huge training area with only one narrow public single track road (& very boggy verges!), and nowadays being in the right spot is unfortunately also part of the challenge - I've known many blanks even with Apache in the area!
Regards
Chris

ok, cheers anyway, guess i'll just have to keep hoping.