4 days on the Mach Loop , w/c 5th September 2022

[andygolfer]

I spent a week chasing aircraft going to, from and in Wales last week and spent 4 days on Cad East (it would have been 5 but national circumstances meant no training flights on Friday so I did other things instead).
the weather was variable (Iraqi - sunny and shi-ite) but I stuck it out on the wet days until the heavy rain was due - the forecasts were surprisingly accurate and we got back to the car just before the really heavy rain started and saw a good selection, only thing I thought I would see but didn't was F-15s. Some tried late on Tuesday afternoon but the weather kept them out(I was at Corris Craft centre by then avoiding the rain but by the time they were calling it was brightening up but not enough.

Monday was the busiest day with about 20 passes, mainly Hawks and some Texans - it was Labor Day so no USAF action. The surprise amongst the Hawks was a flight of 4 Qatari ones, I didn't realise until I looked closely at my photos! I managed to photograph 3 of the 4, I just wasn't prepared for how quickly the aircraft go through, I was using fast burst to maximise my chances but only achieved around 40 shots per pass if I followed right through so around 5 seconds per pass!
I'm now in awe of the people who come up with some of the photos I've seen on here

enough waffle, Monday....
first up was a sighter for practice, an RAF Hawk
ZK020 BAe Hawk RAF Cad East, Mach Loop 05-09-2022 7446. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

then the flight of 4 Qatari Hawks arrived,
ZB131 BAe Hawk RAF Cad East, Mach Loop 05-09-2022 7477. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

ZB134 BAe Hawk Qatari Air Force Cad East, Mach Loop 05-09-2022 7507. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

ZB132 BAe Hawk Qatari Air Force Cad East, Mach Loop 05-09-2022 7489. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and we had a few Texans through as well
ZM341 Beechcraft Texan RAF Cad East, Mach Loop 05-09-2022 7651. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

ZM327 Beechcraft Texan RAF Cad East, Mach Loop 05-09-2022 7695 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and more Hawks to finish off the day
ZK027 BAe Hawk RAF Cad East, Mach Loop 05-09-2022 7775 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Tuesday started dull and humid, rain forecast later in the day. Thanks to the Lakenheath grapevine for all the updates and excitement as F-35s were apparently on their way. That humid air meant one thing.... SNAFU (no, not what you're thinking), Situation Nice, All Fluffed Up
And they were......
19-5476 F-35A USAF US Force Cad East, Mach Loop 06-09-2022 7829T by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

19-5476 F-35B USAF US Force Cad East, Mach Loop 06-09-2022 7943 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

19-5476 F-35B USAF US Force Cad East, Mach Loop 06-09-2022 7902 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

19-5476 F-35B USAF US Force Cad East, Mach Loop 06-09-2022 7929. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

19-5476 F-35B USAF US Force Cad East, Mach Loop 06-09-2022 7938. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

the F35s went round twice which doubled my chances - thanks guys! after that there was just an A400 which went through the Bwlch and on to Bala thus only a distant view and a pass by a pair of RAF Hawks, this ones about to stab the guys on Cad West...
ZK025 BAe Hawk RAF Cad East, Mach Loop 06-09-2022 7988. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Wednesday produced a couple of flights of RASF Hawks again and a C.130 in the distance that decided to go along Lake Bala rather than the loop unfortunately, a civilian helicopter which crossed the Cad pass and another early finish due to an incoming storm
ZK036 BAe Hawk RAF Cad East, Mach Loop 07-09-2022 8158. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Thursday was quiet, poor weather keeping aircraft away until early afternoon when the FC jungle drums alerted us to an Osprey on it's way to Wales and even better it came in and did two loops of the loop - Yay!
09-0042 CV-22 Cad East, Mach Loop 08-09-2022 8355. by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

09-0042 CV-22 Cad East, Mach Loop 08-09-2022 8381 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and second time round it was far lower and out of sight of those like me who kept well back from the cliff edge as it went through the pass
09-0042 CV-22 Cad East, Mach Loop 08-09-2022 8507c by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

and for the rest of the afternoon we waited in vain but nothing happened until we had packed up everything and were just moving off when two Hawks came through, cameras were safely in the bags and padded all round with jumpers and towels just in case of a fall so no chance of pics but we'd got a few of the Hawks by then!

We stayed at Stabal cottage on the farm next to the track up to Cad East and it was an excellent place to stay nicely kept and with everything provided even milk in the fridge when we arrived Rhian and Huw are excellent landlords and I'd recommend the location.

One last anecdote, we went up to Cad East (and Bwlch) for a reconnaissance on Sunday morning and had forgot to cancel the Sat Nav the evening before. As We went through the gate into a field full of sheep the sat nav voice said 'Please make a U turn now' how do I do that? I wondered - I dropped my trousers and the ewes turned and ran!!!

thanks for looking, C&C welcome
there are many more pics in my flickr album. https://www.flickr.com/photos/125470545 ... 349868226/
Andy

[BOLLO]

Look at that first F-35 shot, blimey that is special.

[STN RAMP RAT]

I don't normally comment on photos, but these are great, and who would know you were a first timer on the loop. I reminds me of when I was growing up in the early 1980's and I used to live under a low-level route in Yorkshire frequented by A10's and Tornados on an almost daily basis.

[bvdbogaert]

A very nice report. F-35 shots are belters. Thanks for sharing.

[KeBul]

Nice write up of the week Andy and some great pictures.

Thanks for sharing

Kev

[Blackcat1]

Some crackers there Andy. Glad you enjoyed your week in Wales .

[James Cutting]

Absolutely cracking shots there that 35 especially! Nothing prepared me for my first pass in the loop, they certainly hit it at some speeds!

[andygolfer]

thanks for the complimentary comments everybody, I went through my photos last evening and produced this log for the week that might be interesting, not so much the actual serials but more the number of movements and types involved....


Cad East log , 5th - 8th September 2022 by Andrew Goldsmith, on Flickr

Andy

[dragonchaser]

Wow!! What a fabulous post, some excellent work there, the F35A’s are brilliant.

[flynut]

Amusing and interesting report. Great shots, well done. Thank you.

[GB26]

Love the F-35 shots

[matt e]

nice set especially the Osprey shots

[lewismoran224]

love the F-35 shots!