Looking back at 2023 - large post

[mikee115]

Evening all,

Large post looking back at a varied year. From cold and windy Iceland to the warmth of the Mediterranean and the Canaries with a few stops around the UK.

Starting out at RAF Lakenheath with another visit later in the year.

USAF F-15E RAF Lakenheath 20th January 2023 (11) by Mike, on Flickr

USAF F-35 RAF Lakenheath 30th August 2023 (33) by Mike, on Flickr

Next was a visit to Iceland, mainly for the scenery but once back at Reykjavik it would've been rude not to visit both Keflavik and Reykjavik airports. Lucky to catch the CC-295 Kingfisher on delivery to the RCAF.

USMC UC-35 Keflavik Airport March 2023 (4) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

USAF F-4 Keflavik 24th March 2023 (40) by Mike, on Flickr

Royal Canadian Air Force CC295 Reykjavik Airport March 2023 (6) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

USAF F-4 Keflavik 24th March 2023 (38) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

Iceland March 2023 (42) by Mike, on Flickr

Royal Canadian Air Force CC295 Reykjavik Airport March 2023 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

I seemed to bring the winter weather back with me to the Media day at RAF Waddington during exercise Cobra Warrior.

Finnish Air Force F-18 Cobra Warrior 2023 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

Belgian Air Force F-16 Cobra Warrior 2023 (36) by Mike, on Flickr

Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 Cobra Warrior 2023 (25) by Mike, on Flickr

Belgian Air Force F16 Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington 9th March 2023 (1) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

Belgian Air Force F-16 Cobra Warrior 2023 (37) by Mike, on Flickr

With B-ones being back in Gloucestershire there was an opportunity to visit RAF Fairford twice in the year along with the last time photographing an RAF C-130 at RAF Brize Norton.

RAF C130 Brize Norton 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

USAF B-1B RAF Fairford 2023 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

batch_USAF U2 RAF Fairford 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

batch_USAF U2 RAF Fairford 2023 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

Night Bone (3) by Mike, on Flickr

USAF B-1B RAF Fairford 2023 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

A first visit to the Mach Loop produced a few movements with multiple T-6 Texan IIs and an AAC Apache.

RAF Texan II Mach Loop 31st May 2023 (6) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

AAC Apache Mach Loop 31st May 2023 (11) by Mike, on Flickr

Next stop was the sun drenched 100th anniversary of the Aeronautica Militare. Fantastic to see and hear an F-104 in the air again.

F104 100th anniversary Aeronautica Militare 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

AMI 100th Sunday (14) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

MB326 Aeronautica Militare Trainer (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Mixed formation 100th Anniversary AMI 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

AMI 100th Sunday (12) by Mike, on Flickr

AMX Aeronautica Militare 100th Anniversary June 2023 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

Saturday AMI 100th (9) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

Saturday AMI 100th (10) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

AMI Fighters 100th Anniversary show 2023 by Mike, on Flickr

Closer to home and I caught the flypast by the last three C-130s and one of the Polish Air Force Merlins at Yeovil.

RAF C-130 14th June 2023 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

Polish Navy AW101 Merlin Yeovil 28th June 2023 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

Even closer to home, literally a mile down the road, there have been some interesting military movements at Southampton Airport.

French Navy Falcon 10 Southampton Airport 7th February 2023 (1) by Mike, on Flickr

Adla CN235 Southampton Airport 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Irish Air Corp CN235 Southampton Airport 22nd November 2023 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

Irish Air Corp PC12 Southampton Airport 20th February 2023 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF F900 Southampton Airport 24th November 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Armee de l'air C130 Southampton Airport 3rd April 2023 (5) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

Belgian Air Force Falcon 7X Southampton Airport 7th February 2023 (15) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

Just round the corner to Lee-on-Solent and it was great to see the Irish BN-2 Islander.

Irish Air Corp BN2 Islander Lee-On-Solent 27th February 2023 (6) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

Irish Air Corp BN2 Islander Lee-On-Solent 27th February 2023 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

The Royal International Air Tattoo attracted some superb display and static aircraft. A small flavor of the worlds greatest airshow.

ME262 RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Luftwaffe A400 RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Italian Navy AV-8B RIAT 2023 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

Italian Mangusta RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Belgian F-16 RIAT 2023 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Al Furzan RIAT 2023 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

RAF Typhoon RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale RIAT 2023 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

Swedish SAAB 105 RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Italian Navy AV-8B RIAT 2023 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Al Furzan RIAT 2023 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

Finnish Hornet RIAT 2023 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

Luftwaffe Tornado RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Finnish Hornet RIAT 2023 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

Swedish SAAB 105 RIAT 2023 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

AMI Typhoon RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Out to Sailsbury Plain to watch a Chinook at work delivering chalk for the restoration of the Bulford Kiwi.

Chinook SPTA New Zealand Kiwi 27th September 2023 (2) Copy by Mike, on Flickr

SPTA Chinook New Zealand Kiwi 27th September 2023 by Mike, on Flickr

Back to Italy for Tiger Meet in October. Great action in the Mediterranean sunshine.

Luftwaffe Tornado Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Tigres Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Luftwaffe Typhoon Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale Tiger Meet 2023 (3) by Mike, on Flickr

French Marine E-2 Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Rafale Tiger Meet 2023 (4) by Mike, on Flickr

Hellenic F-16 Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

HH-101 AMI Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Austrian Typhoon Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickr

Last trip away to Ocean Sky 2023

Ejercito del Aire Hornet Ocean Sky 2023 (6) by Mike, on Flickr

Turkish Air Force F-16 Ocean Sky 2023 (9) by Mike, on Flickr

Ejercito del Aire Hornet Ocean Sky 2023 (11) by Mike, on Flickr

Spanish EF2000 Ocean Sky 2023 (5) by Mike, on Flickr

Ejercito del Aire Hornet Ocean Sky 2023 (7) by Mike, on Flickr

Hellenic Air Force F-16 Ocean Sky 2023 by Mike, on Flickr

Finally in the late winter sunshine its always good to see some action of Salisbury Plain.

RAF A400 SPTA 7th November 2023 (8) by Mike, on Flickr

Well done if you've made it to the end and thanks for looking.

Hopefully 2024 will be as good.

Thanks
Mike

[paddyboy]

Put simply, that is one stunning set, Mike

Thanks for sharing

Paddyboy

[Hunter49]

Really interesting collection of pic,s you lucky enthusiast. All the best, Rob

[Mustang531]

Thanks for sharing these with us, some stunning shots amongst these and plenty of variety too.

[mikee115]

Really interesting collection of pic,s you lucky enthusiast. All the best, Rob

Thanks for sharing these with us, some stunning shots amongst these and plenty of variety too.

Put simply, that is one stunning set, Mike

Thanks for sharing

Paddyboy

Thanks for the nice comments. Mike