Looking back at 2023 - large post
Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2024 8:08 pm
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
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 FlickrUSAF F-35 RAF Lakenheath 30th August 2023 (33) by Mike, on FlickrNext 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 FlickrUSAF F-4 Keflavik 24th March 2023 (40) by Mike, on FlickrRoyal Canadian Air Force CC295 Reykjavik Airport March 2023 (6) Copy by Mike, on FlickrUSAF F-4 Keflavik 24th March 2023 (38) Copy by Mike, on FlickrIceland March 2023 (42) by Mike, on FlickrRoyal Canadian Air Force CC295 Reykjavik Airport March 2023 (5) by Mike, on FlickrI 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 FlickrBelgian Air Force F-16 Cobra Warrior 2023 (36) by Mike, on FlickrIndian Air Force Mirage 2000 Cobra Warrior 2023 (25) by Mike, on FlickrBelgian Air Force F16 Cobra Warrior RAF Waddington 9th March 2023 (1) Copy by Mike, on FlickrBelgian Air Force F-16 Cobra Warrior 2023 (37) by Mike, on FlickrWith 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 FlickrUSAF B-1B RAF Fairford 2023 (4) by Mike, on Flickrbatch_USAF U2 RAF Fairford 2023 (2) by Mike, on Flickrbatch_USAF U2 RAF Fairford 2023 (1) by Mike, on FlickrNight Bone (3) by Mike, on FlickrUSAF B-1B RAF Fairford 2023 (3) by Mike, on FlickrA 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 FlickrAAC Apache Mach Loop 31st May 2023 (11) by Mike, on FlickrNext 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 FlickrAMI 100th Sunday (14) Copy by Mike, on FlickrMB326 Aeronautica Militare Trainer (3) by Mike, on FlickrMixed formation 100th Anniversary AMI 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrAMI 100th Sunday (12) by Mike, on FlickrAMX Aeronautica Militare 100th Anniversary June 2023 (1) by Mike, on FlickrSaturday AMI 100th (9) Copy by Mike, on FlickrSaturday AMI 100th (10) Copy by Mike, on FlickrAMI Fighters 100th Anniversary show 2023 by Mike, on FlickrCloser 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 FlickrPolish Navy AW101 Merlin Yeovil 28th June 2023 (6) by Mike, on FlickrEven 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 FlickrAdla CN235 Southampton Airport 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrIrish Air Corp CN235 Southampton Airport 22nd November 2023 (6) by Mike, on FlickrIrish Air Corp PC12 Southampton Airport 20th February 2023 (3) by Mike, on FlickrRAF F900 Southampton Airport 24th November 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrArmee de l'air C130 Southampton Airport 3rd April 2023 (5) Copy by Mike, on FlickrBelgian Air Force Falcon 7X Southampton Airport 7th February 2023 (15) Copy by Mike, on FlickrJust 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 FlickrIrish Air Corp BN2 Islander Lee-On-Solent 27th February 2023 (7) by Mike, on FlickrThe 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 FlickrLuftwaffe A400 RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrItalian Navy AV-8B RIAT 2023 (4) by Mike, on FlickrItalian Mangusta RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrBelgian F-16 RIAT 2023 (3) by Mike, on FlickrAl Furzan RIAT 2023 (5) by Mike, on FlickrRAF Typhoon RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrRafale RIAT 2023 (7) by Mike, on FlickrSwedish SAAB 105 RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrItalian Navy AV-8B RIAT 2023 (3) by Mike, on FlickrAl Furzan RIAT 2023 (6) by Mike, on FlickrFinnish Hornet RIAT 2023 (4) by Mike, on FlickrLuftwaffe Tornado RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrFinnish Hornet RIAT 2023 (3) by Mike, on FlickrSwedish SAAB 105 RIAT 2023 (6) by Mike, on FlickrAMI Typhoon RIAT 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrOut 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 FlickrSPTA Chinook New Zealand Kiwi 27th September 2023 by Mike, on FlickrBack to Italy for Tiger Meet in October. Great action in the Mediterranean sunshine.
Luftwaffe Tornado Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrTigres Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrLuftwaffe Typhoon Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrRafale Tiger Meet 2023 (3) by Mike, on FlickrFrench Marine E-2 Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrRafale Tiger Meet 2023 (4) by Mike, on FlickrHellenic F-16 Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrHH-101 AMI Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrAustrian Typhoon Tiger Meet 2023 (2) by Mike, on FlickrLast trip away to Ocean Sky 2023
Ejercito del Aire Hornet Ocean Sky 2023 (6) by Mike, on FlickrTurkish Air Force F-16 Ocean Sky 2023 (9) by Mike, on FlickrEjercito del Aire Hornet Ocean Sky 2023 (11) by Mike, on FlickrSpanish EF2000 Ocean Sky 2023 (5) by Mike, on FlickrEjercito del Aire Hornet Ocean Sky 2023 (7) by Mike, on FlickrHellenic Air Force F-16 Ocean Sky 2023 by Mike, on FlickrFinally 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 FlickrWell done if you've made it to the end and thanks for looking.
Hopefully 2024 will be as good.
Thanks
Mike
