FighterControl

2 160 SOAR Night Stalker MH-47Gs were airfreighted into Mildenhall this week, courtesy of a pair of C-17s.
They both went up for air tests on 05.09.24 and will head to Odiham for exercise Dark Lightning. I was beyond excited to finally catch these amazing, sinister lumpy things.
Edit to add some shots from Friday 6th as 19-02914 went up for a further test flight in the Rwy10 circuit. They are spoiling us.
IMG_1048 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1160 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1137 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1424 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1466 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1522 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1496 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1718 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1742 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1754 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1757 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_1783 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr

Very nice light on them.

Agree with you, one of the most interesting machines out there. I’m liking no2 imo cropping in more to focus on the fuselage would make it a more dramatic image. Wish they where heading North.

Very nice Andrew, pleased you managed to catch them in some nice light, great to see them in the UK.
Cheers.

Excellent catches and shots, Andrew

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

Fantastic beasts to catch like the water tower shot

Not something you see every day.... great photos, thanks for sharing these.

Absolutely wonderful.
I bet you were one of the lucky gents on the ladders depicted in the 'Ted Coningsby' live footage!
Thanks for sharing your superb captures

Thanks for the comments. They were a joy to see and share.
Re the stepladder massif Mr Stratocruiser, I'm fortunate to not count myself amongst them - vertigo kicks in if I wear thick socks.

Some great shots you have managed to capture there- that's one hell of a refuelling probe that they sport.
Plenty of extra appendages on these machines wonder what the new batch we are ordering will be like (if they're not cancelled).

What’s not to like? More excellent photos.

nice set especially #2

Thank you again for the comments. I've just added a few from Friday when 19-02914 went up for a few laps around the Rwy10 circuit - there may be someone on here that recognises themselves on the multitude of ladders in Johns Field.

The head on and back shot looks fab!