The year started with a trip to Lakenheath back in early January for some 06 action. I hoped to get a bit of a topside on the RAVN Hawks but it wasn't to be. Still, it was an enjoyable day.
N503XX RAVN Hawk Mk.67 by Jason Grant, on FlickrA couple more trips to Lakenheath in February, trying to make the most of the gorgeous winter light.
20-5588 LN F-35A 495th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
N503XX RAVN Hawk Mk.67 by Jason Grant, on FlickrMarch was a busy month, starting with a Threshold event at South Wales Aviation Museum
ZA195 710 Sea Harrier FRS2 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
ZA326 Tornado GR1P by Jason Grant, on FlickrIt was good to get back to Northolt for a night shoot.
078 YE EMB-121 Xingu French Air Force by Jason Grant, on Flickr
07 709-FI PC-21 French Air Force by Jason Grant, on FlickrThe day after Northolt, I boarded a jet to California. Having visited Yuma air show the previous year, I decided to visit NAF El Centro this time (as the shows always fall on the same day). Being a fan, I really wanted to see the Blue Angels first show of the year, which swayed my decision between the two shows.
Lt Connor O'Donnell Blue Angels 7 by Jason Grant, on FlickrWho doesn't love Red Flag? Never to be missed if travelling stateside.
11-5020 WA 57 OG F-35A 65th AGRS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
87-0210 MO F-15E 389th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
81-0965 DM A-10C 357th FS by Jason Grant, on FlickrPlenty of based F-15s flying at Fresno with various tail codes but this WC-135R made a nice change.
64-14831 OF WC-135R 45th RS by Jason Grant, on FlickrA planned visit on Lemoore. A nice start to the day with this NASA Hornet passing through on its way to Travis air show.
N846NA F/A-18B NASA Armstrong by Jason Grant, on FlickrProbably one of my favourite photographs of the year.
166828 NG-400 F/A-18E VFA-151 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168867 NA-300 F/A-18E VFA-137 by Jason Grant, on FlickrTravis air show. Plenty of very good static jets (and merchandise), possibly these Skullbangers A-10s were the pick for me (their challenge coin was also the most expensive coin I have bought to date from any show, ever).
81-0955 ID A-10C 190th FS by Jason Grant, on FlickrPick of the flying in tough photography conditions was the Raptor demo.
F-22A Raptor by Jason Grant, on FlickrDuring the second week of the trip, I was fortunate to witness a Falcom 9 rocket launch from Vandenburgh Space Force Base, whilst doing some night photography at Alliance County Airport in California, probably 150 miles away as the crow flies, a fabulous sight. Picture quality is not the best as I used a iPhone.
Falcon 9 Rocket by Jason Grant, on FlickrThe usual suspects at NAF El Centro but it is still one of my favourite bases in the USA.
169611 DC-122 F-35B VMFA-122 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
F/A-18F VFA-122 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
169455 54 CMV-22B VRM-50 by Jason Grant, on FlickrNever forget to call at Imperial.
162517 EN-14 CH-53E HMH-464 by Jason Grant, on FlickrWe called at Yuma for WTI (nothing out of the ordinary on this occasion) before continuing on to Luke for the air show. It was superb, both the static and the flying display. A-10s in the tac demo, awesome.
81-0997 DP 81-0974 DP A-10C 47th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Tactical Demo Formation Flypast by Jason Grant, on FlickrFollowed by the A-10 demonstration team.
80-0244 DM A-10C ex 163rd FS CS by Jason Grant, on FlickrPick of the static for me was Sandman. I have since bought the Hobby Master model for my collection, it is superb.
78-0543 F-15C Sandman 114th FS by Jason Grant, on FlickrApril and a visit to Cosford for another excellent Threshold event.
ZB615 Jaguar T2A by Jason Grant, on Flickr
ZH796 L-001 Sea Harrier FA2 by Jason Grant, on FlickrMay and a visit to Coningsby was in order to catch the newly painted display jet.
ZJ913 FM-G Typhoon FGR4 by Jason Grant, on FlickrMay also saw another visit to Lakenheath.
97-0218 LN F-15E 492nd FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
20-5602 LN F-35A 495th FS by Jason Grant, on FlickrJune and a visit to Poland to the excellent Leszno air show. It was nice to see the Saab SK.60 on its final display ever but it was just one in a long line of excellent display items (tough photography once again until the sun went down).
1501 C-130H Polish Air Force by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Super Puma Swiss Air Force by Jason Grant, on Flickr
4061 F-16C 31.BLT by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Bo105.pl by Jason Grant, on Flickr
1501 C-130H Polish Air Force by Jason Grant, on FlickrI climbed a hill in July for the first time in a decade. It wasn't to be my last.
188774 CF-18A Hornet RCAF by Jason Grant, on FlickrA couple of days at RIAT. Possibly one of the best RIAT shows for many years IMHO.
VA.1B-38 01-926 EAV-8B+ Matador Eslla 009 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
01522 F-4E 38 MDV Greek AF by Jason Grant, on FlickrI have included the Slovenian PC-9 as I personally think it is one of the best displays of flying on the circuit and in my top five displays of 2024.
L9-61 61 PC-9M Slovenian AF by Jason Grant, on FlickrAnother visit to Lakenheath at the end of July to try to catch the Qatar Emir F-15QA departures on 06.
QA538 F-15QA Qatar Emiri AF by Jason Grant, on FlickrAugust was all about the bun fight at Lakenheath to catch the Alaskan Raptors passing through. I was spending the day at the fence so didn't have any issues parking but some did.
05-4090 AK 90 FS F-22A by Jason Grant, on Flickr
07-4150 AK F-22A 525th FS by Jason Grant, on Flickr
10-4193 AK 3 WG F-22A by Jason Grant, on FlickrI had a day at Mildenhall in September for the Aviano Vipers that had deployed for the upcoming Cobra Warrior.
87-0350 AV F-16C 555th FS by Jason Grant, on FlickrI did call at Lakenheath for the Norwegian Battle Penguins that were also taking part in Cobra Warrior.
5503 F-35A 132 Luftving by Jason Grant, on Flickr
5668 F-35A 132 Luftving by Jason Grant, on FlickrSeptember and another trip to the USA. First call Miramar air show.
165218 WT-01 VMFA-232 FA-18C by Jason Grant, on Flickr
VMFA-232 FA-18C by Jason Grant, on Flickr
MAGTF Demo by Jason Grant, on Flickr
168728 WF-530 F-35B VMFAT-502 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
Blue Angels by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165218 WT-01 FA-18C VMFA-232 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
165208 WS-401 FA-18C VMFA-323 by Jason Grant, on FlickrMCAS Yuma for WTI
170005 CJ-013 CH-53K HMH-461 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
761559 LS-06 F-5N VMFT-401 by Jason Grant, on FlickrNever forget Imperial County Airport
163080 CH-53E by Jason Grant, on FlickrNAS North Island
169864 NE-601 E-2D VAW-113 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
169439 32 CMV-22B VRM-30 Det.1 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
169450 70 CMV-22B VRM-30 Det 5 by Jason Grant, on FlickrA planned visit on NAS Lemoore
160949 NJ-949 T-34C VFA-122 by Jason Grant, on Flickr
920409 60 F-16A NAWDC by Jason Grant, on FlickrOctober and off to Waddington for exercise Steadfast Noon.
4062 F-16C 31.BLT by Jason Grant, on FlickrAlso catching the RCAF Hornets departing for home.
CF-188 409 Sqn RCAF by Jason Grant, on FlickrOn my birthday in November, I spent another day on hill, this time in Turkey.
77-0303 F-4E 111 Filo Phantom 50th Anniversary Scheme by Jason Grant, on Flickr
73-1052 F-4E 111 Filo by Jason Grant, on Flickr
77-0303 F-4E 111 Filo Phantom 50th Anniversary Scheme by Jason Grant, on FlickrThe following day on Eskisehir AB. Not much static but it was nicely laid out.
77-0290 F-4E 111 Filo by Jason Grant, on Flickr
73-1047 F-4E 111 Filo by Jason Grant, on FlickrAnd my final trip of the year has been to Lakenheath,
LN F-35A Sunset by Jason Grant, on FlickrThanks for sticking with it to the end. I have had a good year, making memories with friends, and trying to do as much as possible while I still can. Life is precious, live it while you you can.
Merry Christmas to you all.
