2024 - Time to reflect
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 11:21 am
As the end of 2024 draws nearer, here's my look back at some highlights from a busy year...
The year started with a trip to Lakenheath for the RAVN Hawks. This was the first day that the grey N(X)508XX had flown….
RAVN Aerospace Hawk Mk.67 - N(X)508XX - RAF Lakenheath - 160124 by Professor M, on Flickr
Over to Mildenhall later in the month to see the E-11A that had been there for a while…
USAF E-11A by Professor M, on Flickr
One of a number of Hercules movements at Cambridge this year, Dutch G-781 returns from an airtest in February…
RNLAF C-130H - G-781 - Cambridge - 230224 by Professor M, on Flickr
Visiting Mildenhall for some circuits in March was this C-21A from Ramstein…
USAF C-21A - 84-0087 - Mildenhall - 140324 (1) by Professor M, on Flickr
The only time I have seen the Tempest “live” so far was on a very damp March afternoon. An engine run was followed by a short taxi run. It has flown only once this year…
Hawker Tempest II (MW763)3 by Professor M, on Flickr
A French C-130H arrived at Mildenhall one Sunday in April for a week or so of training. The same day also saw a Hungarian A319 visiting…
French Air Force C-130H 61-PB - Mildenhall - 140424 (2) by Professor M, on Flickr
A memorable take-off from “Marinell” at Duxford later in April, not captured to full effect here…
NA P-51D Mustang 'Marinell' - Duxford - 210424 (2) by Professor M, on Flickr
Early May and a last chance to see Spitfire VIII “MT928” - it has since emerged down-under in Australian colours. The afternoon also saw an RAF Puma HC2 dropping in for fuel, sporting a winch…
Supermarine Spitfire HFVIIIC (MT928) - Duxford - 020524 by Professor M, on Flickr
VE Flying Day at Duxford got the airshow season going with a number of different formations – Nimrod and Catalina, Fury and Wildcat and Beaver and Chipmunk. Before the flying display started, there was an increasing chatter of excitement before the newly-imported and repainted Mustang “Jersey Jerk” appeared as a Fly-in visitor. It had only made its first flight from these shores earlier that morning.
CAC CA-18 Mustang Mk.21 "Jersey Jerk" by Professor M, on Flickr
The last ex-RAF Hercules C5 for the Bangladesh Air Force (ex. ZH883) was finally test-flown in May, departing to its new operator in late June. The two Bangledeshi C-130J have subsequently returned to Cambridge for modifications…
Bangladesh Air Force C-130J by Professor M, on Flickr
Shuttleworth’s “Best of British” Season Premiere had a number of interesting visiting types – Blenheim, HAC Fury, Swordfish, Newcastle Jet Provost (to replace the Vampire T11 that couldn’t make it) and the Fighter Aviation Engineering Spitfire XIV…
Supermarine Spitfire FRXIV (MV293) by Professor M, on Flickr
A C-130H on delivery to Botswana was a very pleasant surprise at Mildenhall. Whilst there was a former USAF and Afghan C-130H expected, quite what markings it would be in, if any, remained an unknown until it was on approach…
Botswana Defence Force C-130H - OM4 - Mildenhall - 200524 (2) by Professor M, on Flickr
NATO E-3A in the Mildenhall circuit later that week…
NATO E-3A Sentry - LX-N90442 - Mildenhall - 240524 (1) by Professor M, on Flickr
Back to Shuttleworth to see the four visiting Dakotas of the D-Day Squadron, as well as a fly-in of vintage types…
Douglas C-47A “That’s All, Brother” ( N47TB) (2) by Professor M, on Flickr
The Memorial Day flypast at Madingley featured a KC-135 and pair of F-15E, as well as this visiting KC-46A…
USAF KC-46A Pegasus - Madingley - 270524 (1) by Professor M, on Flickr
All four Dakotas of the D-Day Squadron visited Duxford at the end of May with “Placid Lassie” staying for a nightshoot. “Spirit of Douglas” made a memorable fly-through on departure (sadly not repeated by the others)…
Douglas C-53 “Spirit of Douglas” (N8336C) by Professor M, on Flickr
The Saturday of June’s Duxford Summer Airshow “D-Day 80” was a very, very overcast affair. Poor weather on the continent prevented the P-38 and Sabre from attending whilst strong winds ensured no parachute jump could take place from the Dakotas. Nonetheless, the French Rafale, D-Day set-piece and Flying Bulls DC-6 and B-25 (in some sunshine, briefly!) were the highlights…
Flying Bulls B-25J by Professor M, on Flickr
The weather couldn’t have been more different for Shuttleworth’s Military Airshow. It offered a first chance to see the Gazelle Squadron’s repainted green ZB627, displays from the Thunderbolt and “Jersey Jerk” and a first display for the TG-3A glider that had many years ago appeared in the American Air Museum at Duxford. Glorious sunshine and a late-afternoon appearance from the Shuttleworth warbirds was most enjoyable too…
Hawker Sea Hurricane I (Z7015) by Professor M, on Flickr
Aerolegends’ Spitfire IXT MJ444 was flying from Duxford in early June after restoration by ARCo…
Supermarine Spitfire IXT (MJ444) (3) by Professor M, on Flickr
July and RIAT had many, many star items…
Conair Turbo Firecat by Professor M, on Flickr
Farnborough at the end of the following week featured a number of highlights – Slovak UH-60M, C295 for Mozambique, TAI T625, a strong showing from the US DoD on static display with a B-52 flypast and a last chance to see the Qatari F-15QA Ababil that has attracted so much attention over the summer…
QEAF F-15QA Ababil by Professor M, on Flickr
Shuttleworth’s Race Day in October was a miserably overcast day, best suited to putting the camera down and just enjoying watching the flying…
Stampe SV-4A + de Havilland Tiger Moth II - T6818 by Professor M, on Flickr
Mountain Home F-15E passing through Lakenheath the next day, after the Aviano F-16s departed Mildenhall in the morning…
USAF F-15E (Mountain Home - MO) - Lakenheath - 07102024 (2) by Professor M, on Flickr
Six Super Hornets (2x F/A-18E, 2x F/A-18F and 2x E/A-18G) diverted into Mildenhall later in the month from the USS Harry S Truman that was operating out in the North Sea. This was the first visit by Growlers to English soil…
USN EA-18G Growler (CAG Bird) by Professor M, on Flickr
More Naval activity at Mildenhall with this EP-3E Aries II departing Mildenhall in November, most likely to be the last we see of the type on these shores…
USN EP-3E ARIES II by Professor M, on Flickr
And to finish off the naval theme, this MH-60S popped into Mildenhall from the carrier on a day that also saw two AC-130J passing through…
USN MH-60S Knighthawk (167821) by Professor M, on Flickr
French tourists at Duxford…
French Air Force DHC-6 Twin Otter - F-RACC (1) by Professor M, on Flickr
Newly arrived at Mildenhall, this Wolfhound went out for its first local sortie in early December…
USAF C-146A Wolfhound by Professor M, on Flickr
To finish things off, a sunny Swede at Cambridge…
Swedish Air Force C-130H (Tp.84) - 84007 - Cambridge - 061224 by Professor M, on Flickr
Thankyou for looking - let's wait and see what 2025 might bring, but until then, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The year started with a trip to Lakenheath for the RAVN Hawks. This was the first day that the grey N(X)508XX had flown….
RAVN Aerospace Hawk Mk.67 - N(X)508XX - RAF Lakenheath - 160124 by Professor M, on FlickrOver to Mildenhall later in the month to see the E-11A that had been there for a while…
USAF E-11A by Professor M, on FlickrOne of a number of Hercules movements at Cambridge this year, Dutch G-781 returns from an airtest in February…
RNLAF C-130H - G-781 - Cambridge - 230224 by Professor M, on Flickr Visiting Mildenhall for some circuits in March was this C-21A from Ramstein…
USAF C-21A - 84-0087 - Mildenhall - 140324 (1) by Professor M, on FlickrThe only time I have seen the Tempest “live” so far was on a very damp March afternoon. An engine run was followed by a short taxi run. It has flown only once this year…
Hawker Tempest II (MW763)3 by Professor M, on FlickrA French C-130H arrived at Mildenhall one Sunday in April for a week or so of training. The same day also saw a Hungarian A319 visiting…
French Air Force C-130H 61-PB - Mildenhall - 140424 (2) by Professor M, on FlickrA memorable take-off from “Marinell” at Duxford later in April, not captured to full effect here…
NA P-51D Mustang 'Marinell' - Duxford - 210424 (2) by Professor M, on FlickrEarly May and a last chance to see Spitfire VIII “MT928” - it has since emerged down-under in Australian colours. The afternoon also saw an RAF Puma HC2 dropping in for fuel, sporting a winch…
Supermarine Spitfire HFVIIIC (MT928) - Duxford - 020524 by Professor M, on FlickrVE Flying Day at Duxford got the airshow season going with a number of different formations – Nimrod and Catalina, Fury and Wildcat and Beaver and Chipmunk. Before the flying display started, there was an increasing chatter of excitement before the newly-imported and repainted Mustang “Jersey Jerk” appeared as a Fly-in visitor. It had only made its first flight from these shores earlier that morning.
CAC CA-18 Mustang Mk.21 "Jersey Jerk" by Professor M, on FlickrThe last ex-RAF Hercules C5 for the Bangladesh Air Force (ex. ZH883) was finally test-flown in May, departing to its new operator in late June. The two Bangledeshi C-130J have subsequently returned to Cambridge for modifications…
Bangladesh Air Force C-130J by Professor M, on FlickrShuttleworth’s “Best of British” Season Premiere had a number of interesting visiting types – Blenheim, HAC Fury, Swordfish, Newcastle Jet Provost (to replace the Vampire T11 that couldn’t make it) and the Fighter Aviation Engineering Spitfire XIV…
Supermarine Spitfire FRXIV (MV293) by Professor M, on FlickrA C-130H on delivery to Botswana was a very pleasant surprise at Mildenhall. Whilst there was a former USAF and Afghan C-130H expected, quite what markings it would be in, if any, remained an unknown until it was on approach…
Botswana Defence Force C-130H - OM4 - Mildenhall - 200524 (2) by Professor M, on FlickrNATO E-3A in the Mildenhall circuit later that week…
NATO E-3A Sentry - LX-N90442 - Mildenhall - 240524 (1) by Professor M, on FlickrBack to Shuttleworth to see the four visiting Dakotas of the D-Day Squadron, as well as a fly-in of vintage types…
Douglas C-47A “That’s All, Brother” ( N47TB) (2) by Professor M, on FlickrThe Memorial Day flypast at Madingley featured a KC-135 and pair of F-15E, as well as this visiting KC-46A…
USAF KC-46A Pegasus - Madingley - 270524 (1) by Professor M, on FlickrAll four Dakotas of the D-Day Squadron visited Duxford at the end of May with “Placid Lassie” staying for a nightshoot. “Spirit of Douglas” made a memorable fly-through on departure (sadly not repeated by the others)…
Douglas C-53 “Spirit of Douglas” (N8336C) by Professor M, on FlickrThe Saturday of June’s Duxford Summer Airshow “D-Day 80” was a very, very overcast affair. Poor weather on the continent prevented the P-38 and Sabre from attending whilst strong winds ensured no parachute jump could take place from the Dakotas. Nonetheless, the French Rafale, D-Day set-piece and Flying Bulls DC-6 and B-25 (in some sunshine, briefly!) were the highlights…
Flying Bulls B-25J by Professor M, on FlickrThe weather couldn’t have been more different for Shuttleworth’s Military Airshow. It offered a first chance to see the Gazelle Squadron’s repainted green ZB627, displays from the Thunderbolt and “Jersey Jerk” and a first display for the TG-3A glider that had many years ago appeared in the American Air Museum at Duxford. Glorious sunshine and a late-afternoon appearance from the Shuttleworth warbirds was most enjoyable too…
Hawker Sea Hurricane I (Z7015) by Professor M, on FlickrAerolegends’ Spitfire IXT MJ444 was flying from Duxford in early June after restoration by ARCo…
Supermarine Spitfire IXT (MJ444) (3) by Professor M, on FlickrJuly and RIAT had many, many star items…
Conair Turbo Firecat by Professor M, on FlickrFarnborough at the end of the following week featured a number of highlights – Slovak UH-60M, C295 for Mozambique, TAI T625, a strong showing from the US DoD on static display with a B-52 flypast and a last chance to see the Qatari F-15QA Ababil that has attracted so much attention over the summer…
QEAF F-15QA Ababil by Professor M, on FlickrShuttleworth’s Race Day in October was a miserably overcast day, best suited to putting the camera down and just enjoying watching the flying…
Stampe SV-4A + de Havilland Tiger Moth II - T6818 by Professor M, on FlickrMountain Home F-15E passing through Lakenheath the next day, after the Aviano F-16s departed Mildenhall in the morning…
USAF F-15E (Mountain Home - MO) - Lakenheath - 07102024 (2) by Professor M, on FlickrSix Super Hornets (2x F/A-18E, 2x F/A-18F and 2x E/A-18G) diverted into Mildenhall later in the month from the USS Harry S Truman that was operating out in the North Sea. This was the first visit by Growlers to English soil…
USN EA-18G Growler (CAG Bird) by Professor M, on FlickrMore Naval activity at Mildenhall with this EP-3E Aries II departing Mildenhall in November, most likely to be the last we see of the type on these shores…
USN EP-3E ARIES II by Professor M, on FlickrAnd to finish off the naval theme, this MH-60S popped into Mildenhall from the carrier on a day that also saw two AC-130J passing through…
USN MH-60S Knighthawk (167821) by Professor M, on FlickrFrench tourists at Duxford…
French Air Force DHC-6 Twin Otter - F-RACC (1) by Professor M, on FlickrNewly arrived at Mildenhall, this Wolfhound went out for its first local sortie in early December…
USAF C-146A Wolfhound by Professor M, on FlickrTo finish things off, a sunny Swede at Cambridge…
Swedish Air Force C-130H (Tp.84) - 84007 - Cambridge - 061224 by Professor M, on FlickrThankyou for looking - let's wait and see what 2025 might bring, but until then, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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