Good Friday at RAF Lakenheath and Cambridge Airport
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 9:07 am
After hearing via Facebook and this forums, that there was to be some limited flying at RAF Lakenheath on Good Friday, I decided to take the early start to get across in good time. Luckily the wind was kind to us and the aircraft remained on 05 for the morning flying. This was my first experience of 05 quick climbs, and also the first time that I have used my new camera (Canon R7) 'in anger' at Lakenheath!
First out of the chocks was CASTLE flight of 4 F35s, all quick climbing in some rather nice morning light!
1.
MJFT0344-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
2.
MJFT0391-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
3.
MJFT0444-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
Up next from the Valkyries was GOAT flight of 4, again all with some lovely quick climbs!
4.
MJFT0624-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
5.
MJFT0684-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
A few F15s from the 492nd followed the F35s, however unfortunately just local climb outs for these, but still really nice to see, especially when a few of them banked slightly to us in the forest entrance giving a nice view
6.
MJFT0959-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
7.
MJFT1018-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
8.
MJFT1067-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
With all the departures complete, it was just time to hang around and wait for the arrivals back, with them using 05 it meant some nice shots of the jets and crews as they taxied off the runway and either into de-arm or back to parking, it also lead to some stunning low approaches from the F35s, some of the best I have ever seen at Lakenheath!
9.
MJFT1283-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
10.
MJFT1592-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
11.
MJFT1649-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
12.
MJFT2106-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
13.
MJFT2281-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
14.
MJFT2428-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
Then finally, after a rather lengthy hold on the ground, the 8 Aviano F16s departed back to Northern Italy, all local climb outs, but a few did give us a nice topside on the way out!
15.
MJFT2897-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
16.
MJFT3014-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
The final movement of the day from RAF Lakenheath was a rather nice C17 from March AFB, by this time I was back to my car in the viewing area so the light wasn't as nice, but was able to spot a bit of nose art on the C17!
17.
MJFT3303-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
My journey back to home took me past Cambridge Airport, so decided to take a chance that the Dutch Chinooks that had stopped off there on the way back to the Netherlands from Tac Blaze would be departed fairly soonish, having never spotted at Cambridge, I took a chance on heading to where a footpath looked to be near the airfield and where quite a few others were and was treated to a few minutes of heli action courtesy of the Dutch!
18.
MJFT3431-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
19.
MJFT3466-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
20.
MJFT3673-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
21.
MJFT3759-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr
Thank you for looking and hope you enjoyed the shots!
First out of the chocks was CASTLE flight of 4 F35s, all quick climbing in some rather nice morning light!
1.
MJFT0344-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr2.
MJFT0391-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr3.
MJFT0444-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on FlickrUp next from the Valkyries was GOAT flight of 4, again all with some lovely quick climbs!
4.
MJFT0624-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr5.
MJFT0684-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on FlickrA few F15s from the 492nd followed the F35s, however unfortunately just local climb outs for these, but still really nice to see, especially when a few of them banked slightly to us in the forest entrance giving a nice view
6.
MJFT0959-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr7.
MJFT1018-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr8.
MJFT1067-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on FlickrWith all the departures complete, it was just time to hang around and wait for the arrivals back, with them using 05 it meant some nice shots of the jets and crews as they taxied off the runway and either into de-arm or back to parking, it also lead to some stunning low approaches from the F35s, some of the best I have ever seen at Lakenheath!
9.
MJFT1283-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr10.
MJFT1592-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr11.
MJFT1649-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr12.
MJFT2106-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr13.
MJFT2281-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr14.
MJFT2428-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on FlickrThen finally, after a rather lengthy hold on the ground, the 8 Aviano F16s departed back to Northern Italy, all local climb outs, but a few did give us a nice topside on the way out!
15.
MJFT2897-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr16.
MJFT3014-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on FlickrThe final movement of the day from RAF Lakenheath was a rather nice C17 from March AFB, by this time I was back to my car in the viewing area so the light wasn't as nice, but was able to spot a bit of nose art on the C17!
17.
MJFT3303-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on FlickrMy journey back to home took me past Cambridge Airport, so decided to take a chance that the Dutch Chinooks that had stopped off there on the way back to the Netherlands from Tac Blaze would be departed fairly soonish, having never spotted at Cambridge, I took a chance on heading to where a footpath looked to be near the airfield and where quite a few others were and was treated to a few minutes of heli action courtesy of the Dutch!
18.
MJFT3431-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr19.
MJFT3466-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr20.
MJFT3673-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on Flickr21.
MJFT3759-Enhanced-NR by MattFosterPhotos, on FlickrThank you for looking and hope you enjoyed the shots!
