Lakenheath popularity

[tommc]

I was astonished at how busy the viewing area and access road at Lakenheath has been this week. I didn't notice any particularly bad behaviour, everyone seemed reasonably friendly, but it was just incredibly busy.

I can remember when there would only be half a dozen cars in the car park, even when there was some visiting aircraft there.

I guess it may be the rise of social media that has brought the crowds, and I can understand the thrill of the jet noise and action. Perhaps also it is the reduction in the numbers of busy active fighter bases that attracts everyone to the few remaining bases.

Anyway, it was good to bump into and chat with people there, but I do hark back to the days when there would only be a few of us at the fence-line, with our own "cliquey" hobby!

[luke28]

Yesterday was the busiest I've ever seen it. I arrived at Lakenheath around 8am and planned to pop over to Mildenhall around 1ish but ended up staying at Lakenheath as I didnt want to risk not being able to park later on.

Definately the rise of social media. Exactly the same with the Mach Loop. AS you say though, everybody seemed well behaved and I didnt see any real issues.

Just wait until the Fairford Eye makes an appearance.

[thevulcan]

Also because of the rise in this sort of thing. Branding Air Force bases as tourist attractions and must visit locations.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractio ... gland.html

[sdad]

Cars parked using every yard of the access road, including many at about 45 degrees on the high, sandy verges. The main thing for me though was that there seemed to me to be more cars than people.

[slogen51]

As a rule there are more people than cars or at least as many

[KeBul]

As a rule there are more people than cars or at least as many

LOL

I've often been amazed at how the mileage racks up on my car, had my suspicions for a while that when I'm not looking it takes itself off for a jolly - perhaps this is where it's going!

On a more serious note, I sometimes park in the viewing enclosure and walk back over to Brandon Road/Forest entrance. On one occasion I forgot to turn off the car alarm interior sensors - wasn't till I looked at my phone and had about 20 text messages saying an intruder alert on the car I realised and returned to sort it out.

My humblest of apologies to all at the viewing enclosure who suffered that day.

Kev

[Philwinward]

As tommc says some of the crowd must be down to the reduction in active airfields. In the East Anglia region alone we’ve lost Alconbury, Coltishall,Wattisham and Woodbridge/ Bentwaters since I got involved with the hobby in the ‘80’s. Even Mildenhall is much quieter than it used to be and Marham is also hardly worth a visit.
Admittedly some of this week’s activity is because of the F22 visit, but the place does seem much busier this year than previously. I am now retired and only live 25 minutes from Lakenheath but find my visits getting fewer and when I do go usually head for the Warren. Another reason for using the Warren is the noise from the F35. My dog who goes everywhere with me didn’t have a problem with F15 engine noise but doesn’t like the F35.
Todays modern comms also take the surprise out of turning up and finding something “exotic” visiting (especially at Mildenhall in the ‘80’s).
But maybe I’ve become a grumpy old man who just doesn’t like change !!!

[65thAgressor]

Those of us who were around before the www, look fondly on the good old days. A rumour of A7's of the guard,phantoms from zwiebrucken or viggens visiting. I have sat all day awaiting a rumour to arrive,now everybody just about knows when tyres will hit the tarmac. Times have changed but not for the better in my view.

[abm]

I have sat all day awaiting a rumour to arrive...

Great sentence, and probably still sums up plane spotting for quite a few of us, well, me anyway.

[colp]

As tommc says some of the crowd must be down to the reduction in active airfields. In the East Anglia region alone we’ve lost Alconbury, Coltishall,Wattisham and Woodbridge/ Bentwaters since I got involved with the hobby in the ‘80’s. Even Mildenhall is much quieter than it used to be and Marham is also hardly worth a visit.
Admittedly some of this week’s activity is because of the F22 visit, but the place does seem much busier this year than previously. I am now retired and only live 25 minutes from Lakenheath but find my visits getting fewer and when I do go usually head for the Warren. Another reason for using the Warren is the noise from the F35. My dog who goes everywhere with me didn’t have a problem with F15 engine noise but doesn’t like the F35.
Todays modern comms also take the surprise out of turning up and finding something “exotic” visiting (especially at Mildenhall in the ‘80’s).
But maybe I’ve become a grumpy old man who just doesn’t like change !!!

I think you'll find Wattisham is still very active with the Apache. I guess you meant the F4s leaving in the early 90s?

[Philwinward]

Yes Wattisham has the Apaches but they don’t have the same effect as the Phantoms. Used to park up on the back road as they taxied past just the other side of a very low fence. The aircrew used to slow down and wave to any kids that were watching.

[Stug298]

I was astonished at how busy the viewing area and access road at Lakenheath has been this week. I didn't notice any particularly bad behaviour, everyone seemed reasonably friendly, but it was just incredibly busy.

I can remember when there would only be half a dozen cars in the car park, even when there was some visiting aircraft there.

I guess it may be the rise of social media that has brought the crowds, and I can understand the thrill of the jet noise and action. Perhaps also it is the reduction in the numbers of busy active fighter bases that attracts everyone to the few remaining bases.

Anyway, it was good to bump into and chat with people there, but I do hark back to the days when there would only be a few of us at the fence-line, with our own "cliquey" hobby!

School holidays !!

[roughcutter]

I have sat all day awaiting a rumour to arrive...

Great sentence, and probably still sums up plane spotting for quite a few of us, well, me anyway.

That was essentially the magic part of this hobby in those halcyon days, not knowing what to expect when you got there, and wondering if the rumour would be made flesh

[Sniper221]

School holidays, F22s and specially painted jets, airshows getting too expensive for some, so many factors. Definitely the days of a few cars there are gone. The base has definitely reached out to more people with Facebook and such. Big Jet TV broadcasting from there, people flying F-15s on Microsoft Flight Simulator, God I could go on and on

I suspect the reasons people go differ though. Photographers, Spotters, family days out.

[NorvilleRogers]

School holidays, F22s and specially painted jets, airshows getting too expensive for some, so many factors. Definitely the days of a few cars there are gone. The base has definitely reached out to more people with Facebook and such. Big Jet TV broadcasting from there, people flying F-15s on Microsoft Flight Simulator, God I could go on and on

I suspect the reasons people go differ though. Photographers, Spotters, family days out.

So it's not just the burger van!!!

[slogen51]

A lot of people blame FC

[plmc135]

A lot of people blame FC

There must be a degree of truth in that

[Philly1971]

We popped in on Tuesday as we were on our way back from Norfolk, and couldn’t believe how busy it was ( car park end). So instead we drove around to the 06 end, with me expecting the lay-by to also be full, but it was completely empty, and they were using 06 as well. It used to be that if 06 was in use, I wouldn’t bother visiting, but these days, I prefer to come only when 06 is in use.

[GVLCN]

Social media has brought all sorts of idiots to military & civil airbases all over the uk, as it’s the ‘in thing’ at the moment. I suspect they will soon get bored and move along.

[quid21]

We popped in on Tuesday as we were on our way back from Norfolk, and couldn’t believe how busy it was ( car park end). So instead we drove around to the 06 end, with me expecting the lay-by to also be full, but it was completely empty, and they were using 06 as well. It used to be that if 06 was in use, I wouldn’t bother visiting, but these days, I prefer to come only when 06 is in use.

That maybe because at the other end of Eriswell were big signs saying 'Road CLosed' - at least that's what put me off trying to get to the 06 end in time for their arrival.