Marham 12.09.19 pm

[Freeman Lowell]

F-35s noted on a no-flying afternoon (Tucanos excepted):

ZM141/007.Fin flash. Engines runs by northside RUBB
ZM142. No flash. Sun shade.
ZM145. No flash. Sun shade.
ZM149/149.Fin flash. Sun shade.
ZM150/150.Fin flash. Sun shade.
ZM152. No flash. Sun shade.

Freeman

[Leon]

Hello,

Are the F35’s that you mention above, all visible from outside the fence?

If yes, what’s the best place?

Kind regards,

[Freeman Lowell]

Leon,
Yes - with good optics.
141 from Chalk Lane where the photographers park south of the approach. The remainder from the side of the A1122. Park in the layby/field entrance covered in sewage sludge!
It’ll be easier in the winter without leaves on the trees
There may be better spots but I’m a 8hr return journey away and rarely visit.
Still, it was worth it to see one with a Navy code for the first time
Freeman

[POL]

Any other differences with the Navy coded airframe please Freeman? Would be cool to see a photo of you took any?

I wonder if it's officially now a Navy airframe, even though 809NAS don't stand up for a while...

[Freeman Lowell]

Sorry Chris. ZM141 was about 1 - 1.5 miles away, so no photos. It carried 007 both on the nose, as the other F-35s carry their ‘last three’ and on the fin tip. I didn’t note any other marks bar the newly added lightning flash. I took ‘007’ as a 801NAS code. Perhaps a wrong assumption?
Freeman

[twinstar]

I've been told that it is a new sequential coding system for the Lightning, ZM141 is the 7th airframe so presumably ZM135 will be 001 etc.
I suspect the codes will be applied as they go through maintenance along with application of the lightning flash.

[POL]

Going the same way as Tornado then. Weird that we applied the serial to some!

[Freeman Lowell]

Ahh! Thanks for that Tony. That makes more sense for pooled aircraft.
Freeman

[Leon]

Hello Freeman,

Thanks for the info, can you indicate in the map below between which characters (A to L)the field entrance is? Because I don't understand your explanation completely.
https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.u ... ham-v4.png

Thanks

[Freeman Lowell]

Hi Leon,
The western viewpoint is ‘H’.( The eastern viewpoint is more obvious when you arrive on Chalk Lane).
I spoke to one of the farmers today and he asked that that we (enthusiasts) didn’t park in the field or cross the field to view the aircraft at this spot.
Please note, just west of ‘H’ (the area in green) is a hard-standing area where you can presently park and walk to ‘H’. As I said earlier, I’m not a local so treat these words accordingly.
HTH,
Freeman

[Leon]

Hello Freeman,

And from which point (A toL) did you read the F35’s?

Thanks

[twinstar]

Can be read from various points between G and H though you will need very good optics.
The one on maintenance was read from point D (haze permitting.)