Fire training centre and the morning rush

[reaper493]

Another update from the base this evening.

1. The mad rush to get from the overspill to the WAVE when it opens each morning has almost caused multiple accidents where people have had to take avoiding action. The Fire Training Centre are raising concerns about this.

2. The Fire Training Centre is not happy with their access lane being blocked on multiple occasions - the 'overspill' has not been formally agreed and is private land. The Fire Center can close this area off.

3. Separately, the farm land surrounding the overspill concrete has recently been planted and sprayed and still people continue to walk and drive over it.

If this continues much longer I fear access will be removed - reducing the number of available spaces for cars/vans quite considerably.

Cheers

[Discodaz]

same old story...the odd selfish individual spoils things for everyone.

personally, i don't get why everyone was rushing to the wave from the overspill. its 200 yds up the road for god sake. its not miles away. i was in the overspill and had no issue accessing anything.

i was told by a few people that cars were queuing outside the wave waiting for it to open, and that was causing traffic problems too. especially with the big lorries.

Daz

[Supra]

Intended or unintended really makes little difference. It merely ratchets-up the almost obligatory hostility towards the Aviation Enthusiasts (aka Plane Spotters, Anoraks, Saddo's) after being given so many opportunities to reverse experience-based Land-owners view-points? I can't see the facilities currently provided by the Fire Training Centre & the Estate Manager at the 02 end still being available by the end of this Exercise.
On a side-note, I see little evidence in recent video's of slow-moving HGV's in the recordings? There was a rumour of reduced speed limits & robust Policing.

[binbrook32]

Can you elaborate on what facilities are being provided by "the Estate Manager at the 02 end" please? Not seen any mention of this before (only the layby open in Tower Lane).

[Supra]

Fair request binbrook32. Previously (an example being Israeli F-15's) the landowner didn't tolerate any departure from the track leading from that lay-by to Crash-gate 5. Apparently, from postings & obvious POV. photo's at the 02 end the landowner is tolerating 'responsible' access to the airfield boundary fence. If true, I wonder how long it will be before somebody mucks that up? I'm unable to confirm this 'facility' personally coz I can't be arsed to travel 200 miles for aircraft in the 'dark' & Finnish F-18's joining Airways 5000 feet from take-off! Any & all tolerance of our hobby these days is a positive IMO! Genuine apologies if I inferred hope of a Grandstand with Parking & a Burger Van at the 02 end !

[tony54321]

Can you elaborate on what facilities are being provided by "the Estate Manager at the 02 end" please? Not seen any mention of this before (only the layby open in Tower Lane).

I’m quite surprised the local landowners don’t see this as an opportunity to make money. John’s field at Mildenhall being a perfect example of how to work with enthusiasts instead of forcing them away.

[Tally-ho]

Can you elaborate on what facilities are being provided by "the Estate Manager at the 02 end" please? Not seen any mention of this before (only the layby open in Tower Lane).

I’m quite surprised the local landowners don’t see this as an opportunity to make money. John’s field at Mildenhall being a perfect example of how to work with enthusiasts instead of forcing them away.

You make a valid point. At Coningsby during Exercise Indradhanush 2015 (Indian Su-30MKI's visiting), the landowner adjacent to #25 opened a large part of his field, where for a donation you parked on his field. It was a huge blessing, solving what would have been chaos on that B1192 road on the east side.

[Supra]

I couldn't agree with you more. It only needs a tiny bit of enterprising thinking on the part of the Landowner to realise this could've been a 3 - 4 week cash-cow! Off-road Parking & regulated access over the fields = no stress + cash income! Look at the fine job Tony & the Team did for the last Tornado's at Marham. I personally visited Hooby Lodge Farm at the eastern end of Cottesmore to suggest & arrange paid Parking, Beverages & Hot Food for the last few days of the Harrier Hurragh. Couple of signs out on New Rd & the place was well used. It can be done!

[roughcutter]

I think in these times of "blame & claim", public liability insurance premiums may have some bearing on the land owners. Let's face it, the WAVE/A15 is a serious accident waiting to happen. Infact in the early 1990's (pre WAVE) someone was actually hit on the A15 by a speeding car - fortunately surviving, but I dare say sustaining life changing injuries. It's the same with the A1065 at LN (forest entrance), sooner or later something serious will happen there too.

[B58Hustler]

This sums up why I seldom venture out to military airfields anymore and mainly photograph motorsport on test days where the circuit is bereft of spectators, or do landscapes where It's just me and my thoughts.
I can't even stand the melee at Lakenheath anymore on a 'normal' day.
I fondly remember the good old days at my beloved Coltishall where there would be half a dozen regulars at crash gate three.
There were only about thirty cars or so for the arrival of the Polish SU-22s!
Sign of the times I guess.

[Tally-ho]

Aviation photography is alive and well, crowds or no crowds. The ample proof of this is in the multitude of excellent, some very creative with imaginative editing, photos to be found all over social media sites. Time and tide moves on, it has always been thus!

Yesterday is dead and gone - forget about it
Tomorrow may never come - don't wait for it
Today is here - use it!

[Thor]

Can you elaborate on what facilities are being provided by "the Estate Manager at the 02 end" please? Not seen any mention of this before (only the layby open in Tower Lane).

I’m quite surprised the local landowners don’t see this as an opportunity to make money. John’s field at Mildenhall being a perfect example of how to work with enthusiasts instead of forcing them away.

The fields are being prepared for planting at present, so the estate owners won't want to have to re-plough and prepare the land again. Some fields may already be planted. The track from the layby at 02 end is also a crashgate access, even under normal conditions RAFP and civpol will patrol the track to make sure access is clear to the gate at all times. Far too much resource needed from farmers & police to ensure that the route is clear and 'tourists' aren't parking like numpties for the duration, it's easier to close it to civvies. The council & police have made the concession of opening the layby at the other side of the road this time round.

[Tally-ho]

The council & police have made the concession of opening the layby at the other side of the road this time round.

That is a condescending contradiction in terms. A layby is precisely there for the purpose of vehicles to pull off the road and stop. "Concession" pah!

[Thor]

The council & police have made the concession of opening the layby at the other side of the road this time round.

That is a condescending contradiction in terms. A layby is precisely there for the purpose of vehicles to pull off the road and stop. "Concession" pah!

Said layby has been closed off for over a year due to the Anglian Water temporary facility there. It has only been reopened just before the exercise as the one the opposite side of the road has been closed for the exercise. Please speak from a factual stance before you decide I'm condescending for pointing out the situation on the ground.

[Tally-ho]

Anglian Water and their work is a known, we all know about it. Your use of words "tourists" "numpties" "civvies" all reek of a condescending attitude.

Factual evidence, you asked for it!

[Thor]

Anglian Water and their work is a known, we all know about it. Your use of words "tourists" "numpties" "civvies" all reek of a condescending attitude.

Factual evidence, you asked for it!

Probably closer to opinion than fact, though 'jaded' might be closer to the mark as I'm a local and don't want to lose access to locations at my local due to those who don't believe request and restrictions apply to them - seen that happen too often, and not just at Wadd

My 'factual' bit referred to the layby opening, btw..

[PR9]

I think in these times of "blame & claim", public liability insurance premiums may have some bearing on the land owners. Let's face it, the WAVE/A15 is a serious accident waiting to happen. Infact in the early 1990's (pre WAVE) someone was actually hit on the A15 by a speeding car - fortunately surviving, but I dare say sustaining life changing injuries. It's the same with the A1065 at LN (forest entrance), sooner or later something serious will happen there too.

Was that Dave Tupplin? He recovered and used to be a regular but not seen him for a good number of years now.

I understand Waddo is a bit of a hotter base than the past with the drones etc. but it would be great if we could have a few open gate days like the old arrival days and the Lancs/Vulcan.

[Thor]

Was that Dave Tupplin? He recovered and used to be a regular but not seen him for a good number of years now.

I understand Waddo is a bit of a hotter base than the past with the drones etc. but it would be great if we could have a few open gate days like the old arrival days and the Lancs/Vulcan.

Think it was Terry S, unless I'm confusing that incident with one of the gravity-assisted demounts from his ladders?

[reaper493]

The A15 incident I'm aware of was Terry.

[roughcutter]

I don't know who got hit. I arrived at Waddo a couple of days later and saw the remains of the carnage - debris, bent signs, skidmarks, first impressions was a car crash until the locals told me. Glad I didn't witness it.