Cobra Warrior 23-2

[Professor_M]

As long as the CC150 isn’t 15003 I’m happy

If it's going to be a tanker capable one (CC-150T), then it will be either 15004 or 15005.

[Apache123]

Anyone know when any of these arrive?

MTIA

Apache123

[airphotog19]

Anyone know when any of these arrive?

MTIA

Apache123

Should be the week before but not sure if the dates are known yet

[reaper493]

Latest rumours for AEW assets - nothing firm/official :

2x NATO E-3A - RAF Waddington
1x Italian E550 CAEW - RAF Waddington

2x Top Aces Alpha Jets to operate potentially somewhere other than LN (somewhere up North?)

Also, everything has gone quiet on the Gripens from Hungary.

[Euangray12]

Latest rumours for AEW assets - nothing firm/official :

2x NATO E-3A - RAF Waddington
1x Italian E550 CAEW - RAF Waddington

2x Top Aces Alpha Jets to operate potentially somewhere other than LN (somewhere up North?)

Also, everything has gone quiet on the Gripens from Hungary.

Last i heard there should be more Alpha Jets. Shame about the Gripens

[Aircmdr]

Have we got a date yet for the arrivals?

[reaper493]

First support flight is next week.

Would guess arrivals between 29/31st August.

[Aircmdr]

First support flight is next week.

Would guess arrivals between 29/31st August.

Hopefully all on same day like CW 23/1 in March

[SniperElite]

First support flight is next week.

Would guess arrivals between 29/31st August.

I’m guessing Mildenhall will have a couple of Ramstein C130Js in to shuttle equipment in (and out when exercise finishes)

[reaperops]

guessing being the key word!

[roughcutter]

In anticipation of mass invasion of Spangs to Mildenhall, I've managed to dig up an old list of 52nd FW air to air/ops freqs. They might be old and obselete or there might just still be the odd one or two that are still current? Anyway, for what it's worth; 138.025, 138.225, 138.675, 139.550, 140.700, 140.950, 141.050, 141.200, 141.450, 142.100, 142.175, 142.550, 142.800, 143.275, 264.150, 308.975, 315.350, 315.875, 359.500, 388.425 & 398.575. Here's hoping

[reaper493]

Waddington - Viewing at the other (02) end.

Just been to tower lane to watch the C17 land. The farmer has now put hay bales at all gaps in the hedge along the A607 (west of the base) and tower lane/B1178 (south of the base). I know some people have accessed the 02 threshold by sensibly walking around the edges of fields but this appears no longer possible. I didn't venture down to the crash gate, so not sure if there are bales down at the bottom of there - I expect there is. There are some shorter bales slightly west of the approach allowing good views, but all the others are 10ft+ high. The layby on the base side at the 'S' bend is also going to be closed again. This, along with the rumour that the 'overspill'' is no longer available isn't ideal. Not sure if the wave staff have had their meeting with base staff/highways yet.

Shame the farmer isn't on side - would be a gold mine for him to open up parking/viewing down that end.

[JLewis_Aviation]

Interesting, he was fine with people down that end at 23-1, came past on his tractor and didn’t say a thing and let us get on with it. Last year he was speaking to a few of us on the second arrivals day and he said he was spraying the fields, I wonder if that’s possibly why he’s not as keen this time around?

[reaper493]

Someone has suggested it's to prevent hare coursing, which is popular around the shire. Some of the bales have been up 2/3 weeks, but there are fresh ones this week.

[Tally-ho]

Following on from earlier posts on viewing and spotting at Waddington:-

There are clearly attempts by various entities to kill off spotting, viewing, aviation photography, in areas adjacent to RAF Waddington.

- the WAVE no longer has a fixed structure for selling food
- no more use of the 'overspill' parking area next to the WAVE
- walls of bales being used to block and obstruct viewing
- the lay-by at the #02 end now always closed off during increased aviation activity
- traffic cones for miles around the base
- a general festering antagonistic attitude towards the aviation viewing public

Yes, I've heard all the dreamt-up concoctions and horse manure excuses and reasons. Again - spotting, viewing, aviation photography, in areas adjacent to RAF Waddington is systematically being killed off.

[cat1]

Is it the RAF who object or the local population?

[Tally-ho]

Is it the RAF who object or the local population?

There are various stakeholders involved here -

- the WAVE is on MoD land
- the RAF has much say over their base, naturally, which includes that hedge across the road from the WAVE
- farmers / land owners around the base obviously too, which includes the 'overspill' parking area
- I suspect the local Council will want their tuppence of say as well

Viewing around RAF Waddington is entrenched, and has been for many years, indeed decades. The WAVE (Waddington Aircraft Viewing Experience) is your pointer - viewing experience?!

If I had to wager a pound, I would say the 'powers-that-be' at the Airbase wants rid of the aircraft viewing around the base, in its entirety. There is bad blood between the RAF and the larger public after the recruiting fiasco (no white males) and still a lingering whiff of the scandals that beset The Reds in the recent past. All of this, and more, feeds into the issue.

And ever present in the background, one-upmanship and snobbery ...

[65thAgressor]

Lets see if they cut the hedge, that might show if they do value are support.

[SniperElite]

Dunno if already reported but should be some Norwegian F35s into Lakenheath as well.

[GVLCN]

Yes to Norwegians no idea of how many involved?