RAF Waddington - view or no view?

[Tally-ho]

At the risk of attracting controversy from non-photographers, but also (mainly) for information of those who do indulge in photography, this shows the state of the infamous RAF Waddington hedge opposite the WAVE, along the A15. Pictures taken from a 2-step ladder. To see over the hedge, with clear shots of the aircraft, you will in two weeks need (CW2024-2) a minimum of 4-steps.

CW2024-2 starts with the arrivals of support aircraft and personnel, possibly from Monday 2 September. If the RAF Waddington 'powers-that-be' are serious in limiting hassle and the nuisance factor from people gathering at the red & white barriers, under the flight path, then cutting that hedge is necessary.

The sign next to the road says 'Aircraft viewing area' and the WAVE translates as Waddington Aircraft Viewing Enclosure. Is this still the case? And yes, if the 'powers-that-be' have no interest anymore in this viewing area, close it down and be rid of it. That way we all have clarity and a resolution, instead of this dither, indecision, and plain bad management.

[warthog56]

Sorry to be critical but the parking area provided is STILL an aircraft viewing area - aircraft FLY and will cross the A15 before landing or after take off. It is unfair to say that it is not an aircraft viewing area. The airfield is a working military establishment and NOT a place of entertainment for people to expect to be able to "pitch up" and take photographs. Oh how I long for the days in the 1980's when only dedicated enthusiasts would stand for hours outside the base on exercise days. There was no park and view, no catering, no lavatories, no radio's and we used manual focus cameras which used film! And we had to take annual holidays from work when exercise dates were confirmed. Nowadays, every man/woman and their pets now seem to congregate outside military airfields. And, on the A15, that causes risks of accidents, We had no prior information as to what might appear and it was like fishing - just wait and see what you could "catch". To me, the hobby has been ruined. Thankfully, I have all but given up on photographing exercise aircraft and am happy to walk along the road from Harmston to Waddington village in order to log what is on base. Perhaps 60 years of "spotting" has made me blase about photographs of aircraft flying? But, please be honest, when anyone has taken dozens of photographs of the same type of aircraft, how often do you actually look at them? I have boxes of photo's dating back to the the late 1970's and I must confess that after first viewing them when back from the processors I have never looked at them. What a waste!

[jdupons]

This is an interesting topic . I live in France and I can say : you British people are lucky to have viewing areas at military airbases in the first place . I lived in your country in the 1972's and this is where i discovered plane spotting, numbers loggings, the first analogic airband radios from Hong Kong, BAR and SEAR and I was surpised I could be standing near the runway end at Coningsby, for one hour or two, and not be chased away by " the authorities"... You are lucky to have viewing areas at military bases such as Waddington, but also at almost all of them ! This is impossible to even imagine in most parts of the world ... In my country, mostly is it not proper to stay long near an airbase, and take pictures where one can see some of the buildings of the base ! I f you take aircraft and the sky only, it might be ok for a while, and it may change fom one day to another, frome one Commander to the other etc : most of the time , you have to be very careful, semi-clandestine, quick, and not relaxed at all ! no viewing areas whatsoever, just temporary tolerance, at the best ..
So , you are lucky to have viewing areas , you are lucky to have many people who are interested in military aviation and who take pictures. Pictures I can see on this site , from members, are among the best aircraft pictures one can ever see, in the world !
No matter if many people take pictures : the more, the merrier ! even if they don't look at them every day after ! think of the value of these pictures in 20, 30 years, or even less, time !
Don't ask too much from " the authorities" , though.. if they decide to cut the hedge to a proper height : OK. If they don't : they have the right to ! adapt ! climb on the roof of your car/ van ! buy tall ladders ! but don't give up, please : you are all doing a great job, I like you all, I miss those times I knew in England, in Cottesmore, Finningley, Alconbury, but also Mildenhall, Greenham Common,Coningsby and Cranwell, and the freedom and tolerance I felt and experienced then and there.
Keep enjoying what you have, adapt to it, make the most of it : it is precious.
Jacques, France

[Vulture 01]

I think His Majesty's armed forces have other things on their mind than cutting hedges to suit a minority.
Please remember what the military is there for, and the fact that it's got to do more with less money, especially with the £22billion black hole just discovered by the latest bunch of
.......politicians allegedly in charge.

[James Cutting]

Take a bigger ladder then? It isn't apart of the viewing area! It's funny how that on every other day if the year, outside of exercises, it's never mentioned. It's as though these exercises are not put on for our enjoyment, and the RAF have more important factors than trimming their bushes!

Reckon there should be a ban on here for every time there is a Cobra Warrior, no mentioning of a hedge!

Of all the problems in the world, hey...

[XWP29]

Hedges
All have to be checked for birds nest etc before they can be cut.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69

Most Farmers et al avoid cutting them till the end of September.

[Mike]

Doesn't the hedge usually get cut just before exercises start at this time of the year anyway? I know they can't do it earlier in the year because of nesting birds but try not to get too upset if it doesn't happen.

Plenty of excellent photo opportunities still exist from the WAVE of aircraft on approach.

[James Cutting]

Yes, usually it gets cut he should know as a regular to the CW exercises

[reaper493]

Believe it's started to get cut today.

https://youtu.be/NmPhaG1ud38?feature=shared

[FERG]

I'm cutting my hedge tomorrow if the weather holds......

[Vulcanone]

Believe it's started to get cut today.

https://youtu.be/NmPhaG1ud38?feature=shared

Good job its not a castle then......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=895eSm4oQRw&t=211s

[Harkins]

Even if it is said to be getting a trim, I'm going to bring very tall steps anyway as it's always wise to hedge your bets.

[Harkins]

Sorry to be critical but the parking area provided is STILL an aircraft viewing area - aircraft FLY and will cross the A15 before landing or after take off. It is unfair to say that it is not an aircraft viewing area. The airfield is a working military establishment and NOT a place of entertainment for people to expect to be able to "pitch up" and take photographs. Oh how I long for the days in the 1980's when only dedicated enthusiasts would stand for hours outside the base on exercise days. There was no park and view, no catering, no lavatories, no radio's and we used manual focus cameras which used film! And we had to take annual holidays from work when exercise dates were confirmed. Nowadays, every man/woman and their pets now seem to congregate outside military airfields. And, on the A15, that causes risks of accidents, We had no prior information as to what might appear and it was like fishing - just wait and see what you could "catch". To me, the hobby has been ruined. Thankfully, I have all but given up on photographing exercise aircraft and am happy to walk along the road from Harmston to Waddington village in order to log what is on base. Perhaps 60 years of "spotting" has made me blase about photographs of aircraft flying? But, please be honest, when anyone has taken dozens of photographs of the same type of aircraft, how often do you actually look at them? I have boxes of photo's dating back to the the late 1970's and I must confess that after first viewing them when back from the processors I have never looked at them. What a waste!

As much as I agree/sympathise with a lot of what you say, being disparaging about aviation photography isn't necessary. Pretty much any hobby or interest can be dismissed as pointless, but people do them because they enjoy it.

And I'd be happy if you'd like to send me your boxes of photos from the 70s and 80s to go through and scan and upload them for others to enjoy. I can imagine there must be a lot of photographs of aircraft that people would enjoy seeing from the good old days when there certainly weren't many people at the fences of the then plentiful bases and exercises.

[Tally-ho]

The view now from the burger van at the WAVE, the hedge has been cut!
CW2024-2 : Burger van as per usual, also extra porta-loos for the upcoming exercise, a positive can-do spirit from the folks on-site, worthy of support!


Photo credit : Emma Smith

[Vulcanone]

Well at some point the wooden fence which has been there since about 1994/95 will need replacing regardless of what is behind it...

Just be thankful the RAF and Boeing/Northrop Grumman North Kesteven DC and others got together in the first place. Otherwise you would have a real scrum come next month. Who remembers the alternatives that were the only option there till they built the WAVE

Best hope they don't see this

https://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=90814