Exercise Joint Warrior - October 2016

[Tiger 1]

Good evening everyone

With a bit of time owed to me at work, I popped up the A1 to Leeming this afternoon.

I arrived at the veiwing area ( fully open ) at 16.10pm just in time to see Gripen 222 departing, this jet as replaced 292 apparently. On the line were 5 more Gripens and a few hawks on the 100 sqn pan.

A very helpfull Gent informed me there were 8 airborne.

These came back as 2 four ships with a running break, very nice indeed, once on the ground 2 Lakenheath Blackhawks came in for a quick gas and go.

When I left at 17.40pm all 13 Gripens were viable. On the line in order from left to right were
222
289
829
264
269
247
212
286
285
283
276
274
and 257 is the jet in the HAS Site that is visable behind 222.

The two Blackhawks were 26205 & 26208.

Hawks noted were
CB, CQ, CM, CE, CJ, CC, CR & XX350 ( D ) XX256 Special Tail Scheme.


Hope this helps some of you guys.

My thanks and appreciation to the guy in the veiwing area who was extremely helpfull sorry I did not catch his name. He was in the right hand corner with large ladder, scanner camera and video camera.

Best rgds

T1

[Durranhill]

As I type this I've just arrived at my digs for the night nr Northallerton & my Scotch pie wrapped in tinfoil is warming up nicely on the manifold of my Honda .

Arrived just after 8 this morning , gate already opened for what turned out to be a gorgeous weather wise start to the day .
Using runway 34 2 Gripens dep at approx 8.30 followed by another 5 between 8.55 - 9.10 , 2 seat Gripen - Lizard 11 had a problem & returned to the pan , this was the 1st of his problems as later he had an aborted takeoff.
When they returned later after the 1st sortie 292 which was using a Quebec callsign was missing , we assumed he had diverted elsewhere due to the crap weather .
2nd sortie of the day started at approx 11.50 with Lizard 37 & 31 & Fabric flights dep from runway 16 as the wind had turned around .
13.10 approx Jolly 11 flight 2 x Pavehawks ( 205 & 208 ) came in from the east then down 16 for refuel & a bite to eat , it then got rather hectic with Gripens arriving from all directions & for a change the weather was really good with blue skies & sunshine .
Approx 14.00 Quebec 99 a Gripen called up inbound from the north east to land , this turned out to be 222 a replacement for the departed 292 .
14.58 - Jolly 11 flight with 205 in the lead dep to Spade .
15.01 - Fabric 51 the 2 seat Gripen dep to the south .
15.18 - Stakki 51 flight 4 x Gripens dep north after a left turn out from 16 , tower asked them to contact Hotspur using silver 1 or 3 Tads , the tower then contacted Stakki 51 flight lead to say the the caravan had reported seeing an open panel under the wing of Stakki 53 & asked them to carry out an inflight visual inspection.
15.23- Lizard 55 flight 4 x Gripens dep to the north .
15.26 - Stakki 53 returning to Leeming , 15.35 - directed back onto 16 to land & followed by rescue crews back to the pan - Stakki 53 was Gripen 283 .
15.55 - Fabric 51 the 2 seat Gripen landed in a heavy rain shower , at the same time Cobra 1 a Hawk reported icing problems & req a descent to clear the problem.
16.00 - Stakki 53 req a start up , this was not 283 but the new arrival 222 using the same callsign , he dep 16 turning left & headed for the north east at 16.11 .
16.16 - Stakki 53 called up Leeming asking for info on Joint Warrior frequencies .
16.46 - Lizard 55 flight inbound ,4 ship break over the field to land followed by Lizard 51 flight who also did a 4 ship break , the last of 51 flight which turned out to be 274 had to do a climb out & go around at the last minute after a red flare was fired while he was on finals , this may have been caused by 55 flight taxing around the perimeter taxiway at the 16 end while he was about to land ? .
17.10 - Jolly 11 flight inbound from the north for 16 then a hot refuel on the pan to the right of the parked Hawks before dep south at 17.35 .
All 13 Gripens on the ground & shut down .

And for those interested in these things the red caravan dep 16 end at 15.25 .

Stewart .
P.S forgot about my pie which is now cold after taking ages to sort out this post .

[Tiger 1]

Good evening durranhill

So yo were that very helpfull fellow in the veiwing area, I now know this because I heard you talking to the other guy about putting your pie on the manifold...I chuckled at the time, because I have a freind who does just the same thing with his steak and kidney pie and it certainly works.

Thank you again for your help and info this afternoon very much appreciated.

Tiger 1

[Durranhill]

Always happy to help others out Tiger 1 , looking forward to eating my pie now after warming it up for the 2nd time on the radiator in the bathroom , yummy .

Stewart .

[Tiger 1]

Ha ha, nice one... I like the second method of warming up the pie. I noticed you were video shooting a passion of my own...hope you got some good coverage from what sounds like a great day on the fence.

Enjoy the pie

Best rgds

T1

[teeonefixer]

That's a great log of the days events, Thanks Stewart
I hope to get up there tomorrow and catch some action !

[starfighter]

Can I ask a question about the viewing area, I take it it's locked overnight ,
then at some stage in the morning sometime between 8 and 9.30 someone
from base come and opens up . So where do you go to shoot pictures of ,
any movement befor it eventually opens.
Thanks to anybody that can help.

Steve.

[bizfreeq]

Have a look at the RAF Leeming viewing guide at the very top of this section!

[starfighter]

Thank already no about the guide , and there is no information about the ,
viewing area or who opens it up and when it opens up .
So my original question still stands, but thanks forgot about some of the ,
photo spots.
Thanks.
Steve.

[DGrove]

Thank already no about the guide , and there is no information about the ,
viewing area or who opens it up and when it opens up .
So my original question still stands, but thanks forgot about some of the ,
photo spots.
Thanks.
Steve.

As the timetable shows it would normally be open at 7am. When Griffin Strike was on with the French I was one of the last out of the car park when they flew late. It was the base security patrol that came into the car park and informed me he was closing up. Hope that is of some help to you Steve.

[starfighter]

That's very helpful,thanks for taking the time,
Just hope they open on time ,400 mile round trip,
don't want to miss any action because someone might be late.
Much appreciated.
Steve.

[Ferrari]

Called in Friday 14th at 16.40.

On the ground were 274, 286, 264, 285, 829, 257.

A 4-ship landed at 16.40: 269, 222, 289, 247

Then the caravan went in so I guess these will be parked out over the weekend.

HTH
Ferrari

[albur99]

Hi all,

I paid a visit to see these on Thursday (13th) (White Toyota Auris if you were in the car park!)

And have edited up a video of Gripen action we were treated to that day - and the rain showers too!

Shot from the viewing area, and in the afternnon also the lanes around the Sewage works / Scrapyard (charming area!) at the RW16 end.

https://youtu.be/nIpIaVZJWgk

Kit is a Panasonic GH4 camera with 100-400mm lens (equiv to 800mm - which came in v. useful!)

Hope you like

Cheers
Alan

[adderman]

Hi Folks

Quick visit Saturday 15th 1200L

8 outside. Reading from left to right
222 264 269 286 285 283 274 257 with a few gaps in between.

No idea if the missing ones are in the HAS complex or actually tucked away being worked on.
Thanks to whoever decided they should be left visible over the two weekends

Kind regards

Mike

[Stan]

Question regarding Friday 14th. There were two Gripens out calling Lizard 37 & 38. One was confirmed as 212; did anyone see them go and can confirm the other?

[zapper47]

hello does some one have a time for the departures of the gripens on Friday and if any support aircraft are due in as well as I have a day off and thinking of comeing upto raf leeming to see them. thank you zapper

[MRTT]

Suspect more will come clear towards the end of the week, don't believe there is a confirmed time for any movement on Friday as of yet.

[GhostFlight91]

Dutch 130 in this moring i am told

[Extender]

Noted yesterday, Sunday 16/10/16 at 11:30am were 7 x Gripens.
39264, 269, 286, 285, 274, 257 & 283

[David Thompson]

Dutch 130 in this moring i am told

RNAF C130 G-988 NAF20 into Teesside around 08:20 .