Planning first visit - runways..

[alhenderson]

Morning All,

I have some leave to play with before the end of the year, and have decided a trip to Marham is in order to try and catch some tonkas before its too late. I understand that 06/24 is better than 01/19 for photography but of course the former is closed. Does anyone know when 06/24 is likely to re-open?

Thanks,
Al.

[slogen51]

Can't help with the main runway reopening. However for me runway 01/19 is superior to 24/06 for photos.

Be interested to hear what others think?

[alhenderson]

Thanks for the reply. I have just had a look in the mil photography section and did indeed find some rather nice pictures of a tonka departing from what I assume to be 19. Not having to wait for 06/24 to re-open would certainly give me more flexibility - esp given the nice weather we seem to be having at the moment.

Al.

[Neil D]

Look at the NOTAM as things change. 06/24 closure keeps being extended. Now 2359L 30 Nov.

Neil

[alhenderson]

Look at the NOTAM as things change. 06/24 closure keeps being extended. Now 2359L 30 Nov.

Neil

Ah, thanks. I can only do Tuesdays for various reasons, so that only gives me 3 potential days before the end of the year. Chances of the weather being any good on any of those days in December? Got to be slim :-) Guess I'll bite the bullet and head along sooner rather than later.

While I'm here, it looks like there's room to park on the A1122 where White Road branches off. Do I then walk into the field across the road? And is there a spot for recoveries on 19? Somewhere along Marham Road, perhaps?

Cheers,

Al.

[LN Strike Eagle]

I'm no expert, but for rwy19 last week we parked in a little layby on Marham Road. 400mm might cut it from there, but with my 300mm I needed to get a bit closer so I walked on towards the centreline and took photos from the yellow gateway across a private track. You can see my pics in the current mil section.

Runway 01 you'll want White Road. In the morning you're better off going further down the road for the sun on the eastern side of the approach, later in the day you'll want to be closer to the top end where it meets Swaffham Road.

You'll also need the patience of a saint to endure a day on the fence here. So far today we've had a Jetstream in and out, and a single Tornado RTB from Germany. Very close to knocking it on the head and going back to Lakenheath.

[slogen51]

Are there any F-35B out on the line?

[LN Strike Eagle]

No idea. Don't know where I need to be looking or from which location!

[Phoon]

No idea. Don't know where I need to be looking or from which location!

From Runway 19, straight in front of you in front of the C type hangars across the opposite side of the airfield, there is a ramp in front where the F35s operate from usually. (Will need Binoculars to see them clearly).

[LN Strike Eagle]

I'm in the field with the 01 landing lights atm.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Doesn't look like any F-35s out.

[alhenderson]

I'm no expert, but for rwy19 last week we parked in a little layby on Marham Road. 400mm might cut it from there, but with my 300mm I needed to get a bit closer so I walked on towards the centreline and took photos from the yellow gateway across a private track. You can see my pics in the current mil section.

Runway 01 you'll want White Road. In the morning you're better off going further down the road for the sun on the eastern side of the approach, later in the day you'll want to be closer to the top end where it meets Swaffham Road.

You'll also need the patience of a saint to endure a day on the fence here. So far today we've had a Jetstream in and out, and a single Tornado RTB from Germany. Very close to knocking it on the head and going back to Lakenheath.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated! Know what you mean about patience, I've been checking the daily movements for Marham, looks like getting 4 odd GR.4s would be considered a good day. TBH, I never get to do any mil spotting or photography outside of RIAT, so just being at an airfield rather than at my desk will be a pleasant change (I say that now, whether I'll have the same view after 6 hours of nothing is a different matter!).

I assume for taxi shots you need to be in the field to the north of Swaffham rd?

Al.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Yeah. I just got some shots from there that look OK, I'll post them when I get home.

Fence is about 5ft tall so I can just about shoot over it as a 6fter, but a small step might help.

Two movements today is all we've had, and now its clouded over. So frustrating.

[alhenderson]

Yeah. I just got some shots from there that look OK, I'll post them when I get home.

Fence us about 5ft tall so I can just about shot over it, but a small step might help.

Two movements today is all we've had, and now its clouded over. So frustrating.

Two movements is annoying - especially at one of the only remaining fast jet bases! Maybe I'll pack a good book and a comfy chair... Good hint on the steps, though!

Al.

[slogen51]

It can be a bit dodgy when they are on nights , usually not worth turning up before 14:00

Four tornados and maybe 2 F-35 is par for the course these days

[LN Strike Eagle]

Two movements is annoying - especially at one of the only remaining fast jet bases! Maybe I'll pack a good book and a comfy chair... Good hint on the steps, though!

Knocked up a couple of maps to help with the spots at each end. As I say. I'm no expert and there may be better places, but this is what I've found from two visits so far, starting at the southern end with RWY01.


RWY01 by DanB, on Flickr

In the morning we parked up by the gate (not blocking it) near the yellow camera icon. From here, the aircraft arriving will be sun-lit in the morning, but hedges on both sides rather limit the amount of time you have to track and pan the aircraft. You might be able to open up the field of view if you were to just enter the gated field and stand beyond the tree.


Panavia Tornado GR4T ZG771 "RAFAIR 7081" - Royal Air Force - RAF Marham, October 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

For the afternoon, you want to be closer to the junction. I was just in the grassy area bordering the farmers field for this shot:


Panavia Tornado GR4 ZA607 "MARHAM 80" - Royal Air Force - RAF Marham, October 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

There's a gap in the hedge between these two locations that is quite central to the runway heading where you can get a view of the runway, and it's not too bad for RWY19 departures coming towards you, but the angle is quite limiting for photos unless you have a massive lens. Overshoots I saw last week were mostly fairly low, so you'd probably better off sticking to one of the other two spots on this road to get more side-on, although the restricted view from the hedges might be a hindrance to panning.


Panavia Tornado GR4 "MARHAM 31" - Royal Air Force - RAF Marham, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

For Runway 19 landings, the layby has parking room for several cars and with a big lens, you could quite happily shoot the approaches from the parking area. The RAF100 Tornado below was from there but was a bit of a crop on my 300mm lens:




Panavia Tornado GR4 ZA554/046 "MONSTER 02" - Royal Air Force - RAF Marham, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

I moved to the gate on the private road marked in yellow to get a bit closer. It's not far but made a big difference in terms of how much of the frame I could fill:


Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II ZM147 - 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force - RAF Marham, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr


Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II ZM147 - 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force - RAF Marham, September 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

The field just north of Swaffham Road gets you very close to the taxiway. As I said, the fence is about 5ft high so may be a problem for some. You can enter at either end, just stick to the edges as you make your way to the fence.


Panavia Tornado GR4 ZA607 "MARHAM 80" - Royal Air Force - RAF Marham, October 2018 by DanB, on Flickr

I'm not sure what the normal routine is, but on Monday the landing aircraft were all backtracking, so I assume they would just roll to the end and vacate along this taxiway after a RWY19 landing too, so this could be a good spot regardless which runway is in use. As it's an east-west taxiway, there should be good sunlight on this spot all day from now until the Tornados retire.

HTH

[slogen51]

Yes the Tornados use that taxi way irrespective of runway 01/19

[alhenderson]

Those maps and pictures are *very* useful - thanks for taking the time. Very nice pics, she's a beauty, the Tornado! Now to keep an eye on the weather forecast.. Next Tuesday is my first window of opportunity..

Al.

[Neil D]

When departing 19 they do use the disused to then back track. No pattern.

Neil

[napalm42]

What a super day you had !!
To see three Special Tails was great.
Certainly better than the mainly grey `Blobs`
Hopefully I get as lucky with my trip there. Keeping an eye on the weather forecast,to decide when to go..