RAF Lakenheath 4.8.88

[TAFFEVANS]

Short 10min visit.
F-111F 70-2379.LN 48TFW Lakenheath 4.8.88 by Hywel Evans, on Flickr
F-111F 70-2413.LN 48TFW Lakenheath 4.8.88 by Hywel Evans, on Flickr
F-111F 72-1442.LN 48TFW Lakenheath 4.8.88 by Hywel Evans, on Flickr
F-111F 72-1452.LN 48TFW Lakenheath 4.8.88 by Hywel Evans, on Flickr
Plus one from RAF Valley 20.6.80, diverted in with an engine failure.
F-111F 02418.LN 48TFW Valley 20.6.80 by Hywel Evans, on Flickr

[slogen51]

That is cold war Nostalgia

Lovely

[Knife 04]

A short 10 minute visit but worth every single second!! What an aircraft the mighty '111 was!

Thanks Hywel

Darren

[Seahawk 11]

Great photos, love the F-111, spent many a happy hour at Upper Heyford watching them.

Rob

[james baker]

Wonderful a fantastic airframe I can recall watching them on the runway on full burner looked like they would never fly, so big and looked slow, get off accelerate and put the wings back and it was a different story what a bit of kit. Order cancelled for the RAF by the Wilson government I think for the TSR 2 anyway never got to ware a roundel.

[The Phantom]

Always great to see the Varks

[F3]

Not a bad bag for a 10 min visit! Aviation history gold.

[Snoop 95]

A graceful aircraft if ever there was one. Pilots used to call them 'Cadillacs' as they were large and stable, but could 'pick up their skirts and run' when required. I recall being at a Duxford Air Show in the 1980's when the commentator said if you look to the East you will shortly see an F111 of the United States Air Force from Lakenheath. We waited a couple of minutes and then it shot past with wings back never to be seen again. Not a 'display' in the true sense perhaps, but certainly impressive and evidently memorable.

[f106dart]

A short 10 min visit. 2 years down to 2.5 years to go on my best tour of my AF career Thank you

[paddyboy]

Hi Taff

Wonderful 'Swinger' pics there

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Sparky 119]

One of the best looking airframes ever built, now blubbing in a darkened room remembering all the hours spent under the 27 approach at UH.

[graham luxton]

Good to see the contrast with the white and black tail marks - wasn't a fan of them in black though. 98 F-111F's wore the "LN" tail code and with 4 squadrons, Lakenheath was a very busy base in those days.
Saw 4 F-111F's at Upper Heyford in Nov/Dec'75 - not LN's but MO's from the 366thTFW at Mountain Home on a short deployment, eventually they all became LN's though.
The F model was a far more potent aeroplane than Upper Heyford's F-111E with much more powerful engines which produced a distinctive reheat plume about half the length of the aircraft. On one occasion, while in 'Heyford's "spy corner", I videod 2 visiting LN's depart from R27 and even with ear protection on the noise was horrendous. Normally the camera could cope with the vibration from the E/EF's but as soon as the LN's lit the burners the camera lost the battle and quit. Had the F-111F been based at 'Heyford then being in "spy corner" would have seriously damaged you're health!

[Maurits37]

Superb shots.

[SW Sky Blue]

those were the days

[gvr]

Great shots. Surprising to me as there seems to be so little F-111 shots from LN compared to the abundance of photo's of current OPS. There somehow must be some pics of F-111's at the 24 end? I tried searching the forum, but very little comes up.

[dragonchaser]

Super post, how we were spoiled in those days, but the memories stay forever.

[mikepam69]

Superb shots.I went so many times but hardly videod them .I did get a poor filming of a fiat 132 in the base stop at the outer road lights near the spotter car park.As the F111 started down the runway he preceeded to have a race with it for a short distance.Shame the quality is poor as it was amusing to watch.I suppose another 5 years we will be remembering the heyday of the mighty eagles.