CW24-2 : Photos : Done!

[Tally-ho]

My start on the Cobra Warrior thread was delayed, due to a bit of R&R on a lovely cruise ship. The proof is in the link below . . .

viewtopic.php?f=112&t=247340

However, Friday evening 6th I walked down to Crash Gate 5 to see the first component of four Canadian Air Force F-18 Hornets at their dispersal area.



Obviously I was rather early for the scheduled 21:00 arrival of the second component of Canadian F-18's, and yes I was the first at the hedge, so the next shot is of dusk at Waddington and the view from our beloved hedge. If you've read this far you obviously have a sense of humour . . .



Colourful skies was followed by darkness and soon enough FR24 confirmed the separation of Polaris tanker and the four Hornet fighters near Prestwick. A fighter style break over the Airbase and onto the runway. The three arrows indicate the first three, one is on the runway, two on short finals and the last still in the turn and not visible yet. The green lights in the foreground show the taxiway to their dispersal area.



Night time photography . . . I will not show the outlines of all four Hornets as they pass in front of the hedge - so I picked one.



Roll on CW24-2 . . . thank you!

[Tally-ho]

Finland Air Force CASA C-295 : CC-3

It rained until shortly before the 11:33 arrival, there were not that many at the WAVE, and conditions remained poor for photography. The fenceline had about 20 photographers.



Then an anticipated setback . . . the Finnish CASA C-295 took the short cut taxiway off the 02 runway . . . . . . many packed up and left chuntering.



So Plan B, head for Crash Gate 5, walk the 200 odd yards to the gate and see what's to see. Result! Refuelling just completed, hose being stored, and checks being done by the crew around the aircraft.



Engine start at 12:14 and movement at 12:20.



Naturally I'm grateful that all was not in vain as regards a proper sighting.

Thank you

[Nighthawke]

Well caught and worth the effort. Is that more chuntering I hear from those who didn't? Hope you didn't get too wet.

[Tally-ho]

Cheers Nighthawke

No, had rain mac on, luckily when the CASA arrived the rain had moved on.

[Kubey]

Definitely hoping for better weather tomorrow for a reattempt on the CASA!

[Rolph]

It makes for very nice reading Tally Ho. Please keep it up.
And visiting my country is a perfect excuse for a delayed thread

[Tally-ho]

The last three from Monday 9th.

The true military cohesion of NATO is brought home here, Finnish CASA, Canadian Hornets, all on this one RAF base, with more to come.



All nicely parked up in a long line, the eight Canadian Air Force CF-18's. There is quite a drop from the elevated area around CG5 to the parking bays at 18-21.



A full side-on of CC-3 as it taxis to runway 02. What does the eagle head on the vertical fin signify, squadron emblem? From what Finnish squadron is this CASA?



Thank you!

[jamyt123]

A full side-on of CC-3 as it taxis to runway 02. What does the eagle head on the vertical fin signify, squadron emblem? From what Finnish squadron is this CASA?

All the Finnish Casas are based with Satakunta Air Command at Tampere-Pirkkala Air Base

[Tally-ho]

Definitely hoping for better weather tomorrow for a reattempt on the CASA!

Yes, good luck.

It makes for very nice reading Tally Ho. Please keep it up.

Thank you for the kind words Rolph!

All the Finnish Casas are based with Satakunta Air Command at Tampere-Pirkkala Air Base

Thank you!

[Tally-ho]

A grand day at the fence! Let me hasten to add, I left at 1:15pm when news had filtered through that the Polish F-16 are delayed. However, the sound of thunder reverberated around the Airbase as those twin General Electric Turbofans lit up on those Canadian CF-188 'Hornets' - show time!
I will for starters, show some of the morning's departures / take-offs and will, once sorted and edited, show some of the returns and the arrival of the Polish CASA C-295.

Start was requested at 09:33 and at 10:30 the first pair of CF-188's came down the taxiway.



Runway #20 was in use (blustery westerly wind), so for take-off shots from the fence, this is the place to be. In the morning the sun is behind you - important!



In the words of 'Maverick' . . . "Goose it's time to buzz the tower" . . . although it's a take-off.



The second pair transit from taxiway to runway . . .



. . . and line-up for the take-off



A bit of artistic freedom for this shot, once again from 'Top Gun', "great balls of fire"!



As always, thank you for stopping by!

[Tally-ho]

Rain clouds, and then rain itself, kept interfering with a decision to stay or go. As said before I left at 1:15pm, only to see the Polish CASA coming down the taxiway for departure . . . some you win some you lose!
The first picture shows the return of a Canadian Hornet, note the hedge was not cut beyond the lights, and rightly so. The lights designate the boundary in terms of how far you should go . . .



The Poland Air Force CASA C-295 about to land, the camouflage scheme showing nicely as regards photography.
[Note to self, remember to adjust the shutter speed on the camera when photographing propeller driven aircraft, 1/1600 is bad.]



Until next time - thank you.

[Tally-ho]

Finnish Air Force F-18C, HN-457, Kreivi von Rosen

Many will have noticed the stencilling / graphics on the vertical stabilisers of this Finnish Air Force F-18C. For those of us that read history, the graphics will not have gone unnoticed. More to the point, who was Kreivi (Count) von Rosen? Kreivi is Finnish for a Count, Count as in a noble man.

A story of intrigue, and irony, all based on historical fact. There are four central characters involved, Count Eric von Rosen, his wife Countess Mary, Mary’s sister Carin, and Hermann Goering – yes Hermann Goering of the Luftwaffe.
Carin married Hermann Goering in 1923, therefor the two men (Von Rosen and Goering) became Brothers-in-Law, by virtue of their marriage to two sisters.

So, fast forward to Exercise Cobra Warrior 2024-2, and a NATO fighter jet sporting stencilling of the name Kreivi von Rosen. Who would have thought that we would ever see a NATO F-18 stencilled with the name of Hermann Goering’s brother-in-law?!

As said, it’s the stuff of legend, spiced with intrigue and irony, and all based on historical fact. Pictures taken today over the midday period.
Almost time for a Scotch and water - happy weekend to you all!

[Tally-ho]

Damage to the port wing of Canadian Air Force CC-130H

Elsewhere on social media, and also mentioned here on FC by reaper493

Then we have Oiler 39 . . . might not fly again during the ex due to having a bird strike when running in via initial - result is a large hole in the port wing.

It is a long shot, and the usual midday heat haze does not help, but the damage can be seen. I first noticed personnel walking across the port wing, bending down, looking at something. Only upon closer inspection of my photo, did I notice the damage to the port wing. Under operational / combat conditions, when necessity dictates, I think the aircraft is flyable. Of course, under normal conditions that may not apply.



The red and yellow arrow points to the damage. Taken just after its return, hence the still spinning propellers. Already a Canadian Force's ground crew member is assessing the damage.

[Tally-ho]

A general overview of the Finnish and Canadian dispersal areas.

Seen from the southern perimeter over a two hour period last Friday. Much cycling around the Finnish area, wonder if they brought the bicycles with them. Also no squeezing their assets together, the F-18's are quite spread out.
The Canadians, from what could be seen, seems more compacted. All of their CF-188's being parked in one long line. I could see only six of the eight aircraft.

Four Finnish F-18's



The other two Finnish F-18's in front of the Rubb hangar - hangar out of view to the right.



Canadian dispersal area, the CC-130 with the damaged wing, and six of the CF-188's.



Bicycles galore



Breaking for lunch



CW2024-2 starts tomorrow, weather seems fine, could be busy . . .

[Mike@Heathrow]

Probably a stupid question but have any Polish F16 aircraft actually arrived yet? & thanks for the info about the Canadian& Finnish F18 locations.
Rgds.. Mike

[Tally-ho]

Indeed, the Polish contingent of six F-16's have arrived and are on the base. They should be visible from the A15 side of the base. Regards.

[Tally-ho]

@paulspot
HN-452 wasn’t outside (that I could see). Anyone know of it’s location? Assume it’s in the green rub next to the other Finnish F18s?

HN-452 had some issue on Friday 13th. Technical personnel were doing engine runs for some 40 minutes out on the hard standing, there was also a tow tractor and tow bar in front of HN-452. Wings were folded up just before 1:00pm . . .

[dinger]

As long as the bleed air duct and associated gubbins are not damaged, a leading edge replacement is straightforward enough if you have all of the parts. Give it a week if a replacement leading edge panel comes in, should be flying again for the 2nd week of the exercise, maybe sooner.

Dinger

[Tally-ho]

The First and the Last

I will call it so, because the two (preliminary) photos shown here was literally my first and last shots of the day. Cool and very misty start, which eventually burnt away, and a most beautiful morning ensued. A great time at the #02 end! These two photos will be followed by more, just need to do some sorting.

Cool and almost fully shrouded in mist, three Finnish F-18's.



Returning after their first operational sortie, a Canadian CF-188.

[Tally-ho]

An Airbase hosting a major military aviation exercise - a look around before the noise and 'burners.

Monday 16 Sept - Runway 02 end:-

With the initial early morning mist still swirling, this Finnish F-18 has just been hauled out of the Rubb hangar, going to parking area No 24. A mean looking beast, even with folded wings.



A four ship of Polish F-16C's taxying for Runway 02. I suspect these to be the Block 52+ version, and capable of carrying conformal fuel tanks. The very powerful P&W turbofans ticking over, yet still creating sufficient blur . . .



Every picture tells a story.
Notice the focus and dedication to the job. This Finnish aircraftsman is standing watching his pilot and the aircraft which he is responsible for - I watched this for several minutes until the plane moved. He never took his focus off, although there are Canadian CF-188's taxying to the runway very nearby. It's human nature to be distracted, but he never was - focus and dedication!



Thank you!