RAF Lossiemouth - Out of Bounds

[Punkrunner62]

This has happened for a long time,nearly every exercise if they are using 05 some Twats are walking across the field despite being politely asked not to and explained why.
you just wonder about some peoples mentality.It just spoils it for the Locals and any other visitor.Cheers.

[Nnthusiast]

Well it was my first visit ever on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was wonderful.
What a great airfield for taking pictures at.

I was at the sea end for most of Tuesday but went down for the Helo's and touch and goes / breaks etc.
I parked just inside the field and walked over to the corner. I'm sorry if I shouldn't have and formally apologise as I thought this was a fallow field and ok to walk on, but I hold my hand up now.
If I've done wrong, please let me know and by way of atonement I'll donate something to the RAFBF this week.

On Wednesday I stayed the sea end, because quite simply I wasn't sure about viewing the other end and didn't want, as a visitor, to muck things up for anyone. I got some great heat haze and taxi shots which was a bonus though.

Will I return? I'd love to providing I don't make any silly mistakes in parking and I'll ask those in the know here first, to ensure I stay 'legal'.

Cheers and Hello to all I met.
Dave from Liverpool

[graeme923]

Well said Al, as usual one or two people who dont care about the guys who are here all the time just so they can get their shots mess it up,I have heard that there is plans afoot to spoil the view.

[Phil H]

Well said Al. I have to agree.

Although I am not a local, I have been visiting RAF Lossiemouth, both on and off base, regularly, for over thirty-five years.

Many, so called, 'Aviation Enthusiasts', visiting the 23 end, now seem to just abandon their vehicles and an ever increasing number seem to want to play 'Russian Roulette' at the approach fence. At the 05 end, there is absolutely no need to cross fields in crop - anyone with a lens of over 200mm can easily get close-ups from the public road. The past few years have seen a massive increase in 'Aviation Enthusiasts' who have no respect for others - they ARE NOT true Aviation Enthusiasts.

RAF Lossiemouth has always been renowned for being accessible to photographers and for its tolerance of them, but a FEW can very easily spoil it for the MANY and especially for the locals, who have worked hard to foster good relations with the base and the farming community.

[rusty1]

Well said onemac. I believe the farmer was ok with parking in the field with the straw bales to go to the choppers as long as you LEFT YOUR CAR AT THE GATE and did not drive over the field. Any visitors not sure where to go just ask a local (may be difficult to understand ) LOL

[onemac]

Well it was my first visit ever on Tuesday and Wednesday and it was wonderful.
What a great airfield for taking pictures at.

I was at the sea end for most of Tuesday but went down for the Helo's and touch and goes / breaks etc.
I parked just inside the field and walked over to the corner. I'm sorry if I shouldn't have and formally apologise as I thought this was a fallow field and ok to walk on, but I hold my hand up now.
If I've done wrong, please let me know and by way of atonement I'll donate something to the RAFBF this week.

On Wednesday I stayed the sea end, because quite simply I wasn't sure about viewing the other end and didn't want, as a visitor, to muck things up for anyone. I got some great heat haze and taxi shots which was a bonus though.

Will I return? I'd love to providing I don't make any silly mistakes in parking and I'll ask those in the know here first, to ensure I stay 'legal'.

Cheers and Hello to all I met.
Dave from Liverpool

Dave - no problems with the fallow field as the farmer still has to collect the bales and has even started a poo heap. We spoke to him the other week and he said it was ok to park there so no indiscretions on your part. You will be most welcome back at lossie and I urge you to get in contact with me anytime and I'll be happy to show you round - not only the safe parking areas but the best places to get the top pics at various times of the day. Thanks for your thoughtfulness and consideration.

Al

[graeme923]

Well said Al shame that someone always has to spoil things.

[Trevster]

Well said Al. Although I only get up once or twice a year from the central belt, we're all exceptionally lucky to have the access around the RAF bases that we do - you should try some of the jobsworths around EDI and GLA when you pull your RPG launcher, sorry, camera out to snap civi aircraft (that's no joke BTW, armed police were called at EDI one day!). The opportunities we're blessed with at places like Lossie should never be taken for granted, although the few who do...

Dave, hats off for putting yourself out there for the potential 'naughty step'. Will others...

[mustang5861]

1) I agree with everything onemac said.

2) Post the darn photos – and if you look at them and recognise anyone in them, have a word in their ear because...

3) …here’s how (some of) the numpty-heeds doing the field-walking ‘think’: if there isn’t a sign telling them not to do it, and if they can’t see a crop of wheat, barley or whatever in full growth, they’ll tramp across without the slightest consideration for the farmer or the local spotters, and lie to your face about supposedly not having done it. It is the epitome of the selfishness that is all too prevalent in today’s ‘I’m all right, Jack; fcuk the rest of you’ society.

4) Be aware: It Will Happen Again, likely this summer when the holidaymakers decide on having a ‘bit of fun’ at the base by larking about in the undershoot and standing on the fences – cue ATC having to abort more landings because of the danger/distraction caused by these eejits. That’s assuming the farmer and/or the base haven’t taken steps before then – and there’s a growing crop to protect, so something might happen a lot sooner rather than later. There’s coming a time when the phrase ‘enough is enough’ is going to be the justification for actions that will adversely (and likely permanently) affect the local enthusiasts.

5) A suggestion for the Runway 05 end: while we are all agreed that what has happened is unacceptable, would it be worth considering doing something practical that a) might make some of the plumbags think twice before they start field-walking; and b) might build up some goodwill with the farmer by showing him that the local enthusiasts are as pee'ed off about what’s been going on as he no doubt is? How about making or buying a couple of signs with a clearly worded message that the field is not to be walked across at any point because there’s a crop in? They could be positioned at ‘strategic’ points at the edge of the field, so that nobody could plead ignorance as to their ‘right to roam’. Perhaps liaising with the farmer as to wording he is happy with, and making it clear that the local enthusiasts would like to do something practical to help protect his land – because that’s what it comes down to – would be seen as a positive and practical move on his behalf. Those signs could then be used again in future, e.g. future JW exercises, at whatever field(s) and crops might be at threat.

6) Feel free to tell me I’m talking shtie if you like; but back it up with an equally or more practical suggestion, because words of outrage – and I don’t doubt the sincerity of anyone who has posted on this thread – are no longer enough. If nothing is done by us (the enthusiasts, spotters, whatever title you like), it will be the RAF, MoD and Police Scotland who will act – and when that happens, an opportunity will have been missed and lost.

7) I hope all of the responsible enthusiasts who spent time at the base for JW 15-1 had good weather and a really good time. Lossie was my ‘local’ when I was knee-high to a low knee, as it was for my dad back in the 1950s; the thought that some of the fantastic viewpoints could be blocked out, and all as a result of the idiotic actions of some of those in our ‘community’, fills me equally with feelings of foreboding and shame.

M

PS: New addition to the list of collective nouns: a Clarkson of field-walkers…!

[onemac]

'DANGER LAND MINES' is the clear favourite for a sign at the moment although the odds are shortening on 'FREE DRINKS AT THE FARMHOUSE'.

Al

[Sky Pirate]

Well said (Al), PC Cardamom.....

[Nnthusiast]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the reassurance and kind words, plus the great offer of advising me of locations etc. its one i will take you up on later in the year

I'm not sure i'm breaking any rules here but i've uploaded a few (200 or so, so far) pictures from last week to the military aircraft section of my zenfolio site and if anyone is interested they can take a look at this address? http://davejonesphotography.zenfolio.com/p779894541

Cheers
Dave

[gamecock]

I think there's definitely some merit in an updated airfield viewing guide, or a sticky in the Lossie section with a few snapshots from Google Earth showing the out-of-bounds areas.

I'd have a go myself but don't have any suitable programmes on my newish laptop

[np1991]

I think there's definitely some merit in an updated airfield viewing guide, or a sticky in the Lossie section with a few snapshots from Google Earth showing the out-of-bounds areas.

I'd have a go myself but don't have any suitable programmes on my newish laptop

It's in the pipeline Steve

[gamecock]

It's in the pipeline Steve

Great minds and all that!

[onemac]

Sssshhhh - don't tell them about.......... that place

Al

[willmurray]

I dot know if it is worth it or not, but this chap (very nice guy called Mr Peregrine Bush) makes really good maps of airfields. He is a cartographer to trade, ad one of his hobbies is aviation so he made a series of maps of military airfields.
Maybe if something could be done to his map, to reflect go and no go areas, this would benefit everyone (?). (he may also update the frequencies etc')
http://www.pb-photos.com/Images/Aviatio ... emouth.pdf
Cheers, Will

[onemac]

Could be Will but I do believe there should be parking/photography and no go areas indicated on all maps. Descriptions of all locations would take care of this but in the end it comes down to one thing - the attitude of the photographer. It's the few that spoil it for the many and it's a well known fact that certain nationalities are not welcome on base tours in some countries because a small number refuse to adhere to instructions given - just to get that one pic! Sometimes standing at the front doesn't get you all the potential shots you could get - a fact that seemed to escape those we spoke to on the pill box/bunker/sentry post at the 23 end of Lossie. A bit of common sense and a helping of respect with regards to local knowledge and there are plenty opportunities for all - just ask those who lined up south west of RW05 on Wed 22nd. Better still, look at their pics. Not one person lost out

Al

[cj9ru]

Hi

I was quite distressed to read all of this. Some people are beyond belief. There are always some who through acts of stupidity and selfishness spoil things for others. Lossie is a great place to view. I spent many of my school holidays there as my grandparents lived in Kingsmills Elgin. Laterly in a sheltered housing complex near the Buccaneer Service Station. I have often spoken to the farmers too who were very nice folk. Let us hope the relationships between us and the farmers have not been tarnished. It is sadly the case that it tends to be visitors to a local area (but not always) who tend to cause this type of stuff.

Interesting on the fence breaking to note not just at Lossie. My son is based at Coningsby and when I was last down at the opposite end to the BBMF I noticed that some clown had cut a hole in the mesh fence to get a camera lens through. Unbelievable. I hope they found out who did it! There again you have to walk round a field to get to that corner. OK if folk do it carefully.

Like all walks of life there are some right clowns in our community. It is a great pity that they tend to be the idiots that are noticed and talked about by folk from outwith. Shame on all who behave like this. They deserve to be the subject of a police report and suitable punishment!

They just spoil things for all of us.

Chris

[Thunder]

I'm guessing you mean at the junction? Next to the water building I think? Red and white building?

That building is the ILS Localiser which is a navigational aid it's not advisable to park at or near it, it has been known for big metallic objects to interfere with it. Also since it is under the overshoot/undershoot you are potentially putting yourself in harms way, if anything was to fall off an aircraft on take off/landing(it's been known, more than you probably think).