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I wonder how much damage the rain is doing to participating aircraft?

Especially on the Red Arrows.

The European based aircraft are certainly used to wet weather, the Indians and Saudis have heat. The Reds, at RAF Scampton their former base, they had hangars. Whether they will get hangars at Waddington remains to be seen, I will try and find out.

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Photo set 5

The catch of the day, fresh from RAF Waddington for your digital viewing pleasure!

It should have departed Thursday 2 March, but it did not, and a good thing too because I could not be at the fenceline ... ... but I could be there today!

India Air Force Ilyushin IL-78MKI, one of six India operates, and we had the pleasure of its visit, hauling the five India Air Force Mirage 2000's to England.




Saluting its stablemates, the India Air Force C-17's, on the ground.


Tucking in the wheels for the long flight home.

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Apologies, I didn't express my concern properly, I was referring to the rain whilst flying and not on the ground.

I have seen paint damage to helicopter main rotor blades and propellers caused by rain.

It could wash the dust off the Saudi A330...

Nice to see you're still around rynopot!

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Photo set 6

The days have been filled with some wonderful photo opportunities, since the first arrivals 10 days ago.


Saudi Air Force C-130 taxiing - the graphics say 'God Bless You'.


Indian Mirage 2000MKI getting a final check ...


Indian Mirage 2000MKI getting a final check ...


L-R: RAF Beechcraft 'Shadow R1', Red Arrows in the background, 2 x Belgian F-16's ready to roll, Mirage 2000MKI.


Belgian F-16 'The X Tiger' - graphics match the tailpipe colours!


Yes the India Air Force does things their way - Belgian F-16 taking off.


Guess what happened when the F-16 moved forward, yes a warm wind of gas from that that tailpipe, all over the gathered photographers.
The descent from stepladders was a view to behold!


Says it all - 'The X Tiger' giving us a view to remember! The Belgians understand the value of PR!

Thank you - more will follow in due course.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/tallyho2015/albums

Great photos Tally-ho, keep 'em coming!

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Agreed!

I may not respond after every post, but following with great interest.

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How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Photo set 7

Thank you 'H' and Dean.

Yesterday 9 March, rain, sleet, snow and a chilly 1°C stopped play and all flying was suspended for the day. The picture shows five of the six Finnish F/A-18's and the white surroundings. No, I did not even exit the vehicle. Taken from a private road opposite a 'crash gate'.

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Photo set 8

There are less than 24 hours between the previous picture and these three.

The snowploughs were out and clearing the runway when this picture was taken at 11.00 on Friday 10th. The weak sun helped, but the breeze was bitterly cold. The Finns with their F-18's were talking to the tower by 11.13, permission to taxi by 11.28, the 4 x F-18's were given clearance for take-off at 11.40. The Finns are here to do the business, they will be an asset to NATO.
News from RAF Coningsby, where the RAF Typhoons operate from, were that 4 x Typhoons were already airborne shortly after 09.00. Bear in mind Coningsby is always operational (24/7) as it's where the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) fighters and crews are based.
In fairness, the Belgian F-16's and Indian Mirage's also flew sorties during the afternoon, as did the Saudi Typhoons from nearby Coningsby.


Clearing the last remains of snow


First two of four Finnish F-18's taxiing under a still heavily laden grey sky


Vortex at the wingtips and undercarriage being tucked in

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Some really nice pics. Crappy weather, tho. Do those Mirages still actually fly legit missions while there are F-16s and F-18s and Typhoons around?

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A corner is just a straight piece of road that's bent.

Happy that you're enjoying the pictures!

Weather around the airbase moderated within 36 hours, and sorties pertaining to Exercise Cobra Warrior resumed by 11.00 on Friday 10 March.

Mirages:-
The Indian Mirage 2000MKI is a India specific version of the Mirage 2000-5 Mk2 : advanced radar, faster computing capabilities, 'glass' cockpit, and also equipped with Indian and Israeli avionics and weapon packages. The Indians tend to shop across a wide spectrum when it comes to their military.
For the purposes of the exercise, the Indians and their Mirages bring a much needed 'dissimilar' package to proceedings - to mix things up a bit!

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Glad some pics are at least in sun!

Last exercise the SAAF had with a foreign air force was the Indian Mirage 2000's if I remember correctly?

Photo set 9

The story behind the blue tail Belgian F-16.

Belgian 349 Squadron, a fighter-bomber unit based at Kleine-Brogel military base (Limburg), acquired a F-16 to commemorate its 80th anniversary, that will fly under its colours until summer 2023. The aircraft was shown in November 2022 to an audience of enthusiasts, including a flypast with a Spitfire, a type used by 349 Squadron during WW2 flying with the RAF.

The plane's decorated tail fin is a reminder of this period, on the starboard side with a drawing of Spitfire pilot Ivan Du Monceau de Bergendal, its first commander, wearing a leather helmet. On the port side, it is decorated with an F-35A – the future mount of the squadron from 2027 – and a pilot wearing the latest generation helmet.

Graphics both sides say 'Proud of the past. Ready for the future. 80 years 349 Squadron'.

349 Squadron was formed on 29 June 1942 as a Belgian RAF unit in Ikeja (Nigeria) to defend Central Africa from German attacks with its first fighter planes: American Curtiss Tomahawks. It returned to the UK in June 1943 to re-equip with Supermarine Spitfires. Its Belgian pilots flew 450 missions until the end of the war, including the Normandy landings in June 1944.

Summarized from original article dated 5 Nov 2022:-
https://www.brusselstimes.com/317321/34

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