RAF Coningsby Open Day June 1986-more added

[docman]

Sometimes the weather "plays ball" and provides sun and clear skies. On 14th June 1986 the RAF showed off its new Tornado F.2s, and Coningsby opened its doors. An added bonus was the F.2s leaving to take part in the Queens birthday flypast over London. Having finally managed to find a decent 35mm scanner I have started to convert the negative archive to digital. Its a slow process. I will add more when available.
Lightning F.6 XS895/BC basking in the sun.
198612-0021 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
A couple of Phantom F.3 ZE357/N
198612-0009 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
198612-0020 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
Canberra TT.18 WK127/CS
198612-0011 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
A brace of F.2s simulate flight refuelling.
198612-0024 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
198612-0001 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
Upper Heyford F111E 80020/UH of 20TFW
198612-0010 by Richard Digby, on Flickr

It doesn't seem possible that these are over 30years old. I will post more, including the flypast aircraft, when I find time to scan them. Thank you for looking.

http://www.barleycornprints.com

[capercaillie]

I was there, it was very hot and sunny and took us ages to get in! We watched the NATO E-3 doing its flypasts while stuck in a queue.

Nice to see some pics

[rebel14]

Great scans, was my first airshow. My sister let me borrow her Kodak disc camera for it so my pictures are not that good.

[steved]

Really nice pictures and the scanning is really sharp. What scanner do you use ?

[docman]

Thank you for you comments. I was fortunate to obtain a Nikon Coolscan LS5000 recently which was unopened and has improved my scans over the Minolta Dimage I had previously used.
How easy it was to take the Lightnings and Jaguars for granted!
198613-0005 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
..and the Buccaneers
198613-0001 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
I seem to recall the VC10 took part in the flypast over London
198613-0024 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
One for Capercaillie!
198613-0016 by Richard Digby, on Flickr
The home team F.2s preparing to leave for the flypast
198613-0010 by Richard Digby, on Flickr

Thank you again for looking.

http://www.barleycornprints.com

[st24]

T'was a great day. The '85 event was pretty low key but this one set a good standard for the following shows as it became annual. A proper RAF open day that we all miss so much.. I don't recall the '10 going over the palace - back in those days the QBF was usually a mass flypast of a certain type (the F2s in this instance) but I may be wrong. Great post.

[andrewn]

really nice - looks a belter of day. Like ST says we all miss the Coningsby open days

[st24]

Great scans, was my first airshow. My sister let me borrow her Kodak disc camera for it so my pictures are not that good.

I'd give it her back now mate....

[jag636]

A blast from the past and the year we got married, and we had an air force and you were there thanks for sharing and jogging many happy memories

[Unknown74]

Always wondered wether Coningsby had ever held an open day, that's one base I would love to attend an Airshow at. After all the Years of attending RAF Leuchars Airshow, RAF Coningsby would have been quite a good Show to attend. I have of course attended Waddington on 2 occasions and in 1991 Scampton (don't think I'll be able to attend Scampton in September unfortunately ) .......

[st24]

Always wondered wether Coningsby had ever held an open day, that's one base I would love to attend an Airshow at. After all the Years of attending RAF Leuchars Airshow, RAF Coningsby would have been quite a good Show to attend. I have of course attended Waddington on 2 occasions and in 1991 Scampton (don't think I'll be able to attend Scampton in September unfortunately ) .......

Coningsby had hit and miss open days in the '70s and early '80s, however a really good run of top quality good old fashioned RAF open days started in 1985 through to 1993. A few photocalls followed (again the good, proper old fashioned type held in daylight with very reasonable admission going to RAF charities and a cracking line up) but since the introduction of the Typhoon, absolutely nothing....

[iaint]

A few photocalls followed (again the good, proper old fashioned type held in daylight with very reasonable admission going to RAF charities and a cracking line up) but since the introduction of the Typhoon, absolutely nothing....

There were some Enthusiast Days held at Coningsby in the not too distant past the day before families days - I went to a couple of them (2010 and 2012) - but alas no more...

[Phantom 892]

All great, but nice to see those Lightnings parked up at Coningsby.