Mammoth trip to RAF Valley

[Harry_Imp]

Hi All,
In the school holidays back in Feb, me and a mate didnt have anything planned so we looked at what we could do aircraft wise instead of the usuals of our locals Waddo/Coningsby. Dont get me wrong they are great places to visit but you get bored of the same place all the time! So after a bit of investigation into train times, we found that Valley was pretty easy and not too much (£88 return) on the train from Newark. So the plan was to set off early Monday am, stay in a B and B and return Tues PM - the train included changes at Nottingham, Derby, Crewe, Chester and then to Rhosneigr. We arrived in the best weather we had seen all year which was a bonus and withing 5 minutes had seen 7 aircraft - and the activity didnt drop, Valley was awesome!! I must seriously reccomend the base as somewhere to visit, the viewing oppurtunities you can get are awesome! I mainly went as a serial spotter and took my camera just as a secondary point, but with the weather as it was I couldnt really put it down! Yes they are not great, but Im really happy with what I have got. Many thanks to craig (flying slug) for all the help he has given me with my PP! I hope you like them..

1

1 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
2 Bit of a wobble!

2 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
3

3 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
4

4 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
5

5 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
6

6 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
7

7 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
8

8 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
9

9 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
10

10 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
11

11 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
12

12 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
13

14 by Harry Forman, on Flickr
14 And some high level tiffies heading to Aberporth, very nice to see!

15 by Harry Forman, on Flickr

C+C very welcome, always looking to improve of course!!
Thanks
Harry

[elderforest]

The Hawk sunset shot is in a class of its own

[Hasboman]

Great set Harry! 7 and 11 really stand out, but the rest are pretty awesome too!

Harry

[Craig_85]

Well done on making the trip Harry. A nice set with good compositions and some nice punchy editing. I guess slugman didn't tell you about levelling horizons, 7 is well off, even for Wales!

[Pat Murphy]

Great set Harry. Not too sure about number 7. Probably because I know the spot too well
However, the sunset shot, well, I have been going to Valley since year dot and still haven't got one like that so
Valley ain't what it used to be in the days of STCAAME (Missile practise camps) and Master Diversion status, but it's still a good day out with, for the most part, a cracking number of movements and you just never know what might turn up. I remember the day that an RC-135 flew over head with a German Mig 29 in it's 6 right behind it. Now I never thought I would see that

[Hawkkeeper]

looks like you had a great day there, got the 4 & one of 100 Sqn's specials too.

[Harry_Imp]

Thankyou so much for the great comments, muchly appreciated!!

Harry

[tankbuster]

great shots especially the sunset hawk, presumably you were on foot having arrived by train, did you have to walk far to take that variety

[gallers74]

Number 11, cracking shot

[targeta]

Hey Harry, what a great report it brought back memories of my own early trips by train when I first got started. You will remember this trip for the rest of your life. The sunset shot is way better than any shot I took when I was at school.
Well done,
cheers
Phil

[flashman8]

thanks for the memories of Valley...............

ILoveLightnings.

I was at STCAAME between 1984 and 1986.............

[Harry_Imp]

looks like you had a great day there, got the 4 & one of 100 Sqn's specials too in one shot.

Thanks very much all,
Yes I walked. We planned very thoroughly we got off the train at Rhosneighr to the east of the base, and booked the B+B at the west end, so the plan was on the first day walk the length of the airfield, and the opposite on the next day, so we saw as much as possible. The walk was about 2 hours but we stopped numerous times for serial reading/photos

Harry

[andrew653]

Fantastic shots from the best location in Britain, 1,11 and 12 are stunning.

[Harry_Imp]

Many thanks all

Harry