Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Harrier Drawdown - week by week
(For Cottesmore visit on 27th October 2010 see this thread).
Cottesmore, 4th November 2010...
Another visit to Cottesmore and an ultimately fruitless wait for the 41 Sqn jets, which lunch-stopped at Boscombe and thus arrived at Cottesmore long after I'd gone home... but not a wasted trip as despite a really nasty wind blowing across the airfield and mostly grey skies, there was plenty of action. It was raining to start with but soon dried up...
Going to miss this place when it goes quiet.
Cottesmore, 4th November 2010...
Another visit to Cottesmore and an ultimately fruitless wait for the 41 Sqn jets, which lunch-stopped at Boscombe and thus arrived at Cottesmore long after I'd gone home... but not a wasted trip as despite a really nasty wind blowing across the airfield and mostly grey skies, there was plenty of action. It was raining to start with but soon dried up...
Going to miss this place when it goes quiet.
Last edited by DamienB on Wed 10 Nov 2010, 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Cottesmore 04/11/2010
Lovely stuff, the final few especially
The certainly seem to be going it in style up there, great to see it so busy each day. Aiming to get up there next week so hopefully that'll continue....
The certainly seem to be going it in style up there, great to see it so busy each day. Aiming to get up there next week so hopefully that'll continue....
Re: Cottesmore 04/11/2010
What a diference a bit of light makes
- nigelblake
- Posts: 2548
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 4:10 am
- Location: Bedfordshire
- Contact:
Re: Cottesmore 04/11/2010
A fine set of images, inevitably some very similar to mine , nice to meet you too.
I like the wet runway shot, all that spray looks great, I should have been there earlier!
I like the wet runway shot, all that spray looks great, I should have been there earlier!
Re: Cottesmore 04/11/2010
No visit to Cottesmore this week, instead took a chance and went to Wales. 3 Harriers went through the Dinas pass, thankfully!
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
I had to stop "mid-flow" to catch these beggers today Love the shot with snow in the background
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Even more impressed by your shots now then
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Nice selection
For reference i believe it was 3 of Jedi 1-4.
Unfortunately i heard them from Yeovil but diidnt see them as was on the phone to a chap on the exit when they come past
He said that Jedi had gone low level a little while before you got them
For reference i believe it was 3 of Jedi 1-4.
Unfortunately i heard them from Yeovil but diidnt see them as was on the phone to a chap on the exit when they come past
He said that Jedi had gone low level a little while before you got them
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Great shooting Damien, loving the last...
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Top drawer.
As Stu said that last one is lovely.
Darren
As Stu said that last one is lovely.
Darren
Canon 30D & 10D
Canon 70-200L F2.8 & 28-105USM
Uniden 3500XLT & BCT15
Canon 70-200L F2.8 & 28-105USM
Uniden 3500XLT & BCT15
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Thanks guys.
Cottesmore, 15th November - a brief afternoon visit in the hope of catching some misty lighting. However, forecast wrong - no mist whatsoever. Also only one Harrier took off - though 6 came back in from earlier launches, they were all straight in to land, no circuit bashing. One more came in later to circuit bash but by that time a French Xingu was doing the same, and pretty much put paid to any chance of a decent sunset Harrier shot.
Never seen this before - vapour inside the intake:
The guilty Xingu:
The glow around the Harrier isn't post-processing - there on the original shot:
Cottesmore, 15th November - a brief afternoon visit in the hope of catching some misty lighting. However, forecast wrong - no mist whatsoever. Also only one Harrier took off - though 6 came back in from earlier launches, they were all straight in to land, no circuit bashing. One more came in later to circuit bash but by that time a French Xingu was doing the same, and pretty much put paid to any chance of a decent sunset Harrier shot.
Never seen this before - vapour inside the intake:
The guilty Xingu:
The glow around the Harrier isn't post-processing - there on the original shot:
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Nice pictures! Makes me feel a bit sad to know that this beautifull view will be over within one month
I'm planning to visit Cottesmore at the end of this month to catch some Harriers before they're withdrawn from use. I've never been to Cottesmore before so your help is much appreciated. Since I'm planning to visit Cottesmore on a Thursday or Friday I wonder if flying activities on fridays are the same as other weekly days? Or are RAF bases less active on friday?
Regards,
Johan
I'm planning to visit Cottesmore at the end of this month to catch some Harriers before they're withdrawn from use. I've never been to Cottesmore before so your help is much appreciated. Since I'm planning to visit Cottesmore on a Thursday or Friday I wonder if flying activities on fridays are the same as other weekly days? Or are RAF bases less active on friday?
Regards,
Johan
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Bad news for you - Cottesmore & Wittering are closed on Fridays.
- RickIngham
- Posts: 1832
- Joined: Sun 10 Jan 2010, 7:09 pm
- Location: Wiltshire
- Contact:
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Great pictures - your certainly making the most of them.
I'm tempted to go up tomorow as the weather looks ok. Is Cottesmore ok for Easterly winds? I've looked on thunder n lightnings site and it doesnt look too good at the other end. Don't want to shoot any futher than 200mm if i can help it.
Thanks
I'm tempted to go up tomorow as the weather looks ok. Is Cottesmore ok for Easterly winds? I've looked on thunder n lightnings site and it doesnt look too good at the other end. Don't want to shoot any futher than 200mm if i can help it.
Thanks
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Lovely shots there Damien, shame that Xingu decided to do circuit bashing as the Harriers were returning, still I came away with a fantastic set of photos from the day. Was nice to meet you on Monday.
Mark
Mark
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Rick, it's pretty rubbish really. Passable approach shots from the road at point L but you won't get any taxiing shots. Even if you walked around the field edge up to the airfield fence at this end you'd still be quite some distance from the threshold and taxiway - and the farmer at that end is not keen on people doing so anyway. You may be better off parking in the usual place (point A on Hooby Lane) and going for side-on take-off shots, and whatever taxi-back shots can be had from the fenceline along to point B. Can't remember the last time I did this when 04 was in use so not sure how much taxiing activity you'd see at the 22 end - I suspect most would turn-off at the mid point of the runway after landing and head towards the pan from there, so would be out of sight from the point A - B area.
- RickIngham
- Posts: 1832
- Joined: Sun 10 Jan 2010, 7:09 pm
- Location: Wiltshire
- Contact:
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Thanks Damien, will opt for plan B then. Cancelled my visit to Cottesmore about 5 times now!
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Thanks Damien. I'll be there at a Thursday then.
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Cottesmore, 23rd November - a dull day weather wise, and they were using 04 which drastically limits the photographic opportunities too. Still, I had a new camera I needed to test so I spent a couple of hours there anyway.
Starting off at Hooby Lane for some take-offs...
Then I repositioned to the road to the west of the airfield. Alas the ramp is very distant and the lie of the land isn't helpful either:
Run and break...
Then I moved again to the crash gate at the south-west end of the airfield. Landing aircraft are at least a bit lower than over the road, but your scope for different angles is limited.
Good to see those back seats being enjoyed...
The lie of the land here is even worse, cutting off the wheels of taxiing aircraft even if you balance yourself on the small earth mound near the crash gate:
...but at least there's a bit more variety possible if you look for it.
Quite pleased with the new camera. Further tests necessary though...
Starting off at Hooby Lane for some take-offs...
Then I repositioned to the road to the west of the airfield. Alas the ramp is very distant and the lie of the land isn't helpful either:
Run and break...
Then I moved again to the crash gate at the south-west end of the airfield. Landing aircraft are at least a bit lower than over the road, but your scope for different angles is limited.
Good to see those back seats being enjoyed...
The lie of the land here is even worse, cutting off the wheels of taxiing aircraft even if you balance yourself on the small earth mound near the crash gate:
...but at least there's a bit more variety possible if you look for it.
Quite pleased with the new camera. Further tests necessary though...
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
It's a Can... Nikon D7000
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Another half day at Cottesmore, 25th November... and runway 04 again, damn it... there was still a little snow scattered on the ground in the morning, and it was absolutely brass monkey weather, sadly overcast almost all day apart from a few very brief bursts of sunshine.
Finally got to see the 1 Sqn tail... but it went unserviceable and aborted take-off, returning to the ramp
Very pleased to see the 800 tail too, though it and sunshine never coincided for me...
Lovely tight formation approach...
Have we rammed home the sunset metaphor enough yet?
Finally got to see the 1 Sqn tail... but it went unserviceable and aborted take-off, returning to the ramp
Very pleased to see the 800 tail too, though it and sunshine never coincided for me...
Lovely tight formation approach...
Have we rammed home the sunset metaphor enough yet?
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
8th and penultimate shot for me in the latest post.
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Love the nose-on shot from the last batch with the gantry in the backgound. You'll be growing roots there soon.
Re: Harrier Drawdown - week by week
Superb images!
Is there a timetable for the drawdown and any special events planned?
Thanks, Ian
Is there a timetable for the drawdown and any special events planned?
Thanks, Ian