Monday 15th April:
After picking up Chris from Elgin, the movements started bright and early with a Shadow R.1 (ZZ418) departing back to RAF Waddington after a weekend stay:
1.
Hawker Beechcraft Shadow R.1 ZZ418 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
The Maritime Patrol aircraft launched their first sortie of the exercise after 9AM, with CP-140 Aurora 140116, from 407 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force:
2.
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 140116 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
This was one of two Auroras present for the Ex, the second of which spent the weekend at Inverness and arrived on Monday afternoon:
3.
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 140110 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
Shot from the same location as the previous image was this Atlantique II, departing to take up the Maritime Patrol mission from the Canadians. Typically, the sun didn't play ball!
4.
Dassault Atlantique II 5 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
Happily, the Voyager, which had arrived from the USA on Sunday night returning XV(R) Squadron personnel from Ex Torpedo Focus, departing in much better light!
5.
Airbus A330-243MRTT Voyager KC.2 ZZ331 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
The highlights of the day were the 56thRQS and their three HH-60G Pavehawks over on the 202 Squadron dispersal:
6.
Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk 89-26212 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
7.
Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk 89-26208 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
There was also flying from the local Tornado fleet, and a visitor or two:
8.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZG775 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
9.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZD745 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
10.
BAe 146-300 QQ101 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
Tuesday 16th April
Winds were gusting somewhere above 50mph today, which meant all local Tornado flying was suspended. Coupled with the wind was dust from the surrounding field, effectively browning out the airfield for a lot of the day!
Before it got too bad in the morning, the Brazilian Air Force P-3AM departed on an MPA sortie:
11.
Lockheed P-3AM Orion 7203 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
And there were some nice skies to shoot the lineup of Maritime Patrol Assets:
12.
Maritime Patrol Assets - Joint Warrior 13-1 by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
By the time the Brazilian's relief aircraft was departing, it had deteriorated rapidly!
13.
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 140116 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
14.
Lockheed P-3AM Orion 7203 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
Even late in the evening things hadn't improved by much (this was my only sight of the VP-4 P-3Cs in the air)
15.
Lockheed P-3C Orion 160287/YD - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
16.
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 140116 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
Wednesday 17th April:
Daytrip down to Leuchars today with John, Tom, Niall and his Dad. Immediate downside to the day was smashing a new mobile phone on a station forecourt. Oops!
The weather started off pretty grim, and stayed that way for most of the day:
17.
Dassault Super Etendards 2 + 55 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
18.
Dassault Super Étendard 17 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
19.
Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 166417/FR-3 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
20.
Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 166417/3 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
There was some light in the evening for about 30 minutes, and everything came together. 6 Super Etendards and 5 Rafales flew, making the day spent hiding in a tent and trying to defog lenses worth it!
21.
Dassault Rafale M 37 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
22.
Dassault Super Etendard 61 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
23.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 ZK343 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
24.
Dassault Super Étendards 62 + 18 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Leuchars by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
Thursday 18th April:
After the mammoth 21 hour roadtrip to Leuchars, today was back at Lossiemouth - unfortunately we brought the Leuchars rain with us and it was "damp" most of the day. However, this did offer some extra variety for photographs!
My highlight of the day was getting full disc blur (1/40s) on both of the French Atlantiques - an aircraft I've never photographed before, but instantly loved!
25.
Dassault Atlantic II 13 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
26.
Dassault Atlantic II 13 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
This Atlantique was photographed taxiing down past me - although I needed a 10mm when he did pass.
27.
Dassault Atlantic II 5 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
There was also another chance to shoot the 56thRQS before the skies opened:
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56thRQS HH-60G Pavehawks - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
29.
Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk 89-26212 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
And when the skies did open, the Tornados came out - as well as XV(R) Squadron finally returning from the USA.
30.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 - XV(R) Return from Utah by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
31.
Panavia Tornado GR.4A ZA404 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
32.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZA461 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
Friday 19th April:
The day started cloudy, but ended in full sun and light(er) winds - for movements, it was THE day of the week for me.
Brazilian P-3AM arriving back after a sortie:
33.
Lockheed P-3AM Orion 7203 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
"The Lighthouse Shot"
34.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZG771 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
617 Squadron put up a four ship mid-morning, which left everyone depressed as there was no special tail aircraft in it.
35.
Panavia Tornado GR.4A ZA404 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
As we walked over to 202 Squadron at the other end, the special was lining up - big smiles all around, and an hour or two of great Tornado action. The Pavehawks were also up flying too.
36.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZD749 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
37.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZA412 "Dambuster 70th" - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
38.
Panavia Tornado GR.4 ZA412 "Dambuster 70th" - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
39.
Dassault Atlantic II 13 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
40.
Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk 89-26212 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
41.
Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk 89-26206 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
42.
Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk 89-26206 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
My Joint Warrior was concluded by 202 Squadron Sea Kings, and one last shot at the CP-140:
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Westland Sea King HAR.3 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
44.
Westland Sea King HAR.3 XZ586 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
45.
Lockheed CP-140 Aurora 140116 - Ex Joint Warrior 13-1 RAF Lossiemouth by BenSMontgomery, on Flickr
A massive thanks to everyone I met - there really are far to many to name! Special thanks to all of the locals for your hospitality - especially John, Tom, Niall and his Dad for the company, food and tent at Leuchars!
Despite the ridiculous number of photos in this post, it's only skimmed the surface of the week, and there are more if anyone would like to see (or you could just follow the links through to Flickr)
Ben
