Gents,
It's been a long time since I posted anything from Wattisham, but I thought I would follow up Tim's recent post with a selection as well. The AAC have been catching up since they restarted operations after the virus stand down. That's meant increased activity from an airfield that's isn't exactly known for being busy. As always here, a lot of patience and knowing the layout of the airfield is a must to get good results. As requested, all pics are from 1st June and later.
A couple of Wildcats in and out for fuel one day whilst working locally at STANTA.
They cut the grass...
Another visitor in for some fuel.
As Tim has already pointed out, a FARP was established North side, which resulted in some approaches to the taxiway directly over the North fence.
Also, a shout out to the crew of Machete 1 on Thursday, who air taxied across to the gate and held it there for a few seconds.
Gary
Another Wattisham round up.
- LN Strike Eagle
- UKAR Staff
- Posts: 11191
- Joined: Mon 21 Jul 2008, 3:29 pm
Re: Another Wattisham round up.
Excellent set. Had a few over last week, including a flight of four. Is a 70-300 adequate for Wattisham? I've never been, but could be worth a look in.
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"
Re: Another Wattisham round up.
Hi Dan,
3 Regiment flew a AM and PM four ship on Thursday, the second flight departing not long before I arrived, returning late evening. I queried it with somebody who would know, and it was just a routine sortie, although going South was slightly unusual. Focal length will depend where you go. Shooting across the field from the memorial - where the majority of the above were taken from - will require a 300mm on a crop sensor minimum for a single Apache. The Wildcats were shot down the Western end gate as they came out and are 400mm plus a crop. Apaches are a little closer if you have to use that end. If you want to get closer you can go up to the Eastern end, either the fence at the approach or the North side road but you will be under them a lot more. You'll need them to be on 23 though. Obviously, and as I always say to questions about Wattisham, summer evenings with the sun behind you are about the only worthwhile time to try photography. Hope that helps Dan.
Edit: Dan, just saw your query on Tim's post. Crash Gate 2 and the memorial are the same spot. They are on the country lane that runs alongside the Northern fence, at about the mid point of the airfield. It's a tall, barbed wire fence, Lakenheath/Mildenhall style all the way round. You can shoot through a small gap in the gate, but there is only room for one person. You can shoot through the mesh fence, Tim's pretty good at it, I'm not. However, I strongly recommend not to use a ladder at Wattisham. I have seen the occasional one used, backed up away from the fence but even then it's difficult because of the double depth barbed wire at the top. Using a ladder will draw the attention of the MPGS patrols and it won't go down well. Remember, these guys are not familiar with visitors, and security is different from the RAF and even the USAF at Mildenhall/Lakenheath. The ex-Gurkha's they have on MPGS get very suspicious when they see a radio scanner, I dread to think how they would react if they saw somebody up a ladder!
Gary
3 Regiment flew a AM and PM four ship on Thursday, the second flight departing not long before I arrived, returning late evening. I queried it with somebody who would know, and it was just a routine sortie, although going South was slightly unusual. Focal length will depend where you go. Shooting across the field from the memorial - where the majority of the above were taken from - will require a 300mm on a crop sensor minimum for a single Apache. The Wildcats were shot down the Western end gate as they came out and are 400mm plus a crop. Apaches are a little closer if you have to use that end. If you want to get closer you can go up to the Eastern end, either the fence at the approach or the North side road but you will be under them a lot more. You'll need them to be on 23 though. Obviously, and as I always say to questions about Wattisham, summer evenings with the sun behind you are about the only worthwhile time to try photography. Hope that helps Dan.
Edit: Dan, just saw your query on Tim's post. Crash Gate 2 and the memorial are the same spot. They are on the country lane that runs alongside the Northern fence, at about the mid point of the airfield. It's a tall, barbed wire fence, Lakenheath/Mildenhall style all the way round. You can shoot through a small gap in the gate, but there is only room for one person. You can shoot through the mesh fence, Tim's pretty good at it, I'm not. However, I strongly recommend not to use a ladder at Wattisham. I have seen the occasional one used, backed up away from the fence but even then it's difficult because of the double depth barbed wire at the top. Using a ladder will draw the attention of the MPGS patrols and it won't go down well. Remember, these guys are not familiar with visitors, and security is different from the RAF and even the USAF at Mildenhall/Lakenheath. The ex-Gurkha's they have on MPGS get very suspicious when they see a radio scanner, I dread to think how they would react if they saw somebody up a ladder!
Gary
Re: Another Wattisham round up.
Had loads of Apaches down this way of late( Essex).
Think the lack of Civvie aircraft that normally own the busy skies above us had helped.
Mark.
Think the lack of Civvie aircraft that normally own the busy skies above us had helped.
Mark.
My flickr pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/markranger/
Re: Another Wattisham round up.
Gents,
A bit of fun last night with Hunter section as they RTB'd from a sortie that was flown just a few miles North of Wattisham over Rattlesden gliding airfield. The angles and geography of Wattisham are not really good for this kind of photography, unlike somewhere like Coningsby.
Gary
A bit of fun last night with Hunter section as they RTB'd from a sortie that was flown just a few miles North of Wattisham over Rattlesden gliding airfield. The angles and geography of Wattisham are not really good for this kind of photography, unlike somewhere like Coningsby.
Gary
- LN Strike Eagle
- UKAR Staff
- Posts: 11191
- Joined: Mon 21 Jul 2008, 3:29 pm
Re: Another Wattisham round up.
Thanks for the info Gary, handy to refer to.
We do see quite a lot of them over Chelmsford.
We do see quite a lot of them over Chelmsford.
"You really are an oafish philistine at times!"
Re: Another Wattisham round up.
Hi again,
Dan, they're catching up on the training they lost as they shut down for most, if not all of April due to the virus. That plus they've had more freedom as to where to work recently has seem them go a few places you wouldn't normally, especially down South. I've seen and heard some of the complaints the AH force gets, and it seems they can't go anywhere without somebody complaining, or trying it on with a claim. I would imagine trying to plan a sortie must be a nightmare.
Here's a few from last night. One in the circuit cutting across the road North side.
Two flights returned at dusk, although they had switched round due to Easterlies, so I shot them across the skyline as Slayer and Gunship sections came back, about a mile apart.
Third evening in a row tonight. Saw some wing overs for the first time in ages. It used to be quite fun in the old days driving up and down the road trying to judge the pitch up!
Same cab over the runway.
Finally, one coming out over the Eastern fence.
Gary
Dan, they're catching up on the training they lost as they shut down for most, if not all of April due to the virus. That plus they've had more freedom as to where to work recently has seem them go a few places you wouldn't normally, especially down South. I've seen and heard some of the complaints the AH force gets, and it seems they can't go anywhere without somebody complaining, or trying it on with a claim. I would imagine trying to plan a sortie must be a nightmare.
Here's a few from last night. One in the circuit cutting across the road North side.
Two flights returned at dusk, although they had switched round due to Easterlies, so I shot them across the skyline as Slayer and Gunship sections came back, about a mile apart.
Third evening in a row tonight. Saw some wing overs for the first time in ages. It used to be quite fun in the old days driving up and down the road trying to judge the pitch up!
Same cab over the runway.
Finally, one coming out over the Eastern fence.
Gary