Then pretty much dead on 10 the first RAF Typhoon exited the HAS complex and was joined by a 2 seat RSAF Typhoon, exercise Green Flag had begun!
1. The pilot of the first RAF Eurofighter "Rampage 51" acknowledges the many photographers on the fence, with the power fist.
Power! by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
Unfortunately all the RAF Aircraft taxied to the near side of the runway obscuring the view of the Saudi aircraft either by placing the aircraft directly in front of the Saudi or the jet wash causing too much haze on the aircraft for pictures. The only opportunity to photograph the Saudis as they departed on the first launch of the day was when they began rolling.
However, with such fantastic light shooting the RAF assets in the exercise was fine.
2. A XV Squadron marked aircraft despite the Marham squadrons being part of the exercise
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZD842/ 105 - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
3. The 25 end at RAF Coningsby really is great for taxi shots, I particularly like this angle
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZJ912/ DR - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
4. Promise it's a different aircraft!
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK305/ DE - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
5. Despite their deployment to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus their were 2 11(F) Squadron marked airframes involved in the morning launch.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZJ912/ DR - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
6.The RAF pilot of "Razor 81" checks a checklist prior to departure
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK309/ QO-P - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
The wave departed over the space of an hour and included all 4 Saudi Typhoons and their accompanying RAF aircraft and 3 of the 4 Tornadoes and their counterparts.
7. RSAF Tornado using all the power from it's two Rolls-Royce RB-199's
Panavia Tornado IDS - 8306 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
8.
Panavia Tornado IDS - 8312 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
9. RAF Typhoons leading the way for the RSAF aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK309/ QO-P - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
10.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZJ912/ DR - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
The Saudi Typhoons departed on full afterburner but due to the light and the angle of the images this is kind of lost in the photos.
11.
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 313 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
12.
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 312 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
The pairs then carried out 1hr 15mins sorties and arrived back by carrying out an ILS approach then performed a few overshoots, touch and goes, missed approaches and ended with a full stop landing. The arrivals were spread over about 1hr meaning 2hrs 15mins of nearly wall to wall morning action.
13. First back was "Rampage 52" the two seat RSAF Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon T - 322 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
14. Powering away following a missed approach
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 313 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
15. Tucking the gear away following a high missed approach
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 312 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
16. Back round for a full stop landing
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 312 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
17.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZJ912/ DR - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
Following the return of the Typhoons it was down to the Tornadoes to end the morning movements, the RAF aircraft performed straight full stop ILS approaches with the Saudis performing ILS approaches then entering the circuit for a few passes prior to landing.
18.
Panavia Tornado IDS - 8312 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
18.
Panavia Tornado IDS - 8306 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
19. Call 118 118 now! - Definitely worth a call in an operational sense, wearing plenty of Paveway IV and Brimstone mission marks on the front of the aircraft
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZG705/ 118 - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
With the arrival of the last aircraft, the final Tornadoes it was decided a change of location was in order for the afternoon sortie, Reedham lane was selected with the hope that the Saudi Typhoons rotated as early as they did in the morning and with full burner ...
The pictures of the afternoon sorties will be added later as and when I have edited them but as I'm back to school editing time is quickly being depleted. unitl the next update comments and constructive criticism of course welcome
Update 16 September 2013
So two weeks have passed since these images were taken and Saudi-British Green Flag is over but still want to share them as it truly was a fantastic day!
Onto the afternoon action, first movement of the afternoon was a Puma 2 which stopped for about an hour.
20.
Westland SA-330E Puma HC2 - ZA940 - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
Then soon after the Puma arrived the second round of the first day of Green Flag begun! But hopes of getting rotation shots of the Saudi Typhoons in full reheat was dashed, I think someone in the RAF may have explained fuel isn't so cheap over here in comparison to Saudi Arabia!
21.
Eurofighter Typhoon T - 322 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
22.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK328/ BS - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
It wasn't just Green Flag assets going for an afternoon sortie 41TES launched 3 Typhoons and the two specially marked Tonkas!
23.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK332/ EB-J - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
24.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZJ947/ EB-L - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
25.
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZA600/ EB-G - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
26.
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZA614/ EB-Z - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
More Saudi traffic
27.
Panavia Tornado IDS - 7507 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
28.
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 312 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
29.
Panavia Tornado IDS - 8312 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
The RAF of course were flying alongside their Saudi counterparts
30.
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZG705/ 118 - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
And a few close ups of the RAF Typhoon crews as they taxied from the HAS complex.
31.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZJ912/ DR - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
32.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK305/ DE - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
33. The new style helmet
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK309/ QO-P - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
So with the afternoon launch complete I headed round to the threshold to get taxi off shots. All aircraft came down to the end apart from the 41TES Typhoons and the thing I'm still gutted about the Saudi Tornadoes, who left early to take a short cut to the end of the ASP line. However, the location and sun gave some fantastic image possibilities. The Saudi crews were very keen on having their photos taken stopping further along the taxi way specifically to have their pictures taken! The two special 41 Squadron Tornadoes also proceeded to do the same!
34.
Leading them Home by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
35.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK305/ DE - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
36.
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 313 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
37.
Eurofighter Typhoon F2 - 310 - Royal Saudi Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
38.
Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 - ZK309/ QO-P - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
39.
Big Ears by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
40.
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZG705/ 118 - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
41. Note the Paveway IV and Brimstone mission markings
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZG705/ 118 - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
42. "God Bless You" adorns all RSAF aircraft and this Typhoon is no exception!
"God Bless You" by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
And the 41 Squadron specials
43.
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZA600/ EB-G - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
44.
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZA614/ EB-Z - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
45.
Panavia Tornado GR4 - ZA614/ EB-Z - Royal Air Force - RAF Coningsby_QCY by Nick Thompson95, on Flickr
And that concludes my images from the first day of Saudi-British Green Flag.
Thanks for looking,
Nick
