RAF Cottesmore and Harriers

[^^Gord^^]

A half day at RAF Cottesmore to try to get a shot of a Harrier against the sunset didn't come off because of a French Air Force Xingu was in the circuit for a couple of hours limiting the number of circuits the Harriers were doing.

This is as close as I got....

The French Xingu in question....

Would be rude not to include a couple Harrier shots as well....

 

[^^Gord^^]

If I ever meet you Gord, I'll shake your hand, fantastic work. They're a sad loss .

Thanks. I'm a big fan of the Harrier and Cottesmore. Been there more than any other station and could well be described as my local. Will be sorely missed.

I hope to get one or maybe two more visits in before the end.

Lovely motion on the props Gord, and yes those Harriers Will be missed.

1/200s on the Xingu, I did try for a full disc blur but I couldn't get it.

 

[^^Gord^^]

lovely shots at always Gord.

Whens the close date for harriers at Cottesmore?

Thanks, the popular rumour is the 15th December when they break for XMAS but nothing officially announced.

 

[^^Gord^^]

Lovely. Would love to get a trip over to Cottesmore. Have never been but it would be a big gamble as I guess you could turn up and not see a single movement.

The best place I ever was to see Harriers was at Waddington maybe 8-10 years ago when Exercise(?) Nomad was on. Some foreign visitors too. Must dig out the photos.

They are flying two waves a day at the moment and have been for 2-3 weeks. The bigger problem would be getting the right wind direction to put runway 22 in use.

 

[^^Gord^^]

I can pretty much confirm the 15th.

I’ve been given an invite to be on base that day to watch but I can't get that day off work as there are already to many people off, gutted!

Great shots by the way.

That's bad luck! I don't know anyone at Cottesmore anymore and MCO has changed since I was last inside the wire so I'll be outside.

Gordon do you have access to a special area for taking your shots? Also I am unaware of you setup now since turning *cough* Nikon? Will I be limited with my 250mm telephoto end?

D300 with a 300 f/2.8 VR and another D300 with a 70-200 f/2.8 VR for those shots.

No, special access needed. It's a public walkway and the farmer is friendly. Fence is only about 4 foot high and the Harriers taxi past about 6 or 7m away.

Up to 70mm (on a crop) for side on taxi shots.

300mm for pretty much full frame on the runway.

120mm upwards for full frame on approach (depends where you stand and what type of approach they are doing).

Make sure you go on a day with the a westerly wind to put runway 22 in use. The other runway is pretty much a write off.

 

[^^Gord^^]

I'd love it if they did the fly the weekends but the RAF as a whole only fly Mon to Fri and generally within office hours to attempt to minimise the noise for the locals. Only essential operational flying happens outside those times (mostly transport flights in and out of Brize).

At the moment RAF Cottesmore is only flying Mon to Thu due to the wind down of the fleet.

If you are going to catch them it will have to be a weekday I'm afraid.

 

[^^Gord^^]

*cough splutter sickday cough*

The last day of flying should see a bit of a send off for the Harrier but it would be a big risk to hold out for it and not get the weather.

Might be better to play it safe and go for a day with a good forecast (not a Friday!).

I'm seriously considering maybe heading over for a few days at the start of December. Would it be best flying into East Mids and renting a car?

If you can afford the time away and the cost I'd do it. Last chance to see a unique aircraft and a unique base. Next year you'll have to put a lot more effort and money in to see a STOVL aircraft and if the F-35B keeps getting more expensive this could be the start of the end of STOVL.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't answer you question. Yes, East Mids and then a car would be your best opinion. No chance of public transport to the base.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&s...-0.634031&sspn=0.019929,0.066047&ie=UTF8&z=11

 

[^^Gord^^]

Park up at the crash gate at Hooby Lane (plenty of room even with the larger number of people visiting at the moment) and you can walk down to the threshold of runway 22.