Returned yesterday from a jolly good couple of days aircraft spotting around Rutland, Lincolnshire and Suffolk. Here's the log for the first day's bash.
Cottesmore 9.4.08
Hectic at Cottesmore.
ZD436/48A Harrier GR.7A no Sqn markings - towed from engine run bay.
RAF Barkston Heath 9.4.08
Quick visit to Barkston Heath produced the following:-
G-BWXC/C T.67M-260 Firefly Babcock HCS/DEFTSG-BWXE/E T.67M-260 Firefly Babcock HCS/DEFTSG-BWXG/G T.67M-260 Firefly Babcock HCS/DEFTSG-BWXR/R T.67M-260 Firefly Babcock HCS/DEFTSG-BWXW/W T.67M-260 Firefly Babcock HCS/DEFTSG-BWXX/X T.67M-260 Firefly Babcock HCS/DEFTSG-RAFP B200 King Air SERCO/RAF 3 FTS/45 (R) Sqn - overflightWT339/8198M Canberra B(I)8 RAF - fuselage at Fire Section
RAF Cranwell 9.4.08
Another quick visit, this time to Cranwell, where 3 Griffin's arrived.
G-BWXF/F T.67M-260 Firefly Babcock HCS/DEFTSG-BYUB/UB G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSG-BYVA/VA G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSG-BYVO/VO G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSG-BYVS/VS G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSG-BYWB/WB G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSG-BYWF/WF G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSG-BYWL/WL G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSG-BYXM/XM G.115E Tutor VT Aerospace CFS Tutor Sqn/East Midlands UAS/1 EFTSZJ235/I B412EP Griffin HT.1 DHFS/60 (R) SqnZJ236/X B412EP Griffin HT.1 DHFS/60 (R) SqnZJ242/E B412EP Griffin HT.1 DHFS/60 (R) SqnZK452/L B200 King Air SERCO/RAF 3 FTS/45 (R) Sqn
RAF Coningsby 9.4.08
A good afternoon was spent at Coningsby. Plenty of Typhoon action. A big thanks to the local spotter at Crash Gate 4, sorry didn't catch your name, but nice to have met you. Also thanks for the info regarding spotting sites and the FGR.4 returning from Warton.
Military
G-RAFP B200 King Air SERCO/RAF 3 FTS/45 (R) Sqn - circuit bashingZA447/019 Tornado GR.4 RAF no Sqn markingsZA947/AI Dakota C.3 RAF BBMF - engine running behind BBMF hangarZJ800/BC Typhoon T.1 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ802/BB Typhoon T.1 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ803/BA Typhoon T.1 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ807/BF Typhoon T.1 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ808/BG Typhoon T.1 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ811/DZ Typhoon T.1 RAF 11 SqnZJ812/BK Typhoon T.1 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ813/BL Typhoon T.1 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ814/QO-Z Typhoon T.1 RAF 3 SqnZJ910/BV Typhoon F.2 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ911/BZ Typhoon F.2 RAF 29 (R) SqnZJ912/AB Typhoon FGR.4 RAF 17 (R) Sqn markings - aircraft circuit bashed for a while following its R2 upgrade return from Warton earlier in the day.ZJ914/DE Typhoon F.2 RAF 11 SqnZJ923/QO-E Typhoon F.2 RAF 3 SqnZJ934/QO-T Typhoon F.2 RAF 3 SqnZJ937/QO-W Typhoon F.2 RAF 3 SqnZJ939/DXI Typhoon FGR.4 RAF 11 SqnZJ941/DG Typhoon FGR.4 RAF 11 SqnZJ942/DH Typhoon FGR.4 RAF 11 Sqn
GA
8084/42-85068/LN-AMY AT-6D Harvard III USAAF colour scheme
Airliners
G-BTXG Jetstream 3102 Highland Airways
Unidentified Tristar at 3pm & Sentinel R.1 later on, both RAF seen from Coningsby on Waddington approach.