The Swiss Are Coming: Parts 2 & 3

By Jason Gore

The Swiss are still on the horizon...

Tuesday definitely gets the Seal of approval. I took a trip out to Donna Nook, one of the UK weapons ranges. But nothing was flying, I could see the gunnery targets on the beach a couple of miles away. But speaking to one of the locals, the range while open doesn’t get used in November, that’s probably due to the massive influx of Seals who come to give birth, and while the range is open and its use apparently doesn’t disturb them, they are left alone.

A couple of hours walking up and back meant it was time to return towards base. In this case that base was RAF Coningsby, and the BBMF hangar for a tour. A good chance to get upclose to the annual winter maintenance that their aeroplanes get put through. The tour is always worth the hour and half, time to get some back stories of the flight and types, each guide has their own tales to tell which means it’s not a hard patter if you re-visit. You also get to see familiar airframes in states of dis-assembly, panels off and engines out.

It was on this tour that the guide had a lady over from Malta, her father had been on Lancasters and also seemed to know many RAF luminaries, and would tell many a tale, and it kinda became her tour that I was privaliged to be on. The Flight is there to tell the stories of all crews, not just WW2 ones but all eras, it’s just that the focus is on Spitfires and Hurricanes. A pair of DeHavilland Chipmunks that are used to help train the modern fighter pilots to handle tail dragging fighter types. The new pilots having to complete 25 hours on the beloved “Chippy” before being allowed on a Hurricane (via a borrowed Harvard). The Hurri has a wide track undercarriage that helps the newly qualified pilot adapt before being let loose on the Spitfires.

The 90 minute tour was soon over, and It was time to check into the hotel that would be base for 2 nights. It was while being sat in the bar that I heard the sounds of fighters overhead, dang, they’re on nights!

That's tomorrow sorted then….

So here we go...!

Day 4, and the drive up from the Petwood Hotel to RAF Leeming, with nothing expected from the Swiss until the afternoon, I took the opportunity for a late start and a gentle drive.

My route took me by RAF Scampton. Normally I would have stopped and done the selfie thing by the gate, especially after staying in the former Officers Mess at the Petwood, But the base has a protest camp along its fence due to government plans for the base, and sadly stopping wasn’t on the cards. I remember being on base when I was in Cadets, staying in the Family Quarters, being walked about on base seeing the Red Arrows hangars, Gibsons office and eating in the original wartime Mess. How the place has changed in nearly 4 decades and it will always hold a special place to me. Onwards to Leeming.

Arriving as three Qatari Hawk 200s returned from a training sortie I set myself up and waited, scanner on, and I waited (can you see a trend here?) From the viewing area I could see crews arriving, milling about and then jumping back into the people carriers and heading away. News filtered down that there was to be no Swiss flying due to the weather over the training area, this was backed up by a fence visit from someone airside to relay the same information. A damned shame, but when you consider this is training, there is no need to take risks. I can honestly admit to being disappointed, but, this is the risk of our hobby. Somedays are no shows – a take that ‘risk’ in the valleys, so why not accept it fence side? While hanging about a solo F18 did venture out and taxied around to a private phot event taking place, so technically not a “bust”.

It was getting on, so the plan of cooking and eating at the fence was replaced by the thought of that nights accommodation just an hour away, leaving an empty carpark I drove south to Selby. Pub, beer, photo editing (of sorts) and sleep. Ready for a day at Yorkshire Air Museum and night shoot.
At YAM I met up with fellow Merger Kieran and then later The one and only Steve Comber

The Yorkshire Air Museum has a fabulous collection of airframes, some like the Dragonfly and Meteor have appeared on COAP shoots previously. But today it was a day to not rush around, just have a mooch and see what took my eye to shoot. Kieran and I spent almost as much time chatting with the team at the museum as we did shooting. Fantastic, as this can open up photo options for another visit, YAM is a small yet very friendly place to go.

Inside the main hangar are all their 2nd World War aircraft, including the venerable Halifax III “Friday the 13th”, while a Bitsa, she is one of only two complete airframes in existence, the other is in Canada. Their DC3 Dakota sits opposite and these two dominate the hangar, with some Cold War jets sitting in the restoration area. The hangar is closely packed, but the team have done a good job keeping it all viewable.

Once outside there is a line up of late Cold War jets, including 2 Mirages, These looked sweet in the autumn sun and one lucky Tornado was getting a wash as we arrived.

Time for a coffee, Steve had arrived by now and after a catch up Steve did what he does best, zip around the museum getting his fantastic angles that no-one else ever sees! 🙂

And the Coup de Grace of the trip, ‘Lusty Lindy’ night shoot. Unfortunately this wasn’t as full as other events I’d been on, this meant there was no waiting about for an area to clear or queue up to get that angle etc.

And then, the event was over, the week was over and all I had to do was to head home. a loooonnngggg boring drive home. But it did mean I got to play with “my” V-bomber on the Saturday. XL426 was waiting to be put on jacks for the winter.

But, that's another blog post.