Joint Warrior - Week 2

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Macc
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Joint Warrior - Week 2

Post by Macc »

I had been angling to return to RAF Leuchars as I had an objective I wanted to complete. I wanted to photograph the Etendards from the crashgate departing for an evening sortie. I also wanted the opportunity to catch them arriving off 08 to get head-on type shots but that looked impossible given the wind forecast. So on Wednesday when the weather looked good for the evening I decided to head on up, it started to clear about 12 so I caught the train then and arrived at Leuchars at 1 to the hum of the Hawkeye and started the long walk from 08 to the forest arriving just as jets started to taxi out - the photos were into the sun so nothing really to show from that. After the last jet departed I walked round to the beach interrupted by a QRA jet arriving - unfortunately whilst I was still on the wrong side of the sun but I'd caught the QRA jets last week so I wasn't too fussed.

Was good to meet some new and old faces again on Wednesday.

1. The sun was fooling around during arrivals but this Etendard remained under illumination.
Image
Marine Magic by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

2. The Hawkeye arrived back..
Image
French Hummer by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

3. ..and performed two extra circuits whilst the sun remained firmly out!
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Hummer on by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

The high cloud began to come over but then started to disintegrate and my hopes for an evening launch were high after the Etendards returned to the ORP after their afternoon sortie. At about half 5 the noise of the Hawkeye filled the forest with its drone echoing through the trees. Then half an hour after the radios crackled into life with various Quaker and Kimono callsigns flying about, engines rumbled into life.

4. The first Rafale taxied out and it was easy to tell the light was tricky.
Image
Le Typhoon Francais by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

5. It was interesting to see '13' again, I believe this was the first Rafale I ever saw back in 2007 when three were deployed to Lossie for Joint Warrior 07-2.
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Evening sortie by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

6. This spot was perfect for jets holding waiting for another member of the flight.
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Elder Rafale by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

7. A few Rafales were operating from 1sqn's HAS site.
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Burning Rafale by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

8. Then came the main event - the Etendards!
Image
Old and new by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

9. The light was gradually improving.
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Etendard's lair by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

10. Old and new..
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Dassault jets by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

11.
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La glorieuse by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

12. This guy, 17, just couldn't get off the ground and taxied back to the line.
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Quaker 31 by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

13. The 'lollipop man' was present during start-up procedures..
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Lollipop man by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

14. The jet then decided to enter the northern taxi-way to hold! Thank you very much, it meant I caught a shot similar to that of taxi-ing off the end of 08!
Image
Right place, right time by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

15. The light was incredible!
Image
Evening Etendard by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

16. The Etendards and Rafales recovered just before sundown..
Image
Super E-vening by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

17. ..and so ended the best Joint Warrior in recent years.
Image
Over St. Andrews by Chris Milne Photography, on Flickr

Thanks,
Chris
http://www.maccphoto.co.uk
Twitter: @maccphotocouk
Facebook: /www.maccphoto.co.uk
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Bennie
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Re: Joint Warrior - Week 2

Post by Bennie »

Looking at the images I feel tempted to visit Leuchars someday.... One of the few bases in the UK I've never been!
Ben
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FALCONCREST
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Re: Joint Warrior - Week 2

Post by FALCONCREST »

Whats the work of the 'lollipop man' ??
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mirage 69
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Re: Joint Warrior - Week 2

Post by mirage 69 »

Very nice!
Like the French Navy

Grtz Rene
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