Spotting at Middle Wallop, Benson and Lyneham

[Shannon spotter]

Hi Lads/Lasses,

Im planning to go to RIAT this year and decided to go a few days early to try my luck at some of the surrounding airfield. I was thinking about Lyhneham, Benson and Middle Wallop. I've looked at the airfield guides on the site but was wondering what people with first hand experiance found it like? IE, what are the movements like? Busy?

Thanks in advance,
Dirk.

[Pilot James]

Middle Wallop

Having been on a base visit of Middle Wallop last year and another visit approaching in March, Middle Wallop is not the best place to read numbers off. You can go into the museum carpark and read off what ever is flying apart from the apaches! Also there is a small hill as you look at the Gazelle & Lynx pan from the car park, you wont read off any lynx's or gazelles off unless flying. If you take the road around the back, you can park up and normally read off 3-4 Gazelles & Lynx's. Also if you turn right out of the museum carpark, look to your right as your going past the hangers and you will see 1 or 2 Lynx Cabs aswell as a Gazelle cab. This is known as the Stockwell Hall. Serials can be tied up as i have them but nether the less you should be fine at Wallop.

Also i have spotted at Lyneham & Benson but i dont know the area well enough to tell you where the best place to spot from is, sorryy

Hope that helps anyways with Middle Wallop

Regards

James

[andel]

Why not go to Boscombe Down is close too Middle Wallop and offers good opportunities when you drive round the base.
Easy to find from the A-303
And some good stuff goe,s in and out the base.
Me is told Tuesday,s and Thursday,s the flying is at it,s peak.

[Arjan]

Lyneham is a very convenient choice for a quick drop-by. Just to read off the a/c on the ramp. Allthough a longer stay will be no problem but I doubt that there is a lot of activity to keep you awake. The little, narrow roads around the field to get to the spotting places are little adventures on their own!

[Shannon spotter]

Thanks lads,

Its photography im after so wallop is out of the question anyway. Many thanks for the info so far.

Dirk.

[andel]

Whit a bit of patience you can make some nice photo,s from the parking-lot of the museum
Especially in the morning.
Well at least i did.
Some lynx and Apache,s even a Bell 212 and usually islanders parked in-front of the hangar.
So try it when you're in the vicinity.

[SquAdmin]

It's a long time ago since I've been at the bases you mention, but as far as I can tell Middle Wallop is the one that offers best opportunities for photography. Like mentioned above, just go to the museum and from there you're pretty close to one of the platforms.

[Thijs]

If you are really into photography just go to Salisburry Plain, the playing ground of the armed forces.

Never been there, but with some research you can find a lot of info where to be.

[RickIngham]

Hello,
My first post on this forum!
Just seen you asking about viewing guides of Lyneham. I've literally only just uploaded my Lyneham viewing guide on my site:
http://www.rickinghamphotography.co.uk/ ... guide.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And i spend a day or 2 on the plain every week so if you need any info about there feel free to mail me via my contact form on my site.

Rick

[Shannon spotter]

Wow Excellent site mate!!!!
Is there more info from other fields to be added??

[Le Addeur noir]

The Apache ramp is best in the morning from a road east of the base.With a powerful telescope you may read some Apaches.Other than that,they show on SBS when they fly.

If they are flying to the west,the Apaches land over the road east of the base,and with a digital camera,you should be able to get some serials this way.

[Pilot James]

Apache serials are not that easy to read. You may make 3 or 4 apache serials but thats normally it.

Good luck with the trip and sorry i have not been in assistance with the other 2 bases you required details for.

Regards

James