Battle flight

[Phartycr0c]

Coningsby 8.9.11, crash gate 1 A day of many Typhoon movements to keep us occupied.

Earlier in the day we were treated to the BBMF Hurricane gently performing rolls, turns and loops save not in a "display " format, followed by a couple of practice landings in difficult windy conditions.

Lunchtime and the callsign "battle" popped up on the scanner. Ah BBMF coming out to play, then we were treated to this. Withthe exception of a couple, as the images have rolled off the camera.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Off they went joined by a Hawk for some Air to air photography. A 41 sqdn marked Spit and the Anniversary Tornado.

6.

Forming up nicely

7.

return

8.

Now this would for me have been shot of the day BUT just as I was firing the shutter, the AF for some reason "moved" anyhow Iv'e included it for what "could have been"

9.

Hope you like.

[Mark M]

i went to CBY last week and the wonka was in the wash pan and was littery scrubbed clean

[Max Headroom]

Very nice pix especially #8 which looks exactly side on for scaling purposes.

Trevor

[Iain Ogilvie]

Nice pix!

Bit of thread creep - but I blame the thread title...

The call sign 'Battle Flight' always makes me smile as they (completely unintentionally) played a part in my PPL. March of last year I was returning to RAF Halton in my trusty Cessna 152 (G-BVTM IIRC) from Leicester after my first ever solo land-away. I'd been very nervous before departure from Halton but made it completely safely to Leicester (nice friendly airfield - cafe in the tower worth a visit!). Departed Leicester for return leg and all going fine - just a little tired (all the stress and excitement) - entered Halton ATZ and called 'downwind 02 to land' - to be immediately followed on frequency by 'battle flight downwind 02 to land' - bl**dy ace - I only had the two BBMF Chipmunks following me into Halton! I thought that was a rather fitting end to what had been a momentous day for me!

BBMF guys were ace - we helped tuck the Chippies up for the night in our hangar and they were amongst the first to shake my hand and congratulate me on my 'little' achievement...

That day I thought I was a pilot at last and every time I hear that callsign...

Iain

[Phartycr0c]

Now that would have been an experience, I bet that made you feel literally on top of the world. I know I would have.

We were exited at the prospect of all three BBMF coming out to play, but this was something different, especially as we could listen to the Hawk camera ship calling the aircraft into different poses.. Would love to see the pictures....

On a side note we were watching the Hurricane playing about in the morning, the pilot looked a little nervous in his flying... Turns out he has recently moved up from the Chipmunks and the boss man was watching his performance from Coningsby tower. Each landing was met with a critique on the landing, take off and general handling.

To add insult to injury there were winds straight down the runway 18 gusting 30!

I bet he was sh.....ing himself being placed into one of the most precious aircraft on the circuit. For all this he did brilliantly nailing a perfect three pointer most times.

[jimbuna]

Lovely shots...thanks for sharing.

Did you get any of the Typhoon?