F-15 Eagles Deployed to Conningsby.

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

I went to Coningsby Tuesday 30th June to photograph
the F-15s On TDY. from "Lakenheath"

Selection of Pics.
Sun being high this time of year and Heat Haze not the
best conditions for best Pics.
Enjoy anyway!!!

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0027copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0165copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0023copy1.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0056copy1.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0065copy1.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0114copy1.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0153copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0168copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0182copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0185copy1.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0206copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0263copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0264copy1.jpg


Not forgetting the "Locals" !!!!!
http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0234copy.jpg



http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt200/phredd10/Conningsby%20June%202009/DSC_0246copy.jpg



OPF

[GPMG]

Wonderful pics OPF, I'm envious that you could see them in the 'flesh' and hear them.

F-15. Another vote for most menacing looking jet on the ground (after the Phantom).

A very nice looking airframe.

[Melchett01]

Great pics - just one question. Are the F-15s armed in those pics and if so are they trg / dummy missiles or proper warshots?

In just about every photo of a USAF FJ I have seen, it has carried what looks like a AAM each side; just wondering what the situation is regarding 'visiting' ac operating armed on routine flights in UKADR? And would the F-15s ever be called on to do QRA if we couldn't for whatever reason.

Only asking out of curiosity, feel free to tell me to climb back into my box if I'm sailing too close to the wind.

[brickhistory]

Especially tail # 156 with the two victory markings.

[Buster Hyman]

Canards? It must be French!:rolleyes:

;)

Yes, the Eagle still has that "Don't F*** with me!" look about it...as opposed to the F35's "Look! I can hover too!"

:p

[Al R]

It still looks the mutt's nuts doesn't it? The sense of proportion and purpose between it and the more deft Typhoon seems massive - the claymore and the foil almost. If PPRUNE is still going in 30 years time, this place will be full of 'Ah, remember the F-15?' threads.

How much longer does it have in service and I wonder (apologies for sounding like a schoolboy) flying which of the two has the most cachet? There is a patina, a heritage and and a reputation about the Eagle that is almost Spitfire like. Its a man's plane isn't it? If writing that is allowed under prune gender discrimination rules, of course.

Thanks for the fots. :ok:

[chevvron]

I first encountered the F15 at my first Farnborough Show in 1974. (The YC15, which metamorphosed ito the C17 was there too)The McD test pilot who was flying it visited ATC to discuss his display airspace. 'How much do you need?' said my boss. 'Aw 21 thousand will be OK' said the pilot. 'You can have 9 thousand' said my boss. 'I can make do with 16' said the pilot. 'You can have 9' (my boss). 'I don't think I can stop it climbing by 9' said the pilot.
In the event he only got 9; imagine the surprise one display day of a BEA Trident crew outbound from Heathrow when they had a clear view of an unfamiliar jet fighter perform a loop ahead of them and clearly above their level!
Fast forward to Coningsby 1990. At camp with my cadets, some F15s were on detachment from Bitburg. Their awesome performance was just as good. After rotating, they would continue an almost vertical climb until lost to view, rather reminiscent of a Lighting departure.

[TEEEJ]

Nice images, OPF.

Melchett01,

Those are training/dummy missiles. You'll even see the F-15Es carrying training/dummy AMRAAM/Sidewinder/data pod fits. Blue bands should denote inert/dummy rounds.

F-15E showing training fit.

Photos: McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Air/McDonnell-Douglas-F-15E/1539967/L/)

Ref the two victory markings on the F-15C.

86-0156 carries two stars and has a unique air-to-air kill. Captain Hwang on the 26th March 1999 became the first pilot to single handedly and simultaneously destroy two enemy aircraft during a single intercept using radar guided missiles. The MiG-29s,serials 18113 and 18114, came down in Bosnia. Major Peric survived and escaped and evaded back to Serbia. Sadly his wingman, Lieutenant Radosavljevic, was killed.

Link to audio of the engagement as recorded by a Hungarian radio enthusiast. Captain Hwang was callsign Dirk-1 and his wingman, Captain McMurray was Dirk-2. The only recording that I can find now is in the background of this flight sim video.

YouTube - F15 vs MIG29 Lomac (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUJB7hjlv4M)

TJ

[West Coast]

Those particular Eagles are getting up in age, sure the pilots would be happy to swap those senior citizens out for a shiny new F22.

Not that that's gonna happen now unless the Senate and the House decide to see how far they can push the Obama administration around.

[Big Sand]

OPF
Some fantastic shots from Conningsby and thanks for sharing these. Sounds like some F15's are 'trying out' against some Eurofighters?.

Both lovely aircraft and it would be most interesting to see how the mightly F15 makes out against the Eurofighter. If that's what's happenning or have the F.15 lads just drawn Conningsby as a destination for their Summer Camp? :ok:

If it is a Eurofighter meets F.15 match then it will likely be the biggest 'pay to view' event for sometime. Incidentally, is there any worldwide threats these days that will require A2A combat?. That may sound cynical - it's not intended I really just can't think of many unless Iran has a hissing fit?

Anyway, come on chaps there is more to LIFE than bean counting. That's why most of us started flying so if the F.15's are on camp at Conningsby good on em and I hope they took their mobile Bar-B-Ques and drinking strips.

Big Sand:}

[hoodie]

Conningsby

Call me a Pedantic Old F#rt if you like, (ALL: "You're a Pedantic Old..."), but there are only two 'n's in "Coningsby".

Superb pics, mind.

[Big Sand]

OF,
Your are right..................and on the second count..........you are also right. :rolleyes:

VBR

Big Sand

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

As far as I am aware Lakenheath's F-15s were deployed to Coningsby and Mildenhall for one Week, due to some activity at Lakenheath .

Has anybody got more info. on this?

OPF

[DADDY-OH!]

I think the LN F-15's have been up against Tiffies before.

I remember a couple of years ago when the first Typhoon QFI's were operating out of 'Case White' at BAe Warton, a pair were somewhere over The Lakes' when a pair of the 'Heaths Eagles tried it on with them. It was a tad one sided apparently.

Anybody else on here remember this?
:ok:

[brickhistory]

Those particular Eagles are getting up in age


67th FS at Kadena are the "Fighting Cocks."

They call themselves, regarding their mounts, the "Jurassic Cocks."

A Guard F-15 broke apart in mid-air a year or so ago - longerons snapped just aft of the cockpit. Pilot made it, just.

Numerous ones of that block of Eagles was permanently grounded.

[gzornenplatz]

Those missiles are probably ACMR pods. Not going to do much damage.