Phantoms at Leeming?
Thread Starter
Phantoms at Leeming?
During a search related to the What Aerodrome thread, I was looking at Leeming on Google Earth.
Apart from the poorly parked Hawk
, I noticed a couple of ghostly white swept-wing aircraft images just to the east. Specifically, 54°17'52.99"N, 1°31'31.59"W and 54°17'52.52"N, 1°31'30.07"W.
Can someone tell me what they are?
Apart from the poorly parked Hawk
, I noticed a couple of ghostly white swept-wing aircraft images just to the east. Specifically, 54°17'52.99"N, 1°31'31.59"W and 54°17'52.52"N, 1°31'30.07"W.Can someone tell me what they are?
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: East Midlands
Age: 84
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I do agree that they look like F-4s but unless it was Luftwaffe on a landwaway I don't see how they would appear on a Google Earth image as they are not more than about 3 years old, maximum. Do Luftwaffe still operate F-4s BTW?
There are (were?) real ones around as decoys. Could these ones be painted - so that when the big bad WP look through their 1980s satellites they think we have some real fighters?
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Horsham, England, UK. ---o--O--o---
Posts: 1,185
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Their is an F4 parked to the west of the main runway
see here http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=54.28....8&r=0&src=ggl
see here http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=54.28....8&r=0&src=ggl
Thread Starter
Sorry, I was trying to be clever with my title - "phantoms" as in "ghostly".
As Tiger Mate says, there are no shadows, so these are not aircraft and they certainly wouldn't fool a photo interpreter.
I was wondering if the images (and certainly the left one does look like an F4) are actually painted on the tarmac, or if they have been added to the image after the fact.
And while we are talking about Leeming, what are all those new hangars for on the north side? Also, spot the Lightning.
As Tiger Mate says, there are no shadows, so these are not aircraft and they certainly wouldn't fool a photo interpreter.
I was wondering if the images (and certainly the left one does look like an F4) are actually painted on the tarmac, or if they have been added to the image after the fact.
And while we are talking about Leeming, what are all those new hangars for on the north side? Also, spot the Lightning.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I see 3 Phantoms - the aforementioned silhouettes and a mystery aircraft Buccaneer perhaps?
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,619
Received 294 Likes
on
162 Posts
Mystery aircraft looks like a Javelin - I think there was one on the gate some years back?
India Four Two, do you mean the hardened shelters? They were built around the early 1990s and were part of a major upgrade as I recall.
India Four Two, do you mean the hardened shelters? They were built around the early 1990s and were part of a major upgrade as I recall.
Thread Starter
India Four Two, do you mean the hardened shelters? They were built around the early 1990s and were part of a major upgrade as I recall.
Was a training base, then reactivated as an F3 wing. Leeming homepage
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Northumberland, UK
Age: 61
Posts: 293
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,619
Received 294 Likes
on
162 Posts
ES, were you connected with the PSA per chance?
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Northumberland, UK
Age: 61
Posts: 293
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gnome de PPRuNe
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,619
Received 294 Likes
on
162 Posts
Only very slightly! I clung to the flotsam and am still there in a manner of speaking 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: UK
Age: 70
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a great thread. I served at RAF Leeming in 1973/4 as an airframe bod on 3FTS. The Google earth shots really do bring back the memories. I would tend to agree that the 2 Phantom Phantoms don't really have the right aspect of real airframes and that they appear to have been painted onto the concrete, wonder why, surely the service had enough scrap airframes to spare for decoys by then.
As a bit of a footnote to the moderator, I have to say this is my favourite forum - attended by true and total gentlemen. It is a pleasure to read such a wealth of experience and knowledge without the verbal battering experienced on many of the other forums. Great stuff !
As a bit of a footnote to the moderator, I have to say this is my favourite forum - attended by true and total gentlemen. It is a pleasure to read such a wealth of experience and knowledge without the verbal battering experienced on many of the other forums. Great stuff !
Coppula eam se non posit acceptera jocularum
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Northumberland, UK
Age: 61
Posts: 293
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So there were survivors! There were rumours passing around those of us who took to the lifeboats, but nothing confirmed or certain. Up this part of the world those who remained to end perished in their jobs to join the famous Club Six and Two Thirds. Me? I was last seen paddling away in my liferaft when the rocks were at least 18 months away...
