Firebirds finale?

[Valiantone]

Thanks Ranger 703,

I won't have to worry about missing it at Waddington or Coningsby then, which is a great shame, and its also a shame they won't get down to Wattisham either.

V1

[Porrohman]

Have exact times and routings been finalised for the flypasts? Will there be a chase aircraft taking air to air photographs?

I know a lot of photographers would like to try to get photos of the flypast, so if anyone could help with exact routings and times that would increase the chances of photographers being not just in the correct general location but also in the best spot to get some great shots which I'm sure can be posted here for everyone to enjoy.

I'd especially like to try to get a good photo of them in the vicinity of the Forth Bridges but sod's law says they'll appear the wrong side of the bridges from wherever I am.

[Lima Juliet]

RAF North Weald, Coningsby and Wattisham MUST be on the schedule!

[PICKS135]

AL 1 from UKAR

Like Mark said, sorry to bring the bad news, but the Diamond-9 is NOT going to take in Lossiemouth and Kinloss. It will route from Leuchars to Edinburgh, flying past the east side of the bridges, around the city and back up north again past the east side of the bridges (closer to the bridges this time). Next place to visit is Scoone, Dundee Airport, RM Condor and Dyce before returning back to Leuchars for two passes over the station, before the formation breaks up in pairs.

[Porrohman]

Thanks for the info Picks 135. Much appreciated.

With 9 Tornados in close formation, maybe they should rename themselves "Thunderbirds" for the day? I hope the weather is kind.

[High_Expect]

Times

All,
the NOTAM is out and about for timings. I can't remember the exact timings but 0900z rings a bell (although I could be wrong). Edinburgh, Forth Bridges, Leuchars, Kinloss or Lossie and Dundee are all part of the route. Is there a way of accessing NOTAMs online?

[High_Expect]

Further to my Last

Here you go

EGPX
NAVW: Q)EGPX/QWVLW/IV/M/W/000/030/5650N00320W060
FROM 08/04/17 08:45 TO 08/04/18 10:15 H0884/08
D)0845-1015
E)FORMATION TRANSIT BY 9X TORNADO AND 1 HAWK ACFT ROUTING 5622N00252W (RAF LEUCHARS, FIFE) 0900 HRS - 5626N 00222W (BELL ROCK, OVER THE SEA) MANOEUVRING IN VICINITY UNTIL APRX 0913 HRS - 5611N 00233W (ISLE OF MAY, OVER THE SEA) 0915 HRS - ENTER EDINBURGH CTR AT 5604N 00310 (KINGHORN, FIFE) 0918 HRS HRS- FLYPASTS WITHIN CTR - DEPART CTR 5607N 00323W (COWDENBEATH, FIFE) 0925 HRS - 5626N 00322W (PERTH (SCONE) AIRFIELD, PERTHSHIRE) 0930 HRS - 5627N 00302W (DUNDEE AIRFIELD, DUNDEE) 0935 HRS - 5635N 00237W (RM CONDOR, ABROATH, ANGUS) 0937 HRS- 5712N 00212W (ABERDEEN (DYCE), ABERDEENSHIRE) 0940 HRS - 5733N 00227W (TURIFF, ABERDEENSHIRE) 0942 HRS - 5742N 00320W (RAF LOSSIEMOUTH, MORAYSHIRE) 0945 HRS - 5739N 00334W (RAF KINLOSS, MORAYSHIRE) 0947 HRS -5644N 00241W (BRECHIN, ANGUS) 1002 HRS - 5622N 00252W (RAF LEUCHARS, FIFE 1005 HRS. ROUTE WILL BE FLOWN BTN
1000FT AND 2000FT AGL. 17 APR IS WX BACKUP DAY. TIMINGS AND ROUTE
ARE APRX AND MAY CHANGE DUE TO WX OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
AUS 08-04-0306/980/AS1
F)SFC G)3000FT AMSL

[Roymac]

A Good Game is a Fast Game

Looking at tomorrow's weather, don't hold your breath for Edinburgh. The cloud base predicted may be below our auth'd minima for a 9 ship. All points North look good though, so I'm standing by to re-plan route tomorrow at crack of sparrows for the xth time!

By the way, there is a Hawk (19 Sqn) with a photog on board, with us all way round the route - where ever that route may go!

[Porrohman]

Were the Thunderbirds a day early?

Oh B*****

As the NOTAM says, it was scheduled for 18th but 17th was the backup day if the weather looked like it would be unfavourable on the 18th.

So I missed it I think... Rumour has it that it happened today at 10:05BST Or was today's flyby at EDI just a practice?

Did anyone get some photos?

[pubsman]

Edinburgh Flypast

Just completed Edinburgh part of route. Just managed to see them through the murk!!

[Captain Smithy]

Just flew past the old Ferranti factory at Crewe Toll... thanks guys, great sight

Smithy

[excrewingbod]

Just passing Aberdeen now.

[Zoom]

Just following up serf's moan, I have always believed that every second spent in the air had value. Even getting airborne and having to land 15 minutes later because of some emergency or other taught me something (even if it was only that HM's kit needed more money to be spent on it).

[B_Fawlty]

Got a good view from the lower slopes of Kirkhill in Dyce as they approached from over Aberdeen city itself. Just a few whisps of cloud so nothing to blame my pi$$poor attempts at photography on
What a fantastic sight - cheers

[Roymac]

Bloody Weather!

The Boss had to do some quick footwork to get in what we did manage of the Edinburgh section. No chance of getting round to the south to overfly Redford Barracks - sorry Army! Perth/Dundee and northwards was lovely weather. One last Firebird sortie on Tuesday morning over the disbandment parade at Leuchars. Just heard that the E-3 has binned out and the Sentinel is a question mark. There will 4 F3 making some noise though! Then Black and White chequers for everyone on Wednesday.

[Inverted81]

My pics from Aberdeen today.








Thanks to 56 for including us today, and thanks from a space cadet who you looked after at coningsby a few years back!

81

[ranger703]

Any particular reason why Lossie and Kinloss were binned from the sortie?

Just curious.

[polyglory]

Lovely photo's, many thanks for showing them.

Last time I worked with them was at Wattisham on Lightnings and Phantoms

[PICKS135]

ROYMAC

Please thank the boss for bringing them over Cupar. Thought i was going to miss the finale, with having to work.

[bakseetblatherer]

ROYMAC that is a great top secret PPrune name, I wonder who you are! Even easier that 'Artyhug'.
Hope you guys have a great EoL party, be thinking of you lot boozin in Leuchars