Mach Loop & RAF Cottesmore

With contradicting weather reports it was always going to be a risk heading to LFA 7 but since I hadn’t made a trip so far in 2009 it had to be done.

Sadly the gamble didn’t pay off.

Whilst the rest of the UK basked in 20 degree temperatures and blue skies LFA 7 was covered in low cloud and lingering fog. I waited 45 minutes for the weather to show some signs that it may improve before making the climb to my ‘perch’.

As if they were waiting for me to make my move a C-130K Hercules and two Hawk T1s flew past as I made my climb.

Once in position, the weather started to turn (as you can see from the photo of me sat on the hillside). Just before it closed in completely the RAF’s only operational Hawk T2 (serial ZK013) made two passes.

At one o’clock I gave up hope that the weather would improve and left; making this might shortest trip to LFA 7 ever!

25 miles away the weather was back to 21 degrees and blue skies so I decided to make a detour to RAF Cottesmore to grab an hour of Harriers.

First up was ZD347 / 14 currently assigned to the JUMP flight and now in GR9 standard (upgraded from GR7A standard). It was a test flight and performing hover testing.

To finish off my day was two T12 Harriers from 20(R) Squadron based at nearby RAF Wittering.