RAF Coningsby – 9th September 2009

Typhoon FGR4 ZJ946 call sign Rockstar 02 overshooting

This week at RAF Coningsby saw 3(F) Squadron and 29(R) Squadron taking part in a night flying exercise with the UK based USAF F-15E Strike Eagles and part of 17(R) Squadron heading to Corsica. With all this going on you would be mistaken in thinking Coningsby would have been quiet in the daytime.

Gringo flight

Along with the locally based Typhoons two of the three 41 Squadron Harriers took to the sky. ZG510 as Rebel 82 routed through the Lichfield Radar Corridor for a low level let down in LFA 7 and ZD437 as Rebel 74 headed to the East coast ranges with practice bombs under its wings.

Harrier GR9 ZG510 flying as Rebel 82

Harrier GR9 ZD437 flying as Rebel 74

As well as the operational flying a small display practice was performed by the Typhoon display pilot and a Spitfire from the BBMF. The display was closer to formation flying than the paired display they performed on the air show circuit for 2008.

Rockstar 02 and Spitfire 90 displaying togeather

Rockstar 02 and Spitfire 90 displaying togeather

Night stopping at Coningsby was three Tornado GR4s from 15(R) Squadron usually based at RAF Lossiemouth that had been using the range at Wainfleet the previous day.

Departing first was ZG750 as Lossie 40

Stella 1 and 2 – Tornado GR4 ZE116 and ZD848

Tornado GR4 ZE116

The F-15s of the USAF Europe are regular visitors to RAF Coningsby. Today saw both a pair of F-15E and F-15C Eagles.

USAF Europe F-15C 86-0175 overshoots

You can follow live updates from my visits to air bases via Twitter.