Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....
Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Station organisers of the 2001 Air Day at Waddington certainly could award themselves 10/10 for the invitation made to the Israeli AF. What would have seemed impossible due to their usual security plus the distance actually transpired. The KC707's supported the F-15I but returned straight home returning again for the collection on the Monday after the show. I seem to remember that the F-15I solo practise on the Friday created rather a stir when the pilot ejected a spray of flares during his climbout. They didn't fly on the Saturday due to the Sabbath, but performed another spectacular solo on the Sunday minus flares.
Hope you enjoyed them
Hope you enjoyed them
-
- Posts: 6708
- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:30 pm
- Location: Reading, Berks.
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Great post, certainly makes a very pleasant change from the usual, some rare birds there.
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
very nice brings back memories they didnt do a display as sutch but a show of Israeli airpower
Comfortably Numb
- binbrook87
- Posts: 524
- Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 7:20 pm
- Location: staffordshire
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Lovely set. One of the rarest aircraft I've seen in this country....oh apart from the Singapore Skyhawks also at Waddo
- Thunderbolt II
- Posts: 1065
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:40 am
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
The Friday practice was pretty epic, viewed from the enormous gravel pile that used to be between the WAVE and the approach. I remember the flares well!
-
- Posts: 2524
- Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2017 9:20 pm
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Yes, remember it well
The commentator asked what his display would cover
The IDF spokesperson quickly pointed out that it was a 'Capability Demonstration'
A pertinent and professonal response neatly summarised the philosophy
The commentator asked what his display would cover
The IDF spokesperson quickly pointed out that it was a 'Capability Demonstration'
A pertinent and professonal response neatly summarised the philosophy
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Was the infamous practice on the Friday, I could swear it was the Thursday or even Wednesday? Probably one of the best shows out with IAT/RIAT to have been held in the UK, which due to my work at the time I managed to get unrestricted access airside from Tuesday evening through to Saturday evening, eventually ended up driving the display pilots around and helping in marshalling a/c in and out, an experience never to be forgotten.
Just racking my brains and I'm sure the "flares" didn't happen on the Friday as Park and View would've been open and from memory it wasn't, although it was 21 years ago
Just racking my brains and I'm sure the "flares" didn't happen on the Friday as Park and View would've been open and from memory it wasn't, although it was 21 years ago
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Hi Keith
Rarer than rocking horse p@@, those
Thanks for a great post
Best regards
Paddyboy
Rarer than rocking horse p@@, those
Thanks for a great post
Best regards
Paddyboy
-
- Posts: 2370
- Joined: Sat Aug 22, 2020 5:47 pm
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
I remember these coming over, sadly I was unable to attend due to my wife deciding that going shopping for new furniture was more important. I think she understands better now. Great shots by the way, thanks for sharing these.
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Awesome post, thanks for sharing...
Never got to see them, what a treat in that colour scheme, F-15 is one of my favourites as well.
Kev
Never got to see them, what a treat in that colour scheme, F-15 is one of my favourites as well.
Kev
- Thunderbolt II
- Posts: 1065
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:40 am
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Hmm. That's got me thinking, I assumed it was Friday but I remember we parked in the actual WAVE car park, so you may well be right. Sure someone on here will know.Thunder wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 10:56 pmWas the infamous practice on the Friday, I could swear it was the Thursday or even Wednesday? Probably one of the best shows out with IAT/RIAT to have been held in the UK, which due to my work at the time I managed to get unrestricted access airside from Tuesday evening through to Saturday evening, eventually ended up driving the display pilots around and helping in marshalling a/c in and out, an experience never to be forgotten.
Just racking my brains and I'm sure the "flares" didn't happen on the Friday as Park and View would've been open and from memory it wasn't, although it was 21 years ago
-
- Posts: 320
- Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:39 am
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Thanks a lot for posting these interesting images because it brings back good memories. I visited the show on Saturday and drove back to France to visit the Luxeuil open day that Sunday. When I met a Dutch friend there he asked if I had stopped at Metz for some Alpha Jets. He called me stupid (yes, we Dutch know how to behave) for not stopping there. But you should have seen his face when I told him I photographed Israeli F-15's the day before at Waddington.
Kind regards,
Arnold
Kind regards,
Arnold
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Thanks for comments from all, .. pleased that these brought such good memories back. Great story Arnold you were certainly busy that weekend.Keflavik69 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:25 amThanks a lot for posting these interesting images because it brings back good memories. I visited the show on Saturday and drove back to France to visit the Luxeuil open day that Sunday. When I met a Dutch friend there he asked if I had stopped at Metz for some Alpha Jets. He called me stupid (yes, we Dutch know how to behave) for not stopping there. But you should have seen his face when I told him I photographed Israeli F-15's the day before at Waddington.
Kind regards,
Arnold
In my log book I have the quite alot of detail (c/signs etc) but not a confirmation of the day but hey we got to see flares .. would just have loved to have seen the faces on the staff in the tower when they launched
I hope that you were able to have your camera with you Thunder with so much time air side for the event
Thanks again
3Greens
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Camera in hand all the time, but half way through the Israeli practice I put it down. It was one of those moments that you need to just stand there and take it in that I was actually witnessing an Israeli jet put on one of, if not the best display I’ve seen. To make it even more surreal, I was standing with the other Israeli pilots and ground crew, including the 69 Sqn Commander. From memory the flares landed in the glass across from Charlie Dispersal, causing several small fires. I’m also starting to think that the Israelis put in a practice on both Wednesday and the Thursday. All photos are in print form, i’ll need to get them scanned and up on here.
I’ve done a bit of digging and it turns out that they didn’t fly on the Friday, however they flew twice on the Thursday am with flares then told to revalidate without flares in the afternoon. Still looking to see about Wednesday.
I’ve done a bit of digging and it turns out that they didn’t fly on the Friday, however they flew twice on the Thursday am with flares then told to revalidate without flares in the afternoon. Still looking to see about Wednesday.
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Got that weekend on video some place
http://www.airfighters.com/photosearch.php?phgid=SHED" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; LOADES
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... _entry=140+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; at last
What do cry when we see The Man With the Stick???
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.s ... _entry=140+" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; at last
What do cry when we see The Man With the Stick???
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Great Shots & many memories! It was indeed the Thursday IMO as from my recollection the Israeli F-15 was ripping-up the Waddo' skies & chucking flares at around 10am. Once again IIRC we were on-base Thursday afternoon for the Media Call & the Welcome Briefing by the station Commander was taking an eternity, whilst the Israeli F-15 was starting-up to fly the second validation without flares! We bolted out of the Reception to get a good spot for the t/o rotation-point. Brilliant!Thunderbolt II wrote: ↑Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:34 amHmm. That's got me thinking, I assumed it was Friday but I remember we parked in the actual WAVE car park, so you may well be right. Sure someone on here will know.Thunder wrote: ↑Mon Aug 15, 2022 10:56 pmWas the infamous practice on the Friday, I could swear it was the Thursday or even Wednesday? Probably one of the best shows out with IAT/RIAT to have been held in the UK, which due to my work at the time I managed to get unrestricted access airside from Tuesday evening through to Saturday evening, eventually ended up driving the display pilots around and helping in marshalling a/c in and out, an experience never to be forgotten.
Just racking my brains and I'm sure the "flares" didn't happen on the Friday as Park and View would've been open and from memory it wasn't, although it was 21 years ago
Can't lay my hands on my shots right now, but I'm sure it flew without auxiliary tanks & carried 6 large dummy dayglo orange bombs each side in 3 x 2 wide attachments. I remember feeling sorry for the Saturday Show attendees as they had NOT factored in 'Shabbat' ( the Jewish Sabbath) which precluded the jet from flying that day!
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
I could be wrong
We were there both days, as always, and I seem to recall the Thunder gave 2 displays on the Sunday
We were there both days, as always, and I seem to recall the Thunder gave 2 displays on the Sunday
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
You’re completely wrong Paddy, I was travelling back up North on the Sunday or at least I think I was. Reason I think I was is I looked at my photos from the show late last night and I’ve got a shot of the Israeli taxing back in with a car park full of cars in the background .
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Thanks, Scott
Not the first time I’ve been wrong, and it won’t be the last
Just wishful thinking on my part
Paddyboy
Not the first time I’ve been wrong, and it won’t be the last
Just wishful thinking on my part
Paddyboy
Re: Israeli AF visitors Waddington 2001
Great pics