Your first ever military spotting trip, where, when etc?

[BennyBoy]

Coningsby 2008

Typhoons , Tonka's , Harriers..... and a Burger Van

Ben




(Wish id been to Leuchars Airshow in 1965...WOW what a list! )

[HighlandSniper]

I'm feeling old here!! I was watching Phantoms at Lakenheath in the mid-seventies and nobody else saw aircraft until mid-eighties or nineties! I'm just off to collect my pension

Read back a bit further ... ... ...

Buccaneers, Hunters, Vampires, Venoms, Sea Princes, Piston Whirlwinds etc. at Lossie in 1963 onward

Shackletons at Kinloss 1963 onwards

Hastings, Beverleys, Argosys at Abingdon/Benson 1963/4/5

F-100/F-101/F-4/F-111 Upper Heyford mid-late 60s

My first flight was in a BEA Pionair (DC-3) in 1960.

[Tiger 1]

Hi everyone

I first put pen to paper as a spotter in 1983, but i have very fond memmories of the R.A.F. Finningly Air Shows that my Dad took me to, seeing aircraft dispaly teams like

The Reds with 9 x Folan Gnats

The Poachers and The Red Pelicans both flying the JP

The Vintage Pair flying a Vampire and Meteor

The Italian Team with Fiat G91s

The French and Belgium Teams both flying the Fouga Magister

The Vikings 2 x German Navy F104s

The Rothmans Pitts Special

Ho and of course the Queens Silver Jubilee celabrations, what a sight to behold, a full week of sheer aviation delight.

We watched all the preperations, watched the live show on the Telly and when the Vulcans Scrambled, i remember running out the house in to the garden to watch them roar over head, and what a fly past, how many aircraft types .

Vulcans, Nimrod, Jags, Phantoms, Harriers, to name but a few.

Then the public Show followed which was equally impressive, how great it would be to relive that again and be able to use the modern digital Cameras and videos we have today.

Best rgds

Tiger 1

[teeonefixer]

I can't resist this one !
Waddington BoB show 1961 and I have a couple of photos (the list is on Scramble....lots of Javelins + Vulcans etc)
Living in Lincolshire, Varsities, Vulcans and JP's were common
after another couple more Waddington shows (Lincolns form the SCBS at Lindholme would "bomb the Fort"), there was Finningley 'show 1967
When I went off to college in 1972, met some lads who did real spotting and spent most weekends around East Anglia etc. - F-4s galore !
(my favourites were the 45 sqn Hunters at Wittering)

[Tiger Tim]

First Leicester Airshow 1978

First Squadron/base visit July 1982 - 441st Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb Wing, Mather AFB, Sacamento, California. Boeing B-52G

[nick197]

: . As for Nick 197 i took him to fairford to watch the arrivals on a thursday and to say he was excited was an understatement. After that he was hooked now he knows more than me

So your to blaim for me spending a fortune on fuel to see F15s and Typhoons

[GOOSE]

Some great insights been posted so far. Love the way us aviation nuts get so excited about our experiences. Thanks to all for your inclusions so far.

[60mu]

Leconfield 1966 same day as we won the world cup

[graham luxton]

Hi me dad was in the RAF {not as a pilot though }so was always keen for us to watch planes,so one evening he took me upto Greenham Common to watch the B47s. The year i cannot remember or even if the planes were landing or taking off mind you i was only about three at the time so the year was either late sixties or very early seventies. First show i remember was Farnborough 1974. If memory serves me right{debatable }We see the C5,SR71{after its record crossing of the atlantic-less than three hours i think?}and a pair of Swedish viggens. The weather was showery and cold and we watched most of the show from the car After that was hooked . As for Nick 197 i took him to fairford to watch the arrivals on a thursday and to say he was excited was an understatement. After that he was hooked now he knows more than me

Hi Stingrays4,
the last Stratojets(301BW EB-47E's) departed Greenham in June'64.
Hope that makes things clearer.
cheers,
Graham

[phoenixjfc]

Well mine has to be from memory a visit to one of the Church Fenton airshows in the mid 70's when i would have been about 11 or 12 (not sure of the exact year) and a bit cliché i know but it was the good old reds in the good old gnats that got me hooked, after a 30 year gap i got back into spotting about 2000 when my youngest son showed a real passion and early knowledge for military aircraft and off i went again (not that i needed any encouraging) and we have been all over the shop since
And Josh is now worse than me, infact he is nagging me to death to go off somewhere as i type

Andy

[GOOSE]

Great Avatar Mr Pheonix Sir.

[Tiger 1]

Hi phoenixjfc

Church Fenton Air Shows, Wow i remember them, not as early as your self though, im talking the 80s and if the old grey cells remember correctly the shows were called something like SAAFFA which stood for Sailors, Army, Airforce, Families Association.

But they generally were good shows, i can remember seeing aircraft such as F111 fly bys, Saab Drakens, F16s, Alphajets and on at one show there was a pair of Kiowas.

Hi Goose. got to say a cracking thread this one mate, its brought back quite a few memmories of Shows and bases that i had fogooten all about.

Best rgds

Tiger 1

[neilscott]

Dont know if you can call it actual spotting but I went to Raf Finingley air show in 1977 with my parents, I would love to see a log of this air show if any one has one. would be interested to see what i saw back then, if I had wrote down the serials then. Then I went up until Waddington last year when I started properly.
Neil

[GOOSE]

Reproduced from Scramble show reports - Enjoy

AIRCRAFT NOTED ON THE 29th:

Static - Strike Command:
XS794 Andover CC.2 32 Sqn
XR140 Argosy E.1 115 Sqn
XW527 Buccaneer S.2B 12 Sqn
XV340 Buccaneer S.2B 208 Sqn
WJ825 Canberra PR.7 13 Sqn
XH174 Canberra PR.9 39 Sqn
WH964/W Canberra E.15 100 Sqn
WF890/M Canberra T.17 360 Sqn
WJ680/80 Canberra TT.18 7 Sqn
VP981 Devon C.2/2 207 Sqn
XW271/17 Harrier T.4 1 Sqn
XV188/188 Hercules C.1 70 Sqn
XV215/215 Hercules C.1 24 Sqn
XV293/293 Hercules C.1 30 Sqn
XV294/294 Hercules C.1 47 Sqn
XX738 Jaguar GR.1 6 Sqn
XZ359/M Jaguar GR.1 41 Sqn
XX737 Jaguar GR.1 54 Sqn
XS901/A Lightning F.6 5 Sqn
XR754/A Lightning F.6 11 Sqn
XV254 Nimrod MR.1 120 Sqn
XV250 Nimrod MR.1 201 Sqn
XV249 Nimrod MR.1 203 Sqn
XV259 Nimrod MR.1 206 Sqn
XZ285 Nimrod MR.1A 42 Sqn
XV408/N Phantom FGR.2 23 Sqn
XV400/I Phantom FGR.2 29 Sqn
XV464/B Phantom FGR.2 56 Sqn
XV406/M Phantom FGR.2 111 Sqn
XV572/N Phantom FG.1 43 Sqn
XW206/CC Puma HC.1 33 Sqn
XW219/DC Puma HC.1 230 Sqn
WL795 Shackleton AEW.2 8 Sqn
XV106 VC-10 C.1 10 Sqn
XL191 Victor K.2 55 Sqn
XL231 Victor K.2 57 Sqn
XM646 Vulcan B.2 9 Sqn
XH559 Vulcan B.2 35 Sqn
XM609 Vulcan B.2 44 Sqn
XM651 Vulcan B.2 50 Sqn
XM608 Vulcan B.2 101 Sqn
XL361 Vulcan B.2 617 Sqn
XH534 Vulcan B.2 27 Sqn
XV723 Wessex HC.2 72 Sqn
XR518 Wessex HC.2 22 Sqn
XP403 Whirlwind HAR.10 202 Sqn
XZ630 Tornado BAe

Static - Support Command:
XX713/S Bulldog T.1 Queens UAS
WB739 Chipmunk
WG407/81 Chipmunk T.10 9AEF
XS714 Dominie T.1 DAW
XW862/D Gazelle HT.3 CFS
XP541/41 Gnat T.1 4 FTS
XX164/164 Hawk T.1 CFS
XL591/82 Hunter T.7 4 FTS
XX494/71 Jetstream T.1 3 FTS/METS
XW324/U Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS
WB922 Sedbergh Glider
XD163/X Whirlwind HAR.10 2 FTS

Static - RAF Germany:
XW544/H Buccaneer S.2B 15 Sqn
XW526/Y Buccaneer S.2B 16 Sqn
XV751/M Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XW768/O Harrier GR.3 4 Sqn
XZ391/II Jaguar GR.1 2 Sqn
XZ386/AJ Jaguar GR.1 14 Sqn
XZ388/BK Jaguar GR.1 17 Sqn
XZ389/CN Jaguar GR.1 20 Sqn
XZ387/DN Jaguar GR.1 31 Sqn
XT896/K Phantom FGR.2 19 Sqn
XV499/R Phantom FGR.2 92 Sqn
WV701/60 Pembroke C.1 60 Sqn
XR509/BM Wessex HC.2 18 Sqn

Static - Others:
A8-143 F-111C 6 Sqn / RAAF
104808 CF-104 441 Sqn / CAF
NZ7002 C-130H 40 Sqn / RNZAF

Arena Display:
XX748/20 Jaguar GR.1 226 OCU
XX752/06 Jaguar GR.1 226 OCU

SAR Engineering Wing Hangar:
XR497 Wessex HC.2 22 Sqn
XP344 Whirlwind HAR.10 22/202 Sqn
XD186 Whirlwind HAR.10 22/202 Sqn
XW293/Z Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS
XS728/E Dominie T.1 6 FTS
XS731/J Dominie T.1 6 FTS

Other Aircraft noted on field:
XN819 Argosy C.1 Ex-Museum
XW296/Q Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS
XW306/Y Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS
XW352/R Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS
XW309/V Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS
XW307/S Jet Provost T.5B 6 FTS
XS216 Jet Provost T.4 Ex 6 FTS
WJ919/P Varsity T.1 Fire Dump
XZ550 Venture T.2
XT602 Wessex HC.2 22 Sqn
XV759/E Harrier GR.3 233 OCU
XV757/12 Harrier GR.3 1 Sqn
XW769/24 Harrier GR.3 1 Sqn
XV748/B Harrier GR.3 1 Sqn (in Hide)
XW227/DN Puma HC.1 230 Sqn

Flypasts - Flying:
RAF Standards Flypast:
XR453/A Whirlwind HAR.10 2 FTS
XW898/G Gazelle HT.3 CFS
XX406/P Gazelle HT.3 CFS

22 Jet Provost T.5As making the number 25
1 FTS Aircraft made the number 2 :
XW426/60 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW405/61 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW372/63 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW417/64 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW419/65 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW363/68 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW413/69 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW428/70 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW370/72 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW371/76 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
XW409/78 Jet Provost T.5A 1 FTS
RAFC Aircraft made the number 5:
XW410/14 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW412/15 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW411/16 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW362/17 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW361/21 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW330/23 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW408/24 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW317/25 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW335/27 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW327/28 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC
XW368/31 Jet Provost T.5A RAFC

Historic Flt:
PA474/KM-B Lancaster 1 BBMF
PM631/AD-C Spitfire PR.19 BBMF
PZ865/DT-A Hurricane II.C BBMF

Training Aircraft Formation:
(1st wave 12 a/c)
XX521/01 Bulldog T.1 East Lowlands UAS
XX537/02 Bulldog T.1 East Lowlands UAS
XX664/05 Bulldog T.1 East Lowlands UAS
XX665/06 Bulldog T.1 East Lowlands UAS
WZ879/14 Chipmunk T.10 CFS
WK517/84 Chipmunk T.10 11 AEF
WZ878/86 Chipmunk T.10 11 AEF
WP984/80 Chipmunk T.10 11 AEF
XX518/43 Bulldog T.1 CFS
XX514/44 Bulldog T.1 CFS
XX539/46 Bulldog T.1 CFS
XX541/48 Bulldog T.1 CFS
(2nd wave 12 a/c)
XS713/C Dominie T.1 6 FTS
XS729/G Dominie T.1 6 FTS
XS730/H Dominie T.1 6 FTS
XS732/B Dominie T.1 6 FTS
XX492/70 Jetstream T.1 3 FTS/METS
XX496/73 Jetstream T.1 3 FTS/METS
XX499/76 Jetstream T.1 3 FTS/METS
XX500/77 Jetstream T.1 3 FTS/METS
XS710 Dominie T.1 RAFC/DAW
XS726 Dominie T.1 RAFC/DAW
XS735 Dominie T.1 RAFC/DAW
XS736 Dominie T.1 RAFC/DAW
(3rd wave 12 a/c)
XF527/70 Hunter F.6 4 FTS
XF383/72 Hunter F.6 4 FTS
XL621/81 Hunter T.7 4 FTS
XL566/86 Hunter T.7 4 FTS
XR538/01 Gnat T.1 4 FTS
XR574/24 Gnat T.1 4 FTS
XS104/44 Gnat T.1 4 FTS
XR541/61 Gnat T.1 4 FTS
XX166/166 Hawk T.1 4 FTS
XX167/167 Hawk T.1 4 FTS
XX168/168 Hawk T.1 4 FTS
XX173/173 Hawk T.1 4 FTS

Solo display:
XX172/172 Hawk T.1 4 FTS

Transport Aircarft Formation:
XV185/185 Hercules C.1 LTW
XV192/192 Hercules C.1 LTW
XV207/207 Hercules C.1 LTW
XV290/290 Hercules C.1 LTW
XV104 VC-10 C.1 10 Sqn

Helicopter Formation:
XP361 Whirlwind HAR.10 202 Sqn
XR588 Wessex HC.2 22 Sqn
XV725/AC Wessex HC.2 72 Sqn
XR529/BN Wessex HC.2 18 Sqn
XW208/CE Puma HC.1 33 Sqn
XW226/DK Puma HC.1 230 Sqn

Air Defence Formation:
WL756 Shackleton AEW.2 8 Sqn
XL160 Victor K.2 55 Sqn
XL512 Victor K.2 57 Sqn
XR760/B Lightning F.6 5 Sqn
XR724/K Lightning F.6 11 Sqn
XV422/C Phantom FGR.2 23 Sqn
XV425/R Phantom FGR.2 29 Sqn
XV460/E Phantom FGR.2 56 Sqn
XV432/T Phantom FGR.2 111 Sqn
WJ629 Canberra TT.18 7 Sqn
WE113/H Canberra B.2 100 Sqn
WH872/W Canberra T.17 360 Sqn

Maritime Formation:
XV235 Nimrod MR.1 42 Sqn
XV243 Nimrod MR.1 42 Sqn
XV253 Nimrod MR.1 Kinloss Wing
XV256 Nimrod MR.1 Kinloss Wing
XV262 Nimrod MR.1 Kinloss Wing
XV583/G Phantom FG.1 43 Sqn
XT873/S Phantom FG.1 43 Sqn
XT288 Buccaneer S.2B 12 Sqn
XV168 Buccaneer S.2B 12 Sqn

Vulcan Scramble:
XL389 Vulcan B.2 9 Sqn
XM594 Vulcan B.2 44 Sqn
XM650 Vulcan B.2 50 Sqn
XM648 Vulcan B.2 101 Sqn

Strike Formation:
XH558 Vulcan B.2 27 Sqn
XL446 Vulcan B.2 35 Sqn
XL426 Vulcan B.2 617 Sqn
XZ363/Z Jaguar GR.1 41 Sqn
XX118 Jaguar GR.1 6 Sqn
XX725 Jaguar GR.1 54 Sqn
WH775 Canberra PR.7 13 Sqn
XH169 Canberra PR.9 39 Sqn
XZ147/Z Harrier T.4 1 Sqn

RAF Germany Formation
XV439/A Phantom FGR.2 19 Sqn
XV489/V Phantom FGR.2 92 Sqn
XW540/F Buccaneer S.2B 15 Sqn
XW541/Q Buccaneer S.2B 16 Sqn
XZ132/F Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XW921/K Harrier GR.3 4 Sqn
XZ369/AP Jaguar GR.1 14 Sqn
XZ103/I Jaguar GR.1 2 Sqn
XZ383/BC Jaguar GR.1 17 Sqn
XZ384/CM Jaguar GR.1 20 Sqn
XZ390/DM Jaguar GR.1 31 Sqn

Solo display:
XX948/233 Tornado BAe

Harrier Demonstration:
XV738/B Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XV781/O Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XV792/N Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XW917/L Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XZ134/J Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XZ138/H Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn
XV741/A Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn (spare a/c)
XZ139/Z Harrier GR.3 3 Sqn (spare a/c)

Red Arrows:
XP514 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows
XR540 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows
XR572 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows
XR977 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows
XR955 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows
XR987 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows
XR991 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows
XS107 Gnat T.1 Red Arrows

Frecce Tricolori:
MM6240 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6242 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6244 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6248 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6250 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6253 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6254 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6310 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori
MM6311 Fiat G.91PAN Frecce Tricolori

RAF Standards Flypast Finale:
XP405/D Whirlwind HAR.10 2 FTS
XW898/G Gazelle HT.3 CFS
XW906/J Gazelle HT.3 CFS

Other aircraft noted:
XV199/199 Hercules C.1 LTW (RAF Falcons)
XV729/AE Wessex HC.2 72 Sqn
XS679/BP Wessex HC.2 18 Sqn
XH168 Canberra PR.9 39 Sqn (photo ship)

Visitors:
XS597 Andover C.1 32 Sqn
XS789 Andover CC.2 Queens Flt
XS790 Andover CC.2 Queens Flt
XS791 Andover CC.2 32 Sqn
XS637 Andover CC.2 C-in-C AFNE
XX508 HS.125 CC.2 32 Sqn
VP955 Devon C.2 207 Sqn
XV733 Wessex HCC.4 Queens Flt

AIRCRAFT NOTED ON THE 30th:

USAFE Flypast:
65-0935/AR RF-4C 10TRW
74-1535/35 F-5E 527AS
68-0030/UH F-111E 20TFW

Others:
Jet Provosts:
XM385,XM403,XM462,XW328,XW404,XW406,XW421
in place of
XW330,XW358,XW370,XW405,XW412,XW419,XW426,XW428

Bulldogs:
XX545,XX547,XX548
in place of
XX437,XX664,XX665

Dominies:
XS711,XS732,XS735

Hunters:
XF527(F6), XL566(T7), XL621(T7) +1

Gnats:
XR541,XR574

Nimrods:
XV232,XZ380,XZ282

Vulcan:
XM607 in place of XM560

Buccaneers:
XV354,XV355 in place of XW540,XW541

Additional Phantoms:
XV571,XV573

http://www.scramble.nl/showreports.htm

[Tiger 1]

Hi neilscott

I also saw this show and have wanted to know the serial list, many thanks for the serial request you made.

Goose a big thankyou too to your good self for posting up the list, im sure there will be a few more guys on here that find the list equally interesting and useful.

This is yet again, another great example of what makes FC as great as it is

Best rgs

Tiger 1

[Nighthawke]

Finningley 1977 was "the one that got away" for me. I was 13 and my Dad had just started working at RAF West Raynham. There was a coach trip but he was too late to get our names on the list - I was gutted! Remember seeing the TV news and reading the magazine articles and discovering what I had missed. Probably one for the "Time Travel" thread (still thinking about that one).

[rattler]

My first air show was at RAF Pershore in 1948 followed by another one in 1953. 10 AFU were based with Oxfords. My first Farnborough was in 1959 and my first Battle of Britain show at RAF Gaydon in 1960 (lots of USAF - B-47, B-66, B-52, C-47, F-100, F-101 and F-104 plus RAF Lincoln were the highlights). The ROC Open Days at RAF Little Rissington were always great in the early 60s with flights in a Hastings and Andover. Static highlights were Beverley, Shackleton MR3 and Portuguese T-37. First RAF Abingdon show was 1965 and my first Upper Heyford show was 1967 with two 55th SRW RB-47s on view.

Still going strong.

Rattler

[neilscott]

Thanks for the Finingley display list Goose
Neil

[Sheff]

there was Finningley 'show 1967

I have a feeling that show was the first one I remember. I think I went to earlier ones but I was in a pram! I can just about visualise a Voodoo taxying out of the static park at the end of th show but I'm still not entirely sure what year that was. Anyway I never missed a Finningley show after that - it was always the highlight of my year when I was a kid.

Think the first "spotting" trip was to Strubby, probably 1969. Sadly I didn't have the means of getting to airfields much until I was older, so I didn't get a chance to visit lots of airfields until some years later. St.Mawgan was always my favourite port of call. Oh to see those glorious dayglow-striped Canberras again...

[onemac]

First one I can remember is HMS Fulmar in 1960 followed by every single one until the last many years back Of course there were others, it's just the sight of Buccaneers, Scimitars, Sea Vixens, Hunters, Sea Venoms etc will remain with me forever.

Al