Harriers Final goodbye happenings (updated)

[T_J]

From the link that Des gave: "The 74 aircraft of Cottesmore's Joint Force Harrier, which recently saw five years action in Afghanistan, will be mothballed at the Rutland base until their future is decided." - 74! I never knew they had so many.

A break down of the numbers on the following.

http://www.key.aero/view_feature.asp?ID ... n=military" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TJ

[garethbrum]

Will be leaving Northumberland at 04:00 on Monday so hope the weather is going to be kind!

Never been to Cottesmore before so looking forward to it (in a very sad sort of way). Will a 300 with 1.4 and 2x extenders be enough on a 1DmkIIn from the end of 22?

Thank you.

Mike

Just a bit! 300 alone is more than enough.

[Flour Power]

Thanks Gareth. Was a bit concerned with the pic shown on thunder and lightnings taken at 780mm!

Guess I'd better take the 100-400 as well, then.

Mike

[Flour Power]

Thanks Gareth. Was a bit concerned with the pic shown on thunder and lightnings taken at 780mm!

If you want frame filling head-on shots down the taxiway like the one you're referring to you will need a big lens, or crop to get the same effect. Bear in mind the lens sizes quoted on my guides include any in-camera crop factor too - that shot is with a 600mm lens on a 1.3 crop body for instance. Obviously with 300mm you'd need to wait for the jets to get closer to get the same frame filling shot, but it'll be a very different shot then. For approach shots at the 22 end, or stuff taxiing past you, the 100-400 will do you fine and you'll probably use the shorter end more than the long end - as the guide says "Even a small lens will do you here".

Many thanks for the comprehensive reply Damien, it's very much appreciated. I'll take both lenses and try to get a variety of shots - activity and crowd permitting of course!

[Richard B]

Looking forwrad to Mondays update ~ any thoughts as to what time "they" are likely to finalise the schedule???

Talk of lens choices, well I normally hire a 100-400 for airshows & wildlife but have left this rather late I read mention that access & viewing at 22 end even 'short' lenses are fine ~ I have my 24-105 & 70-300 so hope that will cover the needs bearing in mind for the flypast and any formation I surmise 16 in sky will be frame filling.

Having said that it does look like there will be lots of folk doing the same thing, so having never been there I do hope there will space for all??? Hmmmmm! as a Cottesmore first timer any guidance as where to park and how far to walk from that location to 22 viewing "area"

TIA

plenty for the 22 end.

[richpittman]

Thanks Luke.

Ill be in there Monday Night with a Dutch Friend to watch the game

[Richard B]

Looking forwrad to Mondays update ~ any thoughts as to what time "they" are likely to finalise the schedule???

Talk of lens choices, well I normally hire a 100-400 for airshows & wildlife but have left this rather late I read mention that access & viewing at 22 end even 'short' lenses are fine ~ I have my 24-105 & 70-300 so hope that will cover the needs bearing in mind for the flypast and any formation I surmise 16 in sky will be frame filling.

Having said that it does look like there will be lots of folk doing the same thing, so having never been there I do hope there will space for all??? Hmmmmm! as a Cottesmore first timer any guidance as where to park and how far to walk from that location to 22 viewing "area"

TIA

plenty for the 22 end.

Thanks for setting my mind at rest on that Any feedback about parking and distance from the end of 22 to share??? I am surmsing at this point in time that the ealier one arrives the better

Scroll down page 15, TJ's post as plenty of info.http://fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewt ... &start=280" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[neilscott]

Scroll down page 15, TJ's post as plenty of info.http://fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/viewt ... &start=280" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great lots of good information has meant I can pre program the route into the SatNav and both suggested parking places look good for a walk-in to end of 22

Now a last thought? It has been a long while since I went anywhere near there and living south west of London I have the choice of the M1 or the A1 for the longest part of the journey..........how are both these main arteries these days??? And what one to pick?

Thanks again in advance for the added insight

Cottesmore is about 10 mins from the A1
Neil

[beefsteak]

Head straight out to the M25, go over (Or rather under) The Dartford Crossing, round to The M11 follow that all the way north (Not forgetting to get a sly peek or two at North Weald and Duxford as you pass) it joins the A1 (M) just past Alconbury follow this North to pass Wittering and on to Cottesmore

Hope this helps.

[Blue Diamond]

Head straight out to the M25, go over (Or rather under) The Dartford Crossing, round to The M11 follow that all the way north (Not forgetting to get a sly peek or two at North Weald and Duxford as you pass) it joins the A1 (M) just past Alconberry follow this North to pass Wittering and on to Cottesmore

Hope this helps.

Ah! another twist to the possible routing. As I live a little way down the A3 the shortest route to the M11 is the northern sector of the M25 and the part between the M1/A1 junctions and the M11 if I recall are dire......so the longer southern sector to the M11 may be best and I travel the Dartford Crossing at least once every 2 weeks as my HQ is in Basildon so know most of its idiocyncrasies. Having said that just how bad is the section of A1 from the M25 to Alconbury???

For all my ruminations on what route to take to get to Cottesmore I think will need to be on the road by 6am and that should beat the worst of the London effect rush hour (if I am lukcy???) to get there by say 10am latest i.e. allowing for 4 hours journey time???

Going north the A1 should be that bad at that time of day. The Black Cat roundabout where the A421 joins the A1 can be a bit of a pain but you shouldn't have that much of a problem. I'd bet on it being far quicker than you going right round via the Dartford Tunnel and then on the M11. Get up real early and go even earlier than 06:00. Far better to arrive much too early than miss all the fun by even a minute.

[beefsteak]

Where abouts in old Smokie town are you coming from ?? The M11 route north past Stansted is (IMHO) far quicker that the A1 (And most certainly faster than the M1 !!) It's just the top bit between Cambridge and the Huntingdon turn off, that is a pain, aim to hit there before 7.00am (About an hour from the Dartford Crossing) and you should be OK.

[johnhowe]

As I have been out of circulation recently and I dont have any info re The Harriers Final flight I would like to point out that when The Jaguars did their Final Flight they flew through the overhead at Warton and as BAE Systems were the Harriers main manufactureing facility Im assuming that the Harriers may fly over Warton. BDSTM.

[richpittman]

Looking at this................on the surmise that Wednesday 15th is finalised as the date i.e. no changes on Monday then as I am in Oxford on business on Tuesday 14th I could drive over to say Corby or Peterborough that evening and stay overnight, a good plan as that puts me only 24miles down the road. Makes for an easier start i.e. leave the hotel at say 8:30, job done

Arriving at 09:00 or just after id say i be there before then waiting

[cottesmore09]

Thanks Luke.

Ill be in there Monday Night with a Dutch Friend to watch the game

No worries Might see you there then mate

**Edit**
Also i have looked for the NOTAM and there don't seem to be one for Cottesmore?

[cottesmore09]

Hi all Just to lets anyone know who is looking for somewhere to stay, then at Colsterworth just down the A1 from Cottesmore there is a travel lodge, or Just down the road there is a Village South Witham where i live and there is the Blue Cow Inn which offers B&B and great meals as Sky Tv , always normaly rooms available and exepts card payment

Not a long Walk to R22 end, car park also there, ideal for most of you traveling distances

So if anyone is intrested then just give me a PM and i will forward details and telephone details

Hope this helps anyone

Thanks, Cott09

[Blue Diamond]

Hi all Just to lets anyone know who is looking for somewhere to stay, then at Colsterworth just down the A1 from Cottesmore there is a travel lodge, or Just down the road there is a Village South Witham where i live and there is the Blue Cow Inn which offers B&B and great meals as Sky Tv , always normaly rooms available and exepts card payment

Not a long Walk to R22 end, car park also there, ideal for most of you traveling distances

So if anyone is intrested then just give me a PM and i will forward details and telephone details

Hope this helps anyone

Thanks, Cott09

Much more important than Sky TV, the Blue Cow brews its own beer.

[Hillwalker]

And if you fancy seeing Cotts from the air
http://www.buckminstergc.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Would they let us join the formation, Chris? I'll paint on a special tail.

[T_J]

Parking.

Along with Rutland Caravan and Camping there is also the Farmer's Yard at the 22 end. Thanks to Damien for posting the info on his Cottesmore webpage!

See following.

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk ... esmore.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

'..The farmer at the 22 end has also said his yard will be available for some parking for £2 per car (accessible via New Road). This is a lot closer to the runway end than the caravan site.'

TJ

[beefsteak]

Anybody looking to overnight in the Waddington / Coningsby area could do a lot worse than "The Claremont Guest House" in Woodhall Spa . 10 minutes from Coningsby, and not expensive either (IMMSC it was about £25 for B+B)

Full Address :-
Alan and Isabel Pook
The Clarmont Guest House
9-11 Witham Road
Woodhall Spa Ln10 6RW
Phone 01526 352000

Ex SAR jockey and Airline Pilot (Flew Concorde too!!) nice chap to talk to.

[tornadopaul41]

so then chaps is the practise going ahead on monday? and are they going to dummy run the bases i would like to know so i can go into work early and be at con but not sure what time i should be there for any help would be brill