Harriers Final goodbye happenings (updated)

[cottesmore09]

One in at Cottesmore and one on tlk down now

[tornadopaul41]

just heard striker 10 and cott on 278.45 at 2.27pm could be the last 2 i ever here ;-( i'm going to miss the harriers and sitting on the A43 end as they fly in and do circuts at least i have lots of vids and pics to remember them ;-/ roll on next week

[ginge]

Yeah sadly i had to leave at 2 oclock. 2 T12's & 2 GR9's had landed by this time.

Had a good couple of hours though thanks to Brian & Richard, was very good to meet you guys. Thanks again for the coffee Richard and many apologies Brian for not saying goodbye when i went, think you was hiding in the corn somewhere.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Martyn

[Blue Diamond]

Man in the van said 7 due in landing on the taxi way... We will see!
FOD walk just taken place by the firemen... Walked the runway and taxiway.... Lookin good!

Hows the light Matty? I've got a complete white sky here. Any better at Cott?

Sorry for the late reply...

The light was shocking I will be there monday though!!!

Weather for monday looks good, But they will be using 04!!

Matty

A) Forecast NNW wind speed of just 4 mph so will they let that dictate 04?
B) Time for the wind direction to change over the next two and a half days.

[richpittman]

Will be staying up at South Witham Sunday to Thursday
Has anyone any local knowledge of a good pub with sky so i can watch United and Arsenal Monday Night?

[RRconway]

Hi,

Thinking of going on Monday now but wind on BBC for monday from the North which will put them on the wrong runway?

If I go is it still worth going to Hooby Lane or would I be better of at the other end. I am more interested in arrivals shots but only have a 300mm lens on a 350d body.

Any thoughts or advice from Cottesmore regulars would be appreciated as I've never been!!!!

I have a map form the thunder and lightning website so feel free to refer to those points on there.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[DaveChapman]

I was there today,nice people at Cotts coming out to keep us well informed,with an up to the minute printout,right down to first aircraft landing in 23 minutes lol.
The 16 ship formation practice will be at 9:30am Monday
No flying Tues/Thurs/Fri
But as we saw today,things change massively by the minute at Cott at the moment,so I guess its a case of "pay your money ,take the chance"
Cheers Dave.

[LN Strike Eagle]

Hi,

Thinking of going on Monday now but wind on BBC for monday from the North which will put them on the wrong runway?

If I go is it still worth going to Hooby Lane or would I be better of at the other end. I am more interested in arrivals shots but only have a 300mm lens on a 350d body.

Any thoughts or advice from Cottesmore regulars would be appreciated as I've never been!!!!

I have a map form the thunder and lightning website so feel free to refer to those points on there.

Cheers,
Jeff.

I'm going to go to the 22 end regardless and hope for the best - with so many people around next week, I'm sure they'll keep departures low, taxi them back the long way to give us a wave and maybe even do a bit of hovering around that end for us.

[Blue Diamond]

Hi,

Thinking of going on Monday now but wind on BBC for monday from the North which will put them on the wrong runway?

If I go is it still worth going to Hooby Lane or would I be better of at the other end. I am more interested in arrivals shots but only have a 300mm lens on a 350d body.

Any thoughts or advice from Cottesmore regulars would be appreciated as I've never been!!!!

I have a map form the thunder and lightning website so feel free to refer to those points on there.

Cheers,
Jeff.

A 300mm on a 350D is considered the minimum for final approach shots at point N on the Thunder and Lightnings map.

[Hillwalker]

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.

[RRconway]

Matty and LN Strike Eagle presume you mean Hooby lane end then. Will you be there Monday?
I'll hope to see you there, will try to be there well before the 09:30 kick off.
Thanks for the replys by the way.
Cheers,
Jeff.

[Flour Power]

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

[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