Lakenheath/Mildenhall Plane Spotting?

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Hi all. Heading down to Norfolk tomorrow for a weeks break and the kids have expressed a bit of an interest in seeing some interesting planes en-route and I know from previous drives up/down the A11 that Lakenheath/Mildenhall are home to interesting "stuff".

I'm not really interested in spending hours stood at the end of a runway by a wire fence with a load of plane spotters but wondered if there was somewhere nice to grab some lunch off the A11 with the chance to see a few planes overhead - taking off or landing?

[Collectingbrass]

Depends how Iranian you look I guess...

Also expect double yellow lines everywhere in the vicinity of the bases

[and31]

There is a cafe near the shell garage at five ways roundabout on the A11 at mildenhall (it’s actually closer to lakenheath..) but that’s about it-and not close enough to bother
The viewing area for lakenheath is only a five minute drive from the A11, nothing to lose by popping up there for 20 mins to see what’s going on…
I did lots of work close to the base five or six years ago, F15’s doing full power take offs never gets old!!

Edited by and31 on Thursday 2nd April 19:37

[steveo3002]

doubt theres much going on at a bank holiday...if there was , then 5 ways roundabout has a mcdonalds and 5 guys , then off to the official viewing area

[Austin Prefect]

If you drive around Mildenhall airfield you should see a variety of parked aircraft even on a bank holiday, I doubt you'll find anywhere to park with a good runway view though.

[srob]

One of the takeaways at Fiveways then either John’s Field at Mildenhall (£2 honesty box I believe) or the viewing area at Lakenheath.

Traditionally the US bases didn’t operate on UK bank holidays but with things as they are I suspect they will be!

[DavePanda]

TBH i wouldn't bother, there is currently hundreds of "spotters" there every day, cars are parked everywhere, lining every available access to vantage points. Forget trying to get to the actual viewing area. A lot of the stationed aircraft are now in the Middle East, there are some still there however. F-22s i believe have returned to the US. A10 Warthogs arrived earlier in the week, half left today with the other half likely to leave tomorrow. Mildenhall is busy but viewing is almost impossible due to the amount of spotters. If you visit you'll be better off parking far away and making a walk around where possible. some of the spotters are getting stupid, there were a load in one of the off limit fields today when the A10s were leaving, it's only a matter of time before the authorities clamp down on it.

[Regbuser]

I think the A-10s have departed Lakenheath today

[bergclimber34]

I would avoid it like the plague, must be really hacking off locals just trying to go about their day, and the stepladder wazarks dominate the best viewing areas as they basically live there, it's like airshows, part of the reason I do not go is these berks.

[steveo3002]

bergclimber34 said:

I would avoid it like the plague, must be really hacking off locals just trying to go about their day, and the stepladder wazarks dominate the best viewing areas as they basically live there, it's like airshows, part of the reason I do not go is these berks.

theres some special types there , wearing all the camo gear , speaking in the military abbreviations etc

[srob]

Regbuser said:

I think the A-10s have departed Lakenheath today

Nope, this one just came over our garden

[Johnnybee]

steveo3002 said:

bergclimber34 said:

I would avoid it like the plague, must be really hacking off locals just trying to go about their day, and the stepladder wazarks dominate the best viewing areas as they basically live there, it's like airshows, part of the reason I do not go is these berks.

theres some special types there , wearing all the camo gear , speaking in the military abbreviations etc

And the patches, don’t forget the patches

[steveo3002]

Johnnybee said:

steveo3002 said:

bergclimber34 said:

I would avoid it like the plague, must be really hacking off locals just trying to go about their day, and the stepladder wazarks dominate the best viewing areas as they basically live there, it's like airshows, part of the reason I do not go is these berks.

theres some special types there , wearing all the camo gear , speaking in the military abbreviations etc

And the patches, don t forget the patches

and squadron stickers on the Motability cars , was bickering on the local fb the other day about deleting messages if you post that xyz flew over , the enemy might see it lol

[srob]

It’s funny how crazy the viewing area’s got. When I was a kid we’d regularly stop there if dad had taken me out on a motorbike and there’d barely ever be anyone else there.

Even just pre-covid me and a mate went up after work on a Friday lunchtime to watch the F22s depart. We had no issues parking in the proper carpark, there was maybe 10 other cars there.

Now my wife doesn’t even go past there trying to get to work. So many near misses with people just wandering into the road as they line the main road. Some bloke lost the door off his car a couple of weeks ago when he opened it as a lorry went past.

The Americans do encourage it though. “Quick climb Friday” is now a thing where they just show off to the YouTubers who are normally there.

[steveo3002]

school hols plus some different aircraft in = madness

im fairly local and would like a look but cant be bothered with the hassle , sooner or later it will all get shut off due to selfish parking etc

[Chimaera98]

6x A-10s left yesterday, a further twelve were due to go today. The first 6 got over France but turned back, the remaining six that were due to follow also returned.

All to do with fuel loads and needing to refuel over France I think.

So 12 are back, they may try again tomorrow.