RAF Conningsby

[Stuck In A Lift]

This is probably a very silly question- do they fly on half term? We are hoping to go there tomorrow.

[clarkey]

Yes ,unless it's closed, and there is no NOTAM for it at the moment.

Try to get to the Newark air museum, and Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre too, both are excellent.

[Stuck In A Lift]

clarkey said:

Yes ,unless it's closed, and there is no NOTAM for it at the moment.

Try to get to the Newark air museum, and Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre too, both are excellent.

Thanks Clarkey. I'm not sure we will have time for anything apart from watching the flying. I will post photos

[clarkey]

I could be wrong but i think they tend to finish a bit earlier on fridays. have fun, the forecast is looking good.

[speedtwelve]

Typhoon mob will be in the mess bar by early afternoon on a Friday. Should see some flying in the morning though. Planning to visit BBMF while you're there?

[ecsrobin]

For a small price you can get a tour of the BBMF hangar which is certainly worth a visit to see all the aircraft in various stages of servicing. You may well be lucky enough to see some BBMF aircraft flying along with typhoons and tornados. On a Friday though we used to finish around 1-2pm at most until 4pm. How I miss that!!

[Stuck In A Lift]

We weren't planning on visiting the BBMF hangar, but we are now. That is a fantastic tip, thank you.

Do we just ask at the gate?

[muckymotor]

It's a separate entrance which I think is sign posted. Just past the BBMF there's a car park that has a decent view of the airfield.

[Ledaig]

Have a look here...

BBMF

[clarkey]

Stuck In A Lift said:

This is probably a very silly question- do they fly on half term? We are hoping to go there tomorrow.

I hope you didn't go, it'll be a quiet day:

Coningsby NOTAMED closed Friday 30th May

Parent ICAO: EGXC
Start date/time: 30/05/2014 07:00 UTC
End date/time: 30/05/2014 16:00 UTC
Activity period: null
Lower height limit: 000
Upper height limit: 999

AD CLOSED

[Stuck In A Lift]

clarkey said:

I hope you didn't go, it'll be a quiet day:

Coningsby NOTAMED closed Friday 30th May

Parent ICAO: EGXC
Start date/time: 30/05/2014 07:00 UTC
End date/time: 30/05/2014 16:00 UTC
Activity period: null
Lower height limit: 000
Upper height limit: 999

AD CLOSED

We went

We had a wonderful tour of the BBMF hangar.

We have been to the Mach Loop, but this was our first time visiting a front line base, so we sat patiently for most of the morning, even having a little nap in the car as it was so quiet. It was only when we went into the BBMF visitors centre at lunch time the our fears were confirmed.

Oh well, there is always Monday...

[Elderly]

I'm travelling to Lincoln on Thursday night of next week and I could make the detour to Conningsby either on the way up on Thursday afternoon or on the way back on Friday morning.

I've looked at the NOTAM site (whatever that stands for?) but I can't fathom out how to get the relevant info as to whether or not there might be flying on either of those days, can anybody guide me please?

[mcdjl]

Elderly said:

I'm travelling to Lincoln on Thursday night of next week and I could make the detour to Conningsby either on the way up on Thursday afternoon or on the way back on Friday morning.

I've looked at the NOTAM site (whatever that stands for?) but I can't fathom out how to get the relevant info as to whether or not there might be flying on either of those days, can anybody guide me please?

They often post the next few days schedule on the news section of here: http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/displays/displaydates.c... but given that they don't appear to have much on this weekend it might be hit/miss.

[Elderly]

Thanks but I don't mean the BBMF although I will go on the hanger tour,
I was wondering if I'd see Tornados and or Typhoons etc.flying.

[ecsrobin]

Elderly said:

Thanks but I don't mean the BBMF although I will go on the hanger tour,
I was wondering if I'd see Tornados and or Typhoons etc.flying.

Thursday afternoon is generally good you may have some BBMF flying, tornados and typhoons. Don't forget E3 sentry is currently based at Coningsby aswell.

Friday's can be hit and miss as they can be a popular day for a flight safety day or engineering day.

[Elderly]

I had a close encounter with an E3 Sentry a couple of years ago when a satnav I'd borrowed for a trip to Cyprus took us on a back route onto Akrotiri air base just as one was landing!!! We were looking for Flamingos at the time .

[Squawk1066]

Elderly said:

I'm travelling to Lincoln on Thursday night of next week and I could make the detour to Conningsby either on the way up on Thursday afternoon or on the way back on Friday morning.

I've looked at the NOTAM site (whatever that stands for?) but I can't fathom out how to get the relevant info as to whether or not there might be flying on either of those days, can anybody guide me please?

I've had some cracking Friday mornings at Coningsby, you might even be lucky and see the display planes up and about too- BBMF / Tphoon / Synchro pair. The actual squadrons tend to cram a bit more flying in during the morning, then scarper for the weekend once the lunch bell rings.

East Kirkby, home of Lancaster Just Jane is worth a visit in the afternoon too. As is the BBMF museum and hangar tour.