Airbase public viewing
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Discussion

Mattygooner

Original Poster:

5,302 posts

228 months

Wednesday 29th July 2020
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Can anyone recommend any Military airbases that you can drive to and view interesting things coming and going?

Obviously the more active the better, the more interesting aircraft the better, and is there anyway to know when interesting things might be coming and going?

Thinking of somewhere like Lakenheath?

Piginapoke

5,818 posts

209 months

Wednesday 29th July 2020
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Lakenheath has a public viewing area

Tony1963

5,808 posts

186 months

Wednesday 29th July 2020
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Here you go. It’s at the red blob. It’s signposted from the A1065.


Europa1

10,923 posts

212 months

Wednesday 29th July 2020
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OP, Lakenheath does indeed have a public viewing area, but quite a few plane spotters go(if travelling from Brandon) straight through the lights and pull off the road on the left just before the woods - it's still close to the fence and is a bit elevated (by a few feet - remember which part of the world we're in!), so you should see a bit more of the runway.

I'm not sure it will fit the "variety" part of your bill, though. I used to go past it regularly, and other than the F15s which are based there, the only other thing I saw was a plain white 747. This was during the days of extraordinary rendition, so the tinfoil part of my brain went into overdrive.

For variety, Mildenhall just up the road might be better. Don't know if it has a public viewing area, and I don't know what's happening with its supposed shutdown. Given today's announcement from the orange onanist in the White House, they won't need their "Gateway to Europe" for much longer.

Tony1963

5,808 posts

186 months

Wednesday 29th July 2020
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Europa1 said:
I'm not sure it will fit the "variety" part of your bill, though. I used to go past it regularly, and other than the F15s which are based there
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For variety, invent a time machine and go back about 30 to 40 years. Sadly, that’ll be the only way. Occasionally there’ll be a visiting unit, which adds interest. For example a few F-22s were there a year or so ago.

Maybe, if you’re keen, venture up to the road outside Marham, near Fincham, to see a few F-35s if you’re lucky.

Mattygooner

Original Poster:

5,302 posts

228 months

Wednesday 29th July 2020
quotequote all
Thanks for the responses, is there anyway to find out what would be coming and going tomorrow? or is it just luck of the draw?

Would you recommend another airbase as being more active/better? just want something interesting to drive to really!

Narcisus

8,898 posts

304 months

Wednesday 29th July 2020
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Coningsby usually a great day unless they are night flying or have been the day before...

WTFWT

868 posts

247 months

Saturday 1st August 2020
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You can stand 10m from the end of the runway at Brize Norton and watch the comings and goings

Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

285 months

Mattygooner

Original Poster:

5,302 posts

228 months

Monday 3rd August 2020
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There are some good links on that site, seems Lakenheath is quite active but also quite busy, will be checking it out soon.

Coningsby a little far for a drive sadly.