Pre flypast hailstorm
Some say us Brits are a strange lot, with our traditions and celebrations. So a Platinum Jubilee to celebrate the Queen being on the throne for 70 years must, to some, seem a little odd. But at it's base level, we get a couple of extra days off work, and get to hold parties in the street for a couple of days. And, most people seem that bit happier.
A400M Airbus and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
There are a series of events leading up to and on the day, one of which is a flypast by a large number of military aircraft. Today was a practice run for some of the bigger aircraft from the Royal Air Force, The Royal Navy and the Army. RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire was used as a stand in for Buckingham Palace.
Hercules
Whilst the aircraft were forming up out over the sea, I was parked up ready, watching the hail pound down on my windscreen. Thankfully, as they started to started to fly towards Cranwell, the hail stopped and the weather turned much better. These are just a few of the shots from the day. And only a few of the total aircraft that will actually take part in the flypast itself. I don't know how it is in other countries with this sort of event (or airshows etc), but in the UK, there is a thing where some aviation "spotters"/photographers always take step ladders with them to every event. No matter where they set up, they climb to the top of their ladder to get a better view. Today's event was know different, even though the aircraft were flying at 1000 feet - with no obstacles in the way, people still climbed their step ladders.
Airbus KC2 Voyager
A guy in the car next to me had a foldable step - it gave him around 6 inches of extra height. He had scanners and his mobile tracking the aircraft coming in. Tripods and a blue tooth speaker for the crackling radio chatter. And he had to be told he was facing the wrong way, and almost missed the firs aircraft as they flew past. It made me a chuckle. As they say, "all the gear, no idea".
All in all not a bad half hour. Going to miss the actual flypast in London as I am at a wedding so it will have to suffice.
P-8A Poseidon with RC135 Rivet Joint