Royal Air Force Station. Coningsby
RAF Coningsby is located 22 miles southeast of RAF Waddington in the heart of the Lincolnshire farming community and within an hours drive of the east coast holiday resorts. Coningsby is a small town with a host of small shops a cafe, chip shop and small supermarket as well as a post office and a couple of banks, so obtaining cash should not be a problem. On the outskirts of Coningsby to the east is a petrol station. The Base itself has a historic past and this continues to the present day has it is home to the Battle of Britain Memorial flight, who have their own hanger and facilities on base. You can visit the flight during the week and see the aircraft for yourself on one of the guided tours which are usually hosted by former crews who flew the aircraft during WW 2. Occasionally some of the aircraft may be missing, for example they may be performing a flypast, so it is advisable to give them a call before you set off to avoid disappointment. Close by is the former WW 2 airfield and museum of East kirkby and now home to the Lancaster "Just Jane" who is in taxiing condition. The operational side of RAF Coningsby has 4 sqns of Typhoons 3,11, 17(R),29(R) the reserve squadrons performing a training role Also based here are 41(R) sqn who were originally the Air Warfare centre and they fly 2x Harrier,and 2x Tornado gr4, the sqn have just retired their Tornado F3's, the base is the largest fighter station in the UK, hence the name fighter town. Until recently 25 sqn from RAF Leeming used the base with their F3 Tornado's for Quick reaction alert duties, they disbanded at the beginning of April 2008 and the role is now one for the resident Typhoons. The Base does tend to be spotter friendly, having opened a dedicated viewing area for this purpose.
Coordinates: to be added
Runways Direction, Length, ft m
08/26
Frequencies
279.075 Ground
340.250 Tower
376.350 Departures
282.725 Approach
277.500 Director
281.125 Talkdown (pri)
341.200 Talkdown (sec)
277.775 London Mil East
234.675 Wing Ops "Seagull"
280.300 ATIS
Websites of interest to Coningsby.
Weather link
RAF Coningsby link BBMF LINK East kirkby LINK
Point 1 is the official viewing area. This is located to the North East of the single runway, close to the BBMF hanger, it is a dedicated area set aside for around 60 cars and a burger van. From this location you have a decent view of aircraft taxiing out to the runway on the south side of the airfield, although the 8 foot fence does hamper your photography. It is possible to obtain good pictures by shooting through the fence, keep your apertures open as much as you dare, this will keep the fence out of focus should it stray into the frame. Aircraft on approach will give you a good side on shot from the car park, although you may be facing into the sun during the late afternoon. To reach the viewing area you need to head for the centre of the town and close to the Church with the painted clock, follow the BBMF sign posts, you will pass a co op supermarket and then you will reach a Mini roundabout near a derelict pub, turn right here on to Dogdyke lane. Follow this road for ¾ mile, you will pass the cemetery and the BBMF hanger and on your right as you clear the last hanger you will see the viewing area on your right.
Point 2, is under the threshold of runway number 26. Here you can stand by the approach lights and get close ups of the aircraft with your wide angle lens as they pass by you almost within touching distance. Alternatively you can use a pair of step ladders to see over the wood slatted fence, you can get head on shots of the aircraft as they take off towards you from the opposite end (although a 400mm lens and 1.4x converter will help you here) or you could get some great taxiing shots or afterburner shots as they line up on the runway prior to departure. Take care as the fence as been painted with a non setting paint, so avoid wearing your Sunday best. It is best to park your car in the car park and then walk carefully to this viewing point.
A Harrier taxiing past point 2
Jaguars shot at 400mm plus 1.4x converter
Point 3: is the location called the mound, from here you can stand on a large mountain of compacted dirt which elevates you about 10 ft above the airfield fence at the south western end of the airbase. This location is on private property, however the land owner who is a local farmer has stated that enthusiasts may use this piece of land at their own risk and that the area is kept free from rubbish. To reach this location from the main spotters car park at point1, simply turn right and head past the threshold of the runway, after 100 yrds the fence on the left will finish and there is a small lane/track on the left, turn down here and park up not to obstruct the farmer who does use this piece of land daily. Be warned that it is very uneven and often water logged, so those with low front spoilers be aware. From here if the aircraft are taking off towards you, often types such as Tornado's are often still low enough for 300mm frame fillers and are usually still in full afterburner as they pass you. Also the aircraft that break late into the circuit offer nice topsides as they are over the top of you and the sun does not really cause much of a problem.
41 sqn Tornado gr4 about to touch down, taken from the mound
Taken from the mound, 11sqn Typhoon about to touch down, 350mm focal length
Point 4: is located behind the hangers for 11 sqn and is suitable if you are after crews getting into their aircraft and close up taxi shots, you will have to shoot through the holes in the fence unless you have very large step ladders with you. From here you can shoot 11 sqn Lightning guard with a 100 mm lens. To reach this location head left on the road from the mound towards Dogdike, then take the sharp left hand bend and then follow this road for 1 mile until you reach the cross roads at Old Fen Lane, turn left here and follow the track until you reach the destination, please park well away from the crash gate without obstructing the road, as this will be used for emergencies.
point 5 Is at crash gate 4 and is located further up the airfield from Point 4, from point 4 head back from Old Fen Lane on to Dogdike road and keep going until you reach the main road junction. Once at the main road, turn left , then left again after 250 yrds and keep going until you reach the airfield fence. Park up without obstructing the road or the crash gate. Here you can shoot through the fence or use your ladders to shoot over the fence. Aircraft landing from your right will touch down in front of you, keep your camera trained on them as they may lift off again for another circuit and more practise landings. At this location aircraft often break into the circuit over the top of you which ever end of the runway they are using.
point 6: Is the New York end. Here is a large wooden slatted fence just like at the opposite end of the runway. As at point 2 a step ladder with 2 or 3 runs is required to look over and capture aircraft on the runway or taxi way. A lens of around 100mm is fine for side on shots of aircraft landing at this end, although for aircraft taking off towards this end, you may well be wasting your time as they could well be too high. To reach this location from Crash gate 4, just simply head back onto the main road and turn left and after about 1 mile you will reach a small lay-by on the left just before the runway lights, park here and be very careful of traffic. The Lights often stop vehicles while aicraft are on finals. This location is fantastic in the Autumn to Spring season especially in late afternoon, especially when shooting into the sun which often drops down in late afternoon over the far end of the runway and offers some really arty images.
A step ladder with 2 or 3 rungs is plenty enough to see over the fence at either end of the runway.
A 41 sqn Tornado gr4, lights the burners for take off on a night mission
point7 From the town centre head towards the BBMF centre but when you reach the mini roundabout at the derelict pub instead of turning right, go left instead. This takes you through a small housing estate and past the road to the main gate of the camp, where you can just view the old Tornado f2 ? and Phantom gate guards. Keep going until you reach the airfield fence and crash gate, as usual park up without blocking the gate. The fence here is smaller than elsewhere and stands at around 6 ft, so only small steps are needed here, be warned that on very sunny days you will be facing into the sun, although that should not stop you getting some really interesting pictures, you should just be aware of it. From here a Typhoon on its take off will be in front of you and will fill the frame at 300 mm, as aircraft taxi past you they are around 50 ft from you. The biggest treat from here is the hover pad for the Harriers which is positioned just in front of you which gives a great view of the Harriers in their hover practise and for vertical take offs if you are lucky, if it has been raining, the steam coming off the runway makes for superb pictures.
A pair of Typhoons lift off the runway for a formation take off, taken from point 7
A 41 sqn Harrier taxis past point 7 in wet weather
Point 8 No visit to Coningsby is complete unless you have seen some of the best aircraft in the charge of the RAF, by this we mean the aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial flight. These pieces of history are located at the hanger closest to the main viewing area and are often found outside on their ramp being run up. If you are lucky enough, you may even get to see them taxi past you on their way to a flypast or display during the summertime. Outside the BBMF is a small amount of parking for around 5 cars and you can shoot through the fence.
