So….. I managed to get one last visit upto RAF Lakenheath, just a few days prior to Christmas….
I had resigned myself that I wouldn’t make it up there again, but then the f22 deployment that went to Lask in Poland transitted through, and 2 airframes remained after tech issues meant they didn’t leave with the rest.
On a whim and bit of hope I pitched up along the fence and waited, the 48th Fw residents were off to a busy start with plenty of launches of the f15e’s and the f35a…. but I was salivating for the raptors to fire up and launch.
As always the scuzzlebut along the fence meant lots of different theories including flights scrubbed, but just after 10am a different engine tone could be heard, which meant one thing…..game on !
Anticipation and frustration of missing them twice already, evaporated instantly when we saw the tails moving and disappear behind the trees along the taxiway.
Before long they had made it to the last chance area for last checks and clearance to the runway and the sun played its part superbly. Normally I cannot stand shooting into the sun and hate subjects backlit but it was a bit of an overcast morning so the sun was a bit defused which also helped.
Getting the ubiquitous head on shot was paramount to me but the staggered line up also worked just as nicely.
Clearance granted and away they went, back to Alaska and Elmendorf air base.
