North Weald Diary 2021

Ahhh beautiful photos LNSE, you can see in that second shot just how small the Gnat is and maybe why it was named so.

Good to see you posting again and agree we hope you are back very soon

Thank you 

TA

Some really lovely photos there.It always makes me smile at how small the little Gnats are.Thank you keep posting 🙂 

Some nice shots , look forward to seeing the walk around Spit shots when you have done them and I hope that you find your mojo again soon.

Thanks for posting

Haven’t updated for a while as the weather has been pretty poop and I’ve kind of lost my mojo for it all a bit tbh.

Anyway, the Gnats had three jets up and about yesterday, first time I’ve shot G-FRCE since the restoration was completed.

Then had to wait around for a couple of hours to help Peter put the Russian Spitfire away after his appearances at Abingdon and White Waltham. The sun went in about five minutes before he arrived back overhead and only re-emerged for a 30-second window whilst the aircraft was sat outside, so could only grab one frame quickly. 

Also helped tuck the Spitfire to bed last Sunday after the appearance at Old Warden. The sun was shining that day, but the late arrival meant the hangar was casting a shadow over the Spit once she was parked up. Still waiting for that situation to arise where I can get five minutes with it in some nice light to have a walkaround with the small lens. 

A great variety there SE492, G-MOUR must of been at North Weald now 4 decades ! 1990s, 2000s, 2010s &2020s !

Lovely photos ,thank you 🙂 

No idea, sorry. It was taxiing at the JetFest event in 2018 and static the following year, but other than those occasions I’ve not seen it outside. I think it’s probably on the back burner as they’ve recently restored T1 G-FRCE and they also acquired G-NATY from Bournemouth for restoration to flight. 

Quick visit today rewarded with Westland Wasp G-RIMM returning to Weald Aviation, though the new Air Ambulance hangar doesn’t make for the best backdrop. 

Nice to see some classic jet action. Any idea of when the single seat Gnat / Ajeet will be making its first flight (unless I’ve missed it already)?

Variety today.

New resident Yak-3U:

Brilliant update SE, thank you

Saturday 12th June

Aero Legends were busy with their two Spitfires, Harvard and Tiger Moths doing pleasure flights, there were some jet flights from the JP and L-29 and Hangar 11 had the bombs back on the new Spitfire to go to Sywell. 

Popped over to the market side with a plan to get some shots of it in the air with the underwing stores in place, but hadn’t factored in that he wouldn’t backtrack all the way to the threshold like Aero Legends do in their Spits, so ended up way too far up the runway and just had ground shots again, only they were obscured by the long grass.

Despite all the action, it was one of those days where it was sunny until the minute anything interesting happened, so I’ve binned most of my shots and at the risk of boring you all, only have the following to offer tonight: 

Sunday 11th July

Quick visit to pick up the new airfield newsletter that features some of my photos on the back cover (thanks Trevor).

Aero Legends had borrowed a second two-seat Spitfire from ARCo at Duxford, so grabbed some shots of that starting up. Forecast looks better for this weekend so will probably try for some runway shots as I believe Aero Legends will be back in action. 

Lovely photos and updates , Thank you 

Decent day today. The Russian Spitfire (sans bombs) went off to the show at Ragley Hall, the yellow Gnat was back up after a very busy few days last weekend and finally caught one of the Police helos returning once the sun had swung around. 

 At 11.00 am saw the ferry  Reliant chugging overhead Chorleywood, to deliver the pilot I suppose

Hope to see the Fury heading back later.

Weald Aviation have posted on Instagram to say that the RNHF Sea Fury will be departing back to Yeovilton tomorrow, if anyone is interested in popping along to watch. 

That looks good to me – nice to see another Spitfire in a more unusual scheme.

Lovely to see you back LNSE.

The Sea Fury has been out for engine runs also !

Thanks. Yes, the Squadron is now open again and so is Wings Cafe on the Weald Aviation side. The Huey was out and about on Sunday but I wasn’t there to see it, and there’s a new Gnat nearly ready to go I believe. There’s also a Lynx helicopter that is coming to the end of its restoration and is slated to be flying in spring/summer, so there’s some nice stuff to look forward to at North Weald besides the new Spitfire. 

Great photos , Thanks for posting 

Lovely photos, thanks very much for posting them. The Russian Spit looks brilliant.