A long time in the making, but here is the definitive full-on version of the single most exciting couple of weeks I have experienced in all my years of visiting RAF Coningsby.
The event was the Indradhanush IV exercise in Summer 2015 when four of the mighty Sukhoi Su30MKI Flankers made their second visit to the UK to take on the latest and greatest aircraft the RAF had to offer in the shape of the Eurofighter Typhoon.
There were leaks amongst the Indian Air Force, where they claimed to have absolute superiority over the Typhoon in the close air to air fights - with their vectored thrust capability, but nothing is official, and I personally doubt the RAF gave much away as to the real capabilities the Typhoon has at it's disposal!
In this two hour fast moving epic video you will see action from all corners of the Coningsby site (some which are no longer available today), providing a never to be repeated spectacle, although video equipment is not quite what we have become familiar with today.
You will see the huge Sukhoi aircraft being unwrapped, cleaned and prepared for flight, the start-up procedure, and setting off into battle from various angles and both ends of the runway.
Also most of the Typhoon "specials" appear at some point in the video, including "Gina" and "Dixie", which have since returned to their operational liveries. Also there are a number of the original Typhoon two-seat trainer aircraft which are no longer in service.
We also have a quickfire visit from four F-16 fighters from the Netherlands air force, and a brief sight of the old battle warrior, the Tornado GR4 carrying a weapons load as part of the test fleet squadron.
Despite some pretty inclement challenging weather I think I covered this even pretty well as good as I was capable at the time and it is one of my most treasured events . . .
27 янв 2024
