A nice early morning visitor arriving prior to Coningsby launching was this Italian Piaggio P180. The types unusual 'pusher' design can clearly be seen.

Being located near Holbeach range, Coningsby tends to have a lot aircraft practise overshoots. Marham based Tornado GR4 powering away.

6 Squadron moved from Coltishall in April after that base closed down and now operate from one of Coningsbys HAS complexes.

Without tanks, and just practise bomb carriers fitted on the outboard and centre stations, the Jaguars were making the short trip to Holbeach and back again quickly.

6 Squadron were not actually planned to be at Coningsby at this time, having returned from a deployment to Cyprus the previous week early as Akrotiri needed the space with the ongoing Lebanon evacuation.

The squadron flew over 18 sorties during the day, which for a single RAF fast jet squadron was quite impressive - the entire Marham Tornado wing doesn't seem able to achieve those sortie rates.

Also noteworthy was how clean these 30 year old Jaguars were. Inside their final year of service, these Jaguars were immaculate.

A couple of two-seat Jaguar T4s are still flying although no further conversion courses onto the Jaguar are planned. This one is being flown single seat.

It's always nice when something slightly different comes off! There's a lot of contrails visible in the Lincolnshire skies and by sheer chance "Rampage 2" overshoots under one!

3 Squadron are the first frontline squadron to form on single seat Typhoon F2s, having given up their Harrier's at Cottesmore to the first RN Harrier GR7/7A squadron.

As of late July 2006, 3 Squadron were still forming, with about six aircraft on strength although more are delivered at regualr intervals. The squadron is expected to have a limited operational capability by year's end.

The new style squadron codes are in honour of the codes worn by 3 Squadron fighters during World War 2. The squadron colours also appear to honour a certain Norfolk football team!

'EM' appears to have lost part of its 'Flying Canopeners' badge.

'QO-W' as "Rampage 2" flying circuits at Coningsby. This is the units usual callsign.

Shooting through the fence, two Typhoon T1s lining up on runway 07 for departure.

17 Squadron, the OEU operate the one two-seater seen here. This was the first second batch T1A with slight improvements over the earlier production aircraft.

ZJ811 is also carrying a centreline tank, which has recently been introduced on the Typhoon fleet.

Most of 29 Squadron's fleet of two-seater's consists of early T1s although these are gradually going back to Warton for upgrade.

'BE' shows the usual markings carried by 29 Squadron Phantom, Tornado and now Typhoons - all these having been flown by the unit from Coningsby.

ZJ800 'BC' was actually the very first production standard Typhoon destined for RAF service, although not the first actually delivered.

'BG' is the most recent early airframe to return from upgrade at Warton.

Another T1 flown single-seat.

By chance, "Typhoon 55" - a delivery flight from the BAe plant at Warton arrived at Coningsby while I was there.

ZJ928 was delivered unmarked, yet had apparently been marked in 17 Squadron codes and colours less than 24 hours later!

'BJ' is one of the more recent deliveries to 29 Squadron at Coningsby.

The pods on the wingtips will contain, when fully deployed and developed, a towed radar decoy.

Two-seaters were the first to be delivered, but recent deliveries have been mostly the single-seat F2.

ZJ920 is one of four F2's current on 29 Squadron.

17 Reserve Squadron are a former Tornado GR1 Squadron, that disbanded when RAF Germany wound down. The gauntlet - with colours toned down - has returned on Typhoons.

Several of the OEU Typhoon's are on long term detachment to the USA for exercises on the advanced ranges located there. Rumours abound that they have beaten the best the USAF can throw at them - including F/A-22s!

A single 33 Squadron Puma made a brief stop at Coningsby inbetween fast jet sorties.

ZE449 has a rather interesting history - it was never intended for RAF operation and was delivered to Argentina prior to 1982. The airframe was captured on the Falklands and was returned to the UK, brought upto the RAF Puma specification and put into RAF service.

Another Marham Tornado on the overshoot.

6 Squadron flew further sorties in the afternoon to the East coast ranges.

'ES' carries the usual overwing AIM-9 rails and training rounds.

It is currently planned to retire the final Jaguar squadron at some point next year although there remains the possibilty of a extension. When it does finally go, 6 Squadron will become a future Typhoon squadron.

With 6 Squadron flying at such a high tempo and the Typhoon fleet working up, Coningsby has become a very active airfield.

The only shot through the fence that came off, 'QO-W' leads out two more 3 Squadron Typhoons as "Rampage 1-3" in a afternoon sortie.

Returning late afternoon, and the sun has unfortunately gone around, "Rampage" flight consist of the newest Typhoons delivered to the RAF.

The third 3 Squadron jet. Hopefully, on my next visit I'll see more of them.

Not seen on the first visit, 41 Squadron or the Fast Jet & Weapons Operational Evaluation Unit to give it it's full name was active the following week. This was the first time I had photographed a Tornado in 41 Squadron marks close up.

Didn't notice it at the time, but look closely at the Navigator - he's photographing back!

A few moments later, departing down the runway in afterburner.

Late production Typhoon T1 taxying out for the runway. Coningsby was using the other end on the second visit.

Didn't see this 29 Squadron F2 on the visit the previous week. It's the CO's aircraft.

Traditionally RAF squadrons mark the CO's aircraft with a small pendant under the cockpit and beside the name. Although this doesn't mean he's flying it.

'BZ' departing. In this light configuration the Typhoon does not use (or even need) afterburner, unlike the Tornado previously.

Another 29 Sqn F2 landing. Unfortunately the weather wasn't quite as kind on my second visit.

CO's aircraft returning later.

Two ASRAAM's make up the only external stores being carried.

When departing on 26 at Coningsby, Typhoon's taxying out from the ASP pass infront of one of the viewing spots.

Cleaning up upon departure.