Location: Cad East, nr Dolgellau, Wales
Date: 17 July, 2007
To temper the customary post-RIAT blues, Dave and I headed for a deepest Welsh Wales to grab some low-flying action. With a choice of a couple of locations, we decided to head for Cad West, a steep hill on the entry to a narrow valley close to Cader Idris. The cloud and rain held off for the best part of the day, only rolling in during the late afternoon to cut our day short. Aircraft tended to arrive in groups with the customary Hawks from Valley providing the most aircraft. But it was the appearance of two Hawk 132s destined for the Indian Air Force (but still in primer) that provided the most dramatic images. A single Herc and F-15E (over the valley) were also seen.
Looking northeast towards Lake Bala (hidden under cloud) and The Bwlch on the right.
In the opposite direction is Tal-y-Llyn lake and Corris Corner on the left.
A sharp shower passing over Dolgellau (fortunately missing us).
From higher up Cad west looking down into the narrow neck of the valley.
A gap in the clouds over Tal-y-Llyn.
Cloud descends to cover the top of The Bwlch.
A bright spell, but no aircraft!
A heavy shower approaching us up the valley from the south.
Having past us, the rain headed for The Bwlch.
Our day ended with the top of Cad West covered in cloud.
First of the Indian Hawks to pass through was ZK125.
ZK125 streaking towards Corris Corner.
XX311 heads towards Tal-y-Llyn.
F-15E Strike Eagle from Fairford passes over the top of us before heading to Lakenheath.
It surprises many that a Herc can fly so low. XV201 disproves the point.
XV201
ZK121, another Indian Hawk, on a low-level training flight.
ZK121 coming back for seconds.
Hawk T1 XX185 pulls hard right.
Our final sight of the Indians was provided by a returning ZK125.
