Last weekend was the Beale show, a chance to try out my new 300mm lens. The first Beale show for about 5 years, visiting there really brought home to me why I'd read in one of the SR-71 books about Mildenhall being 'a small base in England.' The drive from the entrance gqate to the static park at Beale was 5 miles!
So on with the show. A typical US show, no grass, acres of concrete, and blazing sun!
Two of the resident U-2s were on static display, including a 2-seater. In the old days of TR-1Bs visiting Alconbury, I seem to remember thsat there were only 2 2-seaters, painted white, which used to visit on occasion. However, I counted 5 in the famous Beale 'barns' - perhaps they've converted some since?
One also flew in the display, opening with a steep climb-out and spiral climb to 70,000 feet (
), where it made a flypast dumping fuel, so that 2 thin trails could be seen waaaaay up in the sky.
It then descended and made a flypast before landing.
This place was once hallowed ground; home to the SR-71 Blackbird - probably the most charismatic aircraft I've ever seen fly at an airshow. Now, a just convenient sunshade for the masses.
One of the ultimately unsuccessful D-21 drones is also preserved there.
The mighty Buff
A quartet of based T-28s from the resident 1st Reconnaisance Squadron made a couple of flybys
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
