Eight F-16s at RAF Holbeach Air Weapons Range - Strafing & Live Firing Targets | M61 Vulcan Cannon
Ойын-сауық
Two sets of Four Ship AV tail F-16s of the 555th Fighter Squadron 'Triple Nickel', strafe and fire live rounds at targets at the RAF Holbeach Air Weapons range on the 13th September 2022.
RAF Holbeach Air Weapons Range is a place to bring your aircraft to shoot and blow up stuff. It is situated between Boston and King's Lynn in the civil parish of Gedney on The Wash, in Lincolnshire. The range does not have a runway but it has a helicopter landing pad which is used by Chinooks and Apaches. Pretty much anything can come to the range, from Typhoons, F-15s to CV-22 Ospreys, it is a fantastic AWR.
The Eight F-16s (F-16C/D Block 40, I think this is correct) entered the range on the 13th September 2022 and the first flight of four came in at around 1645. This flight was the 'Fury' flight. This was their callsign, so you will have Fury21, Fury22 Fury23 and Fury24. The second four ship was the 'Grim' flight.
The 555th Fighter Squadron is part of the 31st Operations Group at Aviano Air Base, Italy. It operates General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (locally known as the 'Viper') aircraft conducting multirole air and ground missions. The 555th Fighter Squadron's F-16C/Ds tail markings consists of a green tail flash with the words 'Triple Nickel' inside it. The 'AV' tail code (for Aviano AB) is in the centre of the tail with the USAFE logo in between them on toned-down colours and the serial at the bottom of the tail.
The 555th Fighter Squadron was first activated at MacDill Field, FL in December 1942 as the 555th Bombardment Squadron. They trained with the B-26 Marauder and in May 1943, they departed for the European Theater. Stationed briefly at RAF Snetterton Heath then on to RAF Boxted, the 555th trained for medium level attacks. They encountered their first combat missions on enemy air bases and attacked gun positions and marshalling yards. They were involved in lots of bombing raids, and hitting coastal defences on D-Day.
On 8th January 1964, the 555th re-emerged at MacDill AFB as the 555 TFS, operating the F-4C Phantom II. Becoming part of the 8 TFW known as 'Wolfpack', the 555 FS let the first strike against MiG airfields in N.Vietnam. They launched night bombing attacks against North Vietnam and downed many MiG-21s.
After nine years of combat ops, the 555th returned to the US. in 1974, they moved to Luke AFB, Arizona where it transitioned the F-15 Eagle and became part of the 405th Tactical Training Wing. The squadron was then to become the 555th Fighter Squadron (555 FS) on the 1st November 1991.
Although inactivated on the 25 March 1994, just six days later they were reactivated on the 1st April 1994 and reassigned to the US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and stationed at the Aviano Air Base.
Before entering the range, pilots will need to confirm what aircraft are they have entering the range (how many crew are on board too), how many aircraft they have, whether they are carrying any ordnance before given the clearance to enter and squawk 7002.
They will do a few circuits before they commence strafing. Strafing is a an attack mode where the aircraft will almost dive at their target and fire missiles or their cannons. The F-16s are carrying an M61 Vulan cannon (an insane gatling gun) which fires 20mm rounds at 6,000 rounds per minute!
You will also hear pilots say “in DRY or in HOT”. Dry means the aircraft will strafe without physically firing anything. But when they call out ‘Hot', brace yourself for the delightful sound of weapons being fired.
REMEMBER: This is a DANGER AREA / AIR WEAPONS RANGE. Live rounds and weapons are fired. If red warning flags or red lights are displayed, regardless of timings, please remain clear of the range area.
Whenever warning signals are displayed, do not cross the range boundary. Do not touch any military debris it may be dangerous.
Useful links:
555th Fighter Squadron
www.f-16.net/units_article149...
www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fac...
Holbeach AWR
on-target-aviation.com/holbeac...
#usaf #f16 #holbeach #555fs #triplenickel #f16viper #aviano #fun #satisfying #lakenheath
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Пікірлер: 92
This is SO FREAKING COOL! I am so jealous you get to see this. Thank you so much for these videos.
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oiiiii oiiiii 🤙🏼 thanks so much for your comments 🫡 It is totally cool to see this and of course hear this too. You’re most welcome and look forward to seeing more comments from you. Enjoy our videos 😎🤙🏼
The triple nickle is a well known fighter wing. Aw yeah 😎
@billveitch2100
Жыл бұрын
Putting it into USAF terminology, the 555th is a fighter SQUADRON. A wing consists of two or more squadrons so there are several other squadrons in existence that make up a wing. Usually an Air Force Base will be home to wing which will have all the components required to maintain a base a civil engineering squadron, a security police squadron, an admin squadron, etc. They will typically have the same number as the wing. That means, for example, that the 20th CES, 20th SPS and 20th admin are all part of the 20th Fighter Wing. The numbered fighter squadrons play by different rules so the 20th Fighter Wing can have as an example a 426th, 433rd and 517th fighter squadrons assigned to it. I won’t pursue explaining tenant squadrons, but they can have all sorts of numbers that follow no reasoning whatsoever.
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
The Triple Nickels are awesome 🇺🇸
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
@@billveitch2100 we knew what he meant. It is 555th Fighter Squadron. I’ve made that typo many a times when we first started out 🤙🏼🫡
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
The Triple Nickels are awesome 🤙🏼🫡🇺🇸
I love the F16s! Hopefully they will come back soon after they have left Lakenheath! Great video Ted! 👍😎🇬🇧😀👋✈️🧸
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
They are amazing aren’t they? What a treat this was
Brilliant video Ted! Amazing you can get that close to live firing aircraft 😯
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Adam! I’m sure they got close specially for us though! But yeah, Holbeach AWR is amazing, especially done like this. And yes, no matter how prepared, it makes us jump every time that cannon fires lol 😂 🇺🇸🤙🏼😎
fantastic video Ted and nikos 😀 🤙 👍
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oooooohhhhh yeah 🤙🏼😎thanks Andrew. It was awesome to see and hear this 🇺🇸
Great work dude!😎🤙🏼
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oiii oiii thanks very much
Phenomenal action brilliantly captured. I have never even seen an F-16 let alone six coming in hot!
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oiiii oiiiii thank you so much, we thought four was exciting and then the ‘Fury’ flight left, another four F16s were inbound! Ooooohhh yeah. Actually it was eight F16s wahhhhayyyyyy. Not sure why, but we seem to attract the AV F-16s
@kenstevens5065
Жыл бұрын
Great filming of the action. I used to spend hours at the ranges and apart from two Warthogs going the full nine yards years ago just saw a few Jaguars or Tornadoes with the usual one second burst.......the RAF must look after the pennies! I'll never get used to the delay of hearing the gun firing after the shells hit the target. It's a strange experience.
Awesome video....duck Teddy!!!! hahaha
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Ken… yeah, they were just showing off their accuracy skimming my beret off like that. 😂😂😂 But it made us jump every time they fired the 20mm cannon. Amazing oooooohhhhh yeah 🤙🏼🇺🇸
I've grown up here few miles from the range, when the a10 used to come here now that was a spectacle they would fly off the sea direct at you stood in the sea defense bank and be eye level with you really showing off to the crowds
Hi Ted. Some crackle as well as burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp today. I find it of interest that Fury flight used one second bursts and grim flight used two second bursts. They look as if they all carry four AMRAAM's as well as the drop tanks. Best to be prepared, just in case. Smashing video. Pip pip young bear.
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Stephen! Oiiii oiiiiii 🤙🏼 Well listened out for and well observed. I’m glad you heard that crackle as it was most satisfying. We won’t ever forget this day, it was simply amazing and very very intense. They are the Triple Nickel and have an amazing history and reputation. I learned so much about them. They are full on combat ready, love it. Wahhhhayyyyyyy and glad you enjoyed the video
Fantastic!
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Thank you 🤙🏼
Oiiii oiiiiii ohhh yeahhhh🤩, the sounds are amazing, awesome footage yet again team Ted I bet this was amazing to see and hear live 😎 ❤
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
ooooohhhhhhhh yeahhhhhh The sounds were just unreal and to stand right close to this was something else. They really went for it. We loved it and we were so glad to be there to share it with you all.
This is extraordinary! We had a couple of the Aviano F-16s drop into Valley not that long ago. Exciting to see for us given we mostly see Hawks and Texans (as good as those are).
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
It sure was extraordinary to see this and to eight was insanely brilliant. But, they clearly read my noTEDS 😎 they know I’m there and we’re giving it all they got. We had the pleasure of a debut visit ar RAF Valley early in the year (the video you seen). We were so impressed and loved it very much, what a lovely station it is. Great part of the world and we will return in the future. So as you get to know the channel, Nikos (the cameraman and narrator) has a thing for missing Hawks 😂😂😂 (what we mean is; not pressing record, not quick enough to get them etc) Even at Valley he missed them in the early part of the day and was sweating for a few hours thinking the worst. But, they Hawks felt sorry for him 😂😂😂 Great to see you interacting. Our channel has some amazing ladies, gents and teddy bears
@NorthWalesBoatsandPlanes
Жыл бұрын
@@TedConingsby It's lovely to get responses to our comments actually, so we're already enjoying that. We try to do the same on our own channel and spend quite a bit of time at our local base, Valley. If you do find yourself back at Valley and feel like letting us know (our website is on our channel), we'd love to say hi! Perhaps we can interview Ted for our Interview series? Thought your plane tracking was brilliant too. I find that difficult because of my seated position, but it's fun either way Safe landings!
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
@@NorthWalesBoatsandPlanes oiiii oiiiii that would be brilliant to have an interview, will defiantly let you know of dates for sure. We respond to everyone as quickly as we can. We are a small family military aviation channel and it’s been a great first year. No problem at all oooooohhhhhhhh yeah
Hey Ted hello from Western Massachusetts…Great Video!
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Hey Robert! A massive oooooohhhhh yeah to you and love to Western Massachusetts 🇺🇸thank you so much 🫡🤙🏼
Love the sound of the Vulcan cannon,made me think of the AIO Thunderbolt or Warthog as it is known.The AIO,s equally awesome cannon seems to make a more rude sound!!Hang on to your beret Ted!!.
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Ooiiii oiiiii that Vulcan cannon is impressive, 6,000 rounds per minute????? Wow! It is 20mm but the A10 uses 30mm and carries more bullets I believe. It does make a funny sound, but my goodness does it make you jump every time even when you know it’s gonna happen. Hehe, the beret survived the range lol.
Not the easiest to keep up with... Got some great shots there Ted. 💖🐻🇬🇧
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Hi Lesley, yeah they were very rapid and their strafing was phenomenal. Top pilots of the 555 FS. The air was perfect for lots of ‘Spluffage’ too ooooohhhh yeah
Ooohhh yeah!!! Brilliant as always Ted!!
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Ooooohhhhhh yeah we couldn’t believe it when we heard them on the radio entering the range! Thanks man 🇺🇸
@typhoon123
Жыл бұрын
@@TedConingsbygreat catch guys that sound is amazing! thanks again 😁
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
@@typhoon123 we are only 45 minutes away from the range… so we will be visiting more often and out the noTEDS up to get the pilots excited that I am in the area wahhhhayyyyyy
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
@@typhoon123 thanks Lee, the sound, the noise, the intense moves, the speed the lot, it was a superb 2 hours here ooooooohhhhhh yeah
@typhoon123
Жыл бұрын
@@TedConingsby its brilliant guys thanks.. Always worth seeing, especially with f16s which we don't see much these days
15:08 poor little ted 💩💩😂😂
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Brilliant Video Ted, the f16 is an impressive kite & the brrrraaaaaapppppppppp from the Vulcan cannon is a great sound and a very destructive wep & it’s been used for so long now it’s crazy the F4 Phantom carried it in a under slung pod & now the F22 has it hidden away and I’m not sure if the f35 has it or not. Pp nope the F35 has the GAU22
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Ooiii oiiii Colin! Thanks so much The M61 Vulcan cannon is fantastic and the noise is just ooooooooohhhhh yeah. Thanks for the info there, appreciate this. If you freeze frame (not on a phone) when the F16s fire, you can see the flames 🔥 showing when the cannon has been fired! It’s a split second but well cool to see. 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Oiiii oiiii Awesome video Ted & Nikos - Holbeach is on the list to visit when we’re up in Lincs. Took me some convincing to persuade Jo that bbbrrrrraatttt was not you blowing raspberries or Ted with an indigestion issue! Oh yeah!! 😂😜🇬🇧🧸
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
😂😂😂 yes, it sure weren’t us 😂 Holbeach is awesome. The range is active until 2200 on Tuesdays and Thursdays now as it is in winter hours. Waahhhhaaayyyy 🚁
So need to see an F16!! This must have been unbelievable? Not just 4 but 8 and you get to be so close. Looking good they do. Fury and Grim flight from 555th live firing from all 8. They still are a weapon these F16's. Fully loaded! Gatling gun sound is cool. Come back over anytime from Aviano. Let me know 1st! 😂 lol Triple Nickel by the way, isnt that such a great Name. So good. No:- 990 /1096
@TedConingsby
3 ай бұрын
Oiii oiii Dan, this was magic and I remember this day very well, hard to forget. We almost packed up as it was late in the afternoon and as we collapsed the tripod, the scanner went off. 4x F16s checked in. WARNING: if you have never heard a cannon from a fighter go off, it will make you jump especially will the sound delay. Once we were recovering from excitement of the first four, it wasn’t long until another flight of four checked in with the range after the first departed. It was amazing. 6,000rpm which is insane! Oooohhh yeah
Brilliant video, but be careful Ted! 💥
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
ooooiiiii ooiiiiii thank you so much. Hehe, yeah my beret was safe in the end 😁😅
Very cool vid Ted but these bad boys sound nowt like the A10s BBRRRRRRTTTT 👍👍🐻🐻🐻
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oiiii oiii Mick, thanks very much 😎We’ve not heard the legendary A10 yet and can’t wait to hear this one day. In fairness the M61 sounds amazing at 6,000 rounds per minute 🤙🏼🇺🇸
absolutely love this! how do I know when there will be action though?
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Thank you. It’s a case of turning up and pray & hope
I'd there f22 rapters coming to Lakenheath this year
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Hopefully
Do they have to come to the UK for live weapons practice? Is there nowhere in Italy they can do this?
@mattsmith2432
Жыл бұрын
They are in the UK as there is runway resurfacing work being carried out at Aviano
@tjankie
Жыл бұрын
Cobra Warrior 2022 is also currently under way.
@rhysackerman9761
Жыл бұрын
@@mattsmith2432 No runway work is being carried out at AV. The 5510th and deployed squadron of hornets are atill operating as usual. It was just a rumor that came from nowhere and has spread
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oiiii oiiii! No, they do have weapons ranges in Italy but these AV F-16s have been deployed to RAF Lakenheath for a few weeks or so, like they usually do annually. I mean, if you were visiting another country and you are a pilot of an armed F-16, surely blasting a range is on the list hehe 😉
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oh I forgot to mention, they are taking part in Cobra Warrior 2022. 🤙🏼
Great to hear and watch, but please mix in at least one or two runs where you focus in on the target for prospective in your next visit. Otherwise it gets a little repetitive. Cheers!👍
@TedConingsby
10 ай бұрын
Check out our other videos where we have a fixed telescopic lens on some of the targets (the latest Osprey video ) 🤙🏼
@TedConingsby
10 ай бұрын
Check out our other videos where we have a fixed telescopic lens on some of the targets (the latest Osprey video ) 🤙🏼
Oi oi!!! What a sound, not as impressive as an A10 but great to hear all the same........ also good to see something different with the F16. That beret Ted........😂😂😂
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oiiiii oiiiii Andy 🤙🏼😎 Oooohhh yeah what a sound not just from the M61 cannons which were just amazing to hear (made us jump a few times) but also the intense tones/noise from the F16s was just sweet sounds to my ear. Not heard the legendary A10 cannon yet, one day we may hear it. The M61 Vulcan 20mm cannon is pretty sweet though and you can see that the pilots were smashing the targets. You can see the impact of the bullets too in some scenes smashing ground. 😂😂😂 yeah my beret at an AWR… no chance of staying on
I live near in the town of holbeach and j could see then diving in
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Oiiiii oiiii Matt. That’s awesome 😎🤙🏼
@Plane_Videos
Жыл бұрын
@@TedConingsby aawwwwww yeeeeeee!
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
🤙🏼😎 wahhhhhayyyyyy
“Our yeah”. didn’t see F16s today 30th 5th Breeeeeeeezip strafing. what a wicked sound scared poorTed he’ll never get use to it being a bear an all paddyloves it
@TedConingsby
27 күн бұрын
How come you dont get the double buurp like with the A10s
@TedConingsby
3 ай бұрын
You can hear this on some of them, they are very close together, it’s the impact sound followed by the actual firing sometimes
anyone know the frequencies theyre on
🐨🐰🐨🐰🐨🐰🐨
@TedConingsby
Жыл бұрын
Awesome ❤❤❤ hiya Ted n nikos BbBbRrRrRrZrzRZrzZzZzZtTtTtTTT so ❤ that Superior gunfire sound so awesome 😂😂
@TedConingsby
9 ай бұрын
Oiii oiiii 🤙🏼 that M61 Vulcan cannon 6000 rounds per minute and it sounds amazing… even if you know it’s coming it makes you jump out of one’s fur 😂