Friday marked our little one’s 3rd birthday. We had planned to head to a playcentre after my partner finished work, but when we found they were all closed, we asked her what she wanted to do instead. Her answer was simple and perfect: see airplanes.
By chance, I spotted a post about RAF Coningsby’s Members’ Day happening on Saturday. So Friday night, we packed up and made the two-hour drive down to Boston, staying in a Travelodge nearby to be close to the base.
We knew the flying was scheduled to start around midday, but as non-members we wanted to find a spot close enough to enjoy the show without adding to traffic. We set off from the hotel around 9am and arrived around 10am. After scouting a few spots and grabbing fuel and a drink, we pulled into our final viewing spot. Lucky for us, the show kicked off early due to approaching weather. From the car, I heard the unmistakable roar of the Spitfire’s Merlin engine. We quickly jumped out, headed down the path to the airfield fence, and settled in for what was going to be an incredible display.
I ended up capturing literally over a thousand images as the Lancaster, Spitfires, Dakota, and Eurofighter danced through the sky. The trip was an amazing family outing, full of excitement and laughter, but from a photography standpoint, it was a little bittersweet. My Sigma 70–300 lens struggled with the distance shots, and many images weren’t as clear as I’d hoped. Fortunately, there were still some fantastic close-ups during the show, and after the flying we even got to the base entrance to photograph some of the aircraft up close.
This experience pushed me to finally invest in a Sigma 150–500 lens — which arrived yesterday — and I can’t wait to put it to good use on future trips.
All in all, a 3rd birthday to remember: filled with smiles, family moments, and the thrill of watching some truly amazing aircraft take to the skies.
