A SOVIET-ERA JET IN UK SKIES

Following the launch of his book Military Low-Level Flying From F-4 Phantom to F-35 Lightning II, we asked Scott Rathbone which aircraft he featured he considers to be the ‘rarest’. The answer, he states, could be found on pages 100-101. Scott went to explain his choice.

‘During June 2005, four Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 Fitters arrived at RAF Coltishall for a squadron exchange with RAF Jaguars of 41 Squadron.

‘With only a couple of confirmed sightings at low-level during a similar deployment in 2004, hopes weren’t high for the prospect of capturing them flying in the valleys during this deployment either. However, that turned out not to be the case, as less than half a dozen lucky people discovered on 10 June.

‘The day after arriving, three of the four deployed Su-22’s flew low-level through the Lake District accompanied by four of their Jaguar hosts. The images in the book were captured by Brian Hodgson, one of the lucky few, as this turned out to be the only time they were captured at low-level during the deployment. The sight of Russian built hardware at low-level in the UK was not something that I would have expected to see!’

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