HOW LOW!? INSANE AND COOL F-35 VERY LOW APPROACH • OUR LOWEST WE HAVE SEEN AT RAF LAKENHEATH

When you hear a pilot requesting a 'Low Approach' at RAF Lakenheath, it is always exciting BUT this has to be our lowest we have ever seen with gear up, skimming the ants off the runway! These F-35A Lightning II's are flown by the 493d and 495 Fighter Squadrons based at RAF Lakenheath, the 48th Fighter Wing.
What is a Low Approach?
It is a when an aircraft will approach the runway at a low altitude (minimum altitude specified by ATC) and will pass low and go around. It is sometimes referred to as a low pass, and is essentially a go-around manoeuvre following an approach. Instead of touching down, a pilot may wish to go-around without touching down in order to expedite a particular operation.
Why do fighter jets carry out a Low Approach?
Well, practice can make perfect but can also burn fuel too. But, this manoeuvre can be useful in combat or if there is an issue with the runway. In combat, many aircraft will operate at altitudes as low as 100 feet and at high airspeeds to defeat ground missile radars and avoid sophisticated surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, and enemy fighters. On a more day to day scenario, there could be a last minute emergency on the runway. It could also be used a reconnaissance too.
RAF Lakenheath is the home of the 48th Fighter Wing and home to four combat ready fighter squadrons; 492nd FS, 493rd FS, 494th FS and the recently reactivated 'Valkyries', the 495th Fighter Squadron. It may carry the title RAF but it is a USAF base. This is because the base was originally built for and operated by the Royal Air Force in 1940. The airfield started life out as decoy airfield (Q-site) to RAF Mildenhall, which is about 5.5 miles the way the backwards crow flies. RAF Mildenhall was an established bomber station built in 1934 and to protect it, Lakenheath was chosen to become a decoy, to take any attacks. However, things changes and it was decided that RAF Lakenheath would become a satellite station to Mildenhall.
RAF Lakenheath was home to 20 OTU with Wellington Bombers, 149 Squadron with their Short Sterling Bombers who were also joined later by 199 Squadron. After WWII, and from 1948, it then became home to the USAF's 307th Bombardment Group and also the 2d Bombardment Group.
However during WW2, the 48th wasn't even founded. It was on the 10th July 1952, the Oklahoma Air National Guard 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France was redesignated as the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing. The fighter squadrons being redesignated the 492d, 493d, and 494th respectively, the 58 F-84Gs and support aircraft of the ANG were assigned to the 48th Fighter-Bomber Group under the Hobson Plan. To this day, the 492d, 493d and the 494th Fighter Squadrons still serve under the 48th FW today! Further more, the Statue of Liberty was actually made near the base and the Mayor of the town gave a ceremonial name to the base as the "Statue of Liberty Wing". The 48th Fighter Wing is the only Wing in the USAF to have a number and a name!
It wasn't until 15th January 1960 that the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing made Lakenehath their new home. LR, LS and LT were the tail codes for the base with the F-100's but when they transitioned to the Phantom, a temporary tail code of LK was introduced until a few months later it changed once more to LN, which is active today.
In 1977 a fourth squadron joined Lakenheath's 48th, the 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron. They were known as the "Thundervarks" flying the F-111's. However, they deactivated in 1991. They also sported the green tail flash.
In 1991, The 48th Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated as the 48th Fighter Wing. This included the 'Tactical' title being dropped on the squadrons too. The 495th disbanded with the retirement of the F-111 in that year but returned 30 years later in 2021 with the F-35A.
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[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii ladies, gents and teddy bears! These were insanely low and we gotta say that Nikos really is coming out with some classic catchphrases this year. This is what sets him apart lol. We’d love to hear from you so please let us know your thoughts in the comments. Don’t forget to support the channels by clicking the LIKE button and Subscribing to our unique military aviation channel. Ooohhh yeah

[@colinpattison220]

What great footage Ted & Nikos, excellent. I think that F-35 pilot has reset the "all time low" record for RAF Lakenheath! As for "skim the ants", brilliant I love it🤣

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii Colin thank you very much. lol nikos does come out with ‘em

[@jimibartlett7531]

Oh my goodness. HOW EPIC WAS THAT. Respect to the pilots for them mad skills. Great footage too Nikos 👍

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii Jim thank you 🤙🏼

[@shaggyofwv]

Great camera work. Weather looks nice there today.

[@sie50]

Superb ant skimming, high performance climbing turns with a few "howls" and a car alarm for good measure.

[@TedConingsby]

Oooohhh yeah thanks Sie

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

Brilliant footage as usual Nikos, Ted & Clarebear.

[@TedConingsby]

Oii Oii thank you so much

[@tornagawn]

Gear up, low and fast and up and….yes!

[@janetmcnichol-fowler4904]

Absolutely amazing.

[@TedConingsby]

Thanks Janet

[@keithsgulbransen8397]

Superb flying and video footage. All the best. Keith'

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii Keiths thank you

[@clairebear0675]

Thank you all for the lovely kind comments🧸🤗

[@TedConingsby]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@AnnCox-kp3pc]

What fantastic footage Nikos and Ted oii oii .... wow that F-35 pilot was amazing. Ants must of been seriously injured. Medic 😂😂😂 Brilliant flying

[@TedConingsby]

Oii Oii Ann thank you

[@chrisjude8794]

BRILLIANT 👌👌👍😎

[@margobaxter8344]

Skimeroonie & howler time! Swing low sweet F-35s, coming to skim the vans 😆. Somehow, I don't think one would be very safe re-surfacing the runway during this 😲. USAFE showing just a tad of force there. Brilliant!

[@TedConingsby]

Proper skimming and howling, perfect

[@kylobear7991]

Awesome! Big look at THIS!

[@TedConingsby]

Ooohh yeah

[@DanielWalker4524]

From the very moment the F35A swoops down to clean the runway its something special alright, with the Wolfie and climb into circuits. Right to the last F35 with incredible agility, speed and noise its a entertainment fest of joy. Even down to the Beret down from Ted. Come on, let's face it, with Aircraft like that doing extraordinary things coupled with awesome camera work 😀 We love it, Bring it on.. 48th Fighter Wing! Thanks for the ride

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii Dan 🤙🏼this was a great scene

[@ellesee7079]

Great shots of the F35's doing the Lakenheath limbo!

[@TedConingsby]

Oii Oii Ellesee

[@highrx]

Cool Beans!

[@Billybobble1]

Wow when those things turn n burn they really get violent against air don't they! Awesome captures, many thanks 🙂

[@TedConingsby]

Oooh yeah

[@tonytraveller7218]

Just Wow!

[@TedConingsby]

Ohhhh yeah

[@DoncasterLass]

skim the ants lol. how fast your mind works. brilliant fun

[@TedConingsby]

lol thank you. Nikos is on form this year for catchphrases

[@barrywood5357]

Tea and toast tea and toast little teds got the most of the low down lightnings and lakenheath sun so Nico states their having fun Nicely done sir crack on

[@TedConingsby]

Oohhh yeah great breakfast menu that

[@vanallendavis7708]

i use to live by air force plant 4 witch builds the f-35 and test flys them before some are sent too other countries air forces or navys or the us branches nice too see that the f-35s in this video were built and test flown were i lived :)

[@zeitgeistx5239]

Italy builds them from kits as well.

[@mrmcphilsconfidential8562]

It doesn't get better than that.

[@captaina8697]

Wow that first one was the same height as a C17 pilot would be……on the ground 😂

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii Captian A 🤙🏼 yep, that low

[@RoyalAirForceCappy-fw1eg]

Hi it’s Cappy! Got a question for Ted himself! When do you do, like make the quick climbs at Lakenheath? Because We are going on the 30th! Please tell us when your doing it! Are you at Coningsby on the 29th, well We are going as well! Are you also going to duxford for D Day 80 on the 1st of June? Amazing video as well!🎉 Might see you! Thanks Ted!

[@TedConingsby]

Oiii oiii it is all pot luck so you’ll have to go and hope they do quick climbs. They don’t always do them

[@juliebeard880]

Certainly fried the ants. What sort of height do you think? Pretty awesome stuff thanks @TedConingsby and Nikos 👍🤓

[@TedConingsby]

Oii oiii Julie, at a guess it wouldn’t be too far out to say 40-50ft? Ooohh yeah

[@juliebeard880]

@@TedConingsby thanks, quite low then😱

[@fredtedstedman]

lo and slo the way to go .............

[@TedConingsby]

Oohhh yeah

[@Dex_The_Paladin]

Skim those Ants! 🐜

[@TedConingsby]

lol ooohhhhhh yeah thanks Dex

[@da_zayin]

AW YEAH BABY! >:D

[@TedConingsby]

Ooohhhh yeah

[@da_zayin]

@@TedConingsby WE'RE GONNA GET US BLASTED WITH THIS ONE! 🔥🔥🔥

[@Supercar_TV]

I wish f35 had a display pilot like the 22 I’m yet to see the f35 full demo only Flypast and VTOL

[@shaggyofwv]

The F-35A does have a demo team. The demo team is part of the 388th fighter wing. They go to air shows throughout the year here in the US.

[@TedConingsby]

They do have an F-35 Demo Team, flown by CAPTAIN MELANIE "MACH" KLUESNER of the 388th Fighter Wing

[@beepeeify]

"Skim the ants" 😂

[@TedConingsby]

Hehe

[@annieg5487]

How low can they go, I'm sure they know a VIB is there in our very own Squadron Leader Ted and want impress

[@TedConingsby]

Love it 🤙🏼VIB 😎