New Signage At Aircraft Viewing Enclosure
by Lindsey Askin.
Date: 05 March 2014
The Waddington Aircraft Viewing Enclosure, or WAVE, as it is known locally, is a firm favourite with both aircraft enthusiasts and visitors to the county.
Thanks to a generous donation from Northrop Grumman, providers of long-term U.K.-based technical support to the Sentry fleet at Royal Air Force (RAF) Waddington, the signage at the facility has been renovated to ensure that visitors are better informed about the illustrious history of the base, and are provided with up to date information on current operations at RAF Waddington.
“We are extremely proud of the long partnership we have built with RAF Waddington over the years, and of the contribution that we make to the U.K.'s intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability through our role in the Whole Life Support Programme for the E-3D Sentry aircraft," said John Parker, director, weapon system sustainment and modernisation, Northrop Grumman Technical Services.
“We are delighted to be supporting this key Aviation Heritage site which plays such an important role in informing the local community of the history of RAF Waddington and its present day capabilities.”
A purpose built enclosure, the WAVE offers its patrons the opportunity to park safely and have a welcomed cup of hot tea, should they fancy one.
Directly Opposite RAF Waddington
The difference with this rest stop compared with others is that it is directly opposite RAF Waddington, an operational air base, so visitors are able to watch the different aircraft taking off and landing as they sip on their tea.
RAF Waddington Station Commander Group Captain Rich Barrow said: “The WAVE is a fantastic facility and extremely popular with the aviation enthusiast community. The generosity of Northrop Grumman means that the visitor experience is even more enjoyable than it was before.”
Official Unveiling
To mark the occasion, representatives from RAF Waddington, Northrop Grumman and North Kesteven District Council visited the WAVE for the official unveiling, which coincided with a fun day organised by the proprietor of the WAVE Café Mr. John Robinson.
Cllr Marion Brighton OBE, Leader of North Kesteven District Council said: “Aviation Heritage is such an important and defining aspect of our tourist appeal, adding to the distinctiveness of our District, and I welcome every initiative to improve people’s interest and understanding of this. The WAVE is such a popular facility and I hope that these improvements will appeal to local people and visitors alike.”
