Low flying military aircraft

[Stu Plows]

we are quite often dive bombed by what we understand to be the red devils doing training at Sywell aerodrome

There's a show up there pretty soon that they are doing mate.

 

[fimm]

When I used to walk regularly in the Cheviots I remember noisy low-flying planes. I recall also a more recent walk from Yetholm to Wooler where there was obviously some sort of exercise/training/drill going on as every so often another pair of planes would arrive, turn in the same place, and dissappear off again.
I've also seen planes going down Glen Sligachan below me when we were on the Skye Ridge.

 

[Trickedem]

Maybe that's why they throw them around??
Although the Herc I saw was far too low to drop paras from!

They fly low to avoid being shot down as you can imagine. But the RAF Didn't like coming up to 600 feet to drop the passengers off, so a new low level parachute was introduced, which can be deployed at 250 feet, or allegedly lower. They still issue a reserve, but it's debateable if you'd have time to deploy it.

 

[welsh dragon]

The fighters are busy here today. At least 6 have now gone past at low level, as well as the 2 that have gone past at high level. Flying isn't an every day occurance here., its a bit like waiting for a bus. You wait ages, then 3 come along all at once.

 

[Over The Hill]

Not military I know but when I was a kid round about 1967 my mum was on the phone to a relative and Concorde flew over on a test run, I guess this was back when they could go supersonic over land.
We heard the sonic boom and it was quite loud and all looked out the window with mum still on the phone. Then a couple of seconds later they heard the same about 25 miles away.
I can remember this being re-told to everyone they met for the next week.

It is a bit of an odd thing that in 1914 we had crude planes of string and wood but just 50 years later we had supersonic planes and Jumbo jets carrying hundreds of people around the world.
Now 50 years on, things really have not moved on to any great degree since then.

 

[ColinJ]

This talk about C130s (Hercules) being thrown through tight turns over Snowdonia takes me right back to my Army days. What you can't see is the 60+ paratroopers standing up in the back going through various pre jump checks, carrying equipment weighing as much as half their body weight, being sick on each other, all whilst holding on for dear life with one hand to a strap above their head. By the time the side door is opened one can't wait to escape!

My dad said exactly the same thing about being in the landing craft on D-Day! The seas were incredibly rough so craft were rising up to the top of huge waves and then being dumped down with men and equipment tumbling about as if in a giant washing machine. They were throwing up over each other and feeling so bloody wretched that getting off the vessels and onto the beach seemed like a cushy option, even though they were being shelled and machine-gunned at the time ...

 

[Over The Hill]

[QUOTE 3032565, member: 9609"]But do we not have peaceful corners of our green and pleasant land because of our ugly military might.[/QUOTE]

I agree.
Also it is not the RAF that chooses the fight it is the politicians. The forces just have to get on with it whatever they are told to do as they have in Afghanistan. Stupid idea and a waste of time but they went in and did what they could amazingly well.

Around here with our Chinooks rattling the roof tiles and even on night flights the airbase gets lots of complaints and negative comments. Those complaining seem to forget the guys flying these things could be facing live fire in a few days and need to train to keep themselves and those around them alive.
It is a tough old world and these guys are not up there for fun.

 

[Spinney]

It is a tough old world and these guys are not up there for fun.

I would disagree with that - I'm sure 'fun' is at least part of the attraction for many pilots, esp. the fast jet pilots.
Maybe 'not up there only for fun'?

 

[Doseone]

Apparently low flying is particularly useful if the sortie originated from an aircraft carrier. In the Falklands the Harriers used to fly low below radar when returning to the carrier. If they were to fly back high and just drop down at the last minute it would have been easy to work out the location of the carriers as being the point at which all the planes suddenly disappeared off the radar.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

 

[jhawk]

http://www.autocar.co.uk/forum/amusing-speed-camera-story-god-bless-raf

I know this isn't true. But it's still hilarious.

 

[Profpointy]

Not military I know but when I was a kid round about 1967 my mum was on the phone to a relative and Concorde flew over on a test run, I guess this was back when they could go supersonic over land.
We heard the sonic boom and it was quite loud and all looked out the window with mum still on the phone. Then a couple of seconds later they heard the same about 25 miles away.
I can remember this being re-told to everyone they met for the next week.

It is a bit of an odd thing that in 1914 we had crude planes of string and wood but just 50 years later we had supersonic planes and Jumbo jets carrying hundreds of people around the world.
Now 50 years on, things really have not moved on to any great degree since then.

Related to the pace-of-change point - I understand Patrick Moore had met one or other (perhaps both) Wright brother(s) And Neil Armstrong - how's that for history of flight.

 

[JtB]

On my regular ride last weekend a spitfire swooped down low over the field next to me and then climbed almost vertically into a full loop. Pretty impressive sight I thought :-)

 

[srw]

[QUOTE 3032565, member: 9609"]But do we not have peaceful corners of our green and pleasant land because of our ugly military might.[/QUOTE]
I may misremember, but I have a feeling the last time the peace of the United Kingdom was seriously threatened was in 1940. That's 74 years ago. Low-flying jets weren't much help, because they hadn't been invited yet.

Apparently low flying is particularly useful if the sortie originated from an aircraft carrier. In the Falklands the Harriers used to fly low below radar when returning to the carrier. If they were to fly back high and just drop down at the last minute it would have been easy to work out the location of the carriers as being the point at which all the planes suddenly disappeared off the radar.

If that's your concern, wouldn't it be more useful to train over the sea than the land?

Anyway, this is all getting a bit too challenging for the froth of the caff. If you want a serious discussion, feel free to start one in the right place. For now I'll leave you to your imperial fantasies.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Yeah, we should disband the military entirely and spend the money on welfare benefits. Bod help us.


Anybody remember the public information films from the 70s showing a Phantom firing up it's engines in a hanger - "The Sound Of Freedom"