Low flying military aircraft

[welsh dragon]

Well if anyone tries to invade the Borders, the Highlands, Northumbria or the Welsh Mountains the RAF will be well prepared!!

Shouldn't they practice flying over that London or other cities they might have to defend?

Meh....

 

[Spinney]

Well if anyone tries to invade the Borders, the Highlands, Northumbria or the Welsh Mountains the RAF will be well prepared!!

Shouldn't they practice flying over that London or other cities they might have to defend?

Assuming this is a serious question, rather than just a sarcastic comment - defending the UK could involve destroying enemy airbases, supply dumps, radar installations etc - none of these are noted for being in cities...

 

[Mr Celine]

Assuming this is a serious question, rather than just a sarcastic comment - defending the UK could involve destroying enemy airbases, supply dumps, radar installations etc - none of these are noted for being in cities...

We don't have airbases in the mountains - why would an enemy from whom we have to defend ourselves build airbases in the mountains? They might, in time of war, use civilian airports as airbases. These are noted for being in, or near, cities.

 

[welsh dragon]

There are underground installations in many parts of the Uk countryside that the genersl, public is unaware of.

 

[Spinney]

We don't have airbases in the mountains - why would an enemy from whom we have to defend ourselves build airbases in the mountains? They might, in time of war, use civilian airports as airbases. These are noted for being in, or near, cities.

So you think that the lowflying aircraft would approach from over the cities, rather from over the surrounding countryside? Good idea, lets risk getting low over buildings where there is more chance of an accidental collision that would not only destroy the aircraft but endanger the civilian population.

Part of the point of low flying is to be too low to be detected by enemy radar, using hills etc for shielding - so low flying in even rolling countryside (on the approach to the targets) could serve a useful purpose. Even if the eventual target is in a city, most of the approach will not be.

So they practice in the hilly areas because if you can do it in the Highlands, you should be able to do it in less steep terrain, and also because in those areas practicing annoys the fewest people.

And radar installations etc are not in cities.

 

[welsh dragon]

[QUOTE 3032170, member: 9609"]Considering the amount of low level training that takes place, fast jets keeping very low in the valleys on their training missions. Every time we go to war (which is quite often) our planes do all their bombing missions from above 16,000' in case anyone shoots at them.

And it would be very interesting to see the size of the prime ministers post bag if there was regular sorties over london, the noise can be astonishing.[/QUOTE]

I can see your point, but here they do a mixture of high and low manoeuvres as well as flying in formation.

 

[Spinney]

[QUOTE 3032170, member: 9609"]Considering the amount of low level training that takes place, fast jets keeping very low in the valleys on their training missions. Every time we go to war (which is quite often) our planes do all their bombing missions from above 16,000' in case anyone shoots at them.

And it would be very interesting to see the size of the prime ministers post bag if there was regular sorties over london, the noise can be astonishing.[/QUOTE]
I know it's a long time ago, but I know of at least one Tornado crew that unfortunately crashed while low flying in the first Gulf War.

Where do you get the info from that all missions are >16,000 ft?
(I'm not arguing with you here, just interested to know how you found out).

 

[Trickedem]

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!

 

[welsh dragon]

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!

Thanks for that information ?

 

[ArDee]

One evening a few years ago I was driving down into the Hope Valley in Derbyshire to Bradwell village; there was a pair of headlights coming up towards me, on full beam.
As they got closer the other driver, as I thought, didn’t dip their lights; so I flashed my lights at them to get them to dip their lights.
Yes you’ve guessed, a couple of seconds later a Tornado flew over, it appeared to be only about 20 meters or so off the ground.

 

[Spinney]

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!

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

 

[welsh dragon]

I've just heard 2 fighters fly overhead. Very high altitude. Couldn't see them, could only hear them

 

[rvw]

Only if it has not been notified first, one day you may be grateful that they had the practise. Sorry but it sounds like nimbyism from here.

This was a long time ago, so I think the rules have changed. Any complaints were met with the response that the aircraft were flying within the rules (and quoting the height below which they were not permitted to go) despite the fact that we knew the rules were being broken.

For the record, I was asked a direct question and answered it. I don't consider that challenging the RAF for breaking their own rules constitutes "nimbyism". You have no idea of my views on low flying, only on illegal low flying.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

And, just to confirm the anti-social bit, the neighbours' small boy (3-ish, IIRC) used to have full scale screaming hysterics every time they came over, and take ages to calm down again. Since that could be several times a day, several days a week, that was far from funny for his poor parents.

This made me laugh, sorry it just did.

Don't be a Moron all you life.

Yes they do the job they do blah blah Union Jacks, Jerusalem And Jam, The Queen and James Bond blah blah blah..... But still, I bet you wouldn't be so cavalier if you had to put with a kid doing that several times a day, several days a week

 

[welsh dragon]

People on the Mach loop have complained about particularly low flying aircraft. The complaints have been looked into and in some cases an apology has been made to the complainant. The local newspaper has also been contacted and a public apology given.