Apache helicopter flying over Darenth Valley

[SimonTheSailor]

Saw what I thought was an Apache helicopter on thursday over the M25. It was flying down/through the Darenth valley - is this common ? Never seen one before so certainly very intimidating !!

[schmunk]

SimonTheSailor said:

Saw what I thought was an Apache helicopter on thursday over the M25. It was flying down/through the Darenth valley - is this common ? Never seen one before so certainly very intimidating !!

I saw one flying over London Bridge on Thursday/Friday evening - possibly the same one?

[A6Ced]

I think i saw it over the M1 just north of Toddington on Thursday at around 11.45-50am flying East to West across the northbound carriageway.

Always a great view.

[anonymous-user]

My workmate and i saw one flying low over the a21 near Ticehurst on monday, what a sight! Does anyone know why its been knocking around?

[anonymous-user]

I used to work where they test and repair these. Quite interesting seeing them being flown in reverse etc.

They are flown all over the UK for training - nothing to be intimidated by. I have seen them used in anger - that's something to be intimidated by!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

We had two hovering outside our office in Mansfield Nottishamshire. Passing by I could understand, but the hovering thing was very alarming.

[untakenname]

schmunk said:

I saw one flying over London Bridge on Thursday/Friday evening - possibly the same one?

Saw that one hovering for about ten minutes in that position last week but in the afternoon, wondered wtf was going on.

[Guvernator]

Have you guys not seen 28 Days Later? They are obviously in training for the zombie apocalypse when they'll have to perform precision strikes on the raging hordes in major city centres around the UK.

[jpt]

They were flying up the valley again yesterday evening, two separate pairs going north.

[5ohmustang]

The British Apaches seem to based of the Delta model, have they had the upgrades to Echo spec?

[SimonTheSailor]

5ohmustang said:

The British Apaches seem to based of the Delta model, have they had the upgrades to Echo spec?

Quite possibly yes, I think they had it in place of the alcantara upholstery.

[NM62]

5ohmustang said:

The British Apaches seem to based of the Delta model, have they had the upgrades to Echo spec?

It would seem that we do have the E - according to the Army Website

[5ohmustang]

Thanks for the link, I also found this.
http://www.army.mod.uk/news/28635.aspx

They will be in service in 2020.

[NM62]

5ohmustang said:

Thanks for the link, I also found this.
http://www.army.mod.uk/news/28635.aspx

They will be in service in 2020.

Ah - that will teach me to read iit properly, it would seem We have them on order.

[Aerate]

They're a proper pain in the arse where I live. Every time the sun comes out they come blasting back and forth at low level. Really does my head in. We're nowhere near a base and only 15 miles from Salisbury Plain, which I believe the MoD have huge swathes of for just this purpose, why they have to fly round my house, I have no idea!

[5ohmustang]

It's cool at first, but wears off very quickly. Especially the night flights.

You should hear the Super Cobras, they are much louder than the Apaches.

[anonymous-user]

Aerate said:

They're a proper pain in the arse where I live. Every time the sun comes out they come blasting back and forth at low level. Really does my head in. We're nowhere near a base and only 15 miles from Salisbury Plain, which I believe the MoD have huge swathes of for just this purpose, why they have to fly round my house, I have no idea!

Perhaps you're a target......

[tuffer]

They fly within a couple of hundred feet of my house every day and I can see them without getting off my Sofa, bloody brilliant.

[Madness60]

bmw535i said:

Perhaps you're a target......

I've heard its deliberate, they've got nothing better to do than fly around Aerates house. Must be so difficult with them there all day and night. Or maybe they just fly past and its a bit noisier for 30 secs or so....the hardship!

[Aerate]

bmw535i said:

Aerate said:

They're a proper pain in the arse where I live. Every time the sun comes out they come blasting back and forth at low level. Really does my head in. We're nowhere near a base and only 15 miles from Salisbury Plain, which I believe the MoD have huge swathes of for just this purpose, why they have to fly round my house, I have no idea!

Perhaps you're a target......

You may be right... when I was growing-up in East Anglia, first it was Phantoms and then it was A 10s and HH53s (? - big old helicopters). The only time i escaped them was 13 years in London - but the police helicopters liked hanging out above my house at weekends (perhaps because I lived in Harlesden).