Apache Helicopters Over London

[teddy1600]

Does anyone know the reason for the apache flying over central London this afternoon about 5.15pm? Seemed to be circling for a while.

Saw a couple of them a few months ago doing the same thing for about 15 mins and then flew off into the distance. Is quite a sight and something I thought I would never see again until today. Doesn't seem like the kinda place for test flight/exercise. Anyone have any ideas?

[anonymous-user]

Army Air Corps pilots having a jolly.

[fathomfive]

Pigeon cull?

[Ordinary Bloke]

I heard they're going to take out the Icelandic banks in the city...

[FourWheelDrift]

The revolution has begun. Military coup in progress.

[teddy1600]

I should probably add they were rather close to the European HQ of the Church of Scientology.

[Cheeky Jim]

I was sat outside the Arch bar opposite Waterloo and it flew directly over a couple of times... Ive got a crappy pic on my mobile... give me 5 I'll get it up (the picture I mean! )

this is it..

Edited by Cheeky Jim on Thursday 9th October 21:28

[Police State]

it's the usual subtle 'show of strength' from our rulers when times are tough, or in crisis. When the mad mullahs were sending the clueless off to bomb the public, almost everyday there was some form of establishment presence in the air, low flying cops, military jets, chinooks, etc. They always do it, either during the morning rush hour, lunch time, or evening rush hour... if genuine enquiries are made, they are met with the usual codswallop about routine operations, or can't discuss offical policy, blah, blah...

[anonymous-user]

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

[10 Pence Short]

I would imagine Gordon Brown was sending them to part-ex for some magic beans.

[Cheeky Jim]

Crossflow Kid said:

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why would they circle overhead a couple of times?

[Yertis]

Crossflow Kid said:

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Strange choice of direction.

Sadly, these days I'm more likely to believe Police State's version than your dull but worthy response.

[10 Pence Short]

Cheeky Jim said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why would they circle overhead a couple of times?

You're in a heavily armed and armoured helicopter capable of vapourising whole suburban streets. You're flying over Downing Street. Wouldn't you at least hover and consider things for a while?

[anonymous-user]

Cheeky Jim said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why would they circle overhead a couple of times?

In a hold waiting for something big and heavy to go in to Heathrow, an air ambulance to pass through...anything really.

[Six Fiend]

10 Pence Short said:

Cheeky Jim said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why would they circle overhead a couple of times?

You're in a heavily armed and armoured helicopter capable of vapourising whole suburban streets. You're flying over Downing Street. Wouldn't you at least hover and consider things for a while?

And if you win that on board game of paper scissors stone you let rip

[Yertis]

Crossflow Kid said:

Cheeky Jim said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why would they circle overhead a couple of times?

In a hold waiting for something big and heavy to go in to Heathrow, an air ambulance to pass through...anything really.

Your first answer was boringly plausible... this is starting to sound a bit thin...

[RacerMDR]

i saw an Apache on Monday - flying over M25/M3 junction, very low

[Olf]

You'd never have noticed if a lynx had been doing this a few years ago. It's only because those things look so evil that it get your attention.

[anonymous-user]

Yertis said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Cheeky Jim said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Straight forward transit through the London Helilanes. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why would they circle overhead a couple of times?

In a hold waiting for something big and heavy to go in to Heathrow, an air ambulance to pass through...anything really.

Your first answer was boringly plausible... this is starting to sound a bit thin...

Sorry about that but low-level rotary traffic transits through London along pre-designated "lanes" (along the Thames from Richmond to the Dome for example). There are a number of entry and exits points and even more reporting points so air traffic can keep tabs on where an aircraft is.
If it's a bit busy or there's heavy Heathrow traffic, it's quite common to get held at a reporting point (usually one of the bridges) someway upstream from the actual choke point, then once a gap has opened everything starts flowing again, so an aircraft might be holding over East London, awaiting a helicopter out of Heathrow to clear a lane over West London.

Actually you're right. That's far too boring....
It's mopre likely a rogue pilot gone a bit stir crazy and wanting pay back for all those lengthy tours at Bastion.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 9th October 21:47

[Yertis]

Crossflow Kid said:

Actually you're right. That's far too boring....
It's more likely a rogue pilot gone a bit stir crazy and wanting pay back for all those lengthy tours at Bastion.

That's better!


Funny how it suddenly 'clicks'.