Apache over the New Forest

[Chicken]

BBC South Today is covering the story of a missing teenager in the New Forest. They're showing pictures of an Apache flying over the forest and intimating that they're part of the search?

Is this the case, or are they just in the area by coincidence?

[anonymous-user]

Apache has got some nifty imagery kit on board, and the New Forest ain't that far from Wallop so it's feasible. Bit unusual though.

[Badgerboy]

I suppose if they are on a training sortie it can't hurt to flip the FLIR on and have a quick look around. Unlikely to be a special request though?

[knight]

I'm sure I remember a number of years ago when a little girl went missing in the south east, the RAF helped with the search by flying a Jaguar around the area.

[Salt flat rat]

In the four years at my present address I've seen one Apache. In the last two weeks I've seen ten on one day flying around all in small groups of up to four and all at the same time. On other days in that time span I've seen them, again in pairs or a foursome and all circling within my line of vision. Although the distance is hard to judge they appear to be very interested in a forest about a mile South of me. Even my gardener, a grizzled old country boy, is alarmed by their frequency and proximity. Last week I went over their for a bit of rough shooting and my usual entry into the forest for my X5 had been chained off. The next one I tried had had a load of hard core dropped into it. The third has a police car plotted up.
I gave up, went home and shot a few Magpies for pissing me off.

[danjama]

Spotted two apaches flying east over london bridge couple of weeks back very close to the Shard. Felt strange as id never seen them over the city. Chinooks quite regular but never apaches. I was quite excited tbh.

[Godalmighty83]

knight said:

I'm sure I remember a number of years ago when a little girl went missing in the south east, the RAF helped with the search by flying a Jaguar around the area.

Not sure how helpful that would have been, with a Jags electrics they could just about on a clear day find the country they were flying towards.

Surprised the military dont jump at the chance to help out more and get some good training and PR, with the budget being continually decimated they need to gain as many friends as possible.

[anonymous-user]

Salt flat rat said:

Even my gardener, a grizzled old country boy, is alarmed by their frequency and proximity.

Why? Is he Taliban?

[anonymous-user]

Godalmighty83 said:

Surprised the military dont jump at the chance to help out more and get some good training and PR, with the budget being continually decimated they need to gain as many friends as possible.

Been there, done that.
With a few well specified exceptions, (SAR, firefighters strikes etc.) Plod doesn't like admitting it needs help from the military. They've got their own budgetary cuts to fend off don't forget.

[stain]

It just flew over Cobham in close formation with a Ranger of some sort. Maybe filming it in action?

[DJFish]

During the last hosepipe ban (remember, when it was warm?) There were a few Apaches flying about and a rumour (repeated/denied in the local press IIRC) went around that they were looking for people with their hoses out.
Can't see them getting involved in trivial stuff like that but would've thought they'd be quite useful in the SAR role, well the S bit anyway.

[anonymous-user]

DJFish said:

During the last hosepipe ban.....There were a few Apaches flying about and a rumour (repeated/denied in the local press IIRC) went around that they were looking for people with their hoses out.

[Engineer1]

DJFish said:

During the last hosepipe ban (remember, when it was warm?) There were a few Apaches flying about and a rumour (repeated/denied in the local press IIRC) went around that they were looking for people with their hoses out.
Can't see them getting involved in trivial stuff like that but would've thought they'd be quite useful in the SAR role, well the S bit anyway.

That sounds like a good eyesight/ intell gathering test whether the results would be used for any action is what really matters.

[wolves_wanderer]

DJFish said:

During the last hosepipe ban (remember, when it was warm?) There were a few Apaches flying about and a rumour (repeated/denied in the local press IIRC) went around that they were looking for people with their hoses out.
Can't see them getting involved in trivial stuff like that but would've thought they'd be quite useful in the SAR role, well the S bit anyway.

Hmm, not sure about that. My company was commissioned to do this kind of work last time it was dry and I bet we were considerably cheaper than an Apache.