Big Choppers?

[vanordinaire]

We live on a remote hillside in the Scottish Borders about 12 miles from the nearest town, no street lights and the Moon shrouded in low cloud so totally dark.
Last night about 10:30pm, a number of large helicopters flew over us at relaltively low (less than 2000m) level. I'm not very knowledgeable about helicopters but they sounded like Chinooks .
Wow! it was scarey. Lights flickering through the low clouds. The air vibrating with a sound that felt more than just a sound, felt like an apocalypse scenario.Then after about 10 minutes they throbbed off into the distance (South towards the English border.
Anyone know what it would have been?

[Charlie1986]

Otterburn if units are on exercise? or maybe practice of night flying.

[surveyor]

On their way to collect Boris I would imagine....

[ecsrobin]

vanordinaire said:

We live on a remote hillside in the Scottish Borders about 12 miles from the nearest town, no street lights and the Moon shrouded in low cloud so totally dark.
Last night about 10:30pm, a number of large helicopters flew over us at relaltively low (less than 2000m) level. I'm not very knowledgeable about helicopters but they sounded like Chinooks .
Wow! it was scarey. Lights flickering through the low clouds. The air vibrating with a sound that felt more than just a sound, felt like an apocalypse scenario.Then after about 10 minutes they throbbed off into the distance (South towards the English border.
Anyone know what it would have been?

I believe it was a pair of Pumas. Low I would consider to be 100ft, 250ft is the norm for low flying helicopters.

[vanordinaire]

ecsrobin said:

I believe it was a pair of Pumas. Low I would consider to be 100ft, 250ft is the norm for low flying helicopters.

Thanks, I didn't think Pumas would be that loud, I heard them for a good 10 minutes before and after they passed over and when they did the thumping sound seemed to fill the sky, everything seemed to shake. I'm at about 1000ft above sea level and they seemed to be about a couple of hundred feet above me at the most.

[ecsrobin]

vanordinaire said:

ecsrobin said:

I believe it was a pair of Pumas. Low I would consider to be 100ft, 250ft is the norm for low flying helicopters.

Thanks, I didn't think Pumas would be that loud, I heard them for a good 10 minutes before and after they passed over and when they did the thumping sound seemed to fill the sky, everything seemed to shake. I'm at about 1000ft above sea level and they seemed to be about a couple of hundred feet above me at the most.

Ah you were talking AMSL a standard authorisation would clear you to 100ft AGL and if required for training can be authorised down to ground level or 50ft AGL