Rocket over Wiltshire?
Discussion
Think two of them flew over Brize at about 1500(ish), a loud roaring noise that seemed to come over the house very low, but they were either just inside the low clouds or over the top of the house as I couldn't see them.
Nothing showing on ADSB so figured it was the B1's flying back into Fairford. Despite being around aircraft all my life I've not heard much of B1's (I recall hearing them from Brize take off from Upper Heyford in the 90s so know they make quite the racket!), and it was a distinctive sound that had me wondering what the hell was going on at first.
Nothing showing on ADSB so figured it was the B1's flying back into Fairford. Despite being around aircraft all my life I've not heard much of B1's (I recall hearing them from Brize take off from Upper Heyford in the 90s so know they make quite the racket!), and it was a distinctive sound that had me wondering what the hell was going on at first.
ben_h100 said:
Local social media suggests that 2x B1 returned to Fairford/Brize last night due to a tech fault. Departed again this afternoon.
The loudest aircraft that I have heard away from an airfield. End of the world stuff.
I mentioned this before recently - but the B1s & B52s coming home to Fairfod in 1999 after bombing runs to Serbia used to pretty much shake me out of bed. I was living in Kemble at the time, about 8 miles away but under the flightpath and still felt they were landing on the house.The loudest aircraft that I have heard away from an airfield. End of the world stuff.
We’re a stones throw from Fairford so hear the B-1Bs on a regular basis. They’ve certainly caused a stir on our local Facebook group 
I also remember watching them from my time in Al Udeid and Kandahar. Their climb performance getting airborne with a full bomb load in the heat was never great despite being in full burner. Fantastic sight and sound though and never gets boring.
I also remember watching them from my time in Al Udeid and Kandahar. Their climb performance getting airborne with a full bomb load in the heat was never great despite being in full burner. Fantastic sight and sound though and never gets boring.
prand said:
I mentioned this before recently - but the B1s & B52s coming home to Fairfod in 1999 after bombing runs to Serbia used to pretty much shake me out of bed. I was living in Kemble at the time, about 8 miles away but under the flightpath and still felt they were landing on the house.
As child i 60's-70's I lived next to Filton runway ,BAC/Rolls Royce ...same as you describe ,only back then single pane glazing meant glass buzzing etc as the Vulcan bombers used to take off testing Concordes Olympia engines. Followed in the 70's by the F1-11's that were serviced there...You know what looking back I wouldn't have missed the sight of the Vulcans for anything...ben_h100 said:
Local social media suggests that 2x B1 returned to Fairford/Brize last night due to a tech fault. Departed again this afternoon.
The loudest aircraft that I have heard away from an airfield. End of the world stuff.
B1's have been on exercise at RAF Fairford for the last 6 weeks or so. Last two went home yesterday.The loudest aircraft that I have heard away from an airfield. End of the world stuff.
rallye101 said:
magpie215 said:
My lasting memory of B1 noise was at an extremely wet Woodford airshow (90s) low pass barely visible but noise aplenty.
Mine was at Farnborough, x2 low passes...the 2nd was with swept wings going a tad too fast, the noise was insane!!
I stood at the end of the runway at Fairford in the late 90s and watched 2 x B1s taxi then take off headed for the Balkans - fully loaded with bombs. Never heard anything as loud in my whole life - louder than The Who when they recorded 120 decibels. That old cliche "the ground shook" was certainly true that evening.
WelshChris said:
I stood at the end of the runway at Fairford in the late 90s and watched 2 x B1s taxi then take off headed for the Balkans - fully loaded with bombs. Never heard anything as loud in my whole life - louder than The Who when they recorded 120 decibels. That old cliche "the ground shook" was certainly true that evening.
They must have been the ones that made me fall out of bed. Always wondered what it was like for those on the receiving end or hearing them go over to targets further away.... I guess the engines were built for pure performance and economy, but I'm sure there was some deliberate design to result in the awe inspiring & terrifying engine noise (like the sirens on Stukas).Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff