7 jets in formation heading south over kent

[lufbramatt]

Just seen in Rochester ( 7:15am) 7 planes go over close together line abreast, heading south almost following the a229. Too dark to make out the shape of the planes themselves but saw the contrails. Red arrows going somewhere warmer?

Edited by lufbramatt on Tuesday 22 January 08:58

[Eric Mc]

Off to Cyprus?

[hammo19]

Flight detachment overseas?

[72twink]

I watched them as I drove in at 7:15, and they've just gone over again (Uckfield) but not laying contrails this time. The first time it looked like there was one heavier contrail in the middle ....... tanker maybe?

[Chrisgr31]

If it was the Red Arrows there would be 9 or 10 wouldn’t there?

[lufbramatt]

Not sure, did have a read of their website this morning and looks like they start small and build up to the full 9 plane formation later in the training season. There could have been more planes there this morning to be fair I only counted quickly whilst stopped at traffic lights.

TBH it would be more interesting if it turns out to not be the reds!

[marksx]

Something to do with this maybe..

[texaxile]

Saw 3 tornados (possibly Tornados, my Aircraft recognition skills are useless) over Felixstowe 20 mins apart heading out to (hopefully) bomb the French.

[lufbramatt]

One of my aviation enthusiast mates has just seen 6x F-15s in formation over Wareham in Dorset. I wonder if its the same planes I saw yesterday?

[aeropilot]

marksx said:

Something to do with this maybe..

Not if they are going over Kent - as that's going in completely the wrong direction!

[Boatbuoy]

texaxile said:

Saw 3 tornados (possibly Tornados, my Aircraft recognition skills are useless) over Felixstowe 20 mins apart heading out to (hopefully) bomb the French.

Three aircraft in commemorative liveries had their public unveiling yesterday - it's the beginning of the end for the type.

[ecsrobin]

Boatbuoy said:

Three aircraft in commemorative liveries had their public unveiling yesterday - it's the beginning of the end for the type.

Camouflaged one looks great.

[Boatbuoy]

ecsrobin said:

Camouflaged one looks great.

Doesn't it just.

[768]

Eric Mc said:

Off to Cyprus?

At least as far as the Red Arrows go, I think it's a bit early (and it'd be Greece for them these days, for the little difference that makes).

[aeropilot]

ecsrobin said:

Boatbuoy said:

Three aircraft in commemorative liveries had their public unveiling yesterday - it's the beginning of the end for the type.

Camouflaged one looks great.

Does indeed.

Shame though they didn't decide to paint one in 'desert pink' as well.

[Ian Lancs]

aeropilot said:

Not if they are going over Kent - as that's going in completely the wrong direction!

Could be using the southern route via Azores given the winter / north atlantic conditions.

[ecsrobin]

Ian Lancs said:

aeropilot said:

Not if they are going over Kent - as that's going in completely the wrong direction!

Could be using the southern route via Azores given the winter / north atlantic conditions.

Amazing how many jets used to go unserviceable in the Azores.

[TTmonkey]

Boatbuoy said:

texaxile said:

Saw 3 tornados (possibly Tornados, my Aircraft recognition skills are useless) over Felixstowe 20 mins apart heading out to (hopefully) bomb the French.

Three aircraft in commemorative liveries had their public unveiling yesterday - it's the beginning of the end for the type.

Used up to do mission plannning for tornadoes back in the early 90s.
Got to plan the route for a major exercise over Wales one year.
Put 4 squadrons of tornadoes (40 odd aircraft) on a route over my mother in laws house in South Wales with a 2 minute gap between each plane.

Happy days, wished I could have seen them going over. One after one after one. Locals must have wondered WTF is biggles doing,, ?????