How low can BBMF fly?

[Madness60]

Zumbruk said:

Three, and yes, I know. And I don't (live in a low-flying area). Two ignored and one told a lie; that the aircraft I saw and heard did not exist.

Of course they did

[eharding]

Zumbruk said:

Three, and yes, I know. And I don't (live in a low-flying area). Two ignored and one told a lie; that the aircraft I saw and heard did not exist.

If you live under the UK open FIR (Flight Information Region) then by default you *do* live within the UK military low flying system, although some parts of it are more heavily used than others.

Perhaps if you provided us with some more details of the cases where you feel you've been unfairly treated? What was it you thought you saw and heard, when and where?

[ecsrobin]

Zumbruk said:

DavieBNL said:

Zumbruk said:

IME, reporting low-flying military aircraft is a waste of time. You will either be ignored or lied to.

Crikey, how many complaints have you put in? Do you know if you live in a low-flying area?

Three, and yes, I know. And I don't (live in a low-flying area). Two ignored and one told a lie; that the aircraft I saw and heard did not exist.

According to your profile you are in Norfolk which is LFA5 or Low Flying Area 5 (at night Norfolk is split into rotary areas to the east and south and fixed wing to the north west.

I’ve probably spoken to you as I’ve had a few “your aircraft flew dangerously low over my house” “but we don’t have anything airborne!” Conversations in my time, both military and civil. I can assure you if they say they haven’t got anything airborne they haven’t got anything airborne.

Edited by ecsrobin on Sunday 22 May 22:56

[Pinkie15]

lost in espace said:

I live somewhere very close to the OP I suspect, and was in Suffolk at 11 this morning. Damn.

I'm Datchworth/Knebworth/Woolmer Grn borders, it flew east to west; would have gone over Potters Heath & south end of Codicote

Edited by Pinkie15 on Sunday 22 May 23:06

[Pinkie15]

eltawater said:

Pinkie15 said:

About 11 this morning the BBMF Lancaster fly over my house. Bloody glorious it was (and loud). Shame I didn't have camera on me.

It was surprisingly low, guess would be a few hundred feet.

I'm between Stevenage & Welwyn Garden City, can't see there was anywhere it was displaying.

I thought aircraft we're meant to have minimum altitude of 1500 ft over built up areas ?

Higher or lower than this do you reckon from yesterday?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2nHkd3ZGWQ

Today's run down south presumably was part of this:

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/runnymede-mem...

Edited by eltawater on Sunday 22 May 20:02

Reckon it was lower than in that YT clip, was getting to the point of 'filling the sky'. I know loses to the microphone of whatever that was filmed on, but way, way, way louder.

Edited by Pinkie15 on Sunday 22 May 23:01

[eharding]

ecsrobin said:

According to your profile you are in Norfolk which is LFA5 or Low Flying Area 5.

If he lives near Kimberley Hall at Wymondham, we're looking back 15 years or so ago, and these aircraft appeared to be either Russian, Chinese or sponsored by Red Bull......then all I can say it was probably swamp gas, ball lightning or the clouds moving behind the moon that he actually didn't see....

[AndrewGP]

Zumbruk said:

IME, reporting low-flying military aircraft is a waste of time. You will either be ignored or lied to.

I’m sorry you feel that way. I can categorically assure you that every complaint against low flying military aircraft is thoroughly investigated, as the MoD has a duty of care to the public to ensure that low flying is conducted within the rules and doesn't impact them more than it has to.

I’ve spent many years flying and training other pilots to fly in the UK mil low flying system, and I’ve been subjected to many such investigations (but never been found guilty of breaking the rules I might add!) It’s just something you have to accept happening for the reasons set out above ie EVERY complaint is followed up no matter how trivial. Every aspect of the flight is then investigated, the flight planning process, the crew briefing, the authorisation process, even the flying currency of the crew, the radar traces of the aircraft from ground stations and the aircraft’s own data logging stats. If any wrong-doing is discovered (deliberate or otherwise) then there are inevitable consequences. And the findings will always be made available to the complainant.

[48k]

Pinkie15 said:

About 11 this morning the BBMF Lancaster fly over my house. Bloody glorious it was (and loud). Shame I didn't have camera on me.

It was surprisingly low, guess would be a few hundred feet.

I'm between Stevenage & Welwyn Garden City, can't see there was anywhere it was displaying.

I thought aircraft we're meant to have minimum altitude of 1500 ft over built up areas ?

It was at 750 feet when it flew over our house just outside of Milton Keynes, according to ADSB Exchange. Looked and sounded absolutely magnificent.

[croyde]

I was in Abu Dhabi working on their national day celebrations a few years ago.

Their version of the Red Arrows were practising over, yes right over, the city.

My room was on the 15th floor and a couple of fighters came past below me flying between the high rises

Found a pic. One did come past lower, this is at the same height as my room.

Edited by croyde on Monday 23 May 11:46

[Oilchange]

Pinkie15 said:

Well 4-500 ft probably; was trying to imagine it's wing span then 'built up' to it's altitude. Dam difficult to do.

I always thought minimum height was 1500 ft, seems I was wrong then if 500 is minimum.

I see what you did there

[Zumbruk]

AndrewGP said:

Zumbruk said:

IME, reporting low-flying military aircraft is a waste of time. You will either be ignored or lied to.

I’m sorry you feel that way. I can categorically assure you that every complaint against low flying military aircraft is thoroughly investigated, as the MoD has a duty of care to the public to ensure that low flying is conducted within the rules and doesn't impact them more than it has to.

I’ve spent many years flying and training other pilots to fly in the UK mil low flying system, and I’ve been subjected to many such investigations (but never been found guilty of breaking the rules I might add!) It’s just something you have to accept happening for the reasons set out above ie EVERY complaint is followed up no matter how trivial. Every aspect of the flight is then investigated, the flight planning process, the crew briefing, the authorisation process, even the flying currency of the crew, the radar traces of the aircraft from ground stations and the aircraft’s own data logging stats. If any wrong-doing is discovered (deliberate or otherwise) then there are inevitable consequences. And the findings will always be made available to the complainant.

Thank you for your sane and comprehensive response. But sadly, this is not my experience. I don't complain gratuitously, I fully accept they have to train *somewhere*, and the occasional low flyer is fine (indeed, I quite like to see the aircraft - hell, I follow the "Cool photos of aircraft" thread on PH), but sometimes they take the piss; the third or 4th day in a row when there were Apaches playing tag over my house for an hour or so I felt the need to ask if this was really necessary. I never got a response to my email (complete with video).

Edited by Zumbruk on Monday 23 May 12:01

[Zumbruk]

ecsrobin said:

According to your profile you are in Norfolk which is LFA5 or Low Flying Area 5 (at night Norfolk is split into rotary areas to the east and south and fixed wing to the north west.

I’ve probably spoken to you as I’ve had a few “your aircraft flew dangerously low over my house” “but we don’t have anything airborne!” Conversations in my time, both military and civil. I can assure you if they say they haven’t got anything airborne they haven’t got anything airborne.

Then either they are lying, or they are accusing me of lying.

[48k]

Zumbruk said:

Thank you for your sane and comprehensive response. But sadly, this is not my experience. I don't complain gratuitously, I fully accept they have to train *somewhere*, and the occasional low flyer is fine (indeed, I quite like to see the aircraft), but sometimes they take the piss; the third or 4th day in a row when there were Apaches playing tag over my house for an hour or so I felt the need to ask if this was really necessary. I never got a response to my email (complete with video).

I see your "well above rooftop height" Apache and raise you a "below rooftop height Wildcat"



Some of the sheep were a little concerned but I love seeing them.

[woodypup59]

The Lanc was at Rickmansworth Festival yesterday (Sunday morning) at about 11.20 - not my picture.

Question. Do all the engine rotate the same way (al la Mozzy ?)

Edited by woodypup59 on Monday 23 May 12:22

[Zumbruk]

48k said:

"well above rooftop height" Apache.

Oh, well, that's all right then.

[Pinkie15]

Oilchange said:

Pinkie15 said:

Well 4-500 ft probably; was trying to imagine it's wing span then 'built up' to it's altitude. Dam difficult to do.

I always thought minimum height was 1500 ft, seems I was wrong then if 500 is minimum.

I see what you did there

Glad someone did

[Oilchange]

woodypup59 said:

The Lanc was at Rickmansworth Festival yesterday (Sunday morning) at about 11.20 - not my picture.

Question. Do all the engine rotate the same way (al la Mozzy ?)

Edited by woodypup59 on Monday 23 May 12:22

Yes, if you look at the props they are all angled the same way.

[cb31]

AndrewGP said:

It’s just something you have to accept happening for the reasons set out above ie EVERY complaint is followed up no matter how trivial. Every aspect of the flight is then investigated, the flight planning process, the crew briefing, the authorisation process, even the flying currency of the crew, the radar traces of the aircraft from ground stations and the aircraft’s own data logging stats. If any wrong-doing is discovered (deliberate or otherwise) then there are inevitable consequences. And the findings will always be made available to the complainant.

Seems like a massive waste of everyone's time. Did they crash? No, ok carry on and train for a potential conflict. Tell the NIMBY to not buy a house near an airfield.

[Collectingbrass]

eharding said:

ecsrobin said:

According to your profile you are in Norfolk which is LFA5 or Low Flying Area 5.

If he lives near Kimberley Hall at Wymondham, we're looking back 15 years or so ago, and these aircraft appeared to be either Russian, Chinese or sponsored by Red Bull......then all I can say it was probably swamp gas, ball lightning or the clouds moving behind the moon that he actually didn't see....

Rudloe Manor probably transferred the call

[DoctorX]

It came over our place on Saturday. I was amazed at how low it was. Crappy picture but you get the idea.