4xSmall Plane Formation - 35,000 ft

[hammo19]

Around 11:55 this morning 4 contrails, small jets, in arrow formation heading North at probably 35,000 feet over North Sea coast Durham/Sunderland area. Not on FR24 or Military Radar.

Anyone any ideas? This is the place someone would know.

[thetrickcyclist]

X4 F15C v high & V fast in a loose finger 4 heading SSW over Dundee 13 minutes ago....presumably returning from some trade up North, seems it has been busy last few hours...blackjacks skirting UKADE....make that 25 mins ago now..

[aeropilot]

USAF aren't involved with UK AD QRA....?

[ecsrobin]

aeropilot said:

USAF aren't involved with UK AD QRA....?

Correct. It will be unrelated.

[MrBig]

Something similar came over Banbury earlier this afternoon, but I didn't get to the window in time to see. Just told it was 4 military planes in formation!

[hammo19]

Looks like F15s then - thanks chaps

[blueg33]

thetrickcyclist said:

X4 F15C v high & V fast in a loose finger 4 heading SSW over Dundee 13 minutes ago....presumably returning from some trade up North, seems it has been busy last few hours...blackjacks skirting UKADE....make that 25 mins ago now..

For me as a layman most of this post is in code.

[Eric Mc]

blueg33 said:

thetrickcyclist said:

X4 F15C v high & V fast in a loose finger 4 heading SSW over Dundee 13 minutes ago....presumably returning from some trade up North, seems it has been busy last few hours...blackjacks skirting UKADE....make that 25 mins ago now..

For me as a layman most of this post is in code.

I'll try and translate

Four F-15 fighters very high and fast in a loose "finger four" (classic fighter formation developed by the Luftwaffe in the Spanish Civil War) ) heading South, Souhwest over Dundee thirteen minutes ago - presumably returning after performing an interception further North. It seems it has been busy over the last few hours i.e Tupolev Tu160 Blackjack bombers skirting UK the Air Defence area....make that 25 mins ago now.

[blueg33]

Eric Mc said:

blueg33 said:

thetrickcyclist said:

X4 F15C v high & V fast in a loose finger 4 heading SSW over Dundee 13 minutes ago....presumably returning from some trade up North, seems it has been busy last few hours...blackjacks skirting UKADE....make that 25 mins ago now..

For me as a layman most of this post is in code.

I'll try and translate

Four F-15 fighters very high and fast in a loose "finger four" (classic fighter formation developed by the Luftwaffe in the Spanish Civil War) ) heading South, Souhwest over Dundee thirteen minutes ago - presumably returning after performing an interception further North. It seems it has been busy over the last few hours i.e Tupolev Tu160 Blackjack bombers skirting UK the Air Defence area....make that 25 mins ago now.

Thanks - I got as far at the F15's and SSW, blackjacks and UKADE were losing me (should have known Blackjacks, but not capitalized made me question it)

[oj113]

aeropilot said:

USAF aren't involved with UK AD QRA....?

Whilst they may not be involved directly with UK Air Defence, would they be allowed to 'play' and practice interceptions on the Blackjacks if they knew they were heading in this direction? Help keep their pilots up to speed.

[ecsrobin]

oj113 said:

aeropilot said:

USAF aren't involved with UK AD QRA....?

Whilst they may not be involved directly with UK Air Defence, would they be allowed to 'play' and practice interceptions on the Blackjacks if they knew they were heading in this direction? Help keep their pilots up to speed.

No.

[thetrickcyclist]

ecsrobin said:

oj113 said:

aeropilot said:

USAF aren't involved with UK AD QRA....?

Whilst they may not be involved directly with UK Air Defence, would they be allowed to 'play' and practice interceptions on the Blackjacks if they knew they were heading in this direction? Help keep their pilots up to speed.

No.

"Yes"

[ecsrobin]

thetrickcyclist said:

ecsrobin said:

oj113 said:

aeropilot said:

USAF aren't involved with UK AD QRA....?

Whilst they may not be involved directly with UK Air Defence, would they be allowed to 'play' and practice interceptions on the Blackjacks if they knew they were heading in this direction? Help keep their pilots up to speed.

No.

"Yes"

No.

Practice Q is done on civilian aircraft and would never be on “live” aircraft.

I should also add in the case of the Russian intercepts the aircraft are picked up by the fighter controllers/QRA of other nations before being handed over to the UK.

This gives the RAF plenty of time to get the slower tanker up and airborne to support the task of escorting the Russians.

Edited by ecsrobin on Monday 17th December 19:16