Lancaster Minimum Flying Altitude
Lancaster Minimum Flying Altitude
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anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Just had the Lancaster and 4 spitfires and hurricanes fly directly over my house in Lincolnshire.

The fighters were fairly high but I could see the Lancaster in great detail as it was so low. How
low is it allowed to fly as I can't imagine it was more than a few hundred feet (obviously it's size makes it look closer so I'm sure it was higher than I imagined).

Awesome sight!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Surely as low as it wants, otherwise how will it land? spin

Simpo Two

92,658 posts

294 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
60' over water at night is possible! If you see two spotlights come on, run.

hman

7,497 posts

223 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all


500ft from / 1000ft above built up areas / able to glide clear of same

Europa1

10,923 posts

217 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
60' over water at night is possible! If you see two spotlights come on, run.
"Apres moi, le deluge".

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
We're in the countryside so wondered if they can fly a lot lower over rural areas.

5150

749 posts

284 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
They have no special permissions for low flight, other than for take-off and landing, and their DA (Display Authorisation).

Otherwise no aircraft can fly within 500' above ground level (laterally/vertically) from any person, vehicle, vessel or structure. In other words, you can fly as low as you like away from those listed - I've done it myself, quite legally, although you're then into the domain of kites, drones, paramotors. model planes etc!

From experience the CAA seem disinterested in low flying breaches, unless there's been endangerment to people or property - although proving it is a different task altogether!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Many thanks! I guess it was at around 500 feet, so much detail on view.

Huff

3,420 posts

220 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
Oh, they've been known to go lower than that... wink


Dr Jekyll

23,820 posts

290 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
5150 said:
They have no special permissions for low flight, other than for take-off and landing, and their DA (Display Authorisation).

Otherwise no aircraft can fly within 500' above ground level (laterally/vertically) from any person, vehicle, vessel or structure. In other words, you can fly as low as you like away from those listed - I've done it myself, quite legally, although you're then into the domain of kites, drones, paramotors. model planes etc!
Don't the military have their own rules?

frodo_monkey

672 posts

225 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
5150 said:
They have no special permissions for low flight, other than for take-off and landing, and their DA (Display Authorisation).

Otherwise no aircraft can fly within 500' above ground level (laterally/vertically) from any person, vehicle, vessel or structure. In other words, you can fly as low as you like away from those listed - I've done it myself, quite legally, although you're then into the domain of kites, drones, paramotors. model planes etc!

From experience the CAA seem disinterested in low flying breaches, unless there's been endangerment to people or property - although proving it is a different task altogether!
Military aircraft operate under different rules; most (FW) military flight is no lower than 250ft agl (above ground level). Unless you're in a GR4, correctly qualified and in an Operational Low Flying area (Borders, Wales, and another one in the Highlands - known as 'The Tangos') where you can go to 100ft agl. Not had anything to do with BBMF but presume they're capped at 250ft agl too.

5150

749 posts

284 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
I could be wrong, but my guess is that as they transit primarily through civil airspace, the BBMF are subject to the same rules as everyone else.

After all, they're a peacetime PR outfit.

frodo_monkey

672 posts

225 months

Friday 14th July 2017
quotequote all
You are wrong smile based on my 2000hrs+ of military fast jet flying!

No such thing as 'civil airspace'. Outside of Danger Areas, Aerodrome Traffic Zones around airfields, controlled airspace and the like, airspace is Class G - essentially a free for all. Military aircraft are cleared down to 250ft agl. I can check the BBMF orders at work on Monday if you like...


anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
Is there any way of actually finding out the altitude it flew at over me?


5150

749 posts

284 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
frodo_monkey said:
You are wrong smile based on my 2000hrs+ of military fast jet flying!

No such thing as 'civil airspace'. Outside of Danger Areas, Aerodrome Traffic Zones around airfields, controlled airspace and the like, airspace is Class G - essentially a free for all. Military aircraft are cleared down to 250ft agl. I can check the BBMF orders at work on Monday if you like...
Well I think that's the point here. Neither of us have flown BBMF, so it might need checking!

ecsrobin

18,642 posts

194 months

Saturday 15th July 2017
quotequote all
BBMF come under MAA rules (military flights). The flight will have been put on the military deconfliction system so I’ll check Monday and tell you what height it was planned at.

And to add the limits for military helicopters. The default authorisation is 50/100ft (cant remember) but often cleared to GL (ground level) the best trip I’ve done is flying through the Wye valley skimming the water in a chinook.

Edited by ecsrobin on Saturday 15th July 22:16

ecsrobin

18,642 posts

194 months

Sunday 16th July 2017
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Just checked this was around midday / 1pm on Friday? It was planned at 500ft.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Sunday 16th July 2017
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
Just checked this was around midday / 1pm on Friday? It was planned at 500ft.
Indeed it was - I think I posted at 12:40 which was about 15 minutes after the fly past.

dudleybloke

20,553 posts

215 months

Sunday 16th July 2017
quotequote all
Lancaster just flew directly over my house a couple of mins ago fairly low.
Great sight and sound!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

83 months

Sunday 16th July 2017
quotequote all
dudleybloke said:
Lancaster just flew directly over my house a couple of mins ago fairly low.
Great sight and sound!
yes It's simply majestic!