Military jet doing laps of North East Kent?

[jammy-git]

Currently ongoing. Seems to be some sort of fighter jet doing laps of Kent at the moment. I'm just to the east of Canterbury and it's going round in circles to the north east of me. Any way to find out what it is and maybe what it's doing?

[Uncle John]

It’s a Typhoon.

Check it here https://tar1090.adsbexchange.com/?icao=43c7aa

Select U for miltary aircraft.

[jammy-git]

Awesome, thanks! I'd guessed it was up at about 15k feet, so good to know I wasnt far off.

Any ideas as to why a typhoon would be going round and round in circles?

[Uncle John]

jammy-git said:

Any ideas as to why a typhoon would be going round and round in circles?

No idea on that one.

[Tony1963]

Quite often it’s to watch over a suspicious aircraft (maybe a legitimate flight that has lost comms) but usually there’ll be two Typhoons. No reports of sonic booms either, so maybe the jockey just wanted to show off to his girlfriend!

[Simpo Two]

Uncle John said:

jammy-git said:

Any ideas as to why a typhoon would be going round and round in circles?

No idea on that one.

Jammed rudder, like the Bismarck.

[conkerman]

Coriolis effect?

[djc206]

Tony1963 said:

Quite often it’s to watch over a suspicious aircraft (maybe a legitimate flight that has lost comms) but usually there’ll be two Typhoons. No reports of sonic booms either, so maybe the jockey just wanted to show off to his girlfriend!

Maybe overwatch for a ship passing through the strait?

Like you say doesn’t fit the profile of an intercept

[jammy-git]

I got a screenshot of the flight plan I'll upload if there's any interest? The jet rarely strayed far into the Channel, nor was it a set route they kept following around, very random turns, not always in the same direction, but very much covering the same area between Canterbury, Margate and Deal.

[Tony1963]

I went outside as it passed over Suffolk on the way back to Coningsby. I could hear it, but not see it. No other aircraft around, but some high altitude thin cloud (cirrus) may have blocked the view.

[Tony1963]

I went outside as it passed over Suffolk on the way back to Coningsby. I could hear it, but not see it. No other aircraft around, but some high altitude thin cloud (cirrus) may have blocked the view.

Edited by Tony1963 on Saturday 8th August 09:21

[ecsrobin]

jammy-git said:

I got a screenshot of the flight plan I'll upload if there's any interest? The jet rarely strayed far into the Channel, nor was it a set route they kept following around, very random turns, not always in the same direction, but very much covering the same area between Canterbury, Margate and Deal.

A screenshot of its flight plan or it’s route? 2 very different things.

[mcdjl]

Related to this?
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-or...

[jammy-git]

ecsrobin said:

A screenshot of its flight plan or it’s route? 2 very different things.

Route

[Quattromaster]

It went over mine in Essex at a rate of knots at 25,000 ft, then dropped down to 12,000 for the circuits.

Did wonder what was going on.

[sunbeam alpine]

Simpo Two said:

Uncle John said:

jammy-git said:

Any ideas as to why a typhoon would be going round and round in circles?

No idea on that one.

Jammed rudder, like the Bismarck.

Or a sticking brake caliper. May be worth feeling the wheels - see if one is a lot warmer than the other...

[LukeBrown66]

Would not be an intercept overland they usually go out over sea obviously to get it before it gets anywhere near.

Maybe a recce for something, using camera pods or something if it is passing numerous times over a spot, perhaps training a crew to use a pod of some kind.

I would have thought something more stable though than a fighter.

[Ayahuasca]

The pilot had dropped his packet of Quavers and was trying to retrieve it from under his seat.

[ecsrobin]

LukeBrown66 said:

Would not be an intercept overland they usually go out over sea obviously to get it before it gets anywhere near.

Maybe a recce for something, using camera pods or something if it is passing numerous times over a spot, perhaps training a crew to use a pod of some kind.

I would have thought something more stable though than a fighter.

Rebel is 41 squadrons callsign which is the TES (Trials Evaluation Unit) or in old money the OEU (Operational Evaluation Unit) a detachment of the Air Warfare Centre at Washington based at Conningsby so likely on a trial.

[DavieBNL]

ecsrobin said:

LukeBrown66 said:

...Washington...

Err, you mean Waddington!

It might also have been acting as a target for something on the ground.