Apache Longbow over the City

[Mutley]

Just walking back along Fenchurch St, heard a set of rotors, and looked in their direction, expecting to see HEMS or the Police, and saw a lone Longbow following the river.

Guess the alert level is up at the moment

[off_again]

I see them typically weekly - but then again, I live not far from Salisbury plain and Chinooks and Merlins are also pretty common.

... and thats not very helpful is it?

[davepoth]

It's amazing how big they are for two people. I live under the flight path from Filton to Salisbury, and for a few months there were a lot of them to-ing and fro-ing.

[anonymous-user]

We get chinooks a fair bit over doncaster, the occasional apache and have started to hear what sounds like fast jets flying overhead every now and then

[DeadMeat_UK]

Saw the same @ Fleet Street. I've seen them at airshows etc, but watching it cruise above a city, MY city, it looks a whole lot more menacing. Wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of it.

Joy ride down the Thames, or finally sorting them students out ?

[Man-At-Arms]

with or without missiles ?

[Mutley]

Would guess some form of arms on board, couldn't see from the angle I saw.

Speaking to one of the chaps in the office, says that the Apache is only 2ft shorter in the body than the Chinook (off to check that)

[dvs_dave]

Nothing unusual tbh. If you work in a high-rise building along the river you'll see Apaches every few weeks. Military heli's are a regular occurance (Merlins, Lynx, Chinooks, occasional Blackhawks etc.)

[Defcon5]

enforcing the congestion charge no doubt

[fergywales]

Defcon5 said:

enforcing the congestion charge no doubt

Apt username there.

[AndyFoo]

Mutley said:

Would guess some form of arms on board, couldn't see from the angle I saw.

Speaking to one of the chaps in the office, says that the Apache is only 2ft shorter in the body than the Chinook (off to check that)

Chinook = 98 ft 10 in (30.1 m)

Apache = 58.17 ft (17.73 m) (with both rotors turning)

Bit more than 2ft.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

AndyFoo said:

Chinook = 98 ft 10 in (30.1 m)

Apache = 58.17 ft (17.73 m) (with both rotors turning)

Bit more than 2ft.

That is including rotors, the BODY is about the same!

ETA:
Chinook - 51'
Apache - 49'

Edited by Petrolhead_Rich on Monday 7th February 13:08

[Mutley]

dvs_dave said:

Nothing unusual tbh. If you work in a high-rise building along the river you'll see Apaches every few weeks. Military heli's are a regular occurance (Merlins, Lynx, Chinooks, occasional Blackhawks etc.)

Normally hear a Chinook way before i see it from my window, not seen a Lynx or Merlin for ages, but can't recall seeing an Apache before.

[shakotan]

Mutley said:

Normally hear a Chinook way before i see it from my window, not seen a Lynx or Merlin for ages, but can't recall seeing an Apache before.

I see Apaches flying up the Thames at least once every couple of months.

[AndyFoo]

Petrolhead_Rich said:

That is including rotors, the BODY is about the same!

ETA:
Chinook - 51'
Apache - 49'

My bad, sorry! didn't see the body bit

[wolves_wanderer]

The Thames is one of the heliroutes through London so you can put the tinfoil hats away and leave the fallout shelter

[Big Rod]

We gwt Apaches and Chinooks flying over my office in Dorking quite regularly mostly heading in the direction of London.

Quite spectacular. (At least I think so!)

[Cotty]

Mutley said:

Would guess some form of arms on board, couldn't see from the angle I saw.

At least the M230 Chain Gun. I love the "its looks where you look" bit

[Cat Face]

I see it once a week from my flat. Sometimes refuels at Battersea heliport.

[Neil H]

A Chinook flew over me the other day in Tower Hill, it didn't strike me as unusual.

A few years ago now, a Chinook came and hovered over some trees back when we lived on a farm up north. I assume it was a training exercise - just hovering about 200ft up a few hundred yards away from our farm (close enough that we could exchange waves with the crew), before buggering off. An amazing sight, the noise was incredible.