Mach Loop late 2010 - March 28th 2011 (Low flying jets)

[lloyd h]

First post on here, so first off hello :-)

Here are a few images taken in the Mach Loop in Wales, hope you like the shots and look forward to hearing what you think :-)


1

Panavia tornado GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

2

Panavia Tornado GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

3

Close up of 15 sqn Tornado by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

4

15 sqn Panavia Tornado GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

5

Panavia Tornado GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

6

Hawk T1 Cockpit by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

7 Something pretty rare in the loop

Extra 300L by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

8

Extra 300L by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

9

Extra 300's by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

10

Hawk T1 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

11

RAF King Air by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

12

Hawk T1 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

13

Hercules C-130J by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

14

Hercules C-130J Office by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

15

Hercules C-130J by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

16

Hawk T1 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

17

Panavia Tornado GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

18

Panavia Tornado GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

19

31 Sqn Leavin The Exit by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

20

31 sqn GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

21

QinetiQ Alpha Jet by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

22

QinetiQ Alpha Jet by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

23

What was the time again? by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

24

Swept Wing Tornado GR4 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

25

QinetiQ Alpha Jet Cockpit by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

26

Hawk T2 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

27

Hawk T1 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

28

Hawk T1 Cockpit by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

29

Hawk T1 by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr


Hope I haven't bored you all with the shots!

[Hooli]

I love those cockpit shots.

[eccles]

lloyd h said:

14

Hercules C-130J Office by lloydh.co.uk, on Flickr

Looks like the springs have broken on the crew door hinge covers .

[dr_gn]

They are awesome photos - picture quality compared with many on here is almost like the difference between normal and HD telly (if you know what I mean).

What equipment are you using?

[NismoGT]

Hope I haven't bored you all with the shots!


Far from it Lloyd. Stunning photography.

[kiteless]

Those pics are witchcraft.

Witchcraft, I tell thee!

[lloyd h]

Thanks chaps

dr_gn said:

What equipment are you using?

All shot's were taken with a Nikon D300S and a Nikkor 300mm F/4

[Hard-Drive]

Absolutley stunning shots, really, really good. If I was going to by hyper critical a couple of the crops are a bit close in (perhaps need a bit more space around the wingtips etc) but these are still easily the best I've seen.

I really fancy a trip up there one day...

[anonymous-user]

Nice shots lloyd - are you also over on UKAR? There are a few members on here that are also over there.

The thing I like about the Mach Loop and other similar places is the ability to get really close up shots. You can get some serious impact in head-on knifedge passes. My personal fave is the QinetiQ alpha jet portrait (although I presume it was taken in landscape?).

[lloyd h]

I'm not on UKAR mate, seems to be more base related than anything and I don't really do that


And yeah the alpha jet cockpit was taken in landscape and rotated 90 degrees in photoshop

[Mr_B]

Those are some fantastic pictures ! Excuse my lack on knowledge on the Mach Loop, but are the Extra 300's not civilian aircraft in what I also just guessed is a military only training zone ?

[lloyd h]

Mr_B said:

Those are some fantastic pictures ! Excuse my lack on knowledge on the Mach Loop, but are the Extra 300's not civilian aircraft in what I also just guessed is a military only training zone ?

Spot on, but civilians are allowed to fly as long as they are no lower than 500ft to my knowledge

[eharding]

Mr_B said:

Those are some fantastic pictures ! Excuse my lack on knowledge on the Mach Loop, but are the Extra 300's not civilian aircraft in what I also just guessed is a military only training zone ?

If you know the right people to talk to, it is possible to get a slot time in a civilian aircraft.

The Welsh valleys are in the open FIR, and don't have any status as controlled or restricted airspace - the whole of Wales is however an MOD nominated Low Flying Area, and as such civilian aircraft are generally well advised to stay above the low flying lanes.

The other issue is that without a Rule 5 exemption being in force, civilian aircraft are required to remain a minimum of 500 feet clear of vehicles, structures and people on the ground. Properly authorised military flights are exempt from this restriction.

[Mr_B]

Many thanks. One more question , do you guys ever get contacted by the pilots asking for a copy of the pictures of them ?

[shouldbworking]

Amazing pictures.

Those overhead shots of the canopy with the MDC really shows you just why they make a big fuss over tucking everything in before an ejection.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

eharding said:

If you know the right people to talk to, it is possible to get a slot time in a civilian aircraft.

Personally if I were doing that I'd want it NOTAMd so that the FJ world know you are there.

Flashing around at 420Kt at LL gives you little time to see and avoid low slow moving a/c as too many accidents/incidents have proved.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

shouldbworking said:

Those overhead shots of the canopy with the MDC really shows you just why they make a big fuss over tucking everything in before an ejection.

The MDC is there to shatter the canopy and to allow a faster ejection sequence, although the seat will go through the canopy anyway if the MDC failed to fire.

While MDC 'splatter' is a hazard (the tubing containing the explosive is lead), that is countered by:

Shutting your eyes.
Having at least one visor down.
Having the gap at the top of the visor filled by the ridge on the helmet/having the velveteen visor cover blocking the gap.
Having a roll necked T shirt with the neck up.

Tucking everything in (and getting a good ejection posture), is more about minimising limb flail from the associated blast (as well as minimising spinal injury). All MB seats have a leg restraint system, only some (eg Tornado) have an arm restraint system.

[eharding]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

Personally if I were doing that I'd want it NOTAMd so that the FJ world know you are there.

Flashing around at 420Kt at LL gives you little time to see and avoid low slow moving a/c as too many accidents/incidents have proved.

Quite. All of the folk I know that have made transits via those Low Flying areas have done so with the direct co-operation of the military (a couple of the local Yaks did so a while back after over-nighting at Valley).

Edited by eharding on Sunday 17th April 22:39

[lloyd h]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

Personally if I were doing that I'd want it NOTAMd so that the FJ world know you are there.

Flashing around at 420Kt at LL gives you little time to see and avoid low slow moving a/c as too many accidents/incidents have proved.

I absolutely agree, but there were ex raf pilots who used to fly hawks, hunters and buccs so they knew what they were doing. There is an in cockpit video of them coming through and you can constantly see them checking behind them pretty much every second.

[SlipStream77]

Are the ripples on the port wing of the King Air normal?

Great photos btw.