Real low level flying.

(I hate computers. Don't even know what I did.)

Oh well. I always wondered why the Brits flew lower than the U.S. pilots in the Mach Loop. Now I know. These guys don't practice low level, they live it.

I assume the Buccaneer pilots transitioned to the Tornados. Hence their low 'real' low level expertise.

www.youtube.com...

a reply to: nwtruckerEh well, computer SNAFU's happen too.

a reply to: nwtrucker

There has to be much more to this "Real low level flying" than you put in this thread.

a reply to: worldstarcountry

Sob, no.

a reply to: seasonal

If this Norman chap is to be believed, these guys flew between 20 and 30 feet at over 400 knots
, time on target, and didn't lose a single plane to missiles or CAP fighter. Those included F-15s and F-16s.


www.youtube.com...


Sorry, no one has ever shown me how to move You Tubes to ATS.

a reply to: nwtrucker

Oh well. I always wondered why the Brits flew lower than the U.S. pilots in the Mach Loop. Now I know. These guys don't practice low level, they live it.

They don't have stealth technology, fly nap of the earth to avoid ground fire.

RAF Tornadoes did the same thing in Iraq (Desert Sh-orm).

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: nwtrucker

Oh well. I always wondered why the Brits flew lower than the U.S. pilots in the Mach Loop. Now I know. These guys don't practice low level, they live it.

They don't have stealth technology, fly nap of the earth to avoid ground fire.

RAF Tornadoes did the same thing in Iraq (Desert Sh-orm).

IIRC, the Brits lost a number of Tornadoes in Iraq. More than the rest of the Coalition's aircraft.

You say low flying...

to beat a s-400 within its kill radius with a non stealth plane you have to fly below 25 ft.

One of the last Buccaneer passes.

a reply to: Zaphod58
Well then, 25 feet it is

a reply to: worldstarcountry

You know you're low when you have to pull up to put your gear down.

a reply to: Ddrneville

That's not low.
This is low.

RAF pilots were specially trained in low level flying as a means to avoid casualties in war.

Because the RAF didn't have many planes, it was felt protecting their numbers was the most important strategy, and they couldn't rely on the overwhelming force the USAF could put into theatre, so sneaky-sneaky was the way to go.


However unfortunately as training accidents suggested, and then actual action in Iraq proved, it was too dangerous under combat situations. And as the Iraq accidents mounted up the RAF changed their operational strategy and Tornado pilots started flying higher and operating more closely with the American AWACs and anti-radar patrol systems. Operating under the umbrella of US protection.


They still train to fly low though. Many the time I've been up on a hillside here in the Scottish mountains, and found myself looking down into the cockpit of a Tornado or Typhoon.

a reply to: nwtrucker

that music

One of my favourite clips is this low pass of a spitfire



This one was under a bridge where I used to live. Apparently the pilot when asked to do it as a joke said no problem. 1 take and that was that.

a reply to: Ddrneville


Yep, that one's been around for a while. There's one of an F-4 clearing a mound of dirt with ground personnel standing on it by five feet.


Yet, it's one thing at an airbase and a bit different than staying down there in a combat situation for the full sortie, I'd wager.

originally posted by: nwtrucker

originally posted by: intrptr
a reply to: nwtrucker

Oh well. I always wondered why the Brits flew lower than the U.S. pilots in the Mach Loop. Now I know. These guys don't practice low level, they live it.

They don't have stealth technology, fly nap of the earth to avoid ground fire.

RAF Tornadoes did the same thing in Iraq (Desert Sh-orm).

IIRC, the Brits lost a number of Tornadoes in Iraq. More than the rest of the Coalition's aircraft.

I know, left that part out. I'm so "anti war and all".

Wait for it...

a reply to: Painterz


The damn camels wouldn't stay put.

The blue angel over the water is pretty neat in this one.