RAF Opps over Eastbourne

[dunc0936]

Does anyone know if the RAF were on opps over the South East Of England today? a Tornado flew low over the Eastbourne end of the A27 around 1.30pm (scared the crap out of me but made me smile) then about 3pm a Herc flew low over the Eastern End of Eastbourne (Hankam/Stone Cross)

Without breaching security, Does anyone know if they were opps or just flying home in a different direction and can they do more of it?? don't usually get Low level flying much around here. Not enough really but its a great sight.

Duncan

[Courtney Mil]

Sadly, Duncan, two unconnected fly-overs don't equate to an op. Equally sad is that the days of standing in any area of reasonably open aispace would have rewarded the casual observer with plenty of sightings. I'm only guessing, but probably just coincidence. Sure, they could have been linked, but it's not much. People used to ask questions when they saw more than ten aircraft in the same space at the same time. So sad.

[60024]

Probably got more to do with the poor weather over the rest of the country than anything else.

[dunc0936]

shame there are no RAF bases this part of the country any more. though the only flying station I know of in East Sussex was a satellite station during the war on Beachy head

Duncan

[chevvron]

RAF aircraft often operate across Pevensey Base at low level; no reason they shouldn't 'cut the corner' and fly overland provided they maintain 500ft MSD (minimum separation distance)
RAF Beachy Head was a radar station as was RAF Wartling (just north of Pevensey). Wartling was active until the mid 60s I think and was a Type 80 air defence radar. There were several ALGs (advanced landing grounds) in operation in the area for short periods in 1944.

[CoffmanStarter]

Duncan ...

Just to add a bit more background detail that might be of interest to you ...

Eastbourne is situated within UK Mil Low Flying Area 18 (LFA18), as shown on the following Map.

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/CoffmanStarter/UKMilLFAMap_zps2a871b8d.png

As you probably know the airspace in this neck of the woods is a bit intense given the proximity of the London TMA and the Gatwick CTA. You didn't mention the direction of travel of the Tornado or Herc ... but typically FJ traffic routes into LFA18 from North Kent skirting the TMA/CTA with a waypoint on Heathfield (:)) then heading westerly for LFA1 staying well below 2,500'.

The Town of Heathfield is on high ground with a number of good visual Nav Check Points ... the most prominent being the TV mast which is 1007' AMSL. On the following map I have highlighted Heathfield and the A27 location you mentioned ... again that particular road/rail feature is a good visual Nav Check Point. The viz wasn't too good yesterday so I doubt Heathfield would have been a desirable waypoint because of the TV mast obstruction/hazard.

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/CoffmanStarter/GatwickZone_zps3e773b7e.jpg

Sadly we don't get too much UK Mil (RAF) traffic ... although ... as you probably know ... RAF Odiham Chinooks are frequent visitors by day and night. Occasionally the French lob round low level in their Transall C-160's.

10/15 years ago, when RAF Bentwaters was open, USAF A-10's were regular visitors.

In terms of actual activity in LFA18 we are way down the batting order (stats for 2010-2011) :(

I'd love to meet the 193 complainants :mad:

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/af162/CoffmanStarter/UKMilLFA182010-2011_zpsb28580a9.png

More MOD background information here ... It was possible to look up on the former MOD Website if there were exercises/ops in particular LFA's ... but that seems to have been dropped in favour of the UK Gov Website which appears more geared up to "inviting" complaints than explaining the need for low level flying training :ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

MOD Mil Low Flying Statistics 2010-2011 (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/27454/POMLFAppendix20102011.pdf)

UK Government Mil Low Flying (https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area)

I had to laugh when I looked up the UK Gov URL as Mil Low Flying comes under Noise, Neighbours, Pets and Pests :ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

Hope this has been of help/interest ...

Best

Coff.

[Art Field]

Sadly, there is no RAF ground or air unit any way near to " The Suntrap of the South " but I recall being told of an RFC airfield located on the Crumbles, a bank of shingle between Eastbourne and Bexhill.

[Icare9]

They're very welcome to fly over the spot just above the "L" in L aser Site UNL in Fig 2!!!!

[CoffmanStarter]

In the past there have been RAF Stations in East Sussex at ...

Beachy Head
Deanland
Eastbourne
Friston
Hammerwood
Newhaven
Pevensey
Polegate
Telscombe Cliffs
Wartling

Coff.

[Icare9]

Blimey!
That was quick! Just been overflown (18: 25) at low altitude by (presumably) an Air Ambulance or ASR fairly quiet and with very high intensity white hi viz white light (not strobe) ..... Steady ESE course towards Bexhill.

[pkam]

Thanks Cof for the link to HM Gov, l am penning a missive to complain of a lack of LF and can they supply a timetable and location list.I am retiring back to the UK in two weeks and will need a hobby.
What happened to the days when a couple of pairs of Tonkas bounced over our village going north past Doncaster nearly every weekday evening @ 2100 ish. Now that Finningley has re invented itself nothing comes our way anymore.
Regards all.

[Icare9]

Blimey!
That was quick! Just been overflown (18: 25) at low altitude by (presumably) an Air Ambulance or ASR fairly quiet and with very high intensity white hi viz white light (not strobe) ..... Steady ESE course towards Bexhill.

[CoffmanStarter]

Not Mil then Icare9 :=

[CoffmanStarter]

Pkam ...

Might be worth keeping an eye on this URL ... (which has just been updated:D)

Low Flying Training Timetable (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable)

Hobby interests ... these might help ...

Mil Low Flying Photography (http://machloop.co.uk/)

Fox 2 Forum (http://www.fox2.co.uk/)


Best ...

Coff.

[pontifex]

Was just about to start my first pint in the Wilmington (just up the valley from Alfriston) pub when the Tonka went past. Made me so happy I had to have another. Just before I married a lass from the village in 64 (Mrs P still) got a Canberra mate to do a run down the village at about 100 or so. The photos are on show in the village hall. You can even see future mother in law standing in the garden with her white cat beside her. Happy days.

[CoffmanStarter]

Well played Pontifex :ok:

So would that be The Giants Rest ?

Coff.

[HalloweenJack]

@Art Field

there used to be an aircraft producer in WW1 in eastbourne ; i know as a few years back my dad gave me a book about it!

sadly ofc , long gone; and the crumbles is now a retail park

[ORAC]

Just had a Chinook overfly Brighton along the coast East to West. Not seen one down here in the last years.

Nice to see and hear. :ok:

[dunc0936]

Had a low level fly over from a Merlin Helicopter, Stone Cross dircection looked like West South West Heading for Seaford at 13:00 Not sure if the RAF and Army both use them so not sure who's it was

If the crew use this site and recognise the flight path then a big thank you from me and can you do it more often.

Duncan :ok:

[BEagle]

Sadly, there is no RAF ground or air unit any way near to "The Suntrap of the South" but I recall being told of an RFC airfield located on the Crumbles, a bank of shingle between Eastbourne and Bexhill.


Sure you didn't do a tour there, Arters? :p

Hope all's well with you these days?

[airborne_artist]

Had a low level fly over from a Merlin Helicopter, Stone Cross dircection looked like West South West Heading for Seaford at 13:00 Not sure if the RAF and Army both use them so not sure who's it was


Green ones are operated by the RAF, grey ones by the Royal Navy. The Army don't have any :8

[clicker]

ORAC, when I lived in Lewes used to get a number of Chinooks go up the river Ouse from Newhaven.

Since I moved to Hove I've seen very little due to the LF nofly zone that runs from Newhaven to Littlehampton although have caught the odd Navy Lynx on my mode-s receiver but not seen one yet.

[pontifex]

COFF

Yes, it's the Giants Rest now, but at the time of the photos it was called the Black Horse. It has had a couple of name changes in the interim.

[dunc0936]

Thank you to the pilots of the two merlins the flew over my head this afternoon approx 14.35. Heading north from Eastbourne back over the farm I was working on. I did wave my arms around and they seemed to change course towards me though this may have just been a coincidence. You made my afternoon, be nice to know which squadron theg were from

Cheers Duncan

[ValMORNA]

There was a small wartime airfield at Hastings which held an 'air display' just post-war where I watched a Spitfire doing the usual 'rookie-pilot routine' and two Spits approaching to land from either end of the field. All part of the entertainment.
The site, Pebsham, at the St. Leonards end of town, is probably a housing estate by now!

[Hangarshuffle]

But the air activity over the north of England yesterday was interesting for these Spartan times- I had highlighted before the high altitude goings on and one or two on here were helpful. So yet again twice we had the very high altitude high speed American F15s overhead in a left hand finger four formation heading south eastish at high speed, this time managed to see them through the binos. You hardly ever see 4 military aircraft in formation at altitude, ever.
Weather was clear. Amazing to see these contrails and the aircraft in this clarity. Two waves, or the same mob at different times?, with the weaving number 2.
I kept on scanning and think I saw a drone, predator type or such and this would be heading toward the Otterburn or Spadeadam ranges but at high altitude.
But I'm not sure, could have been something else, but I'm in the ballpark I think..never seen one before in the UK.
Am I right?


Today, 2 medium altitude Typhoons only over Northumberland. Nothing else to report from our new age meagre Armed Forces.