Mach Loop

[deanm]

Apologies if this is a common Q, but what is the origin of the name "Mach Loop"

I thought I'd ask in this forum 'cos it's you mob in the fast jets who are 'intimately' familiar with the locale & frightening of sheep...!

Dean

[sitigeltfel]

MachLoop.co.uk | The Mach Loop aka Machynlleth Loop. UK Low Level Flying by RAF Aircraft and Fast Jets -MachLoop.co.uk | The Mach Loop aka Machynlleth Loop. UK Low Level Flying by RAF Aircraft and Fast Jets

[unclenelli]

Until recently, Machynlleth, Powys, Wales, was an fairly anonymous* town in Wales, which UK aviators had shortened to Mach (aka Speed of Sound), hence Mach Loop - a series of anti-clockwise Flow Arrows in the UK Low Flying System (0-2000' agl in LFA 7).
The area is popular with aviation enthusiasts and photographers who can sit on the mountain sides above Low Flying aircraft, which can be as low as 250' agl/MSD for fixed wing aircraft.

*(In October 2012, the town sprung infamously into the public domain as the location of the abduction & murder of 5-yr-old April Jones.)

[AR1]

But mainly because nobody can pronounce 'Machynlleth'

[Krystal n chips]

Here's a bit of nostalgia for you all.....

Vintage Loop ? FighterControl ? Home to the Military Aviation Enthusiast

[tartare]

...and it can be turbulent as hell.
But what a ride.
And we absolutely did not fly below 250 feet.

[Lima Juliet]

Never heard it called 'Mach Loop' apart from by spotters...

We always called it "Me-C^nt-Lips" in my day. But I guess that's just not PC these days!

LJ

[itsnotthatbloodyhard]

Never heard it called 'Mach Loop' apart from by spotters..

Exactly. A bit like the so-called 'Bug' and 'Super Bug'.
But maybe I'm just a has-been and it's all changed.

[Dougie M]

Welsh pronunciation

The towns denoting entry and exit points for non welsh speakers not only included the colourful term in #7 for the southerly point but the northerly point was referred to as "Dollygaloo"

[Mike-Bracknell]

Hi,

Just a quick question - I'm due to holiday this Sat-Wed coming close to the Mach Loop. Having never been, I have no idea how often you guys partake of the loop. So is it in daily use? or am I going to be highly unlikely to see anything if I rock up at any time I have free?

Thanks in advance,
Mike.

[JAVELINBOY]

https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...C_11_Dec_O.pdf

Looks like its open for use 11:00 to 12:00 Mon to Friday next week

[frodo_monkey]

The Mach Loop isn’t in LFA 7(T)...

It’s in use pretty much daily but (obviously) that is weather dependant.

[JAVELINBOY]

https://machloop.co.uk/
https://www.shootsmart.co.uk/mach-loop-wales/mach-loop/

They list it as in LFA 7(T)

Introduction
“The Mach Loop” is a series of valleys in Wales, U.K. that serves as a military low-flying training area. The official designation is LFA7, Low Flying Area 7. Together the valleys form a circuit in which all kinds of military aircraft and helicopters from multiple nations regularly go to practice their low flying skills. Occasionally, especially in weekends, civilian traffic can also be spotted.

The traffic flow is always counterclockwise and in the north and west, there are several popular locations where people can climb the surrounding mountains to enjoy the show and take pictures in a way that mimics air-to-air photography.

[jindabyne]

But these days, you need to be prepared to camp there for a few days in order to amass the shots that used to be commonplace!

[frodo_monkey]

Originally Posted by JAVELINBOY

https://machloop.co.uk/
https://www.shootsmart.co.uk/mach-loop-wales/mach-loop/

They list it as in LFA 7(T)

Introduction
“The Mach Loop” is a series of valleys in Wales, U.K. that serves as a military low-flying training area. The official designation is LFA7, Low Flying Area 7. Together the valleys form a circuit in which all kinds of military aircraft and helicopters from multiple nations regularly go to practice their low flying skills. Occasionally, especially in weekends, civilian traffic can also be spotted.

The traffic flow is always counterclockwise and in the north and west, there are several popular locations where people can climb the surrounding mountains to enjoy the show and take pictures in a way that mimics air-to-air photography.

No, they list it in LFA 7, which is true. LFA 7(T) is a Tactical Training Area within LFA7 where Operational Low Flying can be done down to 100ft MSD. They are not the same thing.

[TEEEJ]

Originally Posted by JAVELINBOY

https://machloop.co.uk/
https://www.shootsmart.co.uk/mach-loop-wales/mach-loop/

They list it as in LFA 7(T)

Scroll down at following link for a map showing the LFA 7(T) area. This area is south of the Mach Loop.

Airfield & Airspace - for Information only

To the south of the Mach Loop there is an area called Tactical Training Area 7T, in which, at specified times, the aircraft may fly as low as 100 feet (30.5 Metres). The Royal Air Force publish a timetable of when the Tactical Training Areas may be in use, however experience shows this to be of little use in determining whether low level flying will take place on a particular day or time.

https://machloop.co.uk/

If you've found the timetable for tactical areas such as LFA 7(T) on the MOD / RAF website you should know that this isn't a timetable for the whole area. It's a small tactical area within the LFA where operational flying (down to 100ft) is allowed.

How to Shoot Low Level Photography « Low Level « Fast Air Photography

[zetec2]

Machynlleth gained fame in the late 60's early 70's as a night check in/control at the Winstay Arms on the Welsh part of the RAC Rally when it was a proper 5 day event covering most parts of the UK, been there done it for the RAFMSA in my younger days, and quite correct we couldn't pronounce it properly..

[gzornenplatz]

Machynlleth

When I were a lad in Wales I happened to be standing at the roadside waiting for a bus when an enormous Yank car stopped next to me and an equally large American said "Say, son, can you tell me the way to Mackinellyworth?" So I pointed him the wrong way for not trying.