The Saudi Mach Loop?
Thread Starter
The Saudi Mach Loop?
I came across this clip on YouTube and was wondering if this is a routine training area in KSA or a one off? Things get lively from about four mins in.
512
I would suggest quite the opposite. I’m willing to bet there was virtually zero planning involved. Just a guy who has probably flown the same wadis a few times.
I’m also willing to bet there was no navigator involved at any stage!
BV
I’m also willing to bet there was no navigator involved at any stage!
BV
It’s all great fun until you become a skid mark on the rocks….
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Looks very similar to some of the footage in this classic...
Is it me?
I look forward to watching some great footage and can't because I find the music too distracting, unbearable in fact.
What's wrong with engine noise?
Thank you anyway to the posters here, I din't wish to be rude.
What's wrong with engine noise?
Thank you anyway to the posters here, I din't wish to be rude.
A question - would the aircraft's navigation be capable of giving the pilot all the necessary cues regarding which turns to take, or would the nav shout them out (like in a rally car)? Either way both would have on their game as a wrong turn could be catastrophic (esp those blind turns into branching canyons)
Misconceptions
I can speak with an informed opinion about the video in question but I can’t give you scientific facts.
It was flown in a Hawk Mk 65 so basically like a T1. There would have been no navigator.
Wadi/canyon flying of that nature is not done with any reference to a map. There simply isn’t the time to look at a map and it wouldn’t be safe to do so.
What you watched was clearly a guy who has flown the wadi many times and knew where he was going. Much like we don’t need to look at a map to fly the Mach Loop. He may well have navigated to a known start point but that is where the planning will probably have ended.
Funnily enough I was doing something very similar about three hours ago but thankfully I have slightly better avionics so I really didn’t need to do any planning to find where I was going. Just the occasional glance at my screen if I ever need it.
I will just add that the flying in the video is of a very high standard and not everyone would choose to be quite so aggressive. What you are seeing is the result of a lot of practice and experience.
BV
It was flown in a Hawk Mk 65 so basically like a T1. There would have been no navigator.
Wadi/canyon flying of that nature is not done with any reference to a map. There simply isn’t the time to look at a map and it wouldn’t be safe to do so.
What you watched was clearly a guy who has flown the wadi many times and knew where he was going. Much like we don’t need to look at a map to fly the Mach Loop. He may well have navigated to a known start point but that is where the planning will probably have ended.
Funnily enough I was doing something very similar about three hours ago but thankfully I have slightly better avionics so I really didn’t need to do any planning to find where I was going. Just the occasional glance at my screen if I ever need it.
I will just add that the flying in the video is of a very high standard and not everyone would choose to be quite so aggressive. What you are seeing is the result of a lot of practice and experience.
BV
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"No, al-Hoskins, don't even think about trying it."
Many uploads to social media/Youtube,etc are similarly spoiled by unnecessary rock music - yes, I'm a rock music fan!
I place the blame for this intrusive music on films such as Top Gun.
Very impressive. It makes “Star Wars Canyon” look like a walk-in-the-park.
Bob, is that an area in the west near the Red Sea coast?
Bob, is that an area in the west near the Red Sea coast?
I42
I’m afraid Saudi is not my area of expertise. I’m sure there will be someone along shortly who can answer your query. Background Noise perhaps if he is about?
BV
BV
Thread Starter
The guy who posted the video (Phil Frawley https://fighterjet.com.au/2016/04/27...an-experience/) says it's about 25 miles South East of Tabuk.
Yes, still here! Only visited that part of the World briefly but fortunate enough to have been there and done that, albeit to a lesser extent! I'm pretty sure it is the Wadi Disah area. It really is that spectacular - anywhere else, it would be an area of outstanding natural beauty and undoubtedly have all sorts of low flying restrictions.
As Bob said, that is 'local area knowledge nav' - not a student in sight. Less likely these days I guess, with all of the inherent recording devices.
As Bob said, that is 'local area knowledge nav' - not a student in sight. Less likely these days I guess, with all of the inherent recording devices.
