Originally Posted by
Fitter2
Regarding low flying risks, it is my personal experience (admittedly at groundspeeds under 150kts) that the lower you fly, the easier it is to judge height above ground and obstacles. Buccaneer and Tornado pilots who have operated at low level might wish to comment. Certainly video exists of operations at heights where wingtip vortices are visible on the ground, and I am not aware of any instances of hitting the ground when flying level. Rocket firing dives are another story.
Certainly not the case in a fast jet! The lower you fly, the more you have to concentrate on not hitting terra firma. It is possible to fly below 100’ over undulating land but nearly all your capacity is required to remain safe and very little is left for tactical decision-making. Over calm water, if you fly below 50’, you leave a “snail-trail” on the surface which can be seen form 20 miles away.
At 150 kts, you can manoeuvre to avoid obstacles whereas at 500 kts, that becomes extremely difficult. Admittedly, some of the terrain in Ukraine is famously flat and if the guys know where the power lines are, they may be better placed to fly very low. There is a balance of risk between enemy defences, which can be fatal and ground impact which almost invariably is!!
Mog