Global Hawk first flight across UK

[chopper2004]

First flights for Global Hawk over the UK (http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/first-flights-for-global-hawk-over-the-uk-29052014)

Though unwittingly last years RIAT, I spied a Global Hawk tucked behind the hangars in my pic ....thought there must not be room for it

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g209/longranger/IMG_0313_zps0a763552.jpg

I took that pic on the sunday as on the sat, it was in full view as opposed to containers around it :E

cheers

[melmothtw]

That's a very interesting pic chopper, don't quite know what to make of it. It did occur to me that it might be the static mock-up that NG carts around the show circuit, but that makes no sense for RIAT (and on the far side of the field also).

Edited to add: BTW, I would have been stood very close to you during that EMS helicopter display ;-)

[RAFEngO74to09]

It most probably was the GM demo item and it makes perfect sense for it to be there if the purpose was to show it to invited guests. In my day at Fairford, the RIAT Reception / Dinner was held in that hangar with car parking on the concrete in front of where the Global Hawk is - various back-drop items were in the vicinity (eg BBMF aircraft) and it would not surprise me if some exhibit opportunities were monetized. Just a guess.

[TheWizard]

It was a full size replica used as a backdrop inside the hangar for the gala dinner.

[melmothtw]

Well, that explains it.

[VinRouge]

Can't believe the price tag!

[Willard Whyte]

Can't believe the price tag!

Global Hawk or riat tickets?..

[Cows getting bigger]

Interesting timing. Global Hawk has flown in UK airspace at least twice. The first time was in the mid-2000s on its way to Germany although it never got even close to overflight of a UK landmass. However Google is telling us that there has been activity in the very recent past as part of a NATO exercise.

[Davef68]

Interesting given the reasons/excuse the Germans gave for cancelling Eurohawk

Germany axes Euro Hawk drone program | Defense News | defensenews.com (http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130514/DEFREG01/305140015/Germany-axes-Euro-Hawk-drone-program)

In particular, in this one

http://www.dw.de/german-defense-minister-to-face-grilling-over-euro-hawk-debacle/a-16964646

The American airspace permit for the Euro Hawk - the prototype was built in the US - was not valid in Germany and could not be obtained, because German regulators had no experience with the new drone technology. And according to the German defense ministry, the American side withheld documents detailing the technical specifications of the Euro Hawk. As a consequence, it could not be proven beyond doubt that the Euro Hawk would not pose a danger to civilian air traffic

Shades of Rivet Joint....

[Heathrow Harry]

we cant prove beyond doubt that civilian traffic isn't a danger to civilian traffic..............

[walter kennedy]

It's been around for a while now: in April 2001 one flew non-stop across the pacific from USA to Australia - no one on board an a/c with the wingspan of a 737! Not much fanfare at the time but quite a capability non the less.

[PFMG]

Cowsgettingbigger - perhaps this was the NATO Exercise refered to:

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_110351.htm