View Full Version : Mach Loop - F-35s
tartare
4th May 2017, 02:26
Found this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvbUyc49MWY)in my travels today.
Nice blue note from them all!
SpazSinbad
4th May 2017, 02:39
Also here earlier: http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/424953-f-35-cancelled-then-what-524.html
Two videos - scroll down....
One has to ask why this very expensive aircraft is show boating at low level with all the attendant risks? Surely being stealthy it does not need to penetrate at low level like we did in the Cold War? Maybe I have missed something?
Pure Pursuit
4th May 2017, 07:52
One has to ask why this very expensive aircraft is show boating at low level with all the attendant risks? Surely being stealthy it does not need to penetrate at low level like we did in the Cold War? Maybe I have missed something?
Some of the the UK's best aviation photographers hang around the Mach Loop so, where better a place to get some great shots. Great PR.
One has to ask why this very expensive aircraft is show boating at low level with all the attendant risks? Surely being stealthy it does not need to penetrate at low level like we did in the Cold War? Maybe I have missed something?
Because it's fun!
tartare
4th May 2017, 08:37
Fanging around at low level through the Mach Loop?
The very epitome of fighter-pilotness I would have thought.
Right up there with ridiculous `taches and big watches...
Risk... pah...
And there was me thinking this was a serious forum not a spotters corner! Low level flying was fun but done for a very good reason! Once you go down the stealth route it is hardly appropriate! Much as you boys enjoy seeing them and photographing them it surely is not what they should be doing! Anyway, I'm going to sit and watch some home made video of low flying Jaguars in Oman and have a nice glass of vino!😎
Not sure I would class that as low flying Newt - otherwise I would agree with you!
One has to ask why this very expensive aircraft is show boating at low level with all the attendant risks? Surely being stealthy it does not need to penetrate at low level like we did in the Cold War? Maybe I have missed something?
The F-35 is designed to operate in both stealthy and non-stealthy configurations. Nothing remarkable about an F-35 training at low level and operating like a legacy platform, IMHO.
Certainly the USMC and RAF/RN are going to be operating the F-35B at times with external gun pod and external weapons. The same with the US Navy F-35Cs.
F-35B external weapons and gun pod.
http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/SpudmanWP/f_35_external_load1_190.jpg
F-35C external weapons.
https://www.f35.com/media/photos-detail/arrested-landing-with-external-weapons
F-35A external weapons.
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andrewn
4th May 2017, 21:23
The Mach loop has generated a bit of a cult following in recent years, and not just amongst spotters but the aircrews as well! It's largely driven by social media I suspect and is generally seen as a bit of fun and a great photo op. At some point, when the inevitable happens and one of the jets piles in it will all stop quite suddenly i'd imagine. Sorry to be a doom-monger :)
blimey
4th May 2017, 22:30
when the inevitable happens and one of the jets piles in
I think you'll find that pilots are in the habit of missing the ground on a daily basis, so why should the 'inevitable happen' on what is just another bit of shaped ground?
We once met a 4 ship of Buccs coming in the opposite direction before it was made into a roundabout - interesting, but all low level was busy back in the day.
tartare
4th May 2017, 22:48
Really Andrewn?
Admittedly this happened (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/raf-jets-worth-300m-come-5255581)in August 2014 but AFAIK there's never been a crash there?
Could anyone enlighten us all as to how long the Mach Loop has been in use - decades I would imagine?
Flew through it as a civvy in the back of a Hawk out of Valley in 2000 - amazing experience.
Lima Juliet
4th May 2017, 22:53
Anyway, what's all this "Mach Loop" nonsense? It's "My-C^nt-Lips" to real fighter jocks. Always known as that along with other favourites like "Smokey Joe's", "Playboy Lake", "Sally's T!ts", "Moon Country" and "Star Wars Valley". Some of these favourites are on this Aircrew Map of Great Britain:
http://ccgi.piers.plus.com/ball/aircrew_map_of_uk.pdf
"Mach Loop"? Pah, that's what the Spotters call it...:rolleyes:
LJ
PS. It's been a flow arrow loop for at least 30 years...
tartare
4th May 2017, 22:57
That's gold...
Oh dear Newt, catch up. You should have asked that question last year, about this:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oCF1trDfN0A
Instead you wait until it was an F-35, which is, incidentally, both cheaper and more common than the F-22 these days.
tartare
4th May 2017, 23:58
...is it just an illusion, or are those girly spams in their fancy jets not flying as low as you RAF killers...? ;)
Load Toad
5th May 2017, 05:41
One has to ask why this very expensive aircraft is show boating at low level with all the attendant risks? Surely being stealthy it does not need to penetrate at low level like we did in the Cold War? Maybe I have missed something?
The last thing we need is pilots trained to fly the aircraft to its full potential and for all reasonable eventualities / scenarios
IcePaq
5th May 2017, 05:44
Not taking a new fighter to the mach loop would be like a car manufacturer not taking their latest sports car onto the nurburgring.
Wokkafans
5th May 2017, 06:08
Just out of interest where would you guys rate the ML in a Top Ten and what others would you put in your list?
tartare
5th May 2017, 06:48
Not a fast jet pilot - but the military low flying area in NZ's North Island near the Desert Road and then east of the Ruahines down the coast towards Castlepoint was spectacular.
Did it in a MB339 two-ship formation - Falcon Grey and Falcon Black in 1995. No 2 was right down in the braided river beds at around 250 knots.
Constant 4g turn around snow capped Mt Ruapehu in formation.
Then down low for a buzz and break across Taupo township followed by aeros over the lake.
We ridge rolled low and close over some peaks on our way into the Wairarapa as well.
That and the Hawk flight through the loop are without a doubt the two aviation highlights of my life.
I'm sure others will have better stories.
ShotOne
5th May 2017, 11:25
Ha, nobody in current RNZAF does😬
To answer the "what are they doing low level etc.." q'ns, they are earning their keep by letting the world know the latest US mega jet is in Europe shoulder to shoulder etc
SATCOS WHIPPING BOY
5th May 2017, 14:25
Something on facetube made me chuckle. Apparently the F-35s were planning to fly LFA7 then head north for LFA17; they never made it to LFA17.
Apparently they had difficulty in finding the loop and only had time/gas for once round there before heading back home. A bit worrying that with all the tech they had difficulty in finding a substantial chunk of north Wales. :-)
glad rag
5th May 2017, 19:45
...is it just an illusion, or are those girly spams in their fancy jets not flying as low as you RAF killers...? ;)
Meh. It's great great people can get out in these places and enjoy photography and the jets
3Cg_xa8CEpA
tartare
5th May 2017, 21:49
Shot - they might not make the same sound or be quite as fast - but I think one of these (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_T-6_Texan_II#New_Zealand) could generate a pretty good low flying area story or two.
And do a decent ridge roll as well...
Gentleman Aviator
5th May 2017, 22:26
Our USAF friends were not exactly 'in' the loop, were they?
Looked like a Medium-Level Navex, so not really sure of the point.
'In' the loop is when the photographers are looking down at the aircraft, rather than up into the sky.
Come on chaps, let's get lower!
Our USAF friends were not exactly 'in' the loop, were they?
Looked like a Medium-Level Navex, so not really sure of the point.
'In' the loop is when the photographers are looking down at the aircraft, rather than up into the sky.
Come on chaps, let's get lower!
If you are going by the first video that was taken when they were exiting the Mach Loop.
From the video description
Four F35 low level training in the Mach loop!! I was working but got them Exiting the Mach loop heading for Bala!
Certainly low enough in the Dinas Mawddwy Pass/Bwlch.
txooHvssic4&feature=related
Some nice images at following links
https://twitter.com/Michell52526512/status/859533454878408705
https://twitter.com/neilb1940/status/859550610890391552/