The Saudi Mach Loop?

[Wokkafans]

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZu2a7y46gE

[512]

Very impressive, but which seat had the higher work rate, pilot or navigator. That must have taken some planning.

[Bob Viking]

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

[Big Pistons Forever]

It’s all great fun until you become a skid mark on the rocks….

[The Helpful Stacker]

Looks very similar to some of the footage in this classic...

https://youtu.be/EJV-3Pto0Kg

[Repos]

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.

[dead_pan]

Looks very similar to some of the footage in this classic...


I thought this too - beat me to it!

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)

[Bob Viking]

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

[MPN11]

"No, al-Hoskins, don't even think about trying it."

[Null Orifice]

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.

It's not just you - I too find this sort of music distracting and would much rather hear engine noise or cockpit ambient sound (although I appreciate that video on many of these older clips doesn't come with audio - just like silent movies!).
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. :E

[EddyCurr]

Thank you, Wokkafans.

Repos, Null Orifice. I routinely do the following ...

https://c.tenor.com/zS02vRH6AsMAAAAC/turn-down-volume-mute.gif

[India Four Two]

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 Viking]

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

[Wokkafans]

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?


The guy who posted the video (Phil Frawley https://fighterjet.com.au/2016/04/27/saudi-arabian-experience/) says it's about 25 miles South East of Tabuk.

[Background Noise]

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.

[Bob Viking]

It’s still possible nowadays but MSD is the law and there is no hiding! Thankfully some of us are permitted a more exciting MSD.

BV

[Minnie Burner]

It's a great shame that such skills and these steam-driven jets no longer have any value. Apparently.