the best/most amazing flyby (official or otherwise)?
 

A few years ago I hung out at a well-known grass strip in the middle of Kent not far from Maidstone and at that time the owner of the airfield would happily give permission for RAF to practise nav sorties via the 'field. One beautiful May day, mid-week (of course) the siren went (no not an air raid, the standard signal for "interesting aircraft approaching") and all of us at the airfield that day ran outside...I will NEVER forget the sensations (sound, wind, heart-soaring) of two harriers at +/- 300' immediately overhead!! IT WAS THE MOST ALL EMPOWERING SCREAMING MIND-BLOWING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE!

I always wanted to say thank you to someone but instead those of us at the receiving end of this thrill just stood around with giant silly grins on our faces, and someone went back into the clubhouse to put the kettle on for tea so we could talk about it for the rest of the day!!

Anyone else? :)

300ft? Bit Wussy. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Hi All,

About two years ago, flying back to Conington from Old Buckenham (From east to west) in a C152. About 15 nm east of home I tuned back to Conington only to catch a discussion between them and... Red Arrow Leader!!!

Gosh.

Most interested and happy for 30 seconds or so until I hear that they're flying south to north and about to pass 12nm east of Conington at 3,000 feet.

Aarrgghhh!!!

I quickly chipped in that I was now, er, about 12nm east of Conington and, er, at 3,000 feet and, er, ascending as fast as a wee C152 can go. There followed the best flyby of my life as the Red Arrows shoved their smoke on. Very prettily, and very quickly they crossed my track about 1 nm (ahem) ahead and 500 feet below me. I had a brief but pleasant chat with Red Arrow Leader and then they sort of disappeared over the horizon.

(sigh)

Thanks lads.

TW

You know a good thing when you see it!

My Grandparents had a house just outside Llanfachreth nr Dolgellau, North Wales, which sat on its own in between a few mountains. One can only assume it was a rather convenient (unofficial) marker. Offered some great flybys whilst sitting out in the garden but the best had to be back in the late 80's/early 90's when I ran to the window amidst rattling ornaments on the shelves in time to see a Buccaneer overhead hurtling off into the distance at what must have been 200-300ft... Quality!

Back in the 70's the FAA won the race from the top of the Post Office Tower to the top of the Empire State Building using F4's. The company I worked for supplied some rather essential equipment and, to thank us, we were treated to a fly past by Sea Vixens and Phantoms. As it was after working hours I decided to watch from a slight hill, no more than 100', on my way home. Following a sedate fly past by about four Vixens and four Phantoms, was just getting back in the car when they returned one at a time and I swear that I looked down on some of them. I never heard if the local farmer complained after his cows were rushing around his field in complete panic.

This episode was all the sweeter because, some months earlier, the RAF gave us a flypast using Victors and Lightnings. They missed the factory by about 4 miles, even though one of our own aircraft was circling overhead with the company photographer aboard!!

Gainesy

I say 300' ... because I didn't want anyone near to said airfield to think they could complain (however far back in history said fly by took place) but if I say that the clubhouse had a chimney max 15' and one aircraft was barely a coupla feet above it ..... I believe if I jumped and stretched I coulda touched the aircraft I think you will realise that this flyby was not wussy at all!!! hehehheeh ::eg:: In fact? the kid in Empire of the Sun was NOT closer OK?

:)

[edited to complete phrase]

[ 08 January 2002: Message edited by: brockenspectre ]</p>

Nice thread!

At White Waltham in May 1977, at the Silver Jubilee display, a VC10 of BOAC opened (I think opened) the show.

His approach from the Woodley end got lower and lower until at about 1/2 mile distant he was down to around 15-20 feet (the tail was a bit lower!) and flew across the airfield showing what was in "ground effect". The aircraft was G-AVRM and flown by a Captain (Smith?) who was to retire from BOAC the next week. His "swan song" I guess. There is a picture of 'RM's' flyby in the bar at White Waltham to this day.

That, without doubt, was ALMOST the best I ever saw. However, the SKYBLAZERS in their F-100's at Biggin in the early 70's came across on a low run that took my breath away. No 4 in the box was just a few feet above the runway and, as usual, they were only a foot or two away from each other. Two great moments that will live with me forever.

Perhaps the VC10 was the biscuit after all.

Maybe it's at Brize - eh BEagle?

I was refuelling my helicopter at Linton when 2 Buccs beat up the tower on their last ever flight. No warning whatsoever as they passed either side of the tower (Yes I know there is a hangar there!!) I F*****g S*at myself and fuel got spilt in sufficient quantity to summon the fire brigade for a pan wash down. The noise was out of this world, and every stain on the underneath was *clearly* visible.

T-M <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

Back in the sixties when Lockheed were trying to sell their 104 a USAF demo was sent to Ottawa to impress the military and governmental big wigs.
They persuaded the pilot to do a bit of a flying demonstration. Unfortunately, the cold temps and his exuberance saw him go over the field a wee bit above Mach one. The effect on the new civilian terminal under construction was dramatic. It took out almost all the glass and there was fear of structural damage. The costs in '60s $Cdn (it was worth something then) was estimated to be about $100,000.

Recently -- *very* recently compared to most -- the pilot of a Tornado (didn't catch/don't remember whether GR1/4 or F3) decided to pop in on a little assembly of frozen spacey's (Air Cadets to those not in the know), and promptly overflew the gathered coaches at not much more than 100' -- our coach was left visibly rocking...certainly had the desired effect!

Made the subsequent Lancaster flypast a little bit of a non-event tho.

-7000

camel Pilot

I was at WW when the VC-10 few through. The old boy standing next to me dropped his pipe and was just about to run.

Funny though, the thing I most remember about the day was the FAA HF Firefly flying between the tents (Well I was only 9, it seemed like they were that low anyway)

Most pleasing flyby I experienced was by the Marlboro Pitts on a reciprocal heading. The nearer one rolled inverted to pass by. I was merely able to give a gentle wing wag. What gents they were. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

There've been several, the first I mentioned on another thread. Two WW1 fighters fighting it out on the deck one evening after a days filming.

A recce F4 flypast at an airshow so low that the the commentators felt the heat of his burners.

A flypast of four F15's followed by a vertical climb which clearly demonstrated their better than 1 to 1 thrust weight ratio, reaching a contrailing MEA airliner overhead so fast that the Captain reported he was being attacked.

More prosaic but not less low than a Bandeiante so low it was fortunate that he had his gear up. I have a photo of this one. Even now I can't believe it.

pulse1

Nice story, and I am sure that the FAA chaps did a fine flyby.

However, I have to give you a small historical correction: The fastest London New York time in the Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race in May 1969was returned by Sqn Ldr Tom Leckey-Thomson flying a Harrier GR1 of No 1(F) Squadron. The RN F4s did put up quite a good show though, but still only came second!

Two flybys come to mind :

About 10 years ago I was in the control tower at RAF Lyneham one sunny Sunday during a families open day chatting with the ATC folks. We heard "N-something or other, P51 routing from such-and-such a display to such-and-such a display request transit through your zone". ATC cleared the Mustang directly over Lyneham low level and told me to climb up to the top of the tower. The Mustang approached Lyneham below the top of the tower at very high speed and performed a victory roll as he passed by the tower.

On another occasion at a display RAF Fairford a couple of Luftwaffe Starfighters dove down the runway line with afterburners lit. I said to Pat "Jeez, they're moving" just before a very very loud bang set car alarms off, had children crying, <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[ 08 January 2002: Message edited by: PPRuNe Dispatcher ]</p>

As basic jet students at RAF Linton it was the norm to ring around the squadrons to organise our own flying displays to celebrate graduations.

As it was "in house" there was usually an excellent response....

The graduation before ours got a Buccaneer amongst many others. He came from behind the domestic site (and the expectant crowd) and went between 2 hangars and ATC with about 90 degrees of bank to do it. We all thought ATC was done for, as did the ATC'ers on duty!

The Chief Instructor had to blow the whistle after that. He later told us that he was sat in his office on the first floor, overlooking the airfield at the time. All he saw was the plan view of two helmets in a cockpit filling the view for a split second....and the next thing he was wearing his own coffee, neatly thrown over his desk by his startled secretary who had just walked in carrying a tray!

Another Bucc night stopped at Linton after a birdstrike. On departure it came round for a flyby but went straight over dispersal at about 100 ft at very high speed instead of along the runway as everyone was expecting. The assembled throng all ducked, except for one unlucky JP QFI and his stude walking out for a sortie who never heard or saw it coming. They both hit the deck!

Skycop:

Your story is so similar to my previous one that I wonder if it is the same day. What year would that have been? There was a static hoover jet there at the time, so I am wondering if a grad was the reason I was there, as a "Champagne" tent seems to ring bells.

T_M

I had the unfortunate experience of being stranded 1300 miles from home on September 11th, and no way get back to my family in Florida except "the old fashioned" way - AKA by automobile.

As chance would have it, the mid-point of my journey way Pensacola Florida where I found acomodations for the night. I was stirred from my slumber early the next morning by to wonderful roar of several military jets. I quickly dressed and followed the sound. The road quickly led to the entrance of the NAS Pensacola, home of the Blue Angels. I found myself standing in the parking lot of the Museum of Naval Aviation, being treated to a personal airshow as they practiced their routines not 500 feet over my head. I was joined by a lone naval aviator, who had also stopped to watch to show that early September morning.

I felt the anger and frustration over the terrible acts committed against my countrymen be replaced by a renewed sense of commitment, and said a quiet prayer for the brave men in uniform who would doubtless be in harm's way in a few short days or weeks.

November 10 2001 - Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire
PBY5A Catalina N423RS arriving from Duxford
4 fly-bys at 'low' level (comments from control tower included "we had better film the next one for the inquest and "hope he dont leave a groove in the runway"

After a safe landing and taxi to the ramp - everbody grinning like cheshire cats - great day and wtg Chuck,Mark and Clive

This one has been quoted before, complete with photo, some time back on another forum.

The opening of Wellington (NZ) airport display and an RNZAF Sunderland did leave a groove in the runway !

Good thread!!

Back in the early 80s I was on my QXC, Biggin -Cambridge-Southend-Biggin. I was taxing out at Southend for the last hop back and on the radio I heard "Southend, G-FIRE two minutes" "Whats all this G_FIRE nonsense" I thought "What's wrong with 'Romeo Echo'".

Over the sound of my engine I heard the roar of a Merlin on full chat as Spencer Flacks bright red Spitfire beat up Southend. I carried on taxing to the threshhold and waited until the Spit was on finals and then asked for permission to take-off.

"G-BGSL line up and take off after the landing spitfire", I keyed the mike and said "After the landing spitfire", it's not often you get to say that!!

1. The lovely sound of six Merlins coming over my back garden as the BBMF Lanc, Spit & Hurri return from Biggin.

2. I was watching the programme on the TV a few years ago about the 50th anniversary of LHR and looked up out of the window to see a DC-8 (?) fly passed quite low. 2 minutes later, B707 flew passed, also quite low. Then a DC-9. etc etc.

A quarter of a hour or so passed and then the TV announcer said 'and here's the first of the big jets, the DC-8'

I'd actually seen most of the fly-past go past my window.

3. About 25 years ago at home in Southend. It was a clear quiet dusk. I was just putting the car away when I heard an unfamiliar jet noise from the north, towards the airport. A minute or so later, the silhouette of a Vulcan drifts across as he does a go-around on very low power. All goes quiet as he goes round the circuit and positions for another approach.

But this time when he reaches the upwind end of the runway, he pulls the aircraft vertical and puts on full power. You have never seen a town wake up so quickly. Amazing.

Some of the flying I saw at Duxford in the 80s springs to mind. I'll never forget the fantastic display flown by John Larcombe (tragically killed a few years later) during the official flying presentation of Blenheim G-MKIV in May 1987, following its lengthy restoration. It just appeared from the south, over the hill and broke to the west. The sound those Mercury engines made was fantastic. How were we to know we were to be heart broken when it crashed, in the hands of different pilot (thankfully with no serious injury to those on board) just three short weeks later?

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: Bus429 ]

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: Bus429 ]</p>

Tiger_mate,

The year was 1977 or '78. I think your flyby was probably some time later as the Buccaneer was still very much one of our front line aircraft back then, before those ugly pointy things took over. Same pilot perhaps?

BTW, by co-incidence, my first tour was on your Sqn. See you at the SH reunion? Kita Chari Jauh!

I wasn't there at the time but some legendary flybys occurred at RAFC Cranwell in the mid to late 80's.

Each graduating squadron organised their own graduation flyby. The flybys were getting more and more impressive. Right up to the point where a Phantom had to use full reheat to clear the far wing of College Hall Officers Mess. Hats, graduating Officers, families and dignitaries were involuntarily scattered all over the parade ground. <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

Early 90's two fast pointy things (probably Tornados) over flew the Marconi building in Milton Keynes. So low that they set off car alarms all around.

The building was part of the Foxhunter radar design / development group (or so I was told). The flyby was totally unoffical and no-one got the tail numbers (yer right). However the presence of most of the company on the roof made the council take a very dim view of the event. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

I remember Earls Colne about seven years ago on a perfect summer’s evening. Had just finished flying when a Spitfire and Yak 11 (both belonging to Eddie Coventry, I think) put on an impromptu ten-minute tail-chasing display. At one stage they passed so low they could have cut the grass on the field. The combined sound of the Merlin and Shvetsov ripping through that calm summer’s evening is something I’ll never forget.

I can remember in the late 80's British Aerospace at Salmesbury rebuilt a PR Spit, and fitted it with a Griffon 58 that had been re-manufactured to a single prop g/box by Rolls Royce, then came the flight tests, one of my warehouse's and office was alongside the railway in Blackburn which seemed to be a good big target , for many times did I hear that glourious growl of the Griffon as the test pilot blasted his way through the atmoshere at about 5 to 600 ft, to do a 180 right above my factory, on several occasion I left visitors, to quickly run out to the car park to watch this, and hear that wonderful sound, some visitors who were often trying to sell things to me, really couldn't understand why I was so intent on not listening to their drivel, but rather standing like some nutcase with my neck cranning skywards, needless to say they didn't sell me owt!
Nothing beats the sound of many cylinders and exploding hydrocarbons. :)

The day after one of the Airshows, I remember standing on top of the tower at Southend 1990/91? and watching a Jaguar with reheat fly through the main apron below me! A former colleague had a series of photos and people on the apron could be seen diving for cover! I think that was also the year that the Vulcan turned up about 20 minutes early for his display slot and flew 3 or 4 circuits at the Airport (3 miles or so North of the seafront Display site) which became progressively lower, faster and 'artistic'....really quite breathtaking.

Nothing quite as fast and powerful as some have described, but I've got two that stick in the memory.

The first was that unforgettable 'Big Wing' at the Duxford Battle of Britain display in September 2000. 19 Spitfires, 4 Hurricanes, and thousands of people with lumps in their throats.

The second (or first, if we're being chronological), was around 1989 or 90, while I was flying a C150 out of Southend. Overhead Osea Island on the way back in from a local area bimble, I heard a callsign contacting Southend approach and saying they were also overhead Osea Island. Obviously a bit worried about getting run over (!) I started scanning the sky just that little bit more carefully, craned my neck forward to peer up from under the front of the Cessna's wing... to see the BBMF overtake me, 1000 or so feet above and about three quarters of a mile over to my right. And that's the closest I'm ever going to get to flying in formation with them! <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Please forgive the intrusion of a non-aviator in your trip down memory lane, but my experiance may make you smile. Every Fourth of July, the Blue Angels and others like them descend on Quonsett Point in Rhode Island, USA for an air show. I was always of cruising on my sailboat so I never saw the show until 7/4/00 when I anchored right off the runways at the old military base. Well of course they do their show at 1500-2000 feet (I guess) and everybody cheers. THEN these F-18's (??) swoop down and buzz the flotila of pleasure craft anchored off the runway at about 200-500 feet off the deck (I guess). I can see the pilot in the plane as he flys by my starboard side at maybe 200 feet, its pretty quiet UNTIL he passes by me! The roar and heat was like nothing I have ever heard in my 47 years. In my next life I'm going to become a fighter pilot, there is not a vehicle on this planet that comes close to a fighter jet. I'll never forget that roar as he flew by. The other cool part is that my friend's son is an F-18 instructor in Nevada, short, balding, not terribly imposing but all steel! Thanks

Being beaten up by a couple of Jags in Northumberland this August.........think they were using my motorhome as a target....b*gger the 500' rule!!

Going back a bit and an unlikely aircraft....
Early 60's - We were picking up a Beverley from the Brough factory after heavy maintenance and it just happened to be 'Timber' Woods's last day as Chief test pilot. He was allowed a farewell flight and what a flight !! It would have been impressive in something smaller, lighter and more manoeuvrable but in the Bev... just spectacular.
Bangkok, Don Muang early 60's - (Jimmy Harrison??)Avro's company test pilot demonstrating the 748 to Thai Airways ... rotated and cut one engine on the rotation, turned INTO the dead engine and circuited (VERY)low level to come back down the ramp area, past the assembled dignitaries. Parking at DM was in a straight line along the apron in front of the Tower and he HAD to lift to clear the fin of a parked 707. As a spectator, I had a touch of the 'half crown /sixpence' syndrome and then he was past and around low level to land, greeted by a massive round of applause - and, I believe, they eventually bought the aircraft type.
Valley in the mid 60's - Jimmy Dell picked up a Lightning to take back to the factory. The RAF had already outlawed the 'rotate to the vertical' take-offs but he was a 'civvy'.... <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> His call crossing the airfield boundary at FL260 sticks in the mind !! :) :)
Late 60's - Gaydon air display. Nine ship Belgian 'Diables Rouges' Magisters. Three, three ship 'vics' for take-off. Lift-off, up maybe 25' then formation roll for the lead three to inverted for the climb out.. impressive: as was the arrival of the Reds for the start of their display. Low level run-in from all compass points for a join in the vertical. We were on SAR stand-by next to a USAF Husky and 'our man' came through between us, below our rotor heights.
70's - Akrotiri.. Standing outside the 84 ops block looking DOWN at our hangar - both end doors open and the 'Sparrows' doing their pre-season work-up. Red 7 (or 8) went past, in the break, low enough for us to see him THROUGH the hangar. Mind you, they were still mounted on Gnats then - a close second to the Hunter as the best of the aero display aircraft.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be !! :) :)

Going back even further I remember coming out of school in the late 50's and a USAF B47 came over so low the trees were blown about. He then did a tight turn over the town just above rooftops causing panic in the streets. The papers were full of it the next morning as he had repeated this over many towns in the southwest. According to the papers he wanted to go back to the States. He got his wish but not quite in the way he would have wanted.

Cornish Jack
Do you remember Joe L'Estrange's Vulcan displays at AKR in 69-72 era?

I have on video tape, (not a very good one)in Black and White, an 8 to 10 second grab of a Buccaneer passing between 2 hangars at an unidentified airfield. The camera position is above the aircraft looking down. There is a road between the two hangars, and the a/c is tracking along the road. The a/c is well below the level of the hangar roofs. Dunno who or where, but I wish I was there!

Gainesy
Indeed I do! In fact, I suppose we were treated to the two extremes of performance. The Vulcan memory is of being blasted by the noise and staring up the tail pipes as it went up and up and up ... into the clear blue. Marvellous Wx for displays. The opposite end was the Victor B1 take-offs - towards Lady's Mile. Our ops room was about three quarters (or more) down the runway and the B1's used to go past us with their nosewheels still on the runway.... if we were on standby, it used to up the adrenaline level a bit. Mind you, if they hadn't hacked it, I doubt there would have been much for us to pick up :)

<img src="smile.gif" border="0"> Yep,I remember one day that a bunch of Victors were trailing some Phantoms out to Singapore; on of the Vs was delayed and took off at about 1030, by which time it was really hot, he only just made it off. I was in Local at the time and the controller had his hand on the crash phone for the last half of the take-off. The Victor kicked up dust as it staggered off the end of the runway at about 50ft--if that.

I think it was Joe L'Estrange who managed to put a Vulcan down when a Britt was stuck about half way up the runway with multiple tyre bursts one afternoon. He popped the brake 'chute at about 50ft as he came over the RW27 barrier (Ladie's Mile end) and the main gear touched before the 'piano keys'. Heavy breaking and he turned off at the eastern intersection.
Remember the Lightnings practising landing on the taxiway?
Absolutely magic place then; I passed through a few years ago and it was a ghost town. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

I've posted this before somewhere but it has to have been an outstanding fly-past by anyone's standards...

Early 80's. A B52 en-route Guam-Exmouth and return is enticed down to give the faithful at a local air pageant at Port Hedland (northern Western Australia) a thrill. The Buff's departure was via r/w 18, by agreement with the twr at "not above 100". Swept the r/w and many hectares of surrounding spinifex clean, then pulled up steeply over the departure threshold for a rapid, smokey and noisy climb!

Does it have to be a "fly-by"? Vulcan scramble at Finningley for Silver Jubilee Celebrations must be towards top of most lists!