Low level question
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Low level question
How fast can the military pilots fly when doing the low level stuff in the valleys, as seen in the marvellous photos often posted here?
My mate reckons photographers set up several cameras to take multiple pictures (to increase chances of a good image) because the jets fly at supersonic speeds...I said they can't fly that fast when they're zipping down a valley because...they'd be unable to follow the valley's contours??
Answers much appreciated, beer is riding on this!
Thanks.
JDCP.
My mate reckons photographers set up several cameras to take multiple pictures (to increase chances of a good image) because the jets fly at supersonic speeds...I said they can't fly that fast when they're zipping down a valley because...they'd be unable to follow the valley's contours??
Answers much appreciated, beer is riding on this!
Thanks.
JDCP.
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Imagine the complaints from the Viet Taff if the pointy jets were supersonic through the valleys! The compensation bill for frightened sheep/horses would be even bigger!
Been off the frontline for a year (now flying slower things) but I seem to recall the max speed for bomber pukes is 480kts - speeding up to 540kts on IP to tgt runs - and for fighter gods 550kts.
Although you can go supersonic overland with little effort in some aeroplanes, you aren't allowed because ClaimsDirect would have a field day. This rule is of course not applicable in the Falklands
Although you can go supersonic overland with little effort in some aeroplanes, you aren't allowed because ClaimsDirect would have a field day. This rule is of course not applicable in the Falklands
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So if the welsh suddnley dissapeared 
, what would be the fastest that something like a Typhoon could manage to do the loop? Or is there a quicker jet at low level? F-15? Hawk? Tornado? SU27? Harrier (viffing around the twisties)?
, what would be the fastest that something like a Typhoon could manage to do the loop? Or is there a quicker jet at low level? F-15? Hawk? Tornado? SU27? Harrier (viffing around the twisties)?
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Down low, & fast you'd be pressed to beat a Pig....you got rid of them years ago...we are too (RAAF)regrettably F-111 with TFR, just superb piece of kit....A chap who goes by the name 'Booger' has some wonderful posts on this site about the red flag meets in the US...fantastic reads...
GPMG - Hawk or Harrier?! 
The Loop is reasonably tight and twisty so any more than (at a guess) 420kts-ish would be pretty hard round there. ISTR that the northern side opens up slightly so you could probably get the hammer down more there (someone from Valley must be on here...).
Fastest thing at low level is probably the F111 although an early 'clean' pre-limits F3 wouldn't be far off - I know someone who posts on here who landed having taken some of the paint off at 'very fast' kts
Can't speak for the Eagle, Mudhen or Typhoon...
The Loop is reasonably tight and twisty so any more than (at a guess) 420kts-ish would be pretty hard round there. ISTR that the northern side opens up slightly so you could probably get the hammer down more there (someone from Valley must be on here...).
Fastest thing at low level is probably the F111 although an early 'clean' pre-limits F3 wouldn't be far off - I know someone who posts on here who landed having taken some of the paint off at 'very fast' kts
Can't speak for the Eagle, Mudhen or Typhoon...
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Power is not the issue around the loop as stated.... Available G is (before an overstress) to that end it would be a good race between a Hawk and a Typhoon. Any man who wants to pull 9+ G at low level in a valley is braver than me.... serious grey out territory. 
You can get a Hawk round easily at 450kts using 7G.... apparently.
You can get a Hawk round easily at 450kts using 7G.... apparently.
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Bird Strike Risk Mitigation
As an aside to this thread, with its excellent pictures of various ac in LFA7 I was curious to know if RAF C-130 crew dispensed with their normal headsets and wore helmets with visors when operating at low level?
I've seen Swedish AF and USAF Albert crews wearing helmets but not RAF when flying tactically, presumably when using NVG's but another benefit must be to mitigate the risk of being injured by a bird coming through the windshield.
MB
I've seen Swedish AF and USAF Albert crews wearing helmets but not RAF when flying tactically, presumably when using NVG's but another benefit must be to mitigate the risk of being injured by a bird coming through the windshield.
MB
F-111s are the fastest I've seen over land (yes, supersonic). But I can't think of much more spectacular than the Kiwi A-4s around the Shoalhaven in the '90s. VERY low, quite fast, brilliant
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Have to disagree with the person that said you can't go supersonic over land. May I suggest that some of my best memories are at 700 Knots at 100 feet - over land!. (Legally I might add)....and no it was not up the Great Glen (although I have been tempted!!!)
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There's many an entry in a 5000 that states you CAN go supersonic over land....
'disrepute' was in the same sentence.
'disrepute' was in the same sentence.
Last edited by High_Expect; 28th Jul 2009 at 15:59.
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Years ago I was doing a Nav exercise for my CPL in the South Australian outback and there was an F-111 doing a low level exercise at 250ft AGL, I jotted down the LJ report from Flight service , one leg was 62NM in 6 mins so he was doing 600 plus knots !
I knew Harry Bradford who was an F-111 test pilot with ARDU in South Australia and he said they had a lot of fun making rooster tails of dust from low level high speed runs out on the Woomera test range.
Video of pig pilots having way too much fun !
YouTube - F-111 Low Pass
I knew Harry Bradford who was an F-111 test pilot with ARDU in South Australia and he said they had a lot of fun making rooster tails of dust from low level high speed runs out on the Woomera test range.
Video of pig pilots having way too much fun !
YouTube - F-111 Low Pass
Last edited by aseanaero; 30th Jul 2009 at 02:51.