"RAF Apache" attacked with £8 Torch
I suppose the difference is that technically the Apache crew aren't allowed to shoot back at a bloke in the UK, but should the Taliban wish to illuminate their position I am sure that they would return the favour with a hail of ammo.
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Thanks Glad Rag, you've moved the discussion on well there.
Just because the war isn't on your doorstep, doesn't mean that the forces involved don't have to train, sometimes at the expense of a bit of 'peace and quiet'. It's not the Blitz and there aren't hordes of Taliban queueing up to invade but please get yourself a little perspective.
I'd like a bit of clarification on the 'back garden' claim. Smells a bit like an exaggeration.
Nimbys..............
Just because the war isn't on your doorstep, doesn't mean that the forces involved don't have to train, sometimes at the expense of a bit of 'peace and quiet'. It's not the Blitz and there aren't hordes of Taliban queueing up to invade but please get yourself a little perspective.
I'd like a bit of clarification on the 'back garden' claim. Smells a bit like an exaggeration.
Nimbys..............
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Of course what wasn't mentioned in the news article I saw on TV was the actual effect such an item has on NVGs. Neither was any time spent examining how long this guy spent shining his torch at the helo (and who's to say it was actually that torch he used rather than one of those 'night sun' jobs?).
I also noticed him mutter under his breath that he thought it might be 'another of those bloomin helicopters' (or words to that effect).
I just think there's a bit more to this than meets the eye (no pun intended).
STH
I also noticed him mutter under his breath that he thought it might be 'another of those bloomin helicopters' (or words to that effect).
I just think there's a bit more to this than meets the eye (no pun intended).
STH
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Oh do keep up. If it is wearing DPM or CS95 or whatever it is ARMY. If it flies and has roundels it is RAF. If it is a troop transport aircraft is will be a US C130.
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Sounds like this chap is a bit confused. He says he thought he heard an earthquake, and then later used his torch to identify it. Now I may not be an expert in the subject, but I were looking for an earthquake then I would look towards the ground (hoping the word "earth" in the name was a clue)
.
Plus if the helicopter was only ten feet above the ground, at least he would not have strained his neck, as it would have only been about five feet above his eye level!!!, which is also odd as I noticed he did not complain about any damage to his property from the downwash.
.Plus if the helicopter was only ten feet above the ground, at least he would not have strained his neck, as it would have only been about five feet above his eye level!!!, which is also odd as I noticed he did not complain about any damage to his property from the downwash.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Sounds like this chap is a bit confused. He says he thought he heard an earthquake, and then later used his torch to identify it. Now I may not be an expert in the subject, but I were looking for an earthquake then I would look towards the ground (hoping the word "earth" in the name was a clue).
Plus if the helicopter was only ten feet above the ground, at least he would not have strained his neck, as it would have only been about five feet above his eye level!!!, which is also odd as I noticed he did not complain about any damage to his property from the downwash.
.Plus if the helicopter was only ten feet above the ground, at least he would not have strained his neck, as it would have only been about five feet above his eye level!!!, which is also odd as I noticed he did not complain about any damage to his property from the downwash.
Now perhaps the helo was making like Blue Thunder and using its super high powered optics to see what he was doin in his bedroom. What ther had neglected to do was switch in their whisper mode.
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And what does it have to do with anything that this individual has unfortunately been allowed to spawn not one but TWO more generations of nimbys?
And, it seems, he has a special, aircraft-identifying torch.
The grandfather used the torch to identify the aircraft.
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If it's possible to ask a serious question amongst all the wisecracks then can I ask if a torch really poses a flight safety risk given the minimum height restrictions in force?
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Mr Merriott, who owns a theatrical lighting firm, insists he did not put the aircraft at risk as he has had professional experience of lighting up flying helicopters at a Buckingham Palace event hosted by the Queen.
Jesus christ
I once threw a dart and got bullseye, so obviously everytime in the future I throw a dart I'll do the same
Jesus christ
I once threw a dart and got bullseye, so obviously everytime in the future I throw a dart I'll do the same
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You should see my 'torch'.... No, really, it's got a handle, but I generally leave it at home, as it takes up too much space in the car boot.
Maybe the crews tend to fly a little low in some areas, but obviously, you shouldn't shine lights/lasers at any aircraft anywhere.. record the incident, with the exact time, and match it with the flightplan/track later.
Maybe the crews tend to fly a little low in some areas, but obviously, you shouldn't shine lights/lasers at any aircraft anywhere.. record the incident, with the exact time, and match it with the flightplan/track later.
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No, no, no. You're going about this the wrong way.
Firstly, you're taking the story at face value. Whatever this web-toed idiot told them there's no guarantee they accurately reproduced it in their tissue of lie..................... sorry, article.
Secondly, he's clearly talking b0llocks. As barnstormer pointed out this would be the first earthquake in history to take place above the, erm.....earth. SirToppam has picked on probably the only certainty in the whole tale which is that there's more to this than meets the eye. A long running grievance would be my guess.
Wouldn't want to be in his shoes when the "RAF"
take their revenge.
Firstly, you're taking the story at face value. Whatever this web-toed idiot told them there's no guarantee they accurately reproduced it in their tissue of lie..................... sorry, article.
Secondly, he's clearly talking b0llocks. As barnstormer pointed out this would be the first earthquake in history to take place above the, erm.....earth. SirToppam has picked on probably the only certainty in the whole tale which is that there's more to this than meets the eye. A long running grievance would be my guess.
Wouldn't want to be in his shoes when the "RAF"
take their revenge.
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I liked the line about him 'having professionally lit helicopters in the past' too.
I'm guessing he didn't do it with a torch worth six quid that he got for eight quid when he bought 12 litres of sainsburys finest petrol and, and I may be going out on a limb here, the helicopter he 'professionally lit' probably wasn't bristling with all sorts of optical sensor goodies and flown by a guy wearing night vision goggles who likes his retinas where they are thankyouverymuch.
Tosser.
I'm guessing he didn't do it with a torch worth six quid that he got for eight quid when he bought 12 litres of sainsburys finest petrol and, and I may be going out on a limb here, the helicopter he 'professionally lit' probably wasn't bristling with all sorts of optical sensor goodies and flown by a guy wearing night vision goggles who likes his retinas where they are thankyouverymuch.
Tosser.
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Mind it was a lot more fun in the eighties before the bases where closed. A10s on finals where quite acceptable to our border collie...not even a whimper from him as the porkers passed over. Now, F4s or those "pointed stubby wing things" he would go mental. Did,nt need a torch, old Max could spot em a mile off. Apache,s......nah....Too damn quiet round here these days. He would not even drop his "chewit" for one of them..........
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aaah ... but that was the 80's.
Back in the 60's, the headmistress of a local school (who lived on short finals) filed a complaint alleging that "the pilots are changing gear (shifting into fine pitch) to keep me awake and using their lights to look into my bedroom window."
What a dreamer. If she'd been 30 years younger, perhaps ... but we had other things to do.
Back in the 60's, the headmistress of a local school (who lived on short finals) filed a complaint alleging that "the pilots are changing gear (shifting into fine pitch) to keep me awake and using their lights to look into my bedroom window."
What a dreamer. If she'd been 30 years younger, perhaps ... but we had other things to do.
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Gents
from a strictly civvie point of view, it there was a f******* great din going on in the dark, in or near my back garden, I would also be inclined to grab a torch & try to find out what was going on.
Wouldn't you?
And to end up in a cell for 9 hours because you don't know that someone out there is wearing night vision enhancing equipment that doesn't like a torch (not a laser) shone at it sounds a bit OTT to me.
P.S. I've got an electric welding mask that auto-darkens when I strike the spark. It cost £80. Doesn't million squid military NVG stuff have something similar built-in? If it doesn't, I'll put my mask in the mail.
Will now run for cover
from a strictly civvie point of view, it there was a f******* great din going on in the dark, in or near my back garden, I would also be inclined to grab a torch & try to find out what was going on.
Wouldn't you?
And to end up in a cell for 9 hours because you don't know that someone out there is wearing night vision enhancing equipment that doesn't like a torch (not a laser) shone at it sounds a bit OTT to me.
P.S. I've got an electric welding mask that auto-darkens when I strike the spark. It cost £80. Doesn't million squid military NVG stuff have something similar built-in? If it doesn't, I'll put my mask in the mail.
Will now run for cover
Last edited by astir 8; 19th Oct 2009 at 08:20.
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In all fairness, just seen the interview on Anglia and it does appear like a bit of over-reaction by the authorities. The chap was genuinly trying to ascertain what the hell was going on I think. Now if it had been my garden,...a simply Northen wave with a F*** OFF would have brought swift resolution But,....thats the old bill....deserve Oscars ...really do.
But,....thats the old bill....deserve Oscars ...really do.
There's a lot of difference, as you say, between trying to find out what had caused the noise by flashing a torch around and deliberately targetting an aircraft with a high powered la.ser.
This does indeed sound like rather an overreaction.
Back in the '70s, the mayor of some German town heard that the 'bona mates' of the Harrier force were leaving Wildenrath and that Phantoms were to be stationed there instead. So, full of self-importance, he wrote to his colleague in Holland suggesting that they should both lodge an official complaint.
The reply from Cloggyland was along the lines of "Yes, we know that Phantoms and indeed Harriers are both very noisy. But we prefer that noise to the sound of the Stuka......"
This does indeed sound like rather an overreaction.
Back in the '70s, the mayor of some German town heard that the 'bona mates' of the Harrier force were leaving Wildenrath and that Phantoms were to be stationed there instead. So, full of self-importance, he wrote to his colleague in Holland suggesting that they should both lodge an official complaint.
The reply from Cloggyland was along the lines of "Yes, we know that Phantoms and indeed Harriers are both very noisy. But we prefer that noise to the sound of the Stuka......"