Mach Loop comedian...

[helidriver]

....or is it a SHIM.....?

[TheWizard]

The Ministry of Defence laughed off the light-hearted moment, saying the navigator was showing some personality.

Amazing!!

[Krueger Flap]

Has 31 Sqn bolt-holed to Lossie? Or maybe a jet swap and it hasn't been rebadged yet? Or maybe the Mail got it wrong...

[30mRad]

Jets get moved around regularly and don't always get re-badged. It takes a fair bit of work/time etc that keeps the jet from being used productively.

The XV(R) Sqn line had all sqn badges on it's fleet last time I was there.

[Unixman]

Was this a put-up jobbie? Andrew Chittock is a well-know military/war photographer and is well in with the MoD. He took the photos of Lt Col Thorneloe's funeral (as well as many others) http://www.demotix.com/users/andychittock/profile

[Bubblewindow]

Andrew Chittock is a well-know military/war photographer

No offence to him or anything but lookin at his gallery I dont think it was.
That image is causing a world of **** on the Aviation photo forums!!
It wouldnt normally be posted on a forum never mind in the papers due to the "What if it causes ****?" factor. It has happened before when a wayward pilot went the wrong way down a flowed valley and it was posted on the net.

I certainly hope it doesnt cause ****, because this is also my hobby when Im not flying!!

BW.

[zero1]

I think the (the WSO) showed some spirit, I hope it doesn’t go to a “Caps On” meeting with the CO.

As for those claiming this might lead to a potential accident I think this was well planned at a known photo spot on the flight path (I bet a way point was added to the flight plan for good measure...) and therefore the risks would have been assessed.

[Bubblewindow]

lead to a potential accident I think this was well planned at a known photo spot

Thats one of the problems, a "Known photospot". The anti low flying lobbyists claim the pilots show off and the photogs attract them, even though aircraft have been flying there long before anyone even thought of climbing a hill to photograph them. The worry I have is the lobbyists are gagging for any chance to stir it. Im hopping that it will just blow over as it usually does when they find something else to whinge about like when they retired there from the Midlands or London they didnt expect the birds to sing so loud and they want the trees cut down (I **** you not, this happened in N.Z)

BW.

[Rigga]

Nice to see they were classed as "profesional"

I dunno...Journo's today can't even use spelchkker!

[vecvechookattack]

I think the (the WSO) showed some spirit, I hope it doesn’t go to a “Caps On” meeting with the CO.

He may be the CO.

[Wrathmonk]

If it is a Brownstar, sorry Goldstar, crew then the front seater doesn't look 'stocky' enough to be the Boss. And he used to be a PPRuNer ......

[Low Flier]

He may be the CO.

He may be a she.

If so, the truth is out now.

Wham bam, thankyou, Ma'am.

[vecvechookattack]

Possibly but I think that the moustache shows that he is a he and not a she.....

[Low Flier]

A reargunner doesn't prove much by having a moustache.

[helidriver]

Low Flier,

Too funny, awesome matey!

h

[Dan Winterland]

At least mud mover Navs can spell.

[Runaway Gun]

Great. Now THAT photo will end up on the front of the Sun, RAF News, and Rainbow Weekly.

[Unixman]

Bubblewindow

Fair enough. And looking at the other photos on his site it seems that a large number of WSOs are waving to the adoring crowds .....

[JEM60]

Curiousity question. Should it not be helmet visors down in that environment, high speed, low birds etc., Just interested. As an ATC Cadet many years ago, I did the Mach Loop as pax in a Vampire T.11. Huge fun!!. Nice to see humour is is alive and well.

[Wholigan]

I was also pleased to see this in the article:

RAF trains pilots in Snowdonia to be future fast jet combat pilots

I'm glad we're finally teaching Tornado crews to be "future fast jet pilots"!