Wye Valley - Jets or Helos - is it used?
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Wye Valley - Jets or Helos - is it used?
I'm really into my photography, been to the Mach Loop numerous times but fancy a change of backdrop.
Is the Wye Valley used by military aircraft today?
Feel free to pm me.
Thanks in advance
Alex
Is the Wye Valley used by military aircraft today?
Feel free to pm me.
Thanks in advance
Alex
It's quite a good challenge in a helicopter but there have been a couple of nasty accidents over the years involving wires. It was never somewhere that was frequented often so you might be in for a lean time.
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judging from the number of aircraft that head north up the Lune valley from Kirkby Lonsdale, I suspect the Lune Gorge south of Tebay in Cumbria may be a good bet.
Its a narrow north-south valley with steep hills to the east, The river, West Coast mainline railway and M6 all converge there, as its the only real low level north-south passage up the west coast,. For aircraft at low level the only sensible alternative is the Lyth Valley to Windermere / Grasmere / Thirlmere. However thats harder to access by road and the vantage points are not so good. Also fewer aircraft seem to go that way
the Gorge is to the south of the marker in this map
however aircraft appearances can be hit and miss,
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=tebay...ngdom&t=p&z=12
Its a narrow north-south valley with steep hills to the east, The river, West Coast mainline railway and M6 all converge there, as its the only real low level north-south passage up the west coast,. For aircraft at low level the only sensible alternative is the Lyth Valley to Windermere / Grasmere / Thirlmere. However thats harder to access by road and the vantage points are not so good. Also fewer aircraft seem to go that way
the Gorge is to the south of the marker in this map
however aircraft appearances can be hit and miss,
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=tebay...ngdom&t=p&z=12
the CAA radar stn at Clee Hill in south Shropshire might be a good bet - Hawks are fairly regular visitors at low level, i've seen quite a few pairs of F-15's at mid-level (presumably transitting from mid-wales), i saw my last every pair of GR9's do a very low level pass in November last year - and last time i walked the hund up there i got run over by a pair of GR4's doing what appeared to be dummy bomb run at dusk.
Wokka's and Apaches are regulars in the area too...
Wokka's and Apaches are regulars in the area too...
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Thanks for the reply guys, I have visited Tebay (known as M6 pass) in 2010, and have observed FAC exercises at Clee Hill.
My main interest in Wye Valley though due to my location in the South West. I was reading an sad article last night on a Gazelle crash near Chepstow where contact had been made with cables when routing from Shawbury to Culdrose. (around 20 years ago I beleive).
Any up-to-date info on the Wye Valley route would be appreciated - its a long route Chepstow-Monmouth-Ross on Wye- Hay on Wye - Builth Wells, so does anyone know what the most popular segment is? I've seen a Merlin at treetop height between Hay-Builth, and a pilot for 208sqn said they use Chepstow-Monmouth.
Thanks
Alex
My main interest in Wye Valley though due to my location in the South West. I was reading an sad article last night on a Gazelle crash near Chepstow where contact had been made with cables when routing from Shawbury to Culdrose. (around 20 years ago I beleive).
Any up-to-date info on the Wye Valley route would be appreciated - its a long route Chepstow-Monmouth-Ross on Wye- Hay on Wye - Builth Wells, so does anyone know what the most popular segment is? I've seen a Merlin at treetop height between Hay-Builth, and a pilot for 208sqn said they use Chepstow-Monmouth.
Thanks
Alex
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Its a narrow north-south valley with steep hills to the east, The river, West Coast mainline railway and M6 all converge there, as its the only real low level north-south passage up the west coast,. For aircraft at low level the only sensible alternative is the Lyth Valley to Windermere / Grasmere / Thirlmere. However thats harder to access by road and the vantage points are not so good. Also fewer aircraft seem to go that way
BW
there'll be some activity around Sennybridge Training Area - mostly rotary - and some in the Black mountains ( i had a rather unpleasant experience with a C-130 at about midnight while camping at Llanthony priory once..), but i just don't recall their being much low flying in that whole area - even up as far as the Elan Valley.
Clee would be about 2 hrs drive from Bristol...
Clee would be about 2 hrs drive from Bristol...
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Thanks again, like I stated, I've been to both M6 and Clee Hill and know Sennybridge range very well (in fact theres a FAC there this week!!), my specific interest is in the Wye Valley itself......
Any info specific to Wye Valley will be appreciated
Any info specific to Wye Valley will be appreciated
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If you are near to the Wye Valley just go to Shobdon. Great food in the canteen and something fast and military will blunder overhead at some time during the day. Some times they even call up in advance! (Like about 2 minutes. 
) If you're really lucky, usually on a thursday, the airfield gets attacked, but that is always booked in advance.
) If you're really lucky, usually on a thursday, the airfield gets attacked, but that is always booked in advance.
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Whilst I'm no longer in touch with current practice, I find it difficult to believe the Navy Helos from Yeovilton don't still use the Wye Valley for low level training, as might aircraft from Shawbury. It's vary similar to parts of the Falklands and provides a fun challenge so long, as you say, you remain clear of the wires!
The sad Gazelle accident mentioned was, I think, on the right hand bend in the river (as you fly South), just West of a village called Boughspring. I believe the wire was strung between the quarry on the Welsh bank and some workings on the English side of the river - a look at Google maps shows the quarry clearly. The aircraft crashed on the grassy West bank between the river & the trees, if I remember correctly.
Having flown the route a number of times myself, I do remember seeing the wire - not easy to spot but not very high, either and running at an angle up to the English workings.
From a photography point of view, I would imagine a good vantage point would be on the English side opposite Tintern Abbey. It would not need much manouevering to photo aircraft both to North & South, as they haul round the bend, with the added advantage of Tintern Abbey as a backdrop below!
The sad Gazelle accident mentioned was, I think, on the right hand bend in the river (as you fly South), just West of a village called Boughspring. I believe the wire was strung between the quarry on the Welsh bank and some workings on the English side of the river - a look at Google maps shows the quarry clearly. The aircraft crashed on the grassy West bank between the river & the trees, if I remember correctly.
Having flown the route a number of times myself, I do remember seeing the wire - not easy to spot but not very high, either and running at an angle up to the English workings.
From a photography point of view, I would imagine a good vantage point would be on the English side opposite Tintern Abbey. It would not need much manouevering to photo aircraft both to North & South, as they haul round the bend, with the added advantage of Tintern Abbey as a backdrop below!
Last edited by zorab64; 8th Nov 2011 at 18:33. Reason: typo
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The tragic crash that you've referred to was an instructor and student from 705 NAS from Culdrose flying a Gazelle HT1. I remember it quite vividly, because I started at 705 NAS myself about a month later. 
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It was certainly used by Tutors for low level and landaways a couple of years ago. You landed somewhere down there (Bristol somewhere?) and got a cup of tea and a bacon sarnie which was why all the instructors leaned on studes to choose there...
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Fab comments guys,
Found a good vantage point on the English side opposite Tintern Abbey called "Devils Pulpit" - excellent views to the north with the river winding past the Abbey.
See here for the view: Tintern Abbey from the Devil's Pulpit
Just need a volunteer to fly north - south for me to photograph them!!!!!!
Found a good vantage point on the English side opposite Tintern Abbey called "Devils Pulpit" - excellent views to the north with the river winding past the Abbey.
See here for the view: Tintern Abbey from the Devil's Pulpit
Just need a volunteer to fly north - south for me to photograph them!!!!!!
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Both Gazelle and a Puma have fell foul of the wire spanning the valley at the southern end near Chepstow. There has also been a few close calls so isn't used that much.
However that's not to say you wont get any rotory down there. Most will use it en route to and from Sennybridge when exercising in the area, but not a regular route now days.
However that's not to say you wont get any rotory down there. Most will use it en route to and from Sennybridge when exercising in the area, but not a regular route now days.
