Fighter Evasion Exmoor
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Fighter Evasion Exmoor
Anyone had any experience of Fighter Evasion in Exmoor?
I see several notams each year and guess it must be a pretty cool enviroment to fly in. Was lucky to witness a similar exercise in Dorset but have a feeling Exmoor will be a bit "Wilder"
I guess nowadays its a Hawk v Sea King/Lynx/Merlin/Chinook but in the past have heard of SHARS etc over Exmoor
I see several notams each year and guess it must be a pretty cool enviroment to fly in. Was lucky to witness a similar exercise in Dorset but have a feeling Exmoor will be a bit "Wilder"
I guess nowadays its a Hawk v Sea King/Lynx/Merlin/Chinook but in the past have heard of SHARS etc over Exmoor
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Exmoor Fighter Evasion
I once did FE in a Lynx 7 and Gazelle pair against SHAR over Exmoor... Great fun but one SHAR was enough! I won't say that we 'won' with just TOW to fire back but he certainly burnt a lot of fuel trying to get a good firing solution on us behind the Exmoor 'crinkles'!
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Very, very happy days 
Only way to sneak up on the wobbleheads was to put the radar in standby (so they couldn't hear us coming) and then skyline them. Now, the Junglies weren't exactly known for flying too high, so........
Remember once getting a bit carried away/bull by the horns/target fixated (delete as applicable) and suddenly being very aware of gorse bushes and heather being in very close formation, followed by a few expletives and 'easing' away from Exmoor
Used to like it when the Pumas came to play. Gentlemen's hours, skies clear and the sun was shining, they were well rested after their night in the local hotels and we were treated to so many briefings I'm sure I must have learnt something. Compare that with a chat the night before in the Wardroom with some Sea King boy and then meeting up for a fight in the rain West of Taunton and I now realise just how much more professional the Junior Service was
I'd better call the nurse now, I think some wee has just leaked out, again.
Only way to sneak up on the wobbleheads was to put the radar in standby (so they couldn't hear us coming) and then skyline them. Now, the Junglies weren't exactly known for flying too high, so........
Remember once getting a bit carried away/bull by the horns/target fixated (delete as applicable) and suddenly being very aware of gorse bushes and heather being in very close formation, followed by a few expletives and 'easing' away from Exmoor
Used to like it when the Pumas came to play. Gentlemen's hours, skies clear and the sun was shining, they were well rested after their night in the local hotels and we were treated to so many briefings I'm sure I must have learnt something. Compare that with a chat the night before in the Wardroom with some Sea King boy and then meeting up for a fight in the rain West of Taunton and I now realise just how much more professional the Junior Service was
I'd better call the nurse now, I think some wee has just leaked out, again.
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Interesting reading , thanks guys.
Found a nice little link on Youtube offering a view from both the "Hare" and "Hound" made for the Discovery team whilst engaged over Exmoor
Watch from 1.30, hope it brings back memories
Were there Favourite valleys that were used? - I ask because I fancy watching it for myself (although appreciate its a vast area so will be hit and miss)
Found a nice little link on Youtube offering a view from both the "Hare" and "Hound" made for the Discovery team whilst engaged over Exmoor
Watch from 1.30, hope it brings back memories
Were there Favourite valleys that were used? - I ask because I fancy watching it for myself (although appreciate its a vast area so will be hit and miss)
Exmoor isn't the best peice of airspace for low level, to be honest. We certainly only ever considered it as a last resort from Chivenor. It's not very big and full of red dots and villages. OK for helos, but not so much for fast jets.
Actually, our plan was usually to export our noise to Wales so that Valley got the blame!
Actually, our plan was usually to export our noise to Wales so that Valley got the blame!
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Alex,
I seem to remember that Dunkery Beacon was usually the Bullseye and the tinkers always ended up in the road/ river valleys to the South East of there. Always a little low for a gunsight (with peacetime rules about overflight, closure, speed and flying into the ground), a little cold for a Winder, but perfectly designated for an AIM-120....but that wasn't the point....
It did amuse me talking to a Lynx crew one day who stated categorically that in wartime no one would 'waste' an expensive weapon on them...as if there are enough A-A kills going around these days to be picky about how you get one! (But it cheered them up to think they were safe from the high tech stuff!)
Happy days indeed.
I seem to remember that Dunkery Beacon was usually the Bullseye and the tinkers always ended up in the road/ river valleys to the South East of there. Always a little low for a gunsight (with peacetime rules about overflight, closure, speed and flying into the ground), a little cold for a Winder, but perfectly designated for an AIM-120....but that wasn't the point....
It did amuse me talking to a Lynx crew one day who stated categorically that in wartime no one would 'waste' an expensive weapon on them...as if there are enough A-A kills going around these days to be picky about how you get one! (But it cheered them up to think they were safe from the high tech stuff!)
Happy days indeed.
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Dunkery Beacon is certainly shown in the planning room as being the starting point for that particular exercise so could be a good vantage point to enjoy the action
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Fighter evasion Exmoor
I see there is another one of these notamed for wed 30th jan, anyone know if the start/focal point is still Dunkery Beacon? I am planning to go out with my camera that day, the last time i had the time off to do it about a year ago, it was so foggy, vis was down to about 50yds up on the hills, so presume it was cancelled 
! Any gen would be greatly appreceated thanks.
! Any gen would be greatly appreceated thanks.
