Low Level Flying - where did it go and why?

[cornish-stormrider]

All points aside - big thanks to TMH for linkying the "filth"

I caught some showoff Tiffin driver pollutin this fair naval city o Plymouth with the sound of freedom this morning.

Goddam that thing is agile.......an thanks to the jockey an crews for a superb display - cheered me right up.

Later on while gardening I was treated to all sorts of fun combustion systems.
BBMF was bestest though......

Fly Safe

[Easy Street]

You didn't say how long ago your childhood was... however I would wager that the expansion of controlled airspace over the years has also reduced your exposure to low flying jets. I still low fly quite a lot but never in South Cambs or Herts, they are just too much 'shark infested custard' as we refer to areas full of avoidances and restrictions. Much better to head for Wales, Northumberland or the Northwest...

[newt]

Don't forget Scotland Easy! Always pleased to see VFPs in Dumfries and Galloway. The lower the better

[MFC_Fly]

In fact, it is better that they are not senior Generals etc because these are at the top of their profession and arguably too late in life to start out on a career in politics.

I would say that it is because those at the top are already more politician than military leader!!

Too many of the top brass are more interested in their own futures and so don't want to upset the apple cart by saying what really needs to be said!!

[selfloadingcargi]

politicians and top brass

we have politicians and top brass who seem to know the price of everything but the value of nothing. Top brass are now 'professional' Officers but not 'conscientious'. Low flying hasn't recovered from people falling off horses - again, top brass very good at fixing the blame and not fixing the problem!

[bobward]

You don't know what you've got till it's gone....

Thinking back a few years, look at what's no longer around:

Wattisham: 40+ Phantoms
Honington: 40 Tornado
Coltishall: 45+ Jaguars
Bentwaters / Woodbridge: 100 A10
Upper Heyford: 75 F-111
Alconbury: 20 A10, 12 TR-1, 12 F5/F16 Agressors
St Mawgan: 12 Nimrod
Wittering: 24 Harriers
Cottesmore: 45(?) Tornado TTTE
Leeming: 30 Tornado F3

That's well over 400 aircraft, not counting the training stuff we used to have.

Looking into USAF Europe:
Hahn: 75 F16
Bitburg: 75 F15
Ramstein: 75 F16
Torrejon: 75 F16
Zweibrucken: 24 RF 4
Sembach: 30 OV10

There's another 350 +/-, before you even consider the canadian CF188 wing at Baden-Sollingen, and the number of aircraft our NATO allies have scrapped. I think, as a conservative estimate, there are close to 1,000 less military aircraft in what used to NATO / USAFE, compared to the watershed of the 1980's.

With that, and the change in tactics, and the budghet cuts, it's no real surprise things are quieter. The real question is, I suppose, are we that much safer today, than then?

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Since no-one is likely to step outside their front door of a morning these days and find a 125mm smoothbore from a 3 Shock Army T-80 shoved up their nose; Yes, we're safer.
You aren't likely to get woken up 3 hours earlier by a KGB equivalent either.

Getting blown up on your way to work by terrorists is about the same; just a different cause.