A training exercise or a jolly?

[Mutley1013]

As you can see from the date in the image, this was a few weeks ago and I have just got around to finding the screenshot. I heard the sound of a larger than normal heli overhead, so checked it out. I found it was an RAF training heli and it had quite an interesting flight. Through Heathrow, sight seeing in the London heli-lane, overhead Hever Castle, along the Gatwick centreline and then onto the coast to see the sea. All very nice and I'm only a little bit envious!

I was wondering, would this be typical of a military training exercise or maybe the heli is being used to give a dignitory a scenic adventure across the South?

[Bravo73]

A fishing trip, maybe?

[OvertHawk]

Looks like they might have done an ILS at LGW.

I'd say that could be a proficiency or line check.

[Same again]

I am assuming that you are not a pilot Mutley. All pilots have to maintain various currencies so regular training exercises are normal. If the currencies (such as instrument approaches) can be combined with a scenic routing then so much the better. If you enjoy flying then every training exercise is a jolly and every jolly is a training exercise.

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Heli-lanes VFR, out of the zone to LGW IFR, onto an HLS VFR - no story here, either an actual task (did it stop at Northolt or in the helilanes?) or as mentioned above a proficiency check ride.

I think the fishing trip was Mutley's not any VIP's - which I think is what B73 was alluding to.

[Mutley1013]

LOL, yeah, I was being a little provocative and yes I am a pilot, but with this crappy year the amount of time in the air has been an all time low. So genuinely envious of the guys enjoying that jaunt 😄.