Mil airfields in Somerset?
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Mil airfields in Somerset?
Over the summer I spent a few days at an event at the Bath and West Showground, just south of Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Whilst I was there I had the pleasure of witnessing a few beautiful sites including some low flying Hercules and what must have been the one restored Avro Vulcan.
The Vulcan was climbing steadily at (I guess) around 2000-3000 feet, heading from the north-east and passed a little south of me. The Hercules (on a seperate day) came from the south-west and passed almost directly overhead in the direction the Vulcan had come from, I'd have guessed they were at little more than 1000 feet. They flew in formation until they were about half a mile away from my location before one broke away to the north (I presume to give the other room to make his landing run).
Based upon the altitudes of the aircraft I'd have thought there must have been an airfield within a few miles of my location, but I can't seem to find anything on the map and was wondering if anyone knew where they might have been coming from/heading to? (Before anyone chips in: I know that it is hard to predict the altitude of aircraft from the ground, but to put my estimates into context I live about 5 miles from Southampton Airport and the aircraft I saw from Shepton Mallet were certainly lower than those that pass overhead my house going to and from Southampton).
The Vulcan was climbing steadily at (I guess) around 2000-3000 feet, heading from the north-east and passed a little south of me. The Hercules (on a seperate day) came from the south-west and passed almost directly overhead in the direction the Vulcan had come from, I'd have guessed they were at little more than 1000 feet. They flew in formation until they were about half a mile away from my location before one broke away to the north (I presume to give the other room to make his landing run).
Based upon the altitudes of the aircraft I'd have thought there must have been an airfield within a few miles of my location, but I can't seem to find anything on the map and was wondering if anyone knew where they might have been coming from/heading to? (Before anyone chips in: I know that it is hard to predict the altitude of aircraft from the ground, but to put my estimates into context I live about 5 miles from Southampton Airport and the aircraft I saw from Shepton Mallet were certainly lower than those that pass overhead my house going to and from Southampton).
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Merry-field just off the A358 roundabout where it joins the A303...
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Hmmm... both possible, though based upon the height they were at I would have thought that the airfield was a little closer than that, and from their direction of flight the airfield should have been to the North East somewhere. That said I guess military traffic often behaves a little less predictably that civ does, so that could make a little more sense of things.
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Not sure about the Vulcan, but we at Westonzoyland Microlights regularly have Hercs, Helicopters of all sorts, Hawks and other military aircraft flying past us.
The area is used a lot for low level flying and military jets from north of Bath descend between Bath and Bristol to do low level runs across the levels to the danger areas further south.
Helicopters come from a variety of places, mainly Yeovilton which has mainly Lynx and Sikorskys - Apaches and Merlins are made at Westlands in Yeovil and so we see them as well - Pumas and Chinooks come from the army bases at Middle Walllop.
The hercs mainly come from Lyneham and regularly fly low level to do practice an real para drops further southwest.
Hawks come up from Culdrose in Cornwall to do war games with the helicopters from Yeovilton.
And to complete it all, there are also tucanos, jetstreams and others all practicing at low level.
It makes for interesting flying in the area !
The area is used a lot for low level flying and military jets from north of Bath descend between Bath and Bristol to do low level runs across the levels to the danger areas further south.
Helicopters come from a variety of places, mainly Yeovilton which has mainly Lynx and Sikorskys - Apaches and Merlins are made at Westlands in Yeovil and so we see them as well - Pumas and Chinooks come from the army bases at Middle Walllop.
The hercs mainly come from Lyneham and regularly fly low level to do practice an real para drops further southwest.
Hawks come up from Culdrose in Cornwall to do war games with the helicopters from Yeovilton.
And to complete it all, there are also tucanos, jetstreams and others all practicing at low level.
It makes for interesting flying in the area !
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It certainly does sound like a lot of fun 
It did seem to be a particularly busy area, especially with military traffic. I spotted a couple of (what I presumed to be) Hawks who seemed to be practising dog fighting on one occassion as well, though these were much much higher.
I think I must have been particularly lucky to see the Vulcan (right place, right time etc.), certainly wasn't something I was expecting to see - beautiful bird though
It did seem to be a particularly busy area, especially with military traffic. I spotted a couple of (what I presumed to be) Hawks who seemed to be practising dog fighting on one occassion as well, though these were much much higher.I think I must have been particularly lucky to see the Vulcan (right place, right time etc.), certainly wasn't something I was expecting to see - beautiful bird though
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RNAS Yeovilton is home to RN rotary types which use the satellite field at Merryfield (Isle Abbots) for auto rotation training and other exciting helicopter antics. I believe the Hawks you saw may have been the FRADU ones although naval fast jet studes may have been on a flying visit to Yeovilton to keep them from getting too influenced by the RAF!!
The Hercs may well have been transiting to or from the LFA's .
The Vulcan........................well you were a lucky s0d seeing and hearing her. Believe its based at Bruntingthorpe.
The Hercs may well have been transiting to or from the LFA's .
The Vulcan........................well you were a lucky s0d seeing and hearing her. Believe its based at Bruntingthorpe.
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Quote: "Yeovilton which has mainly Lynx and Sikorskys" there are no, nor have there ever been any Sikorskys based at Yeovilton!
The Seaking, MK4 is based at Yeovilton...
The Seaking, MK4 is based at Yeovilton...
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MilitaryAirfields in Somerset
Firstly, the Vulcan would have been transitting from Yeovilton to Fairford (pretty much a direct routing) to goto RIAT. Secondly, there are 2 hawks of the RN Fixed Standards Flight based at RNAS Yeovilton. Our satellite airfield is Merryfield siuated next to the village of Ilton. It is used mainly by our station based Rotary aircraft, AugustaWestlands to name but a few. We have quite a few visiting a/c types too. The Fat Alberts will use the area around VL as Low Flying routes too. Hope that helps your enquiry....
P.S I happen to know this as I have the honour of working in ATC at RNAS Yeovilton!!
P.S I happen to know this as I have the honour of working in ATC at RNAS Yeovilton!!
Last edited by Mad-Air; 17th Dec 2009 at 17:14.
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Pumas and Chinooks come from the army bases at Middle Walllop
