F15s?

[pax britanica]

I posted a message yesterday that was either deleted or misposted by me ( the more likely)

I was surprised to see two military jets zipping over the Sandhurst/Camberley area N-S about 3 pm yesterday, initially thought it was two F15s but on reflection could have been F18s .

never seen anything like this one the commonly used transit route for LHR avoidance that passes west of the 'Bagshot mast' .

Anyone know what they were and where they were from/to?

Apologies if this a duplicate but couldnt find the original this morning

[treadigraph]

F-15s from Lakenheath - I gather they did a memorial flypast at Brookwood Cemetary, plus a bit of a tour of SE England!

[DaveReidUK]

There is a ceremony at Brookwood every year on the Sunday immediately preceding Memorial Day (which is today), usually featuring a flyover.

[pax britanica]

Thanks both, well that makes perfect sense as they were pretty much on track for Brookwood from where I saw them . They were not making a lot of 'military 'noise so probably why i havent noticed in past years. A bit surprised at such heavy duty and fast moving aircraft ( even if they are below 240Kts) allowed to risk mixing it up with all the GA transits on that route and stuff in and out of Farnborough , Fairoaks and Blackbushe but if it is a regular thing presumeably Farnborough radar organise things ahead of time.
Thanks again

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

The whole detail was NOTAMd so other pilots should have been aware sometime in advance.

<<never seen anything like this one the commonly used transit route for LHR avoidance that passes west of the 'Bagshot mast' .>>

I worked at Heathrow for most of my life and never heard of a promulgated route such as you mention.

[Talkdownman]

Originally Posted by heathrow director

the whole detail was notamd

q) egtt/qwvlw/iv/m/w/000/025/5144n00002w052
b) from: 17/05/28 13:40c) to: 17/05/28 15:05
e) formation transit by 2 fast jet mil acft routing:
522434n 0003340e (lakenheath) 1356
515923n 0000343e (barkway) 1400
514459n 0000624w (brookmans park) 1403
514334n 0003259w (bovingdon) 1405
512710n 0005244w (woodley) 1408
511631n 0004639w (farnborough) 1410
510314n 0003730w (midhurst) 1412
510314n 0003730w (ip hold) 1427
511405n 0002958w (newlands corner) 1429
511805n 0003823w (brookwood cemetery) 1430
512710n 0005244w (woodley) 1435
514334n 0003259w (bovingdon) 1438
514459n 0000624w (brookmans park) 1440
515923n 0000343e (barkway) 1443
522434n 0003340e (lakenheath) 1447
2 fast jet acft will transit at 2400ft amsl. Acft may hold between
midhurst and newlands corner. Acft will flypast low level at
brookwood (see separate notam). Hgt and route are aprx and may change
due to wx or other requirements. For info farnborough west 125.250
mhz. 17-05-0539/as4
lower: Sfc
upper: 2500ft amsl

[pax britanica]

Thanks for the further clarifications ,HD I didnt mean it was an official route but there are an awful lot of aircraft who fly N-S just west of the Bagshot mast but only in the sense that its used a lot not that it is an official low level route

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by pax britanica

A bit surprised at such heavy duty and fast moving aircraft ( even if they are below 240Kts) allowed to risk mixing it up with all the GA transits on that route and stuff in and out of Farnborough , Fairoaks and Blackbushe but if it is a regular thing presumeably Farnborough radar organise things ahead of time.
Thanks again

Acksherley for the controller, the faster the aircraft is the easier it is to provide de-confliction service at low level. I've taken numerous Buccaneers, Jaguars, Hunters along the apparently unknown 'Heathrow Avoidance' route ; once had John Farley in GVTOL from Dunsfold to Bedford, airborne time was about 7 mins.
Don't forget military aircraft and some CAA approved ex military aircraft are not subject to the 250kt speed limit like most of you; last pair of Jaguars I ever worked shortly before they were retired went from Biggin to St Athan through Mig Alley at an average GS of 475kts.

[pax britanica]

Once again a thank you to the informed commentators for explaining how it all works, as is so often the case its different on the inside to the outside. Still quite a cool thing on a quiet mid afternoon to see a couple of F15s go swishing by