RAF C17s
 

I've seen reports of RAF C17s doing touch and gos at Luton and Southend. In both cases local "normals" seem surprised suggesting this is unusal. Is it unusual?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8388c932f1.jpg

Apparently Manchester has been visited as well..

I’d say it’s fairly abnormal for a military aircraft to get the opportunity to bash the circuit at busy commercial airports.

I grew up down the road from Luton and had plenty of old friends asking what was going on including videos to “prove” they weren’t pulling my leg and there really was a ‘Herc’ circling Luton so it was abnormal enough for ‘normies’ to notice.

Definitely Manchester, did three circuits and appeared to be doing a procedural approach as the outbound leg was bang on down the 05 outbound track, wasn't your normal vectored approach.

A few pictures here

https://www.pprune.org/airlines-airp...l#post10744532

Russ

The obvious follow up questions is............. Why?!

Most likely getting familiar with various airports and their arrival/departure characteristics as part of the govts contingency planning if this virus business should get notably worse.

I was hoping someone actually knew.

Someone did.

So we had to shoot him.

PDR

Let me try to help.

Yes, they definitely meant unusual - unusal isn't a word.

Yes it is - it means "to remove any resemblance to the Kwisatz Haderach" - to de-dib one's muab, if I may slip into the vernacular.

PDR

I’m sure the friendly folks at Brize media and communications team will be able to satisfy your thirst for information.

[email protected]

A C-17 has been entertaining the locals at Exeter and Birmingham this afternoon. Occasionally noticed A400s doing circuits at St Mawgan and imagine it's handy to have the opportunity to do so away from Brize which I imagine is fairly busy anyway, and so demonstrates a little good neighbourliness, particularly in the case of the A400 which make quite a lot of din when they pass over here at 30000' and I should think all the more so when getting airborne from Brize.

Can you really hear them when they're at FL300? That's what I call LOUD!

PDR

It's not that uncommon to have C17's do ILS approaches at Norwich as well.
We've also had A400's and, very rarely F35's , Tornadoes and Hawks have done the same.
Could it be that,due to the reduction in military airfields they do this to make sure hey are familiar with potential diversion airfields?

The Brize A400's are often using Staverton for approach practice, quite a lot this week too really low over town. A few shots a friend took.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....19395d27ce.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6a398c2f68.jpg

A400 doing a bit of circuit bashing at Bournemouth now.

Friend in Worthing had one overfly outbound Brize at around 30000' this morning - he said it was very noisy.

I had a Turkish example overfly me earlier at about 27000' also outbound Brize - the noisy bit is relatively brief as it passes overhead and almost gives the impression of resonance. On occasions it is quite harsh on the ears.

Still rather quieter than the incredible An-22 though which really does rattle one's fillings, even at 30000' plus.

Get a couple droning over west Cornwall daily, approx FL300. They are very distinctive and quite noisy -and always welcome for it.:ok:

Wish something would do circuits at Southampton. Its very quiet since Flybe went under.