And what a place it is! Very lucky today as we have a lot of movements and some nice weather!
ZA614 // Tornado // Royal Air Force // Mach Loop by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
91-327 // F15-E Strike Eagle // USAF // Mach Loop by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
ZA614 // Tornado GR4 // Royal Air Force // Mach Loop by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
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My first trip to the Mach Loop ...
- Thread starter .Simon
- Start date
NorthloopCup
ClioSport Moderator
This is another place I’ve been wanting to go for ages! Great shots there mate! Call sign for the tornadoes was voodoo too. ? Don’t ask me how I know that!! Lol!
Cheers guys - I'll be going back tomorrow and Friday, weather isn't looking too favourable though! At least I can tick off my bucket list!
One more:
RAF100 C130 Hercules // Royal Air Force // Mach Loop by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
One more:
You don't! some days there will be nothing at all come through - just pot luck.
We had about 20 movements today which is a lot according to the regulars.
NorthloopCup
ClioSport Moderator
There’s a LFA on mate that’s why.
Yep - the "Timetable" that's published by the RAF doesn't really apply to the Loop I've been told.
NorthloopCup
ClioSport Moderator
Yeah that’s the trouble with it mate. As you’ve said previously it’s all hit and miss.
It’s worth joining the ‘Lichfield corridor group’ on bookface if you have it? Majority of stuff coming through the corridor is off on its way to the Mach loop, and there’s always regular posters on there with what’s coming through.
Alternatively sign up to a flight radar provider that tracks military aircraft as you’ll be able to track stuff as it comes from the east.
We get f15’s, had the f22’s over, f16’s, tornados and typhoons all over the house as they’re on the way there/back. Even had the awacs and sentinel over on their way back to base after the raf100 flypast.
Flamer Barn Find
I went a few years ago. Spent 3 days sleeping in the back of my car. Day 1 there was bugger all and I ended up in a bit of a huff. Day 2 and 3 made up for it as it was flat out. Hawks from Valley, Typhoons, Tornados, F15's and A10's from Lakenheath and Mildenhall. Just as I was packing up on the last day 2 x C17's came blistering through.
Yeah, i'm in a few of the groups - pretty handy. Also spent the day next to people "in the know"!
One more:
massiveCoRbyn
ClioSport Club Member
Several
Ace pics. Would love to go there.
Great pics!
That second one with the trails forming is ace.
That second one with the trails forming is ace.
Nothing came through today but keep finding editable shots from yesterday!
ZK015 // Hawk T2 // Royal Air Force // Mach Loop by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
ZA614 // Tornado GR4 // Royal Air Force // Mach Loop by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
ZA614 // Tornado GR4 // Royal Air Force // Mach Loop by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
NorthloopCup
ClioSport Moderator
The Luftwaffe are currently doing a joint op with the brits at raf coningsby. Typhoons and GR4’s, so I’m surprised the GR4’s haven’t been through tbh. Cobra Warrior is the name of the exercise.
Apparently they were meant to come through the loop earlier in the week - let's see what tomorrow brings!
NorthloopCup
ClioSport Moderator
Tomorrow could well be the day then! Fingers crossed eh!
massiveCoRbyn
ClioSport Club Member
Several
The sky will be a sadder place when the Tornado is replaced. Something so awesome about them.
NorthloopCup
ClioSport Moderator
I’m still an F4 phantom man myself. I was only a kid when the tonkas replaced them in frontline service.
andybond
ClioSport Club Member
You have Lakenheath just up the road if you want the 15s. Appreciate not quite in the same scenery ..
Tim.
ClioSport Club Member
Have you got any photos of your position? I assume you had to get some height and didn’t just step out of the car at the top of a hill?
Ay Ay Ron
ClioSport Club Member
10-15 minutes walk from the road carpark. It's not a massive hill tbh.
It bloody is! ?
Took us around 45 minutes to get to the top - first part is pretty steady then it get's pretty steep from there on.
https://goo.gl/maps/6g9jqsuzhfr
You'll need good walking shoes, I also took a pop up tent to use at the top.
I used the below site to plan my visit -
https://www.shootsmart.co.uk/mach-loop-wales/mach-loop/
Here are some photos so you can get an idea of height / location etc
Cad East:
IMG_0776 by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
IMG_0813 by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
Cad West:
IMG_0798 by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
IMG_0800 by Simon Nicholls, on Flickr
You can drive up to near the top of Cad West so not as bad as making the trek!
Cad East:
Cad West:
You can drive up to near the top of Cad West so not as bad as making the trek!
There is a cracking campsite on the coast just by the end of the road where it joins the coast road. Sometimes get stuff giving it beans when it passes over.
Lake Windermere is also a good one for low flying stuff, last summer must of been best part of 20 flew over and most not hanging around either.
Lake Windermere is also a good one for low flying stuff, last summer must of been best part of 20 flew over and most not hanging around either.
Ay Ay Ron
ClioSport Club Member
Tbh, I didn't walk right to the top. I only went along the ridge then probably 300mtrs or so along the fence. When I'm on my own I don't hang about though, I was overtaking a lot of people.
Would the timetables posted on here be any help in working out when to visit?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable
andybond
ClioSport Club Member
Not hugely. The notams are vague at best.
Tim.
ClioSport Club Member