Buzzed in the Channel

Re: Speed Limit only applies on water then! n.m.

I once saw a Canadair practicing water release on a small islet, they quickly dipped and reduced their height immediately before the island and then released their load.
About 5/10min between every release.

Now a powerboat comes and approaches the island..

the plane comes again for another test, dips its bow as before and when the pilots notice the small powerboat immediately try and regain more altitude, obviously without releasing the water they had

well I do not know who was more scared, people on the powerboat seeing a plane coming straight towards them, or the pilots which had to fly very near to the water trying to bring up a plane with all those tons inside
 
Re: Speed Limit only applies on water then! n.m.

How many times do you think the words 'Jesus' and 'Christ' appeared on the voice rec.
 
I've been their a few times to drool!!! I do love them, You could phone up and see if they were steaming and go up and have a trip, wonderful, I've always wanted one!! used to see them when I was a pup, climbing up there at the weekends!!
 
I passsed one very similar to these just north of the Folly Inn (south of Cowes in the solent) last weekend. very quiet, although somewhat grubby if you were the engineer.
 
I could be persuaded to become a Mobo driver if it was in one of those launches! Beautiful....the lines, the sound, the smell.......ahhhhhhhh!
 
Re: Buzzed in the Channel - Quite Often but EC1?

This may be senile moment but were'nt EC1 and EC3 removed couple of years ago? Regarding buzzing this is not new, has been happening for several years by both French and British. They either use slow fixed wing or helis.

Most recent was inspection for 5 mins couple of weeks ago by EC2
 
Re: Buzzed in the Channel - Quite Often but EC1?

brian, yes you are right.... typo on my part. i did mean EC2.... although I still have EC1 on my well used chart of the english channel..

I must either buy a new chart or start crossing to different destinations.
 
Re: Buzzed in the Channel - Quite Often but EC1?

A man after my own heart, only binned my 1999 edition channel chart on last crossing after the rubber ripped the paper over the folds and still have plenty of 1987 original charts on board. I must own up to having very crude correction standards never having invested in the right chart pens however.

B
 
That happened to me this week going from Nieuport to Dunkerque. Twice we were buzzed by helos. Just came down for a look and b****d off.
 
Over the bits of the country that hasn't got controlled airspace, Low flying ac are allowed down to 250'. In some areas this is reduced to 100' but only for those guys who are experienced and are on a proper work up. Over the sea some ac are allowed down to 100' but most are up at 250'. All ac have Rad Alts fitted (apart from the hawk) which tell you to the nearest 5' how high you are above the ground. When the guys go flying they have a specific authorisation for how low they are allowed to go. If they bust it they get it in the neck and more. As a further double check to make sure that no one is breaking the rules the RAF police go round with a radar now and again to check it out. They can't pull you over at the time but you do get a photo in the post.........
 
That about figures for the Lakes.
We can see most low flying aircraft below the top of Claife Heights opposite which is 500' high and we are at about 120' ASL. As the planes are about halfway across the lake then 250' would seem about right.
The planes over Haweswater could well have been 100' It felt and sounded like 50' but by the time you've reacted they are 1/4 mile down the valley.
 
Round our way (Somerset) the low level flying is invariably Hercules aircraft. I don't know why but, like buses, they always seem to come in 3's or 4's. Maybe the pilots are jet ski drivers when they are off duty. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
odd one for you graham, but how many years ago was it???
i believe that i may know the guy who did it. Very high up these days. but i think there was engine trouble...the guys banged out just in time. hitting the water at 500 to 750 knots can be a little abbrasive on the tall pipe....if you know what i mean.

think you will find that the pilot is now squadron leader of the euro fitter for the whole of europe......(GIT)...still he's worked hard for it....and i may be wrong but he has been in tornados most of his fly time.
 
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