American F-15E flying through the Mach Loop, North Wales
Posted by Mr_JoNeZz@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 23 comments
Posted by Mr_JoNeZz@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 23 comments
Mc-Lovin-81@reddit
Serious question. Do they Mach in the Mach Loop? If not. Could it be the "Fast Loop"?
Mr_JoNeZz@reddit (OP)
It’s called that because the road underneath the loop is on the way to Machynlleth- a Welsh town
Strega007@reddit
The name comes from one of the small towns that the flight paths go over in that area, Machynlleth.
devin3d@reddit
Mach is a measure of speed, that phrasing is like asking if they do MPH or KM/H on the highway as airspeed can be a measure of Mach. At lower altitudes and airspeeds it just doesn’t make sense though to use it because it’s a relatively small number.
They aren’t flying supersonic though which I think is what you’re asking. It’s all subsonic and I’m going to guess somewhere in the ballpark of 275-315 KIAS, but doing low levels you’d be more concerned with maintaining a constant ground speed to maintain timing
Quantiad@reddit
‘Low-level’ in the USAF. Get in the fucking valley, ffs.
Strega007@reddit
This was one of my passes through Cad Pass West back in 2009. Pic by Pat Riley.
Quantiad@reddit
It’s photographed from below, so no. I’ve looked down on Jaguars flying past my building in the RAF.
Strega007@reddit
Will you post the photo of your low-fly pass through Cad?
Quantiad@reddit
Are you basing your competence on mine? Damn, that ego took a real hit.
I love the way you have this photo on rapid fire though, it’s cute.
Strega007@reddit
It is an honor to receive such criticism from someone who has watched other people fly through the Loop.
Quantiad@reddit
You kidding? Military ATC for 20+ years, I don’t waste my time watching planes when they’re not paying me to 😂
RiverFrogs@reddit
Is there a schedule somewhere or do you just have to have some luck on your side?
insomnimax_99@reddit
There is a rough schedule but things can change on short notice, so you do need quite a bit of luck. Just because low altitude training is booked in doesn’t mean it will actually go ahead.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operational-low-flying-training-timetable
Mr_JoNeZz@reddit (OP)
I wouldn’t give this much notice - everyone kept saying it’s as reliable as a wet paper towel. This video was recorded on Nov 25th and there was some F-35 that flew a few hours prior to this. Also there were Eurofighters in the vicinity. It’s pot luck (as someone who hasn’t been over there in summer)
RiverFrogs@reddit
Ahh okay that’s helpful. I get weather can be kind of finicky. I had googled the Mach loop and couldn’t find a schedule so thank you
gazchap@reddit
Just have to go and hope you're lucky. From what I gather, they only fly between Monday and Friday so weekends are a no-go.
In fact, if the weather's alright, I might take a trip out there tomorrow. Good excuse to get out on my motorbike!
noreturn000@reddit
thanks to AI
Mr_JoNeZz@reddit (OP)
What?
er1catwork@reddit
Everything is AI these days! Even you! ;)
Mr_JoNeZz@reddit (OP)
Yeah ok mate 👍
NichtOhneMeineKamera@reddit
Y'know what? Just this summer My wife and I spent a solid 4 nights (unusually long for us to stick to one place) at a working farm campsite just above Harlech. All this time I heard the sound of fighter jets, but never saw any...well...I saw two far up in the sky, but I heard so many more that sounded almost at our elevation. I knew there was an airbase not too far off and I even managed to shoot an A400M flying across the bay we were looking at.
But I had absolutely no Idea the mach loop was just around the corner...a friend told me afterwards, when we were back in Germany...
Photo attached of that one plane I could properly enjoy
Mr_JoNeZz@reddit (OP)
We were tracking an A400M on that day around the south of England - we were hoping it would come by the loop but never did!
Hope you enjoyed your stay!
NichtOhneMeineKamera@reddit
Oh we very much did! Beautiful landscape and some of the nicest people we've ever met. As Brits seem to be in general, at least towards us! Just two of the reasons we keep coming back to Great Britain almost yearly!