Thought WW3 had started today

[Odyssey]

I'm staying at my sister's in Norfolk for a few days. Earlier this morning lots of fighter jets started going over, and they continued with barely a gap for over 10 minutes. Logically I knew it was virtually impossible that Russia was responsible, but I was so scared as they kept coming that eventually I went downstairs to try to find out from my sister if she knew anything about them. Turns out they fly over here regularly on training exercises, but she thinks there have been more recently. I was very relieved that there was a valid explanation! A while ago I heard more, and despite knowing why, I still felt pretty anxious. It gave me a foretaste of ariel warfare, and really brought home how terrifying the sound of planes must have been during WW2, and in all the other conflicts. It's really shaken me up, it's made it very real what scary times we're living in. ?

 

[Wizpop]

It’s a big picture in your mind now- shrink it down, make it smaller, turn down the volume and push it away!

 

[SibeliusMB]

I'm staying at my sister's in Norfolk for a few days. Earlier this morning lots of fighter jets started going over, and they continued with barely a gap for over 10 minutes. Logically I knew it was virtually impossible that Russia was responsible, but I was so scared as they kept coming that eventually I went downstairs to try to find out from my sister if she knew anything about them. Turns out they fly over here regularly on training exercises, but she thinks there have been more recently. I was very relieved that there was a valid explanation! A while ago I heard more, and despite knowing why, I still felt pretty anxious. It gave me a foretaste of ariel warfare, and really brought home how terrifying the sound of planes must have been during WW2, and in all the other conflicts. It's really shaken me up, it's made it very real what scary times we're living in. ?

Very sorry that it shook you up, I hope you are able to take a breath today. I live and ride in Norfolk and yes, this is very common, nothing remotely exciting about it. I actually tune them out completely when I'm not at work...unfortunatley I work next to the flightline so there's no tuning them out here.

 

[Alibear]

Yep normal for Norfolk. Although the last few mornings something extra big has been going over. Is usually just practice or moving things around.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Not in your league OP, but we have a very local small airfield - this has fixed wing and heli's.
The last 4 weeks has seen many of the older fixed wings out and about in the nice weather, some date back to the 60s and the odd ones back to around WW2 and the hefty drone of the engines can set off a few of the very old folk within hearing distance.
Due to the length of the runway, it cannot service much more than Turbo props etc.

Mine only look up if a heli like the hefty Apache's or new (ish) Wildcats throb overhead to drop in for refuelling etc as tho I'm not (quite!) on the fixed wing flightpath, we are for heli's.

 

[Blanche]

Your post reminded me of this recording.

 

[SilverLinings]

Your post reminded me of this recording.

That's quite a shocking contrast between nature and man. Lovely recording of the nightingale though.

 

[cauda equina]

I'm in Norfolk too and am always thankful that any aircraft we see are on our side

 

[Odyssey]

Your post reminded me of this recording.

That's extraordinary, there can't be many recordings like that in existence. It reminds me of the first time I heard nightingales, walking along a beautiful stream behind the museum in Olympia. It was literally like heaven on earth, it was a beautiful day in May, frogs were croaking and three nightingales were singing, along with other birds, and the sun was shining on the water. It was one of those very rare moments of complete tranquility and bliss. Thinking of that has helped take my mind off the other extreme of life, thanks for posting it.

 

[sbloom]

A10 "warthogs" when I was a kid in Norfolk, Chinooks flying low in Kent, I've had it all in my riding life, think I preferred the warthogs!

 

[Blanche]

That's extraordinary, there can't be many recordings like that in existence. It reminds me of the first time I heard nightingales, walking along a beautiful stream behind the museum in Olympia. It was literally like heaven on earth, it was a beautiful day in May, frogs were croaking and three nightingales were singing, along with other birds, and the sun was shining on the water. It was one of those very rare moments of complete tranquility and bliss. Thinking of that has helped take my mind off the other extreme of life, thanks for posting it.

Your experience of nightingales sounds so lovely.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Your post reminded me of this recording.

That’s so poignant. I can immerse myself in that sound and imagine what it might have been like. My mother was 12 when the war started and 18 when it finished and we often talked about what it was like. I always remember her saying how they would see the bombers flying out in formation and when they returned from a mission you could see where there were missing planes. It always stuck with me ?.

 

[teapot]

It’s fairly normal for Norfolk tbf given the UK and US air base presence.

 

[Trouper]

Back in the day there used to be a car window sticker we Air Force folk liked - "Jet Noise - The Sound of Freedom". Turns the worry vibe around in your brain into something positive.

I am sure Ukranians in the heart of the fighting right now would love to hear our fighters overhead - if only.

 

[ycbm]

We used to live near British Aerospace in Filton near Bristol and we knew something very big was going to kick off just before they started to push Iraq back out of Kuwait. They were doing aero engine tests, where they strap them to the floor and run them flat out, all weekend when they were normally prohibited from doing that outside of normal working hours. The war started on the Thursday.
.

 

[Velcrobum]

There has been an increase in activity at both RAF Fairford and Brize Norton. RAF Fairford is used by USA as a forward operating base, spy planes, B 52s and stealth bombers have been seen regularly. My OH goes fishing nearby a lot and has been commenting on the air traffic.

 

[Ratface]

My father was a rear gunner (a Tail-End Charlie) in Lancaster bombers in WW2. He survived physically, but not mentally.
His only escape was into dangerous motor sports - an adrenaline junkie.
He had as-then unidentified PTSD and died from a massive heart attack when I was 10.
When I was 20, I lived in Worcestershire. A regular occurance was a massive American Blackbird jet plane lumbering low over our cottage. It shut out the countryside noises, spooked the stock (except our donkey) and caused numerous animal abortions and deaths due to its' terrifying presence.
Eventually, heavy and continued pressure from the farming community saw it off. I shall never forget the sight, feel and sound of it. It lurks, forever, in the deep recesses of my mind.
As "an elder(!) I really enjoy seeing the Spitfires go over us, here in Kent, UK. Beautiful, elegant creatures with lovely Merlin engines. I think there's only one Lancaster flying now. Huge great things, and hideously expensive to get and keep airworthy.

 

[little_critter]

There has been an increase in activity at both RAF Fairford and Brize Norton. RAF Fairford is used by USA as a forward operating base, spy planes, B 52s and stealth bombers have been seen regularly. My OH goes fishing nearby a lot and has been commenting on the air traffic.

Right at the beginning of the Ukraine conflict (possibly just before it all kicked off) I got jittery when a B52 flew over. We don't usually get them round these parts.
My old yard used to get loads of chinooks fly over, one even landed a few fields away (we joked the pilot needed a pi55)
Strangely I'm only a few miles from that yard now and very rarely see chinooks, we must have been right on the edge of their zone.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I live under flight paths to some key RAF bases and since Russia attacked there has been a lot more activity. First time in 1o years of B52s flying over too - the noise is quite unsettling even to someone who's used to aircraft noise.

If it reassures you at all , you live in one of the safest countries in the world, we have amongst the best armed forces in the world , enemy aircraft couldn't get anywhere near our airspace and if the Russians tried , they would have the whole might of Nato on them before they'd know it.
I realise the noise and sight of them will be unsettling if you're not used to it , but think of it as a sound of your safety and security.
I have family in a country with a Russian border and people there are very afraid .
Over here, you really don't need to worry.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Your post reminded me of this recording.

That's extraordinary, my grandfather flew Lancasters in WW2, I wonder if he was one of these pilots ?

 

[eahotson]

I live under flight paths to some key RAF bases and since Russia attacked there has been a lot more activity. First time in 1o years of B52s flying over too - the noise is quite unsettling even to someone who's used to aircraft noise.

If it reassures you at all , you live in one of the safest countries in the world, we have amongst the best armed forces in the world , enemy aircraft couldn't get anywhere near our airspace and if the Russians tried , they would have the whole might of Nato on them before they'd know it.
I realise the noise and sight of them will be unsettling if you're not used to it , but think of it as a sound of your safety and security.
I have family in a country with a Russian border and people there are very afraid .
Over here, you really don't need to worry.

I hope your family come through everything safely.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I hope your family come through everything safely.

Thank you they are safe at the moment but obviously things can change very quickly.
Russia is thankfully losing a lot of soldiers and kit!

 

[GSD Woman]

I grew up near US Air Force bases so I'm used to the sounds of the different jets. A good friend who also grew up near USAF bases and I were working dogs right after 9/11. We both heard a sound, said it sounds like fighters and then they appeared over the trees.

And yes, you all are in one of the safest countries in the world. I really think that at this point Putin isn't willing to piss off NATO. That could change in a moment though. And then it won't matter.

 

[MagicMelon]

We used to live on an RAF flight path, they'd often come over really low making a horrific sound. Quite terrifying when Im riding, especially youngsters. Id normally see them coming in the distance and hop off a newly backed horse if I was schooling just to be safe although they had them coming over while they were turned out in the field and didnt seem to care. Only once when one was particularly low did a horse react and I nearly came off.

I feel we live in a safe country, but yes of course that could change, I guess we just need to try and appreciate what we have every day! And hope Putin drops dead very soon...

 

[[139672]]

I live about 3 quarters of a mile from a smallish airfield. There are 5 spitfires there, some being restored. We quite often have two spitfires flying overhead in formation. An amazing thing to see. I love the sound of them. When there is an event on we get woken up by them flying around on a Sunday morning from around 8am