Very low flying jets

[Muddy unicorn]

Three times in the last two weeks we’ve had a jet fly over us going extremely fast and extremely low. Not surprisingly the horses have been terrified - if someone was riding in the field or along the lane at the time it could be pretty hairy! Is there any way of finding out where they’re coming from or if we could get some warning of when it’s going to happen? It’s only one jet by itself and has literally only just started happening.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Following as this lunch time what looked like the Red Arrows flew over my field at quite a low height que my two going ballistic. 20 minutes later it was followed by two jets and a massive bomber albeit at a higher level. I’m not far from several major air bases but this last few weeks has been ridiculous. The most incredible was a few years ago when a Galaxy flew over the school while I had DP on the lunge. To his credit he behaved well and as soon as they saw me they banked off to the right but it was far to low and completely unnecessary.

 

[Cloball]

I've never bothered to do anything about it as I grew up riding in an area with a lot of jet activity and I ride in similar now. Pony is completely desensitised by now. High Viz should give them enough warning to avoid you. We have been given notice locally by the RAF as they are going to be a lot of low flying Chinooks this month. Is there a base near you?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

OP, contact your nearest airfield. They will know where each fixed wing and heli is coming and going through their air space.
If its military, then contact the MOD on the generic number 0845 600 7580 they will need time date and direction, a good estimate of height if you can too.

I have a very local light airfield under a mile as the crow flies from my yard and mine are fine with most sorts, tho the v heavy US heli's can make them lift their heads up. I'm on heli flight path but just quarter mile to the south of fixed wing.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Ours are well used to low aircraft of all flavours but we had a low overflight by a single Chinook very recently which did get them looking up. Haven't seen one of them flying over for years.

Is there some of exercise going on?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

OP, here you go:

Low flying information for England, Wales and Scotland
SWK-lowflying@mod.gov.uk
Telephone: 01780 417558
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm

Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit
RAF Wittering
Peterborough
PE8 6HB

 

[SEL]

Following as this lunch time what looked like the Red Arrows flew over my field at quite a low height que my two going ballistic. 20 minutes later it was followed by two jets and a massive bomber albeit at a higher level. I’m not far from several major air bases but this last few weeks has been ridiculous. The most incredible was a few years ago when a Galaxy flew over the school while I had DP on the lunge. To his credit he behaved well and as soon as they saw me they banked off to the right but it was far to low and completely unnecessary.

That sounds like they were on their way back from an air show or display.

I've had the Galaxy come straight down my fields towards me on the yard. Horses couldn't care less but I did feel pretty intimidated!!

OP - I grew up on airbases and low flying tornadoes and although you can ask the RAF to give specific areas a wide berth (riding schools for instance) they aren't always particularly sympathetic about general horse establishments. They did agree not to land a chinook in the fields adjacent to the horses again though.

 

[maya2008]

We’re near an army base, ponies don’t even look up. Saw a huge cargo plane today skimming the trees. Ponies ignored it, but we thought it was pretty cool!

 

[Gloi]

I was in the Lakes once going along a narrow bridleway high up a hillside. I was cautiously picking my way because there was a steep drop. A fighter jet flew along the valley just below me, I could see the top of the plane. Pony shot off and fortunately was uncharacteristically surefooted as we gallopped the path for a short while.

 

[SDMabel]

We had a spate of them over the riding school I worked at, they were using the Lincolnshire dykes as a training method , following the drains and the twists and turns very low ( think can see the pilot style low) .

We contacted the local RAF base and they were mega helpful, all future exercises were kept away from the riding school and no more scattering ponies in the school with children clinging on for dear life a riding instructors worst nightmare.

 

[humblepie]

It is the Royal International Air Tattoo at Fairford this weekend so lots of stuff around. You can sometimes check on Flight Radar or another app to see what plane it was though not all the military ones show up.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

I’m sure if it happened regularly they’d get desensitised and it wouldn’t be an issue - it’s just the unexpectedness of them zipping over when they haven’t done before. And when I say low - they are really, really low …

 

[humblepie]

I’m sure if it happened regularly they’d get desensitised and it wouldn’t be an issue - it’s just the unexpectedness of them zipping over when they haven’t done before. And when I say low - they are really, really low …

Yes we’ve had planes so low you could count the rivets on the under carriage. Fortunately transport planes not fast jets so more warning.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’m sure if it happened regularly they’d get desensitised and it wouldn’t be an issue - it’s just the unexpectedness of them zipping over when they haven’t done before. And when I say low - they are really, really low …

Indeed, they arrive unexpectedly and can be very, very loud. It's pure luck and geography that mine are used to low overflights. The resident horses soon teach the newbies the ropes.

I hope that you can find out more about what's going on in your locality and can work around it.

 

[Carlosmum]

Its Fairford Airshow this weekend, could explain increased activity. We are fairly nearby and have noticed it in the last couple of days

 

[JackFrost]

I was on holiday in Norfolk and there were lots of fast low flying aircraft going over. A fellow holiday maker had a plane tracking app on their phone which showed everything in the sky in real time. As I recall, it showed planes from military airfields not just commercial flights, so we worked out what base they were coming from. No idea what the app was but an aircraft geek will know.

 

[limestonelil]

If I had the energy I would tell you about our experiences with very low flying jets.Got ridiculous. I'll limit myself to this.
Anyone else remember the US pilots who filmed their dare devil antics for colleagues, this included slicing through the cable car cable , passengers inside, as they flew underneath it to prove their skill.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

That sounds like they were on their way back from an air show or display.

I've had the Galaxy come straight down my fields towards me on the yard. Horses couldn't care less but I did feel pretty intimidated!!

OP - I grew up on airbases and low flying tornadoes and although you can ask the RAF to give specific areas a wide berth (riding schools for instance) they aren't always particularly sympathetic about general horse establishments. They did agree not to land a chinook in the fields adjacent to the horses again though.

No displays today so I think they were on their way to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for tomorrow.
The Galaxy’s are huge aren’t they and they seem to fly so slowly I often wonder how they actually stay airborne.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Its Fairford Airshow this weekend, could explain increased activity. We are fairly nearby and have noticed it in the last couple of days

We’re nowhere near Fairford so it’s not that

 

[cindars]

We get Chinook helicopters over us and the village you can hear them coming horses take no notice. They used to make our old barn shake.

 

[Cloball]

In the Lakes they fly so low they are underneath you

Yes we’ve had planes so low you could count the rivets on the under carriage. Fortunately transport planes not fast jets so more warning.

 

[humblepie]

In the Lakes they fly so low they are underneath you

i want to go to the Mach loop and see them

 

[teapot]

Info about low flying here, which they have to do part of their training https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area

Contact the Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit to complain or enquire about low flying in your area.

Low flying information for England, Wales and Scotland
SWK-lowflying@mod.gov.uk
Telephone: 01780 417558
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm


Given them as precise a location as possible, they do take it very seriously when it comes to horses, but please remember visibility in jets (and helicopters too) is actually pretty limited at times!

 

[Abi90]

Following as this lunch time what looked like the Red Arrows flew over my field at quite a low height que my two going ballistic. 20 minutes later it was followed by two jets and a massive bomber albeit at a higher level. I’m not far from several major air bases but this last few weeks has been ridiculous. The most incredible was a few years ago when a Galaxy flew over the school while I had DP on the lunge. To his credit he behaved well and as soon as they saw me they banked off to the right but it was far to low and completely unnecessary.

Where in the country are you? It’s the Royal International Air Tattoo this week until the 14th. So lots of low flying and displays. Its usually very well publicised

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Info about low flying here, which they have to do part of their training https://www.gov.uk/low-flying-in-your-area

Contact the Low Flying Complaints and Enquiries Unit to complain or enquire about low flying in your area.

Low flying information for England, Wales and Scotland
SWK-lowflying@mod.gov.uk
Telephone: 01780 417558
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm


Given them as precise a location as possible, they do take it very seriously when it comes to horses, but please remember visibility in jets (and helicopters too) is actually pretty limited at times!

Posts 4 & 6

 

[Abi90]

Military low flying: RAF operational low flying training timetable

Royal Air Force (RAF) operational low flying training timetables in 3 areas of the UK.

www.gov.uk

This will also tell you when low flying activity is happening in low flying areas. But it won’t include displays

 

[Abi90]

Military low flying: MOD sponsored air exercises

MOD sponsored low flying exercises within the UK low flying system.

www.gov.uk

And this is for exercises

 

[teapot]

Posts 4 & 6

On my phone, didn't see!

Bottom line is OP is that can and does happen, and there are many many international military exercises happening at the moment, let alone air show silly season.

Also, if you're near Lakenheath it could be a US jet, and @SibeliusMB may be able to help

 

[Abi90]

I was on holiday in Norfolk and there were lots of fast low flying aircraft going over. A fellow holiday maker had a plane tracking app on their phone which showed everything in the sky in real time. As I recall, it showed planes from military airfields not just commercial flights, so we worked out what base they were coming from. No idea what the app was but an aircraft geek will know.

Flight Radar… and Norfolk has several Air Training Areas near it, and over the Wash. Jets in Norfolk were probably F-15s from Lakenheath

 

[Abi90]

We’re nowhere near Fairford so it’s not that

If you can say roughly where you are, I can possibly tell you