Interesting Mach Loop pass...

[Slinger65]

Just seen this retweeted and also posted on the Mach Loop website...

https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1054658325105786880

[jalfrezi]

She received a lot of online abuse for posting that video, some of it pretty disgusting.

[Slinger65]

It's completely unacceptable (the abuse, not the pass).

Perhaps the pass got the pilot into hot water, who knows - and whether for the seemingly close proximity to the hillside or the multiple rolls on the pull up - but fairly sure that most who fly the Mach loop will know there are plenty watching and that anything "spectacular" is likely to get posted for public viewing. I remember a post here a few years ago showing a Tornado with full sweep which drew a similar reaction from some forum members...

[jalfrezi]

Agreed, the abuse is unacceptable. As for the pilot, if you're stupid enough to flout the rules when you know everyone and their dogs are watching, you only have yourself to blame.

[MiG_Eater]

Great video, horrible responses.

Frankly even if the pilot did get in trouble - the real issue is the RAF being unwilling to accept that it is possible to be a capable fighting force whilst also having a bit of personality. Sure, you can't have the low fly areas turning into aerobatic-competition areas, but its things like this that make life worth living!

[jalfrezi]

Frankly even if the pilot did get in trouble - the real issue is the RAF being unwilling to accept that it is possible to be a capable fighting force whilst also having a bit of personality. Sure, you can't have the low fly areas turning into aerobatic-competition areas, but its things like this that make life worth living!

That's the RAF though, they have rules, even though some seem to be rules just for rules sake, like no engine runs at Northolt night shoots! The RAF seems to be turning into an air force run by committee.

[Georgeconna]

Sweet pass.

Man Alive that Paul Williams fella message left on Twitter is fairly full on, Nasty chap it sounds. What a "dwad".

Love the excitement from the lady, a pure wow moment.

[MiG_Eater]

Reported on FC that the RAF has suspended low flying at the Mach Loop.

[Big Eric]

Reported on FC that the RAF has suspended low flying at the Mach Loop.

FC have also locked the thread.

[Alanko]

The Mach Loop spotter community sound like the biggest gang of utter planks possible. Lets be honest here, this sort of person isn't capable of feeling empathy, so they can drop the line about the poor airman being dobbed in. They don't want to see their one hobby taken away. I've heard about this lot before, and they sound like utter tools. The reaction to this video confirms it, as does their set of rules on this website:

[*]Think twice before publishing photos that can get the airmen in trouble (burners, inverted, obscenities). Doing so can also give you a bad rep among veteran loopers. Most FB-groups will ban you if you do.

[*]Accept recommendations and reprimands from more experienced loopers, they know what they are talking about and their minds are set on what is good for the loop and your safety.

(Per: https://www.shootsmart.co.uk/mach-loop-wales/mach-loop/).

Who are these self-appointed busybodies anyway? Utter no-marks pretending they are custodians of 'The Loop', but with no actual authority to back it up. Just a pack of fat men with big camera lenses. Nothing more.


With all the data logging that must go on in a modern fighter, I doubt that one wobbly mobile video makes the difference between the pilot getting away with it or getting the bin (or 'tea with no biscuits', or whatever other faux-Military speak these Walter Mitty types lapse into). I reckon his/her series of rolls indicates that he/she knew they blew it.

Frankly even if the pilot did get in trouble - the real issue is the RAF being unwilling to accept that it is possible to be a capable fighting force whilst also having a bit of personality. Sure, you can't have the low fly areas turning into aerobatic-competition areas, but its things like this that make life worth living!

That's the RAF though, they have rules, even though some seem to be rules just for rules sake, like no engine runs at Northolt night shoots! The RAF seems to be turning into an air force run by committee.

Pulling aeros like this in 'The Loop' is basically pissing about on the job. It isn't the mark of a skilled pilot. Too many seem to be confusing reality with the plot of Top Gun.

[MiG_Eater]

A high G pull up is not an aerobatic manoeuvre. OK so the rolls were unnecessary, but they were zero risk and only served to add a bit of joy to those watching, and probably those in the cockpit!

[Tommy]

It's a cool vid.

The abuse received is another dark stain on the community of people, myself included, who frequent those haunts. Utterly disgusting behaviour by a minority of people.

Why is it always abuse with justification in these stupid god-awful nonsense "unwritten rules"... Before social media was as big as it was I recall some pretty disgusting bullying/behaviour on here and places like FC, too. Seems to rear its ugly head every couple of years.

[Rick]

Is the Loop still a no go area ?

[Abbo46]

For RAF aircraft, yes. LN F-15s went through this week.

[Jakesplanes]

Um, why is it no go to the home team?

[Go4Long]

Um, why is it no go to the home team?

Read the thread...

But unofficially an RAF Typhoon pulled out of the LFA7 training area...rumoured to be due to getting below a minimum altitude allowance, and the RAF is standing down front line low level training in the area while they investigate the incident and relevant safety standards.

More unofficially than that, a video of the incident made the rounds on twitter resulting in the court of public opinion frowning on the RAF's actions, while there is already some political tension being caused by local residents raising a stink over the noise caused by low level training that may or may not have been in the area long before they moved there, resulting in the RAF ceasing low flight operations in the area while they decide how to handle it.

[Rick]

Any news on when the front liner ban may be lifted ?

[HeyfordDave111]

shame the ban is still in place, i quite fancied harriers, Mig21 and Su27's low level after the great passes by the Canadians last year.

[Rick]

shame the ban is still in place, i quite fancied harriers, Mig21 and Su27's low level after the great passes by the Canadians last year.

I thought the ban was just RAF ?