Flying The Mach Loop

[SA Shooter]

The "Mach Loop" is a flight test and training range in the UK in west-central Wales.

Normally used by F15's, F16's, Tornados, Typhoons and all manner of fast movers, this video has a couple of surprises in it.

Enjoy!

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[SA Shooter]

So what does the Mach Loop look like, flying fast and low, from the pilot's seat?

Here's a British Typhoon pilot's view:

 

[GOG]

Great stuff, thank you. If I lived there I'd never get anything done.
I enjoyed seeing the fast movers, but I really liked seeing those big ol' transports lumbering through the pass.

I'm an old airman and when I was in the old prop transports, the C124 Globemasters and C119 Flying Boxcars were being phased out and scrapped in favor of the C130's and the transport superstar of the time, the C141 Starlifter. The ANG mostly had the 119's at that time.

Yes, I date back to propellers.

 

[No_Regerts]

There is a low level training area that goes over Riffe Lake is sw WA. As a kid, my dad and I would fish on the lake and see A6s and E/A6s run through there. Pretty cool.

 

[SA Shooter]

The weirdest, and most wonderful, low level pass I ever say was a B-52 at full throttle screaming over the desert just South and East of Mountain Home, AFB Idaho.

I too am an old airman but not quite that old, GOG. I missed out on the Globemasters and Boxcars but the C130 & C141 Starlifter transports were in service. We even had a few AC130 gunships here and there.

 

[SA Shooter]

Near Death Valley there is a US version of the Mach Loop.

Here is a pair of F-35A fighters flying the topography.

 

[HB of CJ]

Way back in the summer of 1970 or 1971 a privately owned P51 Mustang flew West to East low and fast through Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park in central California USA. Apparently started way out West. Had a lot of throttle on. The sound was so bubblegumin. Er ... I mean boss, cool, radical, distinctive. Echoed everywhere. He pulled up going NE halfway up alongside Half Dome then continued out going fast NE. I wonder how much trouble that pilot got into?

Did anybody get a "N" number? I kinda doubt it.

No, it was not me. I was driving a shuttle bus.