An American F-15 fighter jet passed over Glasgow this evening flying at 1,000ft off the ground and clocking in at 430 knots, that’s around 500mph.
The flight took place around 17:32 this evening ut don’t worry, the aircraft was conducting routine training.
An American F-15 fighter jet passed over the Glasgow area this evening flying at 1,000ft off the ground and clocking in at 430 knots, that's around 500mph. This isn't a usual occurrence. pic.twitter.com/0KrCSOzMuP
— George Allison (@geoallison) January 20, 2022
The F-15 aircraft then headed to Newcastle before landing at RAF Lakenheath near Norwich.
RAF Lakenheath is the largest U.S. Air Force-operated base in England and the only U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) F-15 fighter wing.
On their website, they say:
“As the USAFE’s only F-15 fighter wing, we bring unique air combat capabilities to the fight, such as the most advanced Joint Direct Attack Munitions employed by the F-15E. We provide all-weather, day-or-night air superiority, air-to-ground precision combat capability and multi-staged improvement program avionics.
The F-15E Strike Eagle employs Precision Guided Missiles (PGMs) using the Low Altitude Night Targeting and Infrared Navigation (LANTIRN) system and Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod technology. The F-15C Eagle employs advanced technology including the AIM-9X munitions and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System providing the most advanced technology, capable of eliminating enemy air threats anytime, anywhere. When teamed together, the F-15E and F-15C provide air combat capability never before seen in the history of airpower.”
It is unclear why the aircraft conducted a relatively low pass over Glasgow as part of the training exercise, we’ve messaged the U.S. Air Force to ask if it was for anything interesting, I’ll keep you updated.
Sounds like force redeployment exercise regarding Russian tensions to a different airbase ready to respond to incursion, to do so in a way which is more difficult to track as they would behave in Ukraine, rather than flying around like a Cessna. They’d probably be doing Mach numbers if it was real
Next time hopefully they fly round the pentlands near Edinburgh. I’m jealous. Most I’ve had is low level apaches and chinooks
I hear after its low flight over the Glasgow, the crew discovered the undercarriage wheels missing when they tried to land back at Lakenheath.
😆
Never mind that; the pilot is still looking for his wallet.
😂. In the interests of fairness, not everyone living in Glasgow is an alcoholic, drug addicted thief, however, the Smiths at 42 Crescent Rd have their house on Rightmove at the moment, so after they have left……..😉
Further in the interests of fairness, other terrible places are available, many of them in England, cough, Swindon, cough…..
“Further in the interests of fairness, other terrible places are available, many of them in England, cough, Swindon, cough…..”
** Slough enters the chat…
Good call Chris, I believe they are twinned, two ugly Siamese twins separated at birth perhaps…
If they had buzzed Liverpool then they would have had to land on bricks: surely?
If it was Liverpool, the engines would be gone and they would be gliding into Speke (I refuse to call it John Lennon) Airport…
True story
My father was an engineer working for a huge telecommunications company in Liverpool during the 1960’s called the Automatic, one day he was walking out to his car in the enormous car park and during the day, someone had actually stolen the engine and gearbox out of his Zepthyr 6!
Only because it wouldn’t start when they tried to steal it.
They would have had away with the whole thing, it would have been touch and go if they even had a parashoot left.
No that happens in liverpool 4 wheels off my wagon
The question is did the get the required replacement breeze blocks ?
Lakenheath…near Norwich?
Geography obviously not a strongpoint
It’s 45 miles away…..😆
Someone told me Lakenheath and Mildenhall were very busy today? I wonder if it has anything to do with Ukraine??
Well, as I posted on another thread there were 2 chalks of 3 over the Duddon Estuary as well as transports, yesterday, and yes, they were sodding low when they flew over the car.
F35’s from Lakenheath will now become a more familiar site & sound in ours sky’s. Saw some good shots of them through the mach loop on another site. Typhoons over Hull earlier this evening. Coningsby always informs on social media when night flying is taking place. 👍
This probably has to do with using Glasgow airport in a hurry to ramp up P8 operations and therefore protecting it?
We have seen US and RAF P8 touch and go at Glasgow a good few times recently.
It sounded a lot lower than 1000ft thought it came in my bedroom window
Yeah, It made quite a howl for me as it passed overhead
OT
Possible engine replacement change for UK Merlin helicopters https://www.rid.it/shownews/4676
Rolls Royce – Turbomeca RTM322 now not anymore RR but exclusively SAFRAN owned replaced by General Electric CT7-8E
GE CT7 is also the engines for the AW 149. So the Merlin will have 3 and the AW 149 will have 2 whihc is good for commonality.
An AW 189 civilian version of AW 149 reach 5000 hours of flight with that engine so it is a proven one : LYNN, Mass. – A Bel Air Aviation AW189 helicopter has surpassed 5,000 engine flight hours operating with GE’s CT7-2E1 engine. Since entering service in November 2014, this AW189 has had zero engine shop visits and stands as the AW189/CT7 fleet leader in total engine flight hours.
“Reaching 5,000 engine flight hours with zero shop visits is an amazing illustration of the world-class reliability the CT7 offers our customers for a wide range of missions,” said Elissa Lee, GE Aviation’s CT7 Programs Director. “Congratulations to Bel Air. We’re very proud to continue supporting your CT7 engines.”
To extend the Merlin Fleets out to 2040+ would be a positive thing for the RN with a more powerful engine. Of course it would be good also to add units to the HM2 Fleet as 30 is far from enough for two carriers and other commitments to counter the Russian sub surface fleet.
Im firmly in the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it; camp but as the situation is changing with the adoption of the AH64E and possible Puma replacement i wonder how disruptive ( and expensive ) to the supply and maintenance chains multiple Engine types actually are ? The Merlin is still capable of being produced,rather than a re-engining programme id prefer to see the fleet topped up instead.
We need more of these manufactured even if it is at. Trickle rate of 1 to 2 a year. Maintain base skill sets and slowly increase fleet.
Oh no, not content with trying to get the tax payer over a barrel with the 149, they are pushing for a re- engine of the Merlin fleet too.
I’ve never heard of the Merlin lacking in power anyway, I believe one of the three engines is powered down to idle in flight and all three engines wind up to full power only under heavy load conditions?
The current engine is perfectly ok out to its out of service date in the 2030’s.
Just give Leanardo a blank cheque and be done with it, they can fill the amount in….. That’s if they can fit all those zeros on the paper!
Your right John. No lack of power in any version and of course who ever supplied the engine will still be outside the UK. Keep what we have and build on the numbers. With AH64E getting their new engines there will be lots of the former engines sitting around as spares to keep the current fleet (and any more if purchased) going for some time. Will it last as well as the Sea King? we will see. Crowsnest, in service for only 10 years? The Old Bags started off in the post Falklands when they put together a couple of Sea Kings in a few weeks and look how long that lasted? RN kept it updated and did deliver way more than thought possible. The RN has to take care not to jump forward to much on modern idea’s….
Spot on Angus and good call on the retiring AH64D, plenty of engines there to use as you quite rightly say.
Leandro are determined to grab as much cash as they can from the UK tax payer, what’s next, an offer to hammer fit CT7’s into the old Land Rover Defender fleet…
All new AW-101 have the CT7 (Norway, Poland and Italy)
The RTM will be out of scene since the new Apaches have the T700 also CT7 family.
So this would mean a streamlined engine line and not the contrary.
How is this applicable to the UK Alex?
Presumably, the UK would have to to commit to the 149 first, at ‘huge’ expensive, then commit to a re engined and refubished Merlin fleet?
All ‘great’ news for Leanardo and their share holders, not so much for the UK, or the defence budget….
As Angus pointed out, there is enough AH64D models being be retired to provide considerable RTM engine support for the Merlin fleet to keep it going to well into the 2030’s.
5 of them did 2 passes over Grasmere late this morning
There has to be a reason to do that. The USAF are practising for something. Who knows what it is??
Maybe the pilot thought he would see Batman in Gotham Glasgow
Probably be better off flying low over Kiev and indeed with some Tornadoes for company ” a stitch in time saves nine” Sure the US air force is up for it, unfortunately Joe’s a sleep.
Does any Nato Air Force still fly Tornadoes? Or did you mean Typhoons Stc?
Germany, Italy, Saudi says wiki.
Thanks to the German Defence Minister at the time not taking any decisions, the Germans are still deciding what to replace them with.
Will have Tornados (or a gap) until 2030.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2022/01/10/new-german-government-revisits-tornado-replacement-options/
Yes, they are waiting for Tempest……
AA
Or more broom handles.
An amazing aircraft and still a potent symbol. When it entered service in the 1970’s it was way ahead of its rivals as an all round air superiority and attack asset. It is interesting to note that some Air National Guard units operate Eagles-imagine having a Reserve Unit piloted by part timers of this calibre!
When the F15 first came into service she was known as the hanger Queen, so advanced was she, even now after 100hrs of flight time the F15 is wheeled in for an endoscope check.
Hawaii & Virginia ANG units now fly F22s … 😲
F15s are always low over my house, they go where the visibility is good and air space clear. Nothing unusual really.
I live near the Wash in North Norfolk and the F15’s are giving an air display most days over the last few weeks with mock dog fights occasionally joined by a pair of Typhoons. Just across the water the Apaches have been hammering the targets in Holbeach ranges for some time now.
Hi Steven,
I have noticed more fast jet and helicopter activity in our neck of the woods as well (South West).
It seems NATO / US may be getting some extra training in just in case…
If that is indeed the case then it confirms that NATO is not only reaching out to help Ukraine, but is also looking to it’s own defences as well. First indication was Denmark and Sweden (the latter not NATO obviously) deploying troops onto islands in the Baltic. Overall there is a real increase in tension. I bet the Baltic states are getting pretty nervous at the moment.
Cheers CR
Well Nato has never been so week as it is right now so if it is going to happen I should think it will be soon.
Our american cousins have no sense of direction. Don’t know the difference between the UK and Ukraine. East / West or North / South haven’t a clue and they are probably blaming the height thing on 5G. 😀.
The Air National Guard squadrons that are primarily assigned to Air Defense don’t need to operate the F-35. F-15EX is a side step for those units. An easy conversion from the F-15C.
Sharpening their skills no doubt for what’s to come if all else fails.
“The talks between the two diplomats came just a day after Russia unveiled plans for naval drills involving more than 140 warships and more than 60 aircraft, seen as a show of strength.
Several European nations have now moved to bolster Nato’s military deployment in eastern Europe.
Spain is sending warships to join Nato naval forces in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, and Denmark also said it would send a frigate to the Baltic Sea.
French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to send troops to Romania.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60077776
The way i see it is that the F35A is the Silver Bullet to the F15EX’s Sledgehammer.
I miss the frequent fly-overs by many RAF/USAF jets during the cold war from the 1960’s-90’s. It’s rare indeed now to see any warplanes except the occasional Apache gunship. I even miss the whiney A-10s from Woodbridge & Bentwaters.
It appears the battle lines are drawn, NATO countries providing direct lethal support for the Ukraine is absolutely establishing the line in the sand!
We are committed, so who blinks first? I actually think little big man Putin has overplayed his hand, he thought we would fall back and agree to his demands, we haven’t…..
He’s pushed Russia to the brink of war in an act of bravado and Will have to accept the consequences of his actions….
I hope he will have a tragic and unexpected ‘heart attack’ in the Kremlin soon, or other such knife in the back tragedy, that will allow the Russian state to pull back from an extremely costly mistake….
Let’s hope a wise & robust response from the West stops any incursion for the good of both Ukraine & Russia. Dangerous times.
Try living near Norwich, not a day goes by without the very loud roar of jet engines. They don’t just fly past but seem to go round one round, the noise is deafening sometimes. Roll on peace and quiet