Thread: Low flying

Originally Posted by Randylandy

Up until recently my job was to fly along between 60ft and 100ft doing Geomagnetic surveying. Great fun but tried to avoid livestock and houses as much as possible.

Yes, but I'll bet it was not in a heavy transport aircraft, and that you avoided IMC and NVFR like the plague!

John

Years ago, when I was living in the country in Canada, in the middle of the day I was given a start when a small plane flew right over the house. What got me is that they had glided over and then hit full throttle - that's what surprised me.

When they did it again I was ready, outside with the binoculars. I couldn't believe what they were doing. They were using our neighbour's field for forced-landing practice, but it wasn't a smart choice as at the end of the field there was a large barn, an empty house, our house, and vineyards all around which, due to them being constructed of thousands of metal stakes, probably don't make good places to land should the throttle not work when you expect it to. And all this in a crosswind, which I could see by the way they drifted as the engine idled.

I made a complaint, complete with details.

The next day a patronising woman who called herself an "investigator" called up and explained to me as if I had a single-digit IQ what the flyers had been doing and how it wasn't a concern. I was more than happy to explain that I had done exactly the same thing during my flight training and listed the above points as to why this situation wasn't too clever. She didn't say much else.

The plane came back the next day and circled far above, no doubt trying to work out which house has complained. Then it never came back.

My biggest regret is that I didn't have simulated anit-aircraft.

Originally Posted by Rangier Rover

Same bloody aircraft went through here Have just weaned some calves and they went through two fences I don't mind low air craft but not welcome near our stock yards and horses

If you contact some of the motor cycle clubs it is quite possible that they could sell you a Flugzeugabwehrkanon or three.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

If you contact some of the motor cycle clubs it is quite possible that they could sell you a Flugzeugabwehrkanon or three.

I like the idea. I wonder how the 120 would handle a Flugzeugabwehrkanon mounted on the tray.

Originally Posted by Rangier Rover

I like the idea. I wonder how the 120 would handle a Flugzeugabwehrkanon mounted on the tray.

Could probably pull a four x 20mm mount on a trailer with electric & hydraulic feed from the LR, which also carries the ammunition belts/drums.

I can understand where you're coming from regarding stock, but all I have is a cat that gets frightened by butterflies, so I reckon there's nothing cooler than low flying military aircraft!!

I've been driving across the convict bridge on Mt Victoria pass and seen four spinning props on a Herc coming UP at me from Hartley Valley. After pulling over and looking for the Herc on the other side, it was now well down in the Kanimbla Valley on the other side after "Popping" over the ridge. WOOT! Who needs rollercoasters when you have a job like that.

Another time, probably in the lead up to the Olympics, or the Pope, or APEC, whatever, the SAS were practicising night Counter-Terrorism tactics by flying darkened Blackhawks (no Nav lights) in to attack the Lithgow Small Arms Factory, with smoke, flashbangs and 's rapelling down ropes. The town had been warned in the paper the week prior that during the following week there may be "Goings-on" at the Factory and to not be alarmed. The minute that helicopters were heard over the valley, everyone scrambled in their cars for a vantage point over the Factory for the show. If any of the Blackhawks (there were at least 4) had collided and come down, there would have been a lot of townsfolk there to catch them. But they were pros and were in and on the ground without any hiccups in seconds, even before many had arrived to watch! Thank goodness for Night Vision Goggles and Infra Red.

COOL!

A mate used to farm in the Premer-Tambar Springs area when the Blue Orchids were flying Mirages out of Newcastle. He told me he would be plowing a very large paddcok, 2000 acres, in a heat and boredom induced semi-coma and "the bloody RAAF" would, by Murphy's Law, always seem to pick that time to do some supersonic low flying exercises. The aircraft would be gone by the time the sound passed over him and he would nearly spring backwards out of the seat in fright. I asked him if he thought of sending his laundry to the adjutant at Williamstown with a stern letter.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

A mate used to farm in the Premer-Tambar Springs area when the Blue Orchids were flying Mirages out of Newcastle. He told me he would be plowing a very large paddcok, 2000 acres, in a heat and boredom induced semi-coma and "the bloody RAAF" would, by Murphy's Law, always seem to pick that time to do some supersonic low flying exercises. The aircraft would be gone by the time the sound passed over him and he would nearly spring backwards out of the seat in fright. I asked him if he thought of sending his laundry to the adjutant at Williamstown with a stern letter.

Not far from here.

should try riding a young horse when that happens BANG....Next thing you know the horse is gone and your **** up on the deck