A very loud noise alerted me to the window about one minute ago, and I was greeted by the sight of a passenger plane in the distance (not a 747 but no further ID) being escorted by two close-flying flighters, and two fighters behind it a bit further back, a bit further out. There’s low cloud at the moment, and they were beneath that.
They were flying in a east-south-easterly direction over Oxford.
Anyone UK-based know of any incidents at the moment? Or VIP dignatories?
Checking my map, I reckon they could have been heading for RAF Northolt (definitely the wrong direction for Heathrow, though), which is where foreign dignitaries (SP!) usually land. Since they were heading in from the west, could it have been a US government member?
I’ve got nothing to do with it. I just want that out there early.
OK, at least one jet fighter (possibly returning from its escort duties?) just passed over again at 14:59 in a southerly direction - according to my hearing, because this one was above the clouds so I couldn’t see it.
We’re giving you Rumsfeld. No backs!
It’s not some sort of Remembrance Day fly-past is it ?
I did wonder about that, but usually there are Spitfires, the Red Arrows and so on; also, it was a bit late for the ceremonies, and I can’t find anything about a flypast on the news. This really looked like an escort.
Maybe it was the President of Latvia. Her motorcade cut me off on the 427 a few weeks ago.
The flypast this morning had four Typhoons involved (from the radio news). Perhaps there was a Nimrod as well?
Yep, sounds like Rummy alright. All yours!
My husband suggests it could have been a tanker aircraft refueling the fighters. The first two might have just finished gassing up and moved out to the sides so the next two could come up. See this image for an example.
I had a look on the RAF plane site, and my first thought was, ID-wise, Typhoon, but then I thought they’re so new that it would be a bit unlikely. However, news of the flypast makes me think that’s right.
The refueling picture does look similar to the initial formation, but I highly doubt they’d do that manoeuvre at low altitude over built-up areas.
It’s all Winston Smith’s fault.
