Anyone else know about this? Not sure how many are taking part, I did have a map showing the route, but it’s disappeared. I do know the flight will pass over Devizes heading towards MoD Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett, passing over a nature reserve which is quite high up, and looks down on Lyneham, so that’s where I’ll be, to get a good view. Actually, I’ll be on top of The Wansdyke, which has a golf course on the other side, with a superb 360° view all the way around.
https://www.forces.net/technology/aircraft/where-and-when-watch-c-130j-hercules-retirement-flypast
Article says 3, if you find the route map that would be appreciated but it looks like it'll miss us entirely in both directions.
Always wanted to do a jump from the back of one of them. Never happened though in my skydiving years. Obvs ain't gonna happen now !
And on google maps - https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1u74qVHTBzoO57BST8K5745kBbvqIjzc&ll=54.568116367246326%2C-2.651017350000018&z=7
Sad times. Many flights in those buses along with great memories.
Ah cheers! Depending how they plot the route to Lossiemouth we may yet see them.
Will keep an eye on ADSB Exchange
https://globe.adsbexchange.com (hit the U button for military flights)
Not sure how many are taking part
I'm sure I read somewhere that there'll be three taking part.
Fingers crossed we'll get to see them twice as they pass over the Chilterns.
Sadly doesn't seem to be coming over the Peak District, I thought they might do Derwent.
Sadly going nowhere near here either 🙁
When I was in the Air Training Corps, many moons ago, our squadron was 79 Squadron so we spent a lot of time at RAF Lynham flying in these big buggers.
The maddest experience was being in the back when they were practicing (extremely!) short take offs and landings.
They'd maintain height then go into a really steep drop, pull it up just before it (literally) hit the runway, anchors on, slow it to walking pace, then wind the engines up to full power and get it in the air again as it ran out of runway in what seemed like an absurdly short distance.
When the engines were on full chat, with the noise and the whole thing rattling, shaking and vibrating, you just thought that there was no ****ing way they were going to get this enormous thing off the ground. Absolutely bonkers! Happy days! 🙂
Currently taxiing at Brize.
RAF Luton are celebrating the occasion in their own inimitable fashion...
https://twitter.com/RAF_Luton/status/1668899618875211776?t=18oN-jpu06r04pLRkBa-WQ&s=19
Thanks for this, my FIL used to work on the Hercules
I've sent him this pic, as he said they spent a lot of time in foreign hot parts of the world !
<p style="text-align: right;">Ones shown up on the runway at brize norton</p>
I imagine that in-service date of 1926 in the twitter link is a typo!
I’m at work near Cosford, shall be keeping my eyes and ears peeled
There's a fair chance they'll pass overhead here on their way to/from Lossiemouth. I don't expect the Typhoons will come this far south to meet them though.
I imagine that in-service date of 1926 in the twitter link is a typo!
@tthew are you new here?
Not only do they reel them in on twitter, but random forums too...
Dammit, they were too low, heard them though
Interesting ways to get to to Anglesey through mid-Wales. Hmmm 🤔
When the engines were on full chat, with the noise and the whole thing rattling, shaking and vibrating
The RAF story goes: Part of the recruitment process for Hercules loadies is switch on a Henry and place it inside a cupboard under the stairs, get the recruit to then erect a hammock in same and they have to fall asleep for at least 10 hours, If they can do that, they're in!
Saw them parked up at brize the other week, sad to see them go, they've been the workhorse over the last period, but reality is we don't have many left, and the Atlas that's replacing them is a much better aircraft for the main role.
Not sure why they didn't just reduce the herc fleet to accommodate it's other, specialist role, seems odd to just stop them and sell them off, as we tend to spend more on selling them than we actually get for them every time we do an end of life sale like this.
Interesting ways to get to to Anglesey through mid-Wales. Hmmm 🤔
One final cheeky run through Mach loop perhaps?
i have a soft spot for the hercules as it was the first ever plane i flew in when i was 11 years old back in 1986.
my next door neighbour worked at raf lynham and he invited us to an open day there. we were able to go on a flight in the hercules and once airborne we could even walk up to the cockpit and watch them fly the plane. it was a fantastic experience (also they had the cargo bay door opened whilst airborne so we could look out the back and see the ground (it had a safety net to stop anyone from getting to the edge/falling out).
an amazing day it was 😀
Why Beverley @14:23? Is it just a way point for a turn? Or is there something historical for the C130 there?
My dad spent many years loading and unloading these
You can track the flight here:
> https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=43c04c
Currently skimming the Isle of Arran.
Reference to ‘Beverley’ question up there 👆
Disappointed I am not on today's flightpath as we often are – I've seen Spitfires, Hurricanes, Lancasters, Hercules etc in the past but not to be today 🙁
Just saw them heading north. Pity they were at 13,000 ft instead of the 1,300 ft we're used to 😁
They’re heading down towards Stirling at the moment. I’ll be heading out shortly to Morgan’s Hill nature reserve, although there’s another place not far away, Oliver’s Castle, a bit closer to Devizes, with equally good views. Hopefully they’ll be fairly close.
edit> @papamountain thank you, it was the Google maps route that I’d seen, and it confirms Morgan’s Hill as the perfect spot, I’ll be right underneath them!
Just across from the golf course, looking down on Calstone Wellington. 😁
They just passed Stirling - I could hear, but even running around the car park like a madman I could not see them. I suspect low between the Wallace Monument and the Castle....
If I had more notice I would have popped up the Wally Molly, just like we did with the Sea Kings.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/1674/23748749003_d133affc95_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/1674/23748749003_d133affc95_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CbAxFH ]Rescue 177 final flight[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt[/url], on Flickr
Just flown over us (Cumnock, East Ayrshire)
They are coming through Cumbria a good bit further south than the google maps suggested. It would make sense for them to fly low down Bass Lake
i have a soft spot for the hercules as it was the first ever plane i flew in when i was 11 years old back in 1986.
my next door neighbour worked at raf lynham and he invited us to an open day there. we were able to go on a flight in the hercules and once airborne we could even walk up to the cockpit and watch them fly the plane. it was a fantastic experience (also they had the cargo bay door opened whilst airborne so we could look out the back and see the ground (it had a safety net to stop anyone from getting to the edge/falling out)
They probably did this a lot but, if not, I may well have been on the same flight! Out from Lyneham, remember coming back via Bristol, Bath then over our house in Chippenham, back door open all the way. Was just recounting it all to my daughter in fine detail. Yes, it was quite a day
Looks like they did a low pass over Lake Windermere. That should be worth watching 🙂
Got a bit confused here - was watching the flight path for the Brize Norton flight far away from me (Loch Venachar on DofE duty) when I heard C130 engine noise coming overhead. Turns out it’s a USN flight on its way to Rekyavik - just as well, as I didn’t bother bringing the long lens for my camera.
Gutted to be missing the Hercs, as one of my favourite pictures is a shot I got if the Seaking goodbye flight heading over Conic Hill with the LMRT guys popping smoke for them one last time.
i have a soft spot for the hercules as it was the first ever plane i flew in when i was 11 years old back in 1986.
my next door neighbour worked at raf lynham and he invited us to an open day there. we were able to go on a flight in the hercules and once airborne we could even walk up to the cockpit and watch them fly the plane. it was a fantastic experience (also they had the cargo bay door opened whilst airborne so we could look out the back and see the ground (it had a safety net to stop anyone from getting to the edge/falling out)
They probably did this a lot but, if not, I may well have been on the same flight! Out from Lyneham, remember coming back via Bristol, Bath then over our house in Chippenham, back door open all the way. Was just recounting it all to my daughter in fine detail. Yes, it was quite a day
I did something similar myself. We flew in a Hercules from BAE at Warton to RAF Woodvale near Southport, back door down all the way. I distinctly remember flying really low over the Mersey estuary looking out over the sea
