Given recent events I did wake up nervous in north London early this morning.  News confirms a sonic boom by jets scrambled after an airliners comms went down.

Awesome to see we are being looked after.  Anyone else woken up early?

Yeah, next door bloke has a motorbike… sounds like he’s off to razz it around the Downs.

But tbf, I was half dozing listening the Arthur on CBBC.

Yep, my snoring woke Mrs Pondo, so off to the spare room I went. 🙁

Didn’t hear it down in Stepney, just read about it on the news. Apparently people in Hertfordshire were going outside with a torch to check if a tree had falen on there roof!!

Probably a street fighter jet.

“Wondered how long it would take bikebouy to have a dig at bikers…….”

I was expecting a Springsteen appreciation thread.

I was expecting an 80s one hit wonder appreciation thread

“Wondered how long it would take bikebouy to have a dig at bikers…….”

Wasnt long was it ..

I was expecting it to be about OP smashing W2 on his hardtail. I think we’re all a little disappointed. 😂

I didn’t hear it but wife did and woke me up – had to check the house just in case!!

I thought it was a Street Fighter 2 thread.

I think I woke up half the neighbourhood with my Ice Spiker Pro’s ! Deaf now. My daughter heard me riding home up the lane – she thought it was hailstones.

I was woken by the missus@ 4am . Dirty stop out just got back from the chemical bros!
Didn’t hear the boom but I’ll never forget the Bunsfield bang, that was scary.

How would they shoot down a jet without causing as mush damage as the terrorists crashing it into the ground.

Do they have a missile that would obliterate it into tiny fragments that wouldn’t do any damage on the ground?

Cos shooting it down over fields is far better than letting a terrorist stuff it into a major conurbation. Lots of Britain is pretty sparsely populated. People on the jet cop it either way.

How would they shoot down a jet without causing as mush damage as the terrorists crashing it into the ground.

I think it was intercepted over the sea, but thats only the most extreme of scenarios where a typhoon being in sight might be useful. It may be that comms aren’t working to ground level but do work over the 100m or so range to the fighter, and they can act as a relay. it may be that all the electronics on the aircraft are screwed and the fighters can provide a useful “escort” to help them navigate to safety. if may be that the plane has encountered some significant damage and nimble eyes can help the pilot understand how his handling might be affected. it may be someone is trying to hijack it, and the fear of getting shot down rather than taken where you want brings about a degree of cooperation.