EFFing Fifteens

We spend much time and expend more energy complaining about low flying fighter aircraft in the Borders. A favourite training area for the RAF as we are thinly populated-unlike, say, Surrey or the Euphrates Delta. Huttonian has had several vain attempts to photograph low flying jets but with no luck after 10 years of trying. You may have some success in heading off the wilder pilots If you can prove that a plane is under 200 feet (take the registration number or describe the pilot's eyes to be convincing- RAF Liaison Officer Wing Co 'Bombs Away' Douglas Worse usually advises would-be complainants)
At last success! Image above of a plane at 199 feet terrifying defenceless civilians-it does not look too low as it was taken on my fairly basic digital without benefit of zoom-but click on image and it is large enough to identify by flight buffs.Take the ear splitting noise on trust and lets have no crap about defence of the realm. This was no 'essential training' but a post tea pre Gin and tonic jolly to notch up mpre air miles before a freebee to Basra.

So Mr H where precisely in the Merse was this image taken? Asks W/C Worse, mouse poised.

Well, actually, it wasn 't.

Oh where then?

Er, just north of here at Tentsmuir, Fife.

Is that near RAF Leuchars?

ER, not very, about a mile away.

So the plane was flying low to land at its base after evening manoeuvres? And flying slowly?

Of course it was flying slowly, that's how I could photograph it.

So whats your complaint then?

IT WAS FLYING UNDER 200 Feet.

But.....

Put phone down
No use arguing with these RAF wallahs.

A fence for every gap.

Labels: Low Flying Merse

  ¶ 11:06 AM