Military Helicopters, What are they doing? Options

[rosa71uk]

This topic has probably come up before on this forum, I am not a regular user so I do apologise if it has.

Military helicopters seem to be very common over the West Berks Skies. Most days when I pick my child up from primary school in Thatcham there is a Chinook circling over north Thatcham, not really going anywhere just circling. Monday evenings theres another Chinook just circles all over the Greenham area.

Just what are they doing??

Its not really Prince William taking the in-laws out for a spin is it?!?

[Phil_D11102]

Military helicopters seem to be very common over the West Berks Skies. Most days when I pick my child up from primary school in Thatcham there is a Chinook circling over north Thatcham, not really going anywhere just circling. Monday evenings theres another Chinook just circles all over the Greenham area.

Isn't Middle Wallop which is south of Newbury the home of the Army School of Aviation. This may explain why we see Army helicopters in the area performing training flights..

[motormad]

Bombing immigrants.

[Squelchy]

This may explain why we see Army helicopters in the area performing training flights..

That and the mast up at the S.M.S. being one of their co-ordinate points on training runs.

[Gazzadp]

As others have said the Army's helicopter training school is at Middle Wallop, the R.A.F use R.A.F Benson as their Helicopter training school, so you will often see them flying between the two. They use the A34 as it is an easy route to learn and they also use it what they call "map of the earth" flying. That is where they fly quite literally just above the trees. As you often see the big Merlins go up and over the Bridge at Speen!

The strangest thing I have seen doing the same low level flying up and down the by-pass was a NATO awax style plane (not much smaller than a jumbo either), that made about 6 or 7 figure of 8 runs up and down, a couple of years ago!

So what that was doing that for is anybodies guess!

The helicopters do it 24/7 though!

[NWNREADER]

Chinooks at Odiham, Merlins at Benson.

They have to train.......

[Blake]

Chinooks at Odiham, Merlins at Benson.

They have to train.......

Yes. I have also seen other types AH-64s, Lynx' Sea Kings and Pumas.

Chinooks are RAF helicopters, not Army. The Army operates the AH-64s, Lynx and Gazelles.

[On the edge]

Chinooks at Odiham, Merlins at Benson.

They have to train.......

Umm. The military seem to have taken the place of the Nurses as a group immune from criticism no matter what they do. Yes, of course they need to train; but all the time? Also rather odd that they restrict access to vast areas of the countryside which would be an idea area to practice 'low flying' to their hearts content without nosily disrupting anyone. Certainly, in my view, in the last few months it has been excessive . According to the CAA, military flying is exempt from normal regulations, which to me, sounds as daft as exempting motorbikes from noise restrictions.

[dannyboy]

Umm. The military seem to have taken the place of the Nurses as a group immune from criticism no matter what they do. Yes, of course they need to train; but all the time? Also rather odd that they restrict access to vast areas of the countryside which would be an idea area to practice 'low flying' to their hearts content without nosily disrupting anyone. Certainly, in my view, in the last few months it has been excessive . According to the CAA, military flying is exempt from normal regulations, which to me, sounds as daft as exempting motorbikes from noise restrictions.

is there anything you don't dislike?

[On the edge]

is there anything you don't dislike?

pots and kettles?

[dannyboy]

pots and kettles?

I dislike continual moaning & whinging.

Or, in other words 90% of the posts on this forum.

[On the edge]

I dislike continual moaning & whinging.

Or, in other words 90% of the posts on this forum.

Ironic then that you come across as one of the main culprits.

[dannyboy]

Ironic then that you come across as one of the main culprits.

Not really.

I just counter all the negativity. Reciprocating. Show me one post where I have moaned about something.

Unlike yourself & others who only post so to have a moan about stuff/things/life.

[On the edge]

Not really.

I just counter all the negativity. Reciprocating. Show me one post where I have moaned about something.

Unlike yourself & others who only post so to have a moan about stuff/things/life.

I, like many others who post here generally want to improve matters and make suggestions as to how to achieve that aim. Often this is as a response to the sense of impotence many feel when confronted with our present political systems. That's actually acknowledged by most political pundits and clearly demonstrated by the continued drop in electoral turnout and declining local membership levels of local parties. That people do take the trouble to vent their frustrations and more propose solutions on forums such as this can therefore be seen as positive; people really are interested in their government; local as well as national.

However, what is wholly negative, is the actions of a very few who will simply belittle or dismiss the contributions of others as simply ungrounded moans. Indeed, that's displaying the very arrogance the Prime Minister was attempting to remove from the upper echelons of his party.

[Claude]

In response to the OP, they're taking part in covert missions of a highly confidential nature, I'm sorry I can't say any more at this stage. Aren't they fabulous to see/hear, though, a real spectacle!

[dannyboy]

However, what is wholly negative, is the actions of a very few who will simply belittle or dismiss the contributions of others as simply ungrounded moans. Indeed, that's displaying the very arrogance the Prime Minister was attempting to remove from the upper echelons of his party.

Ah I see - the I say so so I'm obviously right attitude.

[MontyPython]

I dislike continual moaning & whinging.

Or, in other words 90% of the posts on this forum.

So why do you come on here moaning and whinging about it then?

[dannyboy]

So why do you come on here moaning and whinging about it then?

devils advocate

[NWNREADER]

Umm. The military seem to have taken the place of the Nurses as a group immune from criticism no matter what they do. Yes, of course they need to train; but all the time? Also rather odd that they restrict access to vast areas of the countryside which would be an idea area to practice 'low flying' to their hearts content without nosily disrupting anyone. Certainly, in my view, in the last few months it has been excessive . According to the CAA, military flying is exempt from normal regulations, which to me, sounds as daft as exempting motorbikes from noise restrictions.

Then write to the Station Commander.......

The military are far from exempt from criticism, as reported almost daily in the media.

Military flying is outwith civil flying rules, but their own SOPs etc are quite specific about activities that are permitted.

[spartacus]

OTE, when you write to 'The Military' to complain about your disturbed sleep it would be helpful if you could supply the grid coordinates of your house rather than your post code.....


just saying like.......