Can someone please tell me why I get lots of military helicopters over the house?
12 March 2009, 10:43 AM
#1
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Can someone please tell me why I get lots of military helicopters over the house?
I live in Stanstead Abbotts in Hertfordshire which is here: stanstead abbotts - Google Maps
We often get Chinooks flying over the house low and loud in a north easterly to south westerly direction (or NNE to SSW to be exact
), sometimes it's just one on its own, sometimes there are four together 
Occasionally we get Merlins too. Lately the activity seems to have increased and it's now starting to bug us as to where they're coming from and going to.
We don't get any other military traffic above here, just the helicopters. Please someone put me out of my misery
We often get Chinooks flying over the house low and loud in a north easterly to south westerly direction (or NNE to SSW to be exact
), sometimes it's just one on its own, sometimes there are four together Occasionally we get Merlins too. Lately the activity seems to have increased and it's now starting to bug us as to where they're coming from and going to. We don't get any other military traffic above here, just the helicopters. Please someone put me out of my misery
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12 March 2009, 11:12 AM
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The only thing I can come up with is that they're en route from either Norfolk or Lincs and going to Odiham or Benson but I want to know why
12 March 2009, 11:30 AM
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We get them coming over work all the time. Always stop and watch in awe
Sometimes the Apache's come over too, and all sorts of various other ones I know nothing about lol.
Had the police helicopter disturbing the water on the Thames the other week, to help the river police locate a body.
The main reason we all stop work when they come over really is that the whole sodding building shakes. Industrial estates were not build for that lol.
Oh and lots of private flights going to and from the Battersea PowerStation next door too. All good fun.
Sometimes the Apache's come over too, and all sorts of various other ones I know nothing about lol.
Had the police helicopter disturbing the water on the Thames the other week, to help the river police locate a body.
The main reason we all stop work when they come over really is that the whole sodding building shakes. Industrial estates were not build for that lol.
Oh and lots of private flights going to and from the Battersea PowerStation next door too. All good fun.
12 March 2009, 11:49 AM
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12 March 2009, 11:56 AM
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Same here, get them every hour of the day. I suppose it doesnt help when you have the commandos and the boys in black training up here all the time. Only a few months ago the yanks were here training with our boys
A few years back one of the tornados was flying so low while banking, it clipped one of the house chimneys down the road from me.
Lately there has been a lot of C130's, F15's, Chinook, Nimrods, the odd Apache and tornado's about. Also a lot ground vehicles about, land rovers and trucks.
Its just the norm for us up here. You get use it, and dont even notice it anymore.
A few years back one of the tornados was flying so low while banking, it clipped one of the house chimneys down the road from me.
Lately there has been a lot of C130's, F15's, Chinook, Nimrods, the odd Apache and tornado's about. Also a lot ground vehicles about, land rovers and trucks.
Its just the norm for us up here. You get use it, and dont even notice it anymore.
Last edited by slipstream_uk; 12 March 2009 at 12:04 PM.
12 March 2009, 12:30 PM
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I'd say thats correct. My parents live near RAF Shawbury and Cosford so they get everything from trainers to transports.
When I went home just after the introduction of the Apache, that took some getting used to, seeing a US aircraft in British colours.
12 March 2009, 12:34 PM
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I live in Stanstead Abbotts in Hertfordshire which is here: stanstead abbotts - Google Maps
We often get Chinooks flying over the house low and loud in a north easterly to south westerly direction (or NNE to SSW to be exact), sometimes it's just one on its own, sometimes there are four together Occasionally we get Merlins too. Lately the activity seems to have increased and it's now starting to bug us as to where they're coming from and going to.
We don't get any other military traffic above here, just the helicopters. Please someone put me out of my misery
We often get Chinooks flying over the house low and loud in a north easterly to south westerly direction (or NNE to SSW to be exact
), sometimes it's just one on its own, sometimes there are four together Occasionally we get Merlins too. Lately the activity seems to have increased and it's now starting to bug us as to where they're coming from and going to. We don't get any other military traffic above here, just the helicopters. Please someone put me out of my misery
Last edited by vindaloo; 13 March 2009 at 06:32 PM. Reason: Will's, not 'Arry FFS!
12 March 2009, 12:49 PM
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seeing a US aircraft in British colours
It's actually kinda British...we took the plans, changed em a bit and put bigger engines in!
I'm sure the guy I spoke to said each rivet cost £8! 
[/pedant]
I can't think when I last saw any mil stuff over here
12 March 2009, 01:13 PM
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Heading SSW they will be returning to base at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, now we just need an answer as where they have been at the other end!
<reminder to go on Google Earth later and have a nose about>
If there is an increase in traffic then they are getting ready for a deployment or helping someone else to go somewhere.
I'm originally from Llanelli where there is an RAF gunnery/bombing range on the coast at Pembrey. I used to watch the routine training exercises (school was under the flight path!) where Tornados et al would approach from the East, accelerate out over the Bristol Channel, turn and do a run at the ranges.
What used to be interesting was watching the increase in traffic before conflicts.
A few weeks before both the Falklands and first Gulf wars It was funny watching politicians on the telly being conciliatory whilst knowing that the RAF had been put on high alert and were on a shooting spree at the ranges.
<reminder to go on Google Earth later and have a nose about>
If there is an increase in traffic then they are getting ready for a deployment or helping someone else to go somewhere.
I'm originally from Llanelli where there is an RAF gunnery/bombing range on the coast at Pembrey. I used to watch the routine training exercises (school was under the flight path!) where Tornados et al would approach from the East, accelerate out over the Bristol Channel, turn and do a run at the ranges.
What used to be interesting was watching the increase in traffic before conflicts.
A few weeks before both the Falklands and first Gulf wars It was funny watching politicians on the telly being conciliatory whilst knowing that the RAF had been put on high alert and were on a shooting spree at the ranges.
12 March 2009, 03:02 PM
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You are inbetween the M11 and the M25. Most helis fly VFR and what you're getting is the result of them cutting the corner from following the M11 down and picking up the M25 going west.
astraboy.
astraboy.
12 March 2009, 03:08 PM
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Ok, I'm liking these answers so far but why do they always cut the corner directly above my house? We are on the river and have a massive lake behind us, do you think they use that to refer to when flying VFR?
And where have they been?
And where have they been?
12 March 2009, 03:35 PM
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Just had a look at where you live, they could be coming down from Mildenhall or Lakenheath but given that they are troop carriers/support I would put my money on them flying from the barracks at Chelmsford going back to Odiham via the north and west sides of the M25 to avoid going over central London.
Anyone at Chelmsford on notice of deployment?
Anyone at Chelmsford on notice of deployment?
12 March 2009, 03:42 PM
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Sal,
Most of what you need to find out why they're flying over you can be found here.
NATS | AIS - Home
Don't ask me where the exact document is though, I'm more interested in the civilian stuff.
As to where they've come from.......Mum's the word I reckon!
Pete
Most of what you need to find out why they're flying over you can be found here.
NATS | AIS - Home
Don't ask me where the exact document is though, I'm more interested in the civilian stuff.
As to where they've come from.......Mum's the word I reckon!
Pete
12 March 2009, 04:06 PM
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Man it was Fcukin cold
12 March 2009, 04:16 PM
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Surely we could have designed something better.
12 March 2009, 05:17 PM
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Sal,
Most of what you need to find out why they're flying over you can be found here.
NATS | AIS - Home
Don't ask me where the exact document is though, I'm more interested in the civilian stuff.
As to where they've come from.......Mum's the word I reckon!
Pete
Most of what you need to find out why they're flying over you can be found here.
NATS | AIS - Home
Don't ask me where the exact document is though, I'm more interested in the civilian stuff.
As to where they've come from.......Mum's the word I reckon!
Pete
Civvy stuff, we get loads of that here, we're under the flight path for Stansted
Last edited by Scoobychick; 12 March 2009 at 05:27 PM.
12 March 2009, 06:04 PM
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Probably heading back to Odiham, but I would guess from Stanford Training Area (STANTA) in Norfolk (actually just NW of Thetford) after dropping a load of squaddies off on a training exercise ?