Post Your 'I wasn't Expecting that!' Fly-by Story Here

Welcome bricklayer.
I live near 4 power stations and in the late 80s early 90s tornadoes and phantoms regularly made fast low attack runs at the cooling towers.One hot august day i was returning from work, when i pulled over in a lay-by not far from a row of cooling towers for a smoke(hated the smell in the car).When in the distance a dot grew bigger, two swirls of black smoke were thrown out of the engines and the whole aircraft pulled hard to the right,followed what seemed like minutes later, by what i can only describe as a wall of sound that literally took my breath away.Ive seen aircraft at shows pull turns torturing the air to make that tell tail scream.But this was no show ,if i was the enemy i would not have even seen him comming.Im sure the exercise was official and the maneuver well within the aircraft’s ability, but it must have hurt as the g-suit pushed the air out of the pilots body, that was the last F111 i ever saw in the air.

When we were kids we holidayed every year in mablethorpe excellent for bombing runs to dona nook and scarborough where I’m sure to this day lightnings used the old castle keep as a way point or marker.Unfortunatley we were there when they lost one and a pilot in the north bay a very sad day.

This is my first post here, so I have to say that this discussion group is superb, absolutely superb. Just as an aside, what made me register was the CGI movie of the Mosquitos and Spits. Just marvellous.

There’s been many unexpected flypasts I’ve seen over the years, so I’ll try to keep it within a reasonable amount:

1: In the early to mid 80s, whilst I lived about an hour south of Ottawa, I was in the basement of my house watching some gameshow or another, when I heard my dad bellowing at me to come outside. Being lazy at the time, I didn’t really want to tear myself from my seat, but filial duty made me go outside, and I’m glad I did. Picture if you will, a lovely formation of a replica Nieuport 17, Sopwith Triplane, and Avro 504, with the sun setting (a reverse of the dawn patrol, but you get the idea. I’m absolutely positive that the National Aeronautical Collection used to fly their replicas many years ago, so that’s whose planes I think they are).

2: Again in the mid-80s, I remember being at the local swimming pool for my lessons, when a Fieseler Storch (it was in wartime colours) came overhead. I remember that one especially, because I had a strip torn off me by the instructor because I wasn’t paying attention to her.

3: Early 90s. Driving back to Canada from Washington D.C., I saw for the only time my favourite civilian aircraft, a Beech Staggerwing, flying south somewhere in Pennsylvania. That was a really unexpected highlight of my trip.

4: Post 1998. Moved down to SW Ontario, and occasionally get flown over by the 5 Harvard formation from Tillsonburg. Highly unexpected the first time it happened (I didn’t know where they were from). A regular occurence now, but still a singular treat.

5: Early 2000s. Driving home from work, I too thought that I was having trouble with my car (as a previous poster said) and cursing that the miserable thing was going to need to go in for repairs. But all of a sudden, I saw what was making the noise, and my mood swung from unbridled rage to sheer joy, as it was a B-17G (no idea which one, as I was driving at about 50 mph at the time) that was climbing away, probably at an altitude of less than 1000′ when I saw it.

Since I now live close to Hamilton and the CWH, I suppose seeing the Lancaster and all the other goodies that they fly should not be considered unexpected, but they are for me. Every time any of those beauties fly past, my tools immediately get put down, and I drink it all in as best I can, trying to cement as many memories possible.

So, next time I watch that episode of Piece of Cake, I’ll have to look in the background for a non-period vehicle? :diablo:

It was a red Golf GTI, at least it was German.

Seeing the Bristol Bulldog go over on its back when landing at the North Weald air show in the early 60’s!

I got to Farnborough on the Sunday in ’64 just in time to see it write itself off!

Recovering at Wrougton military hospital from having my wisdom teeth pulled,fantastic roar outside and watched a superb midweek Spit display with a Sea Fury the following day.

Not sure that it’s really historic, but it was a while ago so…

I went to a boarding school (for nutcases, which explains some of my postings) in Kent which was in an old manor house on a high ridge running west-east through the county.

Several of us were out on the school playing fields after tea on one of those beautiful early summer evenings, when an A-10 roared over from the south, flew low over over the school and peeled away to the east, disappearing over the ridge towards Leeds Castle. Well, we enjoyed that. Then, a few seconds later, another one did exactly the same – and that is when we realised that they were using the school building as a target, making strafing runs against it!

I cannot now recall how many planes we thought there must be – certainly more than one – but I do recall that they carried on making these runs for a good twenty minutes, on and off. Some evening for a plane-mad (plain mad?) adolescent!

Oh, and of course watching Essex score 503-4 against Australia at Chelmsford on September 3rd last year when Sally B roared over low on her way to somewhere. Fantastic – and when she returned a few hours later a section of the crowd broke into the Dambusters March. OK, wrong plane, but nice thought!

Adrian

Driving up the A1 near the Nene Valley Railway and spotting 2 Spitfires attacking a train, pulled into a layby and watched in awe as they did several takes, found out later that they were filming Piece of Cake.

So, next time I watch that episode of Piece of Cake, I’ll have to look in the background for a non-period vehicle? :diablo:

There is more but I am probably really boring you all now. Some one else’s turn.

Camlobe, keep going please as your memories were getting better as you went on!
Alan.[/QUOTE]

Was in the magazine/model shop at Mildenhall one afternoon when the connection to the tower announced that 3 F117’s were about to take off from Lakenheath.
Fortunately I had my video camera with me and raced over to the viewing area.
I don’t think that F117’s had been over here before and the traffic on the Brandon Road came to a standstill, I remember a van load of builders came roaring up and were really jealous that I was capturing it all on camera.
The best part was when one came low over the base across the sunset when the tannoy was playing the Stars and Stripes.
Driving up the A1 near the Nene Valley Railway and spotting 2 Spitfires attacking a train, pulled into a layby and watched in awe as they did several takes, found out later that they were filming Piece of Cake.
Working in my office in Chelmsford, hearing a roar and watching the practice flypast for the Queens Jubilee in 1977.
Flypast consisted of so many types that I can no longer remember but included 4 Vulcans including the reserve.
Walking along the beach at Dunwich, Suffolk and a Delta Dart hurtling just over the top of the cliffs and heading out to sea.
Having a ride on the North Norfolk Railway last year and a Polish SU-22 closely chased by a Jaguar just clearing the top of the carriage near Weybourne.
Driving down the M11 in driving rain and low cloud and the Red Arrows appearing out of the murk on their way to Duxford.
Sitting on our local bridge trainspotting and seeing a low level B-36 Peacemaker fly overhead.
Digging the garden at my cottage at High Garrett, Braintree and 2 F111’s flying at extreme low level and speed along the Halstead Road, heading east.
Sunbathing on Woolacombe beach around the time of the Falklands War and 2 Sea Harriers appearing, closely followed by 2 Hunters.The ensuing low level combat over the sea was astonishing, the Sea Harriers employing the technique of ‘viffing’, the only time I ever saw this, I think the whole of the beach gave them a round of applause.
Driving along the perimeter road at Waddington at the precise moment that Thatcher was making her Parliamentary speech about the plan to take back the Falklands and watching all the Vulcans being prepared for war, very chilling.
That’l do.

There is more but I am probably really boring you all now. Some one else’s turn.[/QUOTE]
Camlobe, keep going please as your memories were getting better as you went on!
Alan.

Some great stories. Thanks for sharing them. I’m afraid anything I’ve got to share pales into significance in comparison.

There was the rather interesting flypast by a 117. Three times. Past the wingtip of our C47. Over Norfolk. Completely forbiddon and fully prearranged. Probably ok to talk about it now as I think everyone of us is now out of uniform.

There was the time I was driving over the railbridge into RAF Valley one morning, suddenly realising that my 3 litre Capri had become extremely noisy. No, it was completely deafening. Oh, no its not my car, it is the Vulcan now deciding to do an overshoot climb at about 80 degrees right beside me. I stuck my head out the window watching this magnificient, majestic collection of all things great in British aviation dissappear upwards. Realised that I was now holding up all the traffic behind me. Quick look behind and everyone else is looking up as well.

There was that airshow in Europe back in the late ’80’s. Just climbing out the back of the Shack to see the Portugese display team taking off in two layers of three. Sudden loud noise. Bottom right Portugee drops down to runway as top right stall climbs. Bucc tears through at 500 kts between them. Bucc climbs up out of the way, ATC confirms no-one else in the circuit, Bucc does a roll in the climb, confirms circuit clear and commences his display. Don’t think the crowd realised what had just about happened. One year after Ramstien.

Then there was the Spit display at Mildenhall. The USAF hosted the Battle of Britain Veterens every year. This year in particular it was Mildenhall’s turn. Unfortunately, there runway was torn up for resurfaceing. No problem as there was just sufficient taxiway length to land a Spit. On the day, it was about 95 degrees in the shade. No problem. The USAF put up a markee for the vets. The Spit pilot, now retired, realised he would have to do a flat display due to the roof of the markee. And he did. Boy did he ever. Almost overshot the landing though (hot,hot Day in more ways than one).

Then there was the Spit at Woodvale. After replacing the leaking rad and runs, the dashing, young, ex-Woodvale pilot was requested to give a flyby. He most certainly obliged. Wingtip one foot above my head.

Then there was this old Catalina being delivered to Holland. As a matter of fact it was the oldest airworthy Cat. The ferry pilot, lets call him Chuck, was staying in the same hotel as us. He had just flown this Cat all the way across the North Atlantic… without heating…or autopilot, and his contract called for him to give a couple of the Dutch Historic pilots type training. Well, we couldn’t carry out our airtest following our engine change on the C47 (story for another time) due to the cloudbase, RAF rules requiring 3000 ft VFR for feather and unfeather check in the air. Chuck offers me a ride in the Cat. Damn right I’ll come. Jammed between Chuck and Hans, and I do mean jammed, and off we go. Hans taxies us out and off we go. ATC request a flyby for the visiting schoolkids party. (UK education ministers take note…kids love aircraft). Chuck says ok. Round the circuit and Chuck tells Hans to aim between the tower and the windsock. ‘Ya ok’ says Hans. ‘Take her down’ says Chuck. ‘Ya ok’. ‘Go on take her down’. ‘Ya ok’. We’re glued to 200 ft AGL. ‘I have control’. No sky, just a windscreen of green. I really am going to die. Slight pull up. What no crash. I have never before or since flown wheels up past a tower and a windsock looking UP at both. Climb away and Hans, with a little bit of sweat on his brow continues his conversion. ATC says ‘Thanks’. I thank Big G I am still here. ATC told us later that the schoolkids loved it. Over a large number of beers in the hotel that night I find out Chuck has about 10,000 hours firebombing on Cats.

There is more but I am probably really boring you all now. Some one else’s turn.

LIGHTNINGS

It was 1965 (I think). As a 10 year old living in Battersea, I grew up watching all manner of aircraft on finals to either 28L or 28R but I had little interest in aviation – preferring to watch the steam engines at Clapham Junction instead.

It was the day of Churchills funeral and I may well have been on my way to Clapham Junction at the time when there was this almighty roar overhead. This was my first sight ever of the Lightning – I think there were 16 of them in tight formation – and they seemed well below the 2000 ft or so that airliners were at on approach to LHR. An awesome sight which prompted an interest in aviation – 50s/60s jets especially – that I keep to this day.

I used to make a point of looking out towards Buckingham Palace at 1pm every June for the Trooping of the Colour flypast. Almost every year it was 16 Lightnings, then it was Phantoms then Tornados to the pathetic offering we seem to get these days.

Being woken up at what i thought was a ridiculous time in the morning by the drone of an aero engine. Climbed out my tent and realised i had been woken by a Spitfire putting on a very spirrited aerobatics display.

I’m not sure whether this fits in this thread, but I seem to recall one day walking out to my grandparents’ car at the end of the road and seeing a B-52 flying quite low over Penicuik. I remember stopping and thinking: “That’s a funny-looking airliner, and it’s very quiet” until I realised what it was.

It had never happened before, or since, to the best of my knowledge, and thankfully I wasn’t the only person who saw it.

Any ideas as to why it might have been there? I don’t think it was en route to Leuchars’ airshow, as I seem to recall it being earlier in the summer.

:confused:

Blodnok,

That Spitfire at Valley was Roland Fraisinet in his PR.XI PL983, now under going post-crash rebuild. I saw him at Valley a time or two when I was stationed there, and have some photos if you are interested.

My favourite memory in this vein comes from the days long ago when i used to live fairly close to Bovingdon. Sitting in the house one efternoon I could hear the sound of multiple piston engines approaching, and dashed outside to see a B-25 camera ship with five Mossies strung out behind it in loose formation at around 1,000 feet. Marvellous!

Mowing the lawn was easier afterwards…

One summers day, perhaps ten years ago, I was mowing the lawn, a task that I dread, when I suddenly heard the music of big pistons. It was Scandinavian Historic Flight’s Invader “Sugarland Express” and Mustang “Old Crow” that flew by at a relatively low altitude. That was a welcome boost of energy. The rest of the lawn was easily done.
Ken

two stories here: first one was a couple of years ago when i was 11. i was walking down to the shop to get something for my mum when an E-3 sentry flys over @ about 1000ft! And this is over residential aberdeen!

Second one was a few months ago when i was about to get into a minibus at air cadets. It was quite late so it was dark. I was just opening the door to the minibus when a tornado screams over in full AB. It looked amazing because all you could see was the two afterburner plumes! 😀

What a marvelous thread….so many memories brought back over 16 years of airshowing across the US….I remember the Thunderchickens pair sneaking up on us from behind and setting off almost every car in the carpark at one of our first airshows….then at Breckenridge TX one year seeing a couple of dots on the horizon getting closer and headed straight towards us at about 300 ft altitude….they turned out to be a Beech Baron on one side, a T-6 flown by one of our Colorado pilots David Fain on the other side, and in the middle….a B-17 called ‘Thunderbird’ making its first ever appearance at the Breckenridge show….got a pic of it somewhere….but the capper has to be….

It was about 1976 and I had just run away from home again, and my social worker was bringing me back to the house…she parked across the street and we were getting out of the car when I looked towards the house (to the east) and there, coming towards us, was a HUGE formation of WWII planes the likes of which I had never seen, being led by a B-17 (‘Journey’ or ‘Raiders’, I don’t know which)…I remember T-6’s, a Corsair, and a bunch of others, about 12 in all, and they flew RIGHT over me and my social worker and off to the west….it seems the CAF were in town for an airshow and the planes were out and about to drum up attention to the show and we just happened to be lucky enuf to be right in their flight path…..it left QUITE an impression on a then 12 year old me…

Mark

Some time around the mid-seventies when I was a young sprog just learning to fly, the Turnhouse Flying Club hangar was situated on the south of the airfield (now Edinburgh Airport), next to the Ferranti Hangar. (Not the same security problems in those days, sigh…).

I was hanging about as usual, hoping for a free flight or even for just the chance to taxi a plane to get fuel, when a group of expensive limousines
drove up the the Ferranti hangar. Out popped a load of “suits” accompanied by several well-tanned gents in military uniforms copiously adorned with medals.

The Ferranti hangar doors opened and lo and behold a Harrier was tugged out.
The miltary gents backed off into the jangar and at a suitable distance (but only what seemed to be about 100 yards), the Harrier “lit up” and performed a superb demo.

It hovered, reversed, flew a couple of low circuits then landed vertically.

Needless to say, all of us in the clubhouse were agog!!!!

After it landed and the Pegasus spun down, the pilot de-planed and shook hands with the assorted multitude. After a short while, they all shot off in the limos and the Harrier was dragged back into the Ferranti hangar.

I assume that this must have been a sales demo, possibly either for the Spanish or the Indians.

Pity that these days, with security as it is now, we would probably have been turfed out of our hangar for the whole day!

As is was, it was an unforgettable experience, and probably subconciously was one of the reasons why I now have half a Harrier sitting in my garden!

Cheers,

Ian.

Back around 1980, I went up to Blackbushe with some friends to see an Invader that had arrived recently, IIRC. Having seen the Invader we wanted to get up around the hangars to see of there was anything of interest visible.

Cycling along parallel to the runway, we heard a howl from behind us. We stopped and looked around as a beautiful gold and white Mustang beat up the runway. As it climbed out again, we could hear something coming in behind it and sure enough it was followed by a Thunderbolt.

ISTR that the Thunderbolt was N47DE and the Mustang became G-PSID

Back in 1997 I was newly assigned to the 7th BW at Dyess AFB, Texas. I was in my office on the second floor of the (old) wing HQ and I saw a B-17G taxi by. Needless to say it was a bit more exciting than the 40 B-1Bs and 30 C-130Hs stationed there. I called the command post to ask what was going on and they calmly reported that the 9th BS was clebrating its 80th birthday with a hangar dinner and dance with the B-17 being parked in there fpr a bit of WWII era atmosphere.

I hurried to the wash rack hangar where the event was to be held in time to meed the CAF crew of the Texas Raiders.

After climbing around it for awhile they invited me back Sunday and asked if I’d like a ride to Love Field in Dallas…they had a load of free gas to pick up there. As it turns out, a couple of B-1 pilots, a nav (and his girlfriend) were also invited so we split the cost of getting a one way rental car from Hertz. My share? about $50. A great deal. Since my USAF flight suit was still with my household items enroute from my last base, I went to a surplus store and bought a new (used) flightsuit. (My job didn’t warrent me getting a free one from Uncle Sam).
During the two hour trip we got to exchange stations, and we each got 10 minutes of left seat time. One of the pilots later did the paperwork to get the flight time added to his offical AF records. When we landed in Dallas, I was in the nose, quite a view.
It wasn’t until I retired and through my new job as a TV reporter that I finally got a B-1 ride. It was great (600 mph at 600 feet above the West Texas desert)..but the B-17 ride was a thrill of a lifetime.
It pays to be at the right place at the right time.