Two views of an airprox – Reality and The Daily Mail

PART A: SUMMARY OF INFORMATION REPORTED TO UKAB

THE TORNADO GR4 PILOT reports transiting at low-level as number 2 of a pair. The formation was
operating autonomously under VFR in VMC, communicating on an inter-formation frequency and
listening out on the low level common frequency [278.000MHz]. The grey camouflaged ac had the
SSR transponder selected on with Modes A, C and S. The ac was not fitted with an ACAS. Whilst
transiting along the W side of the River Spey valley, heading 045° at 420kt and 250ft AGL and
keeping clear of the Highland Wildlife Park to the W, he saw a glider at an estimated range of 500m,
slightly above and to the L, which had been hidden behind the canopy arch. He bunted and passed
100ft below it. The pilot noted that he had seen the glider at ‘the very last moment’.

He assessed the risk of collision as ‘Very High’.

THE DG-808C PILOT reports conducting a long flight with a reasonably high workload due to
deteriorating soaring conditions. He was operating autonomously under VFR in VMC, listening out
on the glider common frequency [129.975MHz]. The white self-launch glider was not fitted with
lighting or an ACAS. The SSR transponder was selected off due to the high power drain over the
extended flight and his location ‘in class G airspace’. Whilst in level flight, heading 065° at 70kt, he
saw a Tornado ‘very late’ in his R 3 o’clock at a range of 800m, passing R to L. He achieved a
‘limited pull up’ due to his low energy and passed an estimated 300ft directly over the top of the
Tornado.

He assessed the risk of collision as ‘High’.

PART B: AND NOW THE DAILY MAIL VERSION

A hero Tornado pilot going 500mph ‘back-flipped’ his fighter jet at 250ft above the ground to avoid an inevitably fatal crash with a glider, it was revealed today.
The daredevil’s lightning reflexes allowed him to force his own plane downwards and miss the other aircraft by ‘a quarter of a second’ – or 100ft, an air investigation has found.
His RAF jet was tearing through a valley in the Highlands on a training exercise when he saw the tiny glider coming towards him.

To avoid collision at terrifying speed the fighter pilot ‘bunted’, an aerobatic move where a plane is forced into an inverted loop and speeds away upside down.

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You may notice one or two small variations 😀

Moggy