Military transports out of Luton

[MatBin]

Spotted a large number of military transports leaving Luton airport tonight, anyone any idea why? I think they are C17s

 

[AgentOrange76]

Was the same plane doing touch and go according to those that track these things, same thing happened at Southend a few days ago.

Its interesting the number of military planes up every evening - was happening pre COVID so not as part of the situation - There is usually a pair of Apache's over Suffolk/Norfolk, a couple of yank V22 Osprey and a KC135 tanker hugging the Norfolk Coast. Often a C130 or 2 around Oxford or Wales and Navy choppers around Salisbury. often up til gone 10pm

 

[arclight]

https://www.radarbox.com/data/flights/RRR829

 

[MatBin]

https://www.radarbox.com/data/flights/RRR829

Not sure if that is the one I saw, looks like it circled around Luton but it's landing time at BN was too early, the plane(s) I saw was circling (?) until about 5pm. Why would it have been doing touch and go circling around Luton anyway?
Top part of log indicates rrr829 landed BN at 15:16

 

[JonathanRyan]

I live down in Folkestone and we're hearing a *lot* of helicopter activity at night - probably patrolling the channel.

 

[simon ess]

I live down in Folkestone and we're hearing a *lot* of helicopter activity at night - probably patrolling the channel.

Flightradar24 currently shows a drone over that area.

Must be a big drone.

 

[nilagin]

I live down in Folkestone and we're hearing a *lot* of helicopter activity at night - probably patrolling the channel.

I have heard a helicopter at night quite a few times since lockdown, but I think it is police monitoring the M25 and surrounding major roads. Seems thieves don't like observing the lockdown.

 

[JonathanRyan]

Flightradar24 currently shows a drone over that area.

Must be a big drone.

I can see a kid on the playing fields outside my window with a suspiciously big remote control........

I have heard a helicopter at night quite a few times since lockdown, but I think it is police monitoring the M25 and surrounding major roads. Seems thieves don't like observing the lockdown.

I don't remeber ever seeing a police helicopter round here (oh there was once for a big drug bust) - we get Air/Sea rescue and BorderForce all the time though.

 

[TCR4x4]

Yesterday there were about 20 military aircraft up around 4-5pm. A A400 atlas did a touch and go at Gloucestershire airport then flew directly overhead and onto Cardiff where it looped back and did the same again.
There were at least 3 US hercs around mildenhall along with a stratotanker and Osprey. There were 4 eurocopters in a group up by Wrexham and loads of other Hercules flying about On the east coast. Also saw a globemaster circling Brize.

Im guessing they are using the relatively empty skies for training.

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I don't remeber ever seeing a police helicopter round here.

We see ours all the time but then we're less than a mile from its main base.

I do wish it wouldn't hover over our garden though. I'm sure the downdraft is affecting the growth of my Cannabis Sativa.

 

[Nod]

St Mary?

We see the copper chopper a fair bit bas it heads out towards the North Devon link road, usually chasing the air ambulance. There was a double neder going over a couple of days ago and the BUFF isn't a stranger as it does its bumps and grinds at EXT. Been very quiet in terms of all traffic recently although it sounds like there's something small buzzing around up there at the moment!

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

St Mary?

No. Fake news with Weston Helicopter Museum standing in.

It's been very quiet south of the airport for the last couple of weeks. However, I do have some shots I prepared earlier of our local four jetted friend doing its rounds...