Mach Loop - Help wanted

D

Dinsdale

Guest
Guys,

I'm wondering if some of you regular visitors to Mach Loop could give me some advice.

I'm off work shortly and the only time I'm going to get a chance to go up and have a crack at togging the fast jets etc. will be on 22/23 September. I've found a timetable of sorts that shows when the low flying is to occur in what areas of the country and from what I can work out nothing is planned near the loop until possibly 16:00 hrs on the days around my dates.

My question is this. Are these times when they are most likely to fly there and that they generally fly there most days? Or would I be wasting my time full stop? :shrug:

Is it like fishing i.e. they'll either be there or they won't? Basically what are my chances of seeing some action? :help:

I went there for my first and only time last year; again when I got the chance to be there not when they were most likely to be there. There was one jet only that day. It was Harrier fly through as I was climbing the hill and where was my camera? Yeap! in my rucksack!! :bang:

Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted. Many thanks in advance. ;)
 
where do we start
i went on monday and spent all morning with my mate camped under brollies keeping dry.
in total we had 1 hawk all day at around 4pm. oh and a couple hawks spotted in the distance.
forget the timetable or other info you may come across, just go and wait.
it is like fishing, you either get lucky or you dont.
this was my 5th time and this was also my quietest time as well.
i met a guy and his lad up there, they went 2 weeks ago, and nothing, and this time same, well they went down about 5 mins before the hawk appeared . they soon rushed back up though LOL.
they were gutted, although they did see it from underneath.
talking to another guy who is a regular, and he was showing me photos on his camera from the last few weeks, Saudi tornado , German tiger tornado . and even 2 of the red arows that put on a mini display for the spotters,
so you just have to go for it and take a chance.
just make sure you are prepared for all weathers.
waterproofs a large brolly. chair, gloves .food and plenty hot drinks, if like us you are planning on being up there all day you need to stay warm and dry
we did approx 8am till 4.40
 
Last edited:
marky.b said:
where do we start
i went on monday and spent all morning with my mate camped under brollies keeping dry.
in total we had 1 hawk all day at around 4pm. oh and a couple hawks spotted in the distance.
forget the timetable or other info you may come across, just go and wait.
it is like fishing, you either get lucky or you dont.
this was my 5th time and this was also my quietest time as well.
i met a guy and his lad up there, they went 2 weeks ago, and nothing, and this time same, well they went down about 5 mins before the hawk appeared . they soon rushed back up though LOL.
they were gutted, although they did see it from underneath.
talking to another guy who is a regular, and he was showing me photos on his camera from the last few weeks, Saudi tornado , German tiger tornado . and even 2 of the red arows that put on a mini display for the spotters,
so you just have to go for it and take a chance.
just make sure you are prepared for all weathers.
waterproofs a large brolly. chair, gloves .food and plenty hot drinks, if like us you are planning on being up there all day you need to stay warm and dry
we did approx 8am till 4.40
Click to expand...

Cheers Mark,
Thanks for the comprehensive reply. (y)

It sounds as though my original thoughts are correct... get up there, sit and wait and you may get lucky... just like fishing. Luckily for me I can sit and stare at a float for hours without getting bored. :)

I'm going to be spending all day up there and, like last time, taking my fishing shelter and flask etc.

Again thanks. (y)
 
I've been three times now, first day we saw a single hawk fairly early, then nothing.

Second (long) day we saw nothing.

Last Friday we spent the afternoon there, and again nothing.

Moral of the story is to make sure you're not there when I am :LOL::LOL:

Seriously, though, good luck, there have been some amazing pictures taken there.
 
Looks like I'm just going to have to rely on good old lady luck that day then.

Ooops sorry. Did I say "old" lady luck? err I meant "sweet, young and very beautiful lady luck" mustn't upset her before I go. :)
 
Dinsdale said:
Looks like I'm just going to have to rely on good old lady luck that day then.

Ooops sorry. Did I say "old" lady luck? err I meant "sweet, young and very beautiful lady luck" mustn't upset her before I go. :)
Click to expand...

even if you have a quiet day the views are worth it
where are you going
ive done (so far ) bwlch x1 and cad west x4
oh whilst i was up ther last week me and my mate were discussing brollies and shelters that may be better than what we used , and my mate mentioned fishing brollies, i noticed you said you had one
had a quick look online and saw that some of then have zip on sides to make them like a little tent
any advice. and what are these things like for weight
 
Hi Richard,

I work with a guy called Mike and he's up there 2-3 times a week, on his days off and sometimes between shifts.

He seems to get at least a jet / prop plane / chinook.

I will have a word and find out if he knows anything because Ive heard that some of the avid jet spotters have contacts at Valley and elsewhere who text them when they are likely to be coming through the pass!!
 
DanTan said:
Hi Richard,

I work with a guy called Mike and he's up there 2-3 times a week, on his days off and sometimes between shifts.

He seems to get at least a jet / prop plane / chinook.

I will have a word and find out if he knows anything because Ive heard that some of the avid jet spotters have contacts at Valley and elsewhere who text them when they are likely to be coming through the pass!!
Click to expand...

Is that the local fellow who works in a hotel close by
I think he said he was 70 yrs old
If it is I was with him last Monday
He was the one who had the recent pics of red arrows up there
He is a funny guy and boy can he talk
He has some tales to tell
Helps pass the time when it's quiet
I'm day off on tues so going to chance it
Again
 
marky.b said:
even if you have a quiet day the views are worth it
where are you going
ive done (so far ) bwlch x1 and cad west x4
oh whilst i was up ther last week me and my mate were discussing brollies and shelters that may be better than what we used , and my mate mentioned fishing brollies, i noticed you said you had one
had a quick look online and saw that some of then have zip on sides to make them like a little tent
any advice. and what are these things like for weight
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I'm going to Cad West assuming I can haul my fat rear up the hill again :)

As for the shelter it's not a brolly. It's a bit like them beach shelters with the fibre-glass poles in. Only bigger, green, with a ground sheet sewn in and fully enclosed front with a roll up zippered door. I think it's called an "outbound shelter". "Google" it you may come up trumps. You pin the base out, thread the poles in and spring them into the eyes on the base. There's one long pole that arches over left to right and then two shorter ones that cross diagonally as they pass the arch of the first and over-sail it to form a "peak" above the door. I used it up there last time and it was really comfortable; if a little difficult to erect in the wind.

Also there are some pop-up tents out there that take two people. Basically you just throw them on the floor and pin them down. The fibre-glass poles form two loops that when you twist them they coil into circles and close the thing down. when you release them again they pop-up and form the tent. I was going to buy one for this time out but the cheapest I could get one was £25 and when I've already got a shelter why spend more for the convenience.

Hope that helps?
 
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