The Mach Loop or LFA 7 to use its correct name sees a variety of aircraft from the RAF, the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. QinetiQ, USAF Europe and visiting air forces practicing tactical low level flying but the 2nd June 2010 it was only a single squadron that mattered. Two Tornado GR4s of Number 31 Sqn RAF made a number of passes through out the day including a pass with the wings swept back.
The low fly areas are a lot quieter than when I first started to visit them in 2006, mainly due to reduction of pilot training and the disbandment of a number of frontline squadrons. The Tornado F3, Harrier and Dominie...
Whilst just about every other photographer in the UK went to RAF Fairford to shoot the arrivals and practice for RIAT 2011 I decided to head to the Mach Loop instead. I was overdue a return, the forecast was good...
My first trip out to the Mach Loop wasn't what I expected but then with an exercise in the Tactical Training Area (TTA) and the recent cut to students from 208(R) and 19(R) Squadrons I wasn't expecting a busy day....