Forum Topic

Military Helicopters?

Hi all,I’ve noticed moreso recently, that a few times a week, usually in the late evening, there are military Chinooks and other military helicopters flying overhead. Does anyone know why? Where they’re from or going to? Can be quite unsettling at times.Thanks in advance!

James Green ● 108d16 Comments

I'm sorry but all this stuff about planes spying on us in London goes right over my head.

David Ainsworth ● 100d

Sometimes there are also ones that check the calibration of instrument landing systems.

Philippa Bond ● 100d

I thought that was the one that was listening to communications!

Philippa Bond ● 100d

...and if anyone wants to get their knickers in a twist about aircraft over London, look up G-BJOH. I don't know how to post photos which I've taken with a telephoto lens but this aircraft (easily identifiable as a Britten Norman Islander) flies extremely high and patrols London pretty much all day, at least when it's seen. When the sky is blue without clouds you can just hear the engines, especially when the Heathrow landings are from the west. Some sort of early warning patrol or surveillance is the general assumption https://www.jetphotos.com/registration/G-BJOH

Freddie Francis ● 101d

Here's a useful link to explain by people who should know https://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=119651

Freddie Francis ● 101d

It’s simply a flight route between two bases either side of London. The regular flights are done to familiarise pilots. It’s been happening for decades. Nothing new and nothing sinister. The Thames is the safest route for helicopters in case of an emergency landing. North south journies skirt either east, over doclands, or west over Kew. I’ve flown in one doing the former.

Freddie Francis ● 101d

Chinooks only seem to be based in particular places.

Philippa Bond ● 103d

They have on and off been flying along the river for past 5 years sometimes as many as 3 at once,  see and hear them from the garden. Yes agree  it does feel rather unsettling.P

Paul Beer ● 105d

"Another Chinook flew over Putney tonight; this seems to happen around 10-11pm at least 3-4 times a week these days. Sometimes a single aircraft, sometimes pairs.""On September 9, elements of the U.S. 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), in collaboration with the UK’s 7th Special Operations Squadron, carried out a Chinook helicopter flyover along London’s Heli-Lanes.This was part of the interoperability exercise Dark Lightning 24, designed to enhance coordination between the two nations’ special forces."See:-https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/american-special-forces-helicopters-exercise-over-london/ and "No. 7 Squadron is a special operations support squadron of the Royal Air Force [which] operates the Boeing Chinook HC6 from RAF Odiham, Hampshire." (Wikipedia)

David Ainsworth ● 107d

Another Chinook flew over Putney tonight; this seems to happen around 10-11pm at least 3-4 times a week these days. Sometimes a single aircraft, sometimes pairs.

James Green ● 107d

he Times 14 Dec 2017 — "US embassy: America shows off its Thames fortress.The US embassy, which was supposed to have been completed by the ... There are solar panels (in preference to a helipad) on the roof ..." (All I could get off The Times as a free-rider)I suppose that you could get rid of the solar panels quite quickly in an emergency.

David Ainsworth ● 107d

I would say the aerial view of the Nine Elms embassy on the US Embassy & Consulates website doesn't show a heliport. It might in an emergency be possible to land an air ambulance, police helicopter, etc on the grass around the  building, but not much room for a Chinook (which flew over Putney in the dark at around 10:30 last night) and I'd expect a heliport for regular flights to have the yellow H in a circle.https://uk.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/policy-history/new-embassy/photos3/newusembassyrender03/

Michael Ixer ● 107d

I seem to recall they had their own pad, but cant be absolutely certain.

Andy Pike ● 107d

Does the US Embassy have a helipad or do they use the Edmiston London Heliport?

David Ainsworth ● 107d

Don't think they train in the skies over Putney. More likely traffic from the US embassy in Battersea to bases in Norfolk or air bases at Brize Norton, wootton Bassett or Northolt

Andy Pike ● 108d

Apart from going to and from bases they often have favourite areas that they train in.

Philippa Bond ● 108d