Fighter planes

MingulayJohnny

I posted before on this forum RE UFO's. I was told by a witness recently that these 'UFOs' were in fact a Russian fighter plane being chased away by an RAF fighter plane. They said that this was not unusual lately as the Republic Of Ireland pays the UK to protect our airspace and that the Russians have been flying over Uk & Ireland airspace recently. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

nag

I'm not sure about us paying the UK to protect our airspace but the Russians often fly missions across the Atlantic and back. If they're not picked up by the RAF on their way past the UK, they'll be picked up by the USAF before they turn around and head home. I believe the pilots just wave at one another and take pictures of each others aircraft.

For example.

I highly doubt they are Russian fighters though. They wouldn't have the range.

xflyer

Well let's nail a couple of myths. Ireland does not pay the RAF to defend our airspace. We have our own Air Corps to do that job:rolleyes:. No seriously your informant was wrong. We don't pay the British to defend us. They do it for nothing.

Also as Nag says then won't be fighters anyway. Bombers yes or more accurately patrol aircraft like the TU-95. They couldn't be mistaken for UFOs either as they are simply big aeroplanes. They always stay in international airspace anyway so won't be over Ireland or Britain in any case. Even if they did the British would have to ask permission to intercept them in Irish airspace.

So that leaves one conclusion. The UFOs are in fact aliens from outer space.:P

MingulayJohnny

We spotted the first plane coming in our direction and thought it was moving too fast to be a passenger plane or private jet. It was moving really fast , I work near an airport and it was a lot faster than any of the planes I would normally see. Judging by the distance between the lights it was smaller than a passenger plane also. About 30 secs after the first plane disappeared behind clouds another similar sized one followed travelling at the same speed. This was in Co Wicklow pretty high up. There must be farmers etc noticing these aircraft too. Do the ROI have any fighter jets?

nag

MingulayJohnny wrote: »

Do the ROI have any fighter jets?

Negative

EchoIndia

If it was a jet fighter you would have heard it - they are very loud. However you are mistaken if you think jet fighters of any nation operate in Irish airspace - they don't! The nearest we see here are trainer types such as the Alpha Jets of the French Air Force which visit Baldonnel from time to time.

Steyr

EchoIndia wrote: »

If it was a jet fighter you would have heard it - they are very loud. However you are mistaken if you think jet fighters of any nation operate in Irish airspace - they don't! The nearest we see here are trainer types such as the Alpha Jets of the French Air Force which visit Baldonnel from time to time.

Foreign Mil Aircraft do transit thru Irish Airspace though. Years ago a French Air Force Mirage ( M2000 AFAIK ) went over EICM/Galway City and onto the Aran Islands and then back to France, she was on a LowLevel Nav Exercise, caused quite a commotion in Galway.

EchoIndia

Steyr wrote: »

Foreign Mil Aircraft do transit thru Irish Airspace though. Years ago a French Air Force Mirage ( M2000 AFAIK ) went over EICM/Galway City and onto the Aran Islands and then back to France, she was on a LowLevel Nav Exercise, caused quite a commotion in Galway.

There is always the very rare exception but, as you say, any such appearance causes such a fuss that it would not go unreported. I think that was a Mirage IV bomber (now all wfu) that flew over the west coast.

Storm 10

As a matter of interest US Fighter aircraft based in Europe sometimes transit over Irish Air Space on the way to the US or Europe, I have heard them on the scanner talking to Shannon and also talking to tankers arranging a refuelling point, the tankers stay with them across the Atlantic. They usually operate on UHF freq and the time it takes them to get to the various reporting points is mind blowing compared to airliners.

cml387

Back to the good old days (?).

Russian Bear aircraft used to infiltrate airspace around (not over) Ireland in the sixties and seventies.
Someone on another website (PPRUNE) wondered what the procedure was with ATC, whether they called in to give positions or any such decadent western thing.

The answer from those in the know was that they didn't call in, obviously , and it was all done on the see and avoid principle.I suppose if they showed on radar but weren't squawking it was enough to give warning to nearby aircraft.

EchoIndia

Storm 10 wrote: »

As a matter of interest US Fighter aircraft based in Europe sometimes transit over Irish Air Space on the way to the US or Europe, I have heard them on the scanner talking to Shannon and also talking to tankers arranging a refuelling point, the tankers stay with them across the Atlantic. They usually operate on UHF freq and the time it takes them to get to the various reporting points is mind blowing compared to airliners.

In my experience of over 30 years following aviation activity in and over Ireland, it is virtually unheard of for foreign fast jets to overfly Ireland itself. The preferred routes usually involve a more northerly track via Scotland and closer to Iceland. I'd be glad of any actual cases you can report, in terms of dates, aircraft types and routes taken.

cml387

EchoIndia wrote: »

In my experience of over 30 years following aviation activity in and over Ireland, it is virtually unheard of for foreign fast jets to overfly Ireland itself. The preferred routes usually involve a more northerly track via Scotland and closer to Iceland. I'd be glad of any actual cases you can report, in terms of dates, aircraft types and routes taken.

But Shanwick Oceanic is a big slab of airspace.It's likely that fast jets would be in the Shanwick area and not over Ireland, and would be in contact with Shannon ATC.

Come to think of it,some years ago the Gay Byne show (that's how long ago it was) had a caller to say that a formation of military aircraft crossed over the country.The GBS office called Dublin ATC and were told no,not at all,nothing like that. Then the switchboard lit up from people all across the midaland testifying to the fact that at least five military aircraft had flown over in formation.
Finally it transpired that this was a flight (I even remember he callsign - Pylon 1 to Pylon 5) that had transited Irish airspace for some reason.
I gues military overflights are a sensitive issue.

EchoIndia

cml387 wrote: »

But Shanwick Oceanic is a big slab of airspace.It's likely that fast jets would be in the Shanwick area and not over Ireland, and would be in contact with Shannon ATC.

Come to think of it,some years ago the Gay Byne show (that's how long ago it was) had a caller to say that a formation of military aircraft crossed over the country.The GBS office called Dublin ATC and were told no,not at all,nothing like that. Then the switchboard lit up from people all across the midaland testifying to the fact that at least five military aircraft had flown over in formation.
Finally it transpired that this was a flight (I even remember he callsign - Pylon 1 to Pylon 5) that had transited Irish airspace for some reason.
I gues military overflights are a sensitive issue.

Shannon's jurisdiction extend westwards to 15w but, as you say, this encompasses much more than the airspce over Ireland itself. Shanwick's airspace is international and not part of Irish national airspace. In fact the oceanic control function between 15w and 30w is performed by procedural controllers at Prestwick, with Ballygirreen functioning only as the communcations station with (mostly) HF radio. That "Pylon" flight you mention was AFAIK a group of USAF C-130s, so not fighters. (That was in about 1990 or so.) They were in contact with Dublin ATC so I suppose whoever was contacted by RTE was just not prepared to disclose operational details to Gaybo - proper order too!

Steyr

Every so often you will hear "RAMA Flight" ( B1 Bombers ) and "GOLD Flight" or "QUID" ( KC135/KC-10's ) Transiting/Re-Fuelling.

The F-22 Raptor's "MADZA Flight" that went into RIAT this summer were supposedly due to either go over or to the South of Ireland, instead they went down thru Scotland to Aberporth Range in Wales where they were met by "Hitman Flight" ( F-15E's ) and escorted to RAF Lakenheath.

They were also accompanied by "BALTO 99" which was the Raptors C-17 Support Aircraft.

xflyer

Mingulayjohnny, great name BTW, you forget one thing. Not all jets are airliners or military. Quite a few private jets overfly. They will be different and faster and even higher. If military fighters overfly they are usually in a bunch and escorted by a tanker.

I'm sorry your version is soooo interesting by but the sad boring truth is that not a lot happens in Irish airspace. Take my word for it. I spend a lot of time flitting about in it. It's boring. I have often just wished I saw something interesting. But they are simply not there.

skelliser

iirc correctly wasnt there alot of US activity/transiting irish airspace during the first gulf war?

EchoIndia

skelliser wrote: »

iirc correctly wasnt there alot of US activity/transiting irish airspace during the first gulf war?

Transports, tankers and civilian aircraft on charter yes, as these were staging through the UK and Europe. Combat aircraft routed more directly into theatre via the mid-Atlantic and Mediterranean AFAIK, supported by tankers based in the USA, Azores, Spain, Italy, Greece etc. The anti-war movement would have you believe that all manner of fighter and bomber types transited Irish airspace and even used SNN, but it just ain't so.