Mach Loop inbound flights call signs, routings and frequencies

[andygolfer]

The title says roughly what i'm looking for please.
I'm off to the Mach Loop for a week from Saturday essentially hoping to see aircraft Monday to Friday. I will be listening and also watching this forum for possible arrivals and I know from following particularly but not exclusively that the Lakenheath daily movements in the Lakenheath sub forum give departing flight call signs, routings via reporting points etc and radio frequencies, so can anybody tell me please for both Lakenheath and elsewhere....
1: are particular call signs used for flights to / through the loop
2: what are the likely reporting points used by incoming aircraft
and 3, what are the normal frequencies used as they approach the loop and once in the circuit please(I've picked up a couple from the daily reports but doubt they are anywhere near complete.

Any help would be most appreciated thanks.
I am aware that Monday is Labor Day in the USA and thus Lakenheath won't be flying routine missions and that Friday is POETS day and there is little or no flying in the afternoon as far as Lakenheath is concerned - do the RAF bases also tend to stop flying on Friday afternoons please?

Finally, are any of the aircraft deployed at Waddington for Cobra Warrior likely to head for the loop please? (A German Tornado would make my week!).
MTIA
Andy

[Rick]

Hi Andy,

In my experience the C/S doesn't tie in with whether they are Loop bound.
Also very often nothing is heard on the scanner, either airways or air to air.
Once low you can sometimes hear them call on 130.490, the new CAA LL frequency.

I just enjoy the spectacular views and any aircraft are a bonus.
All there's normally some other aviation bods to chat to.

Which spots are you planning to go to ?

Cheers

Rick

[andygolfer]

Hi Andy,

In my experience the C/S doesn't tie in with whether they are Loop bound.
Also very often nothing is heard on the scanner, either airways or air to air.
Once low you can sometimes hear them call on 130.490, the new CAA LL frequency.

I just enjoy the spectacular views and any aircraft are a bonus.
All there's normally some other aviation bods to chat to.

Which spots are you planning to go to ?

Cheers

Rick

thanks Rick, that's very useful. I thought I was hoping for too much with dedicated callsigns.

I'm staying in a farm cottage (Stabal cottage) about a mile from Cad East at the end of the gated road that goes up to Cad East so that will be the easy one to get to. also planning Bwlch and possibly Cad West and then Spur if the weather is dull so we aren't looking into sun. We've got the whole week there so will try a variety of locations- we intend to walk some of them on Sunday to see how arduous they are to make sure we will be okay with all out kit. Cad East from the road should be easy enough but I've heard varying stories re Bwlch from 'it's an easy walk' to' you need mountain goat genes to make it up there'
Looking at the forecast I'm expecting at least one day to be a washout so may only make 2 or 3 locations in the end. If we do get a washout I hope it's either Monday or Friday as there will be limited flying due to the US holiday on Friday and normal early finish on Friday.

I've been warned not to wear my sheepskin coat as it's tupping season and rams have poor eyesight
Andy

[Rick]

Hi Andy,

Depends which level you go to at The Bwlch. Bottom level is easy whereas the top level does get pretty steep in places. It takes about 25 mins to the top shelf.
The light on the Bwlch is good all day.
Cad West is an easy climb but the light is in front of you until around 1pm. Cad East is the best option light wise in the morning.
Don't where shorts or the ticks could get you.
Be prepared for any weather, it can change very quickly.
Wear waterproof boots. Even with this dry weather the ground can be boggy under foot.

Cheers
Rick

[andygolfer]

thanks again Rick.
I'll certainly try the Bwlch walks on Sunday to see what they are like as that appears to be the best location from my research. Hope I can make the top shelf if I take it slowly.

Does the light go off Cad East in the afternoon? I knew West is backlit early mornings but has the advantage of getting more topsides, maybe that's a location if we have a morning which is really wet but better for flying pm and then sit in the car until weather starts to improve and hit the slope.

I've been warned about ticks (and midges) and have 2 bottles of tick & midge spray and will be wearing long thick trousers at all times, with bicycle clips to keep the bottoms tight (no jokes please!).
Are the midges still active now or is the season over please?

I've got a large rucksack already half packed with wet weather gear and waterproof walking boots plus hiking sticks - thought they might help on the slopes. I've even got A3 ziplock plastic folders big enough to take my cameras and lenses if it rains (plus silica gel bags in them), if it's getting wet the camera gear will be triple protected, 1:in tent, 2: in (waterproof) rucksack and then 3: in the ziplock bags, even if I get wet the gear shouldn't!

thanks again for all your advice - I just hope I haven't forgot anything!
Andy

[starfighter]

Hi Andy , was looking to stay at the same cottage as you next May , would appreciate a little review of the accommodation,
if you don’t mind, if you do have a bad weather day the seaside town of Barmouth (about 10 miles away) is a very pleasant place to visit plenty of little shops café and bars, good luck with your week , fingers crossed for some AV f-16’s.
Steve

[andygolfer]

Hi Andy , was looking to stay at the same cottage as you next May , would appreciate a little review of the accommodation,
if you don’t mind, if you do have a bad weather day the seaside town of Barmouth (about 10 miles away) is a very pleasant place to visit plenty of little shops café and bars, good luck with your week , fingers crossed for some AV f-16’s.
Steve

Thanks Steve, I will do a bit of a review of my afterwards and include a bit about the cottage. All it's reviews seem good and I'll be interested to see if Cad East is actually walkable from there - will ease worries about parking if it is.

Andy

[Fibrous Freddie]

Stayed there many years ago (about 2004). Excellent location... Cad East is walkable!

[Rick]

thanks again Rick.
I'll certainly try the Bwlch walks on Sunday to see what they are like as that appears to be the best location from my research. Hope I can make the top shelf if I take it slowly.

Does the light go off Cad East in the afternoon? I knew West is backlit early mornings but has the advantage of getting more topsides, maybe that's a location if we have a morning which is really wet but better for flying pm and then sit in the car until weather starts to improve and hit the slope.

I've been warned about ticks (and midges) and have 2 bottles of tick & midge spray and will be wearing long thick trousers at all times, with bicycle clips to keep the bottoms tight (no jokes please!).
Are the midges still active now or is the season over please?

I've got a large rucksack already half packed with wet weather gear and waterproof walking boots plus hiking sticks - thought they might help on the slopes. I've even got A3 ziplock plastic folders big enough to take my cameras and lenses if it rains (plus silica gel bags in them), if it's getting wet the camera gear will be triple protected, 1:in tent, 2: in (waterproof) rucksack and then 3: in the ziplock bags, even if I get wet the gear shouldn't!

thanks again for all your advice - I just hope I haven't forgot anything!
Andy

Hi Andy,

Cad East light is still OK in the afternoon but West is better and as you say you're more likely to get topsides on West.

Rick

[Philly1971]

For any morning your not going up the hill, I can certainly recommend TH Roberts in Dolgellau for a decent fried breakfast and superb coffee. They also do an amazing range of cakes and brownies, maybe not for straight after a fry up, but to take away for later. Climbing those hills requires a few calories for sustenance!

[verreli]

Must be a good chance of LN traffic if you're there all week and good luck with the weather. It isn't looking too bad at the moment. On the ticks, best to check yourself over when you get back, even with long trousers. The little Bs get everywhere. As for locations, take it steady and there isn't a location that's not possible, even with a big pack.

Also, keep the scanner tuned into the Daventry and Lichfield radar corridors. LN traffic usually call their intentions to the controllers, RAF less so but you know they're heading that way.

The Spur is perhaps the most underrated location in the loop. In hindsight I wish I'd chosen that location more often when I used to visit the loop.

[Rick]

Hi Andy,

How have the first couple of days been ?

Cheers

Rick

[andygolfer]

Hi Andy,

How have the first couple of days been ?

Cheers

Rick

Very good so far Rick. Been on Cad East all days, looked at Bwlch on Sunday but decided that it was too tricky for us oldies. Monday was nice and clear all day, had about 15 hawk passes (some did a complete loop so came round twice) either 4 or 6 Texans and a civilian L.39, an A400 went through Bwlch and on to Bala so only seen at distance and the German Tornados passing west to east north of the loop.
Yesterday started well with 2 F35s with loads of fluff then 2 pairs of hawks and a civilian helicopter. Herc went through Bala in the distance and a Typhoon east to west through Bwlch so again only at long distance.
Cloud and rain started coming in around 3pm so we got down to the car with minutes to spare. Went to Corris craft centre for a cuppa and 2 flights of F15s arrived overhead about 5pm, waited in the car park but they didn't come through, presumably weather although rain had stopped and partly sunny, weather is so localised so assume elsewhere on loop was poor.
Now up on East with fingers crossed
Andy

[Rick]

Hi Andy,

How have the first couple of days been ?

Cheers

Rick

Very good so far Rick. Been on Cad East all days, looked at Bwlch on Sunday but decided that it was too tricky for us oldies. Monday was nice and clear all day, had about 15 hawk passes (some did a complete loop so came round twice) either 4 or 6 Texans and a civilian L.39, an A400 went through Bwlch and on to Bala so only seen at distance and the German Tornados passing west to east north of the loop.
Yesterday started well with 2 F35s with loads of fluff then 2 pairs of hawks and a civilian helicopter. Herc went through Bala in the distance and a Typhoon east to west through Bwlch so again only at long distance.
Cloud and rain started coming in around 3pm so we got down to the car with minutes to spare. Went to Corris craft centre for a cuppa and 2 flights of F15s arrived overhead about 5pm, waited in the car park but they didn't come through, presumably weather although rain had stopped and partly sunny, weather is so localised so assume elsewhere on loop was poor.
Now up on East with fingers crossed
Andy

Sounds good, East is my favourite.
How was the Typhoon ?

[andygolfer]

Typhoon was very distant, straight and level east to west

[Rick]

Hi Andy,

How was the week, I guess today was quiet ?
Are you hooked ?

Cheers

Rick

[Rick]

Hi Andy,

I've seen your photos in Current Mil and it looks like you had a good time. I bet you're already planning the next trip !

Cheers

Rick