Olympic Typhoons Northolt - 2012

[RubyRoo]

During the basing of the Typhoons at Northolt for the Olympics, does anyone have a record of any of their familiarisation flights around London, specifically in regards to the kind of routes they were flying?

I distinctly remember seeing one low around Shepperton-ish.

[falconfighting]

5/5/12 - 21.20 Hornchurch, 2 Typhoons passed over Hornchurch weaving but heading generally West. Crystal Palace is also mentioned, as is South Ruislip in the early May exercise that I presume you are refrring to.


More of a scramble than a fam flight but may be of use, incidentally the outer ring was a 30 mile radius:

25/07/12 -Once airborne, 6NK31 went south towards Heathrow and circled overhead at 4,000 feet before the intercept was called off. As 6NK32 returned to its shelter 6NK31 moved to RAF Marham where it entered into a holding pattern to burn fuel before landing back at Northolt.

03/08/12 -The target aircraft was a Boeing 737 business jet, serial number N444HE, registered to Wells Fargo Bank, which was cruising at 36,000 feet, when the Typhoon arrived on its left hand side for visual identification and escort. From the end of the runway to the wing of the target the Typhoon took only 3.5 minutes!
The fighter jet on QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) was scrambled after the B737 failed to respond to the Air Traffic Control calls on the radio.
After a few minutes the Typhoon broke away from the target and requested a bit of general handling to burn fuel before returning to RAF Northolt.

Serial Number of the RAF Typhoon involed is thought to be ZJ923.

[RubyRoo]

5/5/12 - 21.20 Hornchurch, 2 Typhoons passed over Hornchurch weaving but heading generally West. Crystal Palace is also mentioned, as is South Ruislip in the early May exercise that I presume you are refrring to.


More of a scramble than a fam flight but may be of use, incidentally the outer ring was a 30 mile radius:

25/07/12 -Once airborne, 6NK31 went south towards Heathrow and circled overhead at 4,000 feet before the intercept was called off. As 6NK32 returned to its shelter 6NK31 moved to RAF Marham where it entered into a holding pattern to burn fuel before landing back at Northolt.

03/08/12 -The target aircraft was a Boeing 737 business jet, serial number N444HE, registered to Wells Fargo Bank, which was cruising at 36,000 feet, when the Typhoon arrived on its left hand side for visual identification and escort. From the end of the runway to the wing of the target the Typhoon took only 3.5 minutes!
The fighter jet on QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) was scrambled after the B737 failed to respond to the Air Traffic Control calls on the radio.
After a few minutes the Typhoon broke away from the target and requested a bit of general handling to burn fuel before returning to RAF Northolt.

Serial Number of the RAF Typhoon involed is thought to be ZJ923.

Hi falcon, that is a fantastic answer and far more than I expected anyone to reply with! Thank you so much!

I was indeed referring to the earlier May exercise prior to the Olympics, my fault.

Outstanding record keeping

[CHINOOKER]

5/5/12 - 21.20 Hornchurch, 2 Typhoons passed over Hornchurch weaving but heading generally West. Crystal Palace is also mentioned, as is South Ruislip in the early May exercise that I presume you are refrring to.


More of a scramble than a fam flight but may be of use, incidentally the outer ring was a 30 mile radius:

25/07/12 -Once airborne, 6NK31 went south towards Heathrow and circled overhead at 4,000 feet before the intercept was called off. As 6NK32 returned to its shelter 6NK31 moved to RAF Marham where it entered into a holding pattern to burn fuel before landing back at Northolt.

03/08/12 -The target aircraft was a Boeing 737 business jet, serial number N444HE, registered to Wells Fargo Bank, which was cruising at 36,000 feet, when the Typhoon arrived on its left hand side for visual identification and escort. From the end of the runway to the wing of the target the Typhoon took only 3.5 minutes!
The fighter jet on QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) was scrambled after the B737 failed to respond to the Air Traffic Control calls on the radio.
After a few minutes the Typhoon broke away from the target and requested a bit of general handling to burn fuel before returning to RAF Northolt.

Serial Number of the RAF Typhoon involed is thought to be ZJ923.

If I remember correctly, the intercept on 25/07 was a “mis-identification” of a suspect aircraft by ATC! Can remember on comms that the Typhoon pilot was pretty annoyed with proceedings and was making his feelings widely felt/known!!