Hawk Flight to Fort William and the Scottish Highlands

[@gary8491]

This is the ultimate buzz in life. Flying through our Scottish mountains. Amazing flying. Thanks for sharing your films.

[@thelivster1]

It truly is the most beautiful place to fly...but I would say that as I’m from there. Thanks for your brilliantly positive comment. I’m delighted you enjoyed it too Gary.

[@elkingo1253]

Such a wonderful video. Smiled all the way through watching. Thank you for sharing.

[@garymckee4342]

I live in Toronto and had the experience in July 2014 of hiring a car in Manchester and driving up the west side of Scotland across the top and down the east side. Fort William was a favourite highlight of the trip and several times I saw your Typhoons flying low over the Lochs. I've been fortunate to travel a little (40 countries) but I will say the Scots are just about the nicest and most helpful people anywhere. I also think the music selection is fine.

[@thelivster1]

Thank you Gary, very kind comments. Fort William is my home town and I left to join the Air Force in 2000. I'm glad you had a memorable time whilst on your vacation. I finish in the Air Force in a month or two and, believe it or not, am trying to move to Canada, possibly around Toronto area. Cheers again for positive comments.

[@neilharold6793]

Thanks for posting this Livvy; great footage and nice to see my old stomping ground from a different perspective!

[@thelivster1]

My pleasure Neil. :)

[@jennysinclair4070]

truly amazing video - i live here in fort william and see your planes all the time and quite often esp on a crackin day wish i was up there in the clouds- fabby video thanks for sharing - love my home xxx

[@thelivster1]

I am originally from Caol. Left to join the Air Force in 2000. I have to say I enjoyed it better from the air. Home is still so beautiful though.

[@morse27]

What a fantastic video. Music was great and we're privileged that you shared this with us!

[@thelivster1]

That's great you enjoyed it. I figured that not a lot normally see this view and hoped it would be appreciated by some people out there. Thank you.

[@sundance1998]

Awesome video mate. Well taken. Great to watch. Kind regards, your old pal Anthony.

[@WIPEYOURLENZ]

I think the lines on the cockpit are for when they use the ejector seat. Their is a small explosive charge that blows out the canopy so the pilot does not hit it on the way out

[@garywalker6031]

Brilliant thanks for uploading this .. enjoyed it so much.

[@thelivster1]

You’re welcome, I’m really glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the positive feedback.

[@formonthills]

Great video - fantastic scenery :-) Cheers

[@buckleyjteams]

I've got a house on the side of Loch Ness and see you guys flying over all the time it's awesome

[@gordonsmith3706]

I moved to Glencoe in the spring this year and so have seen various military aircraft fly through...amazing footage and skill...I got flown down the glen in a Eurocopter 135 in Sept and that was great but we were lower and much slower 😬

[@ColinBurnside]

Great video funny i have walked everywhere you have flown. Lucky to have such a GR8 job.

[@thelivster1]

Having lived in Fort William until I joined the RAF in 2000, I have also walked most of the hills in the video. They're superb from the air at 60mph as well. :)

[@ColinBurnside]

Wow on the ground you cannot photo the planes as they are over your head. You can,t get your camera out of your pocket in time. I have tried over and over. Fort Williiam is a lovely place check out my small blog on the East Highland Way and Kingussie. Thank you Colin Burnside

[@thelivster1]

He he, that's 600mph, not 60mph. :)

[@IanSmithCA]

Some years ago, I visited Glencoe. I was standing on the deck of the visitor's center when a British Tornado came screaming through the glen at treetop height +50' then did a left turn up a side canyon and was gone. Reminds me of the time, fifty years ago when I was standing in the tower of the ruins of Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, thinking of the Robert the Bruce era when a pair of US F16's followed the terrain down to the water and left wakes on the loch as they screamed past this 12'th century battleground.

[@thelivster1]

So glad you enjoyed my video and that it brought some amazing memories. I grew up in fort William and watched many many aircraft fly down the great Glen. Every one of them was a special moment but by far the best was seeing ‘the mighty fin’ of the tornado screaming low level through the Glen with its tail on ‘fire’, wings tucked back. Flying through Glencoe was an absolute dream come true. Thanks for your feedback and positive comment.

[@philclaytonphotography]

F16's 50 years ago, wow you can travel in time Ian ;-)

[@ianbaxter2667]

Why does this only have 90k views. One of the coolest vids I've seen 😎

[@thelivster1]

What a great comment, thanks so much Ian.

[@NorthWalesBoatsandPlanes]

Absolutely amazing!

[@thelivster1]

Thanks, it was incredible.

[@malcolmwilkinson6845]

Cool flying cool tunes well done matey.

[@thelivster1]

Thank you for your very kind comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@malcolmwilkinson6845]

Cheers matey.

[@MrNice1cyril]

Awesome Video to watch

[@peterashcroft6020]

Fantastic Video! thank you for uploading it

[@thelivster1]

Peter Ashcroft Thank you for your comments Peter, it was a privilege to serve in the RAF and this was one of my highlights. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@normancooke7500]

Hoping in a couple years time I'll be up there putting on some absolute anthems. Class video man!!!!

[@thelivster1]

Your Average Gentlemen Thank you.

[@dougieranger]

How’s that working out for you Norman?

[@darylhooper2065]

That just went ovee so many places i know

[@kieriano1]

Awesome! Just wish I could have your job haha!

[@FurnitureTube]

Stunning, Thanks for this.

[@thelivster1]

No problem, my pleasure. Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[@212Four]

Flying a jet through Scottish highlands and classic trance - doesn’t get much better.

[@thelivster1]

Awesome, thanks.

[@reggieaero]

fantasic video, how lucky are you to fly around Scotland low level, thank you

[@thelivster1]

Thank you for you kind comment. It is truly a fantastic privilege to enjoy the highlands from this rare perspective.

[@thelivster1]

Thank you very, it is awesome up there.

[@rgthomson100]

Looks great fun where do i sign up for a flight

[@amc3]

Just amazing ... has to be the best job in the world !

[@theindiediary5950]

+amc3 Dunno it's a toss up between this and Mariah Careys ash tray holder guy. Yes he gets well paid to this. :O

[@allandrummond8028]

Best job in Navy is the lowest job Saving WAFU ASS in the dark rooms

[@33Crazydude]

Awesome, I loved it, thanks

[@adrianrowan5037]

That music made this vid come alive

[@Whisky_Four-Three]

that must never get old

[@thelivster1]

Never! :)

[@Bulletguy07]

You wake up, look out the window, nice sunny day so "oooh lets go for a fly around in the sky", bit of sight seeing before returning back home where the wife has the kettle on and meal sorted......and you get PAID for this as well!!!

[@AlexExplorer]

wow ! I wish to be there

[@nhedrick100]

The music in this video is great , but I would like to hear a version with only the noise of the jet, seems nice and quite, no complaints about the quality of your video, great job, thanks !

[@thelivster1]

Cheers Ned. I may put up the whole video again with no sound one day. For now here is a section of it, travelling through Glencoe to Onich. No music added. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3bGi3qZoNmEj9E

[@thelivster1]

Ned Hedrick most of the music has been removed now. What do you think?

[@stooxlcr]

Thank you ... Awesome !

[@brianmccourt6387]

That cockpit looks a bit tight for space for cds? Or does the older hawk have an aux input?

[@joe18425]

This may seem like a stupid question. Anyway about the lines on the canopy. Are they the same idea as my cars back window??, like a demister ???

[@venom663]

Typical British putting a negative on a positive video. It's a brilliant moving inspirational video with music to match. Thank you

[@thelivster1]

+venom663 Cheers Venom (F-15?). I really appreciate your positive comments, I'll just have to do better at getting rid of the less positive ones.

[@thelivster1]

Thanks for your comments. It was an incredible flight over my hometown. @Oxgangs. Yes they do. They fairly regularly go up from Lakenheath. 12 were diverted to RAF valley last week after being up there. Cool jets! @I thought the 'tunes' were pretty good. Hope it didn't spoil it too much for you? What would you prefer if I were to re-edit, or no music at all? Interested to hear. Cheers all.

[@dotkomtom]

No music. There's no music up there, good video all the same.

[@paulmccully6008]

fist bumps on landing and listening to GBX mmm im scared for our airspace now... lol only joking guys what an amazing video wish i could join in on that looked sick.... more videos please :)

[@thelivster1]

I normally fly on helicopters. We did an exchange to experience each other's roles. It was serious low level training for the pilot, that I just happened to film. Still real training though, no way messing around. They might make it look easy, but no landing is 'easy', thus the fist bumps. And I was lucky enough to fly over my home town of Fort William during the training sortie. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I have put up unedited footage of the part through Glencoe, let me know what you think. I will be posting up more unedited segments of this flight in the near future. Cheers.

[@Hipppy1001]

Was it not TTF? Have you Ever been sick? I was nearly watching it. lol

[@davemackay1142]

Aw I would so love to do this . would the RAF let you up in one if you paid them ?

[@adrianrowan2786]

Best vid ever great to have the sound track back how did yous manage that after you tube blocked it

[@thelivster1]

Adrian Rowan thanks Adrian. The musicians like it and have included ads to the video. Money makes the world go around I guess?

[@thelivster1]

Look out for other edits of this video, without music in some cases. Cheers all for your feedback.

[@thelivster1]

@buckleyjteams Sounds great. I was lucky enough to fly up the great glen and over the top of my home town of Fort William a few times in a Nimrod aircraft at low level (2,000 FT) when I was based at Kinloss. Awesome! Lucky to have done it at 250 FT in a herc as well once. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@nimrod2525]

thelivster1. Thank you most kindly for that information.

[@adrianrowan5037]

Folks let's start a campaign to get this pilots music added after he was told too remove it music vs vid was amazing a must watch over and over any idea folks well can't doo it myself

[@alanmacnaughton674]

Very cool. do you have any idea how much you scare the absolute crap out of people sometimes? I was driving up the A9 through the Cairngorms and had a fighter jet come from behind and swoop over the road right above me at first I thought I was about to be crushed in a horrendous pile up but as soon as it passed and I got the full sound and could see it fly off instantly forgiving them for the near heart attack as you lot do a great job and seeing you guys out flying by is always breathtaking no matter how many times you have seen it.

[@thelivster1]

Sorry for the fright. I have been buzzed frequently myself on the A9 without warning. I once was travelling South on the M74 near Moffat when a tornado came up the glen, and I swear I could see that the pilot's eyes were blue as he banked over the top of us. It's the best terrain to train on. Hopefully it's not too often and it's never done to scare or annoy those on the ground.

[@parahandy6251]

"it's never done to scare or annoy those on the ground." Aye right lol. Was in my truck at Bridge of Orchy parked in lay-by facing north, having a coffee. Two of your mob heading south, what a sight to see. Then lead jockey came back heading north at very low level, followed by his wing man rolling left and right. I near sh*t myself..the coffee ended up in my lap. Minutes later, they both came from the north again, both rolling left to right. I cursed them cos I spilled the coffee. But what a buzz getting buzzed. You guys have the ultimate vocation, power to your elbows and wings.

[@Hipppy1001]

+Alan M That's part of the FUN to Keep Y'all Awake on the A9!!! To Hell with the cows loosing a calf. I would Rather Feel SAFE!! I thought it was HILARIOUS Waking Up (in the passenger seat) with a BANG, seeing the afterburners thinking that the World Was Gonna End!!.. PWwhaaaaa!!

[@Hipppy1001]

Well seen what side You come from.. White Gloves?!! I'll go with importedmusic on this one.. Depeche Mode should have been the call. ;)

[@scottconnor8867]

What’s the markers on the front window for?

[@rentaclown100]

What was the actual flight time?

[@thelivster1]

Rob Gordon All in it was around 1hr 45mins. It took 8 mins to get from valley to prestwick. Fantastic training trip which took me over my home town.

[@DonnyMacG]

Brilliant film, I kept looking for the two bridges I helped build in Glen Nevis but you were going too fast. Next time go down GlenCoe

[@thelivster1]

Thanks Donny. Did you watch to the end. We went through Glencoe too, from Kings House Hotel to Balachulish bridge. Which bridges did you build, I must've walked them? Cheers, I appreciate your comments. Livvy

[@nimrod2525]

Those markings on the perspex canopy. What is the purpose of them?.

[@thelivster1]

They are a charge line which explodes when the ejection handle is pulled in order that the glass is broken or gone by the time the pilot launches through it in his seat.

[@scottconnor8867]

Stayed in Fort William as a youngster and used to shit myself when I’d hear the low flying jets.

[@vampyr_1117]

If you love speed then you love trance music ! Awesome video and I loved the last track.. Is that by Ferry or Thrillseeker ? I forgot

[@SuperDaibach]

I'm not jealous (much) but did we need soo much footage of Fort Bill? Did you not have any of the rest of Scotland and parts of N. England and Anglesey as well?? LOL, bet that was fun though........

[@thelivster1]

Most of the footage is of Fort William as that's where I'm from. We did a high level transit to Jura, on to Mull, up Loch Linnhe to the Fort, then East passing north of Kinlochleven to Kingshouse, through Glencoe to Ballachullish, return to Fort William, then high level transit recovery to Anglesey. I'm really glad you enjoyed it, cheers for your comment.

[@NathanCarrigan1]

Hi there i know im a bit late to the party but what base did you fly out from would love to do this in microsoft flight sim

[@thelivster1]

Hi Nathan. It’s awesome on the new flight sim. Almost as good as the real thing, and less turbulence. Message me on [e-mail] and I can send you the full route map and flight plan. We departed my home base of RAF Valley on Anglesey, Runway 19.

[@thelivster1]

Cheers everyone. Great comments. @Connor This is the best answer I can give you. www.raf.mod.uk/careers/ You won't regret it, best of luck. @Chris The lines cause the canopy glass to shatter a millisecond before the ejector seat fires so that the aircrew have a clear path straight up when it all goes wrong.

[@chrisg4rr377]

Would love to be a pilot and borrow a plane and fly like that to the local shops to pick up milk but go the long way round. And can any body answer why there's the lines on the top of the cockpit for the pilot?

[@JimmyRyan69]

Canope Explosives for the ejector seat mechanism

[@Ecthaelyon]

MDC: Miniature Detonation Cord. Its a string of low power explosive that fragments the canopy when the ejection sequence is initiated so that the pilot and of course seat can leave the aircraft.

[@alanmacnaughton674]

Haha local shops at 621mph you could be in England picking up your milk in one of these bad boys in around the time it would take for a quick shop in tesco. :)

[@nhedrick100]

I would love to hear with no music at all. if you will forgive me I an 72 years old a little different, I really enjoyed the quietness of that jet, however you do your video I enjoyed, thanks a bunch!I am now 76 so i am still enjoying, get me a ride ??

[@thelivster1]

+Ned Hedrick I might just do that. A few people have asked for the same. I'll post a link up here when I get it done. Thanks for your very kind comments.

[@adrianrowan5037]

Brill music added again no harm done

[@crazymtbrider]

Would be awesome if you did have the tunes blairing in the cockpit would need a huge system to drown out the wind noise tho🤣

[@suggon]

Whats the lowest altitude your aloud to fly without losing your pilot liscience/getting into trouble

[@thelivster1]

PorkBird 500ft and above over any domestic site or built up area, otherwise as low as you like. But there is normally a minimum separation height of 250ft.

[@suggon]

thelivster1 ok thanks for the reply was really curious as i was at the glenfinnan bridge and as the steam train went over 5 jets went over above and wondered what height because it looked low! :)

[@paulgraham4567]

500ft LOL in caol they definitely fly lower than that.

[@DavieKerr328]

Excellent video, but I feel it could have been improved with some sort of gyro device to stabilise the camera!

[@thelivster1]

Davie Kerr absolutely. I didn’t have the tech at the time so it was just a hand held ‘point & press’ camera as I’m sure you spotted in the cockpit mirrors from time to time. I’ve tried stabilising in video editors but it really doesn’t improve the experience for me.

[@thelivster1]

Thanks for your interest and feedback Davie.

[@DavieKerr328]

@@thelivster1 No probs: I live overlooking Corran Ferry just south of Fort William, so I'm familiar with a lot of the scenes you show. I remember taking my kids for a scramble up the side of Glencoe many years ago, and sitting on the ridge above Ossian's Cave looking DOWN at RAF jets flying past!

[@thelivster1]

Davie Kerr that’s fantastic. I was born in Fort William in ‘72, grew up in Caol and eventually left Inverlochy in ‘99 to join the RAF. In the 80’s and 90’s it used to be a highlight to cross Corran Narrows and drive round the loch back to Caol. It had been a lifelong dream to fly that route in a fast jet.

[@DavieKerr328]

@@thelivster1 I was actually born in Glasgow (shhh!), but spent most of my single-figure childhood years in Kingairloch where my dad was the Head Forester 1948-1955. We then moved to Angus, I joined the Dundee Police in '63, and then went to the Bermuda Police on a 3-year contract in '66 which lasted for 34 years!

[@keithgray2070]

for a video low over scotland ! awswsome to me and respect out

[@thelivster1]

Thanks for watching Keith, chuffed you enjoyed it. I really appreciate the positive comment.

[@Carbide195]

Get BAE to stick the EJ200 TVC in there, stick some canards on the front, lengthen the wings a little; badda-bing badda-boom, new UK strike aircraft sorted.

[@Carbide195]

Of course you'd need a new computer system for your avionics and for the Typhoon-type HMD helmets that should be implemented. And you'd need to the computer system to interface with modern strike munitions to allow it to carry all our fancy new weapons, which would also mean sticking some more hardpoints on the fella. You'd also have to give the second seat all the laser designator and thermal imaging gear. Oh, and whilst you're sorting the wings, you might as well add the BAE Demon's fluidic flight controls to eliminate some moving parts from the wings.

[@Carbide195]

Taking the 2-seater Hawk back to the drawing board and re-imagining it as a modern, low-cost strike fighter would be closer to the Russian model of evolutionary design, where they re-imagine, re-work and build on existing designs as opposed to trying to create a completely new aircraft from scratch. It has lower levels of risk, and often takes considerably less time, with less budget overruns, (due to unexpected problems) than the western method of forgetting the last aircraft altogether and designing a completely new one. See the PAK-FA project versus the JSF project.

[@Carbide195]

Hey, how come none of you scrubs told me about the BAe P.125?

[@mitchell_9709]

lol i was camping in glen coe and a jet flew over and im pretty sure it was that jet

[@thelivster1]

If it was twice within a few minutes it probably was. Haha.

[@sundance1998]

brilliant Graeme

[@thelivster1]

Thanks. :)

[@6brettes]

it is 2 other correspondents on here who have prev assocs with the raf having joined it!!? iconography mixup so i say sorry!!

[@bobsurgranny]

Take me up please :-P

[@ABPhotography1]

Do the Americans come up here to fly. I'm positive I saw two F-15 Eagles last year? while working at Foyers Radio Mast beside Loch Ness.

[@Ecthaelyon]

Yes they do, you would have been lucky enough to have seen either F15C, D's or E's out of RAF Lakenheath.

[@adrianrowan5037]

Ecthaelyon what happened to the music

[@thelivster1]

Adrian Rowan KZbin asked me to remove it. A lot of comments indicated that the music spoiled it also.

[@adrianrowan5037]

What is going on no music again

[@antigoogleman1135]

Footage deserves better production.

[@thelivster1]

I agree. I hope you at least enjoyed what I did with what I was limited to using Windows Movie Maker at the time? I should maybe have another go with better editing software.

[@euanscotland]

I want one.

[@adrianrowan2786]

Top guns

[@thelivster1]

Adrian Rowan 😎😁 so glad you enjoyed it. Check out my unedited flight through Glencoe, "hawk flight from kingshouse hotel to balachulish". No music though, just cockpit sounds.

[@jermaineedwards8384]

Could of done without the music

[@thelivster1]

Yep, that’s fair enough. It’s not to everyone’s taste. Sorry if it spoilt the video for you.

[@jermaineedwards8384]

@@thelivster1 it's fine just like hearing the jet that's all great video nonetheless appreciate the reply.

[@nhedrick100]

Don't understand a photographer, He is usually a purist, and when he want's to watch and hear an aircraft, the music is a big distraction, other than that very good video !!!

[@thelivster1]

Ned Hedrick thank you. I have experimented with various sounds. Adding external etc. The in-cockpit sound wasn’t really that exciting so I went with some tunes that I liked. I appreciate it’s not to everyone’s taste. Glad you enjoyed it. It was an incredible flight.

[@UncleBoratagain]

Aaarrrrgghh, the dodgy club music? Why? These machines are supposed to secure our future as a society.

[@thelivster1]

Well not these machines exactly. These machines are training machines. I just happen to like that music and think it goes well with the footage. I can’t please everyone unfortunately.

[@UncleBoratagain]

thelivster1 Haha ok, fair enough. Just a bit of a cliché though.

[@UncleBoratagain]

Jet noise is good,

[@sootcase]

Great vid - why the crap music?

[@thelivster1]

I like the crap music, and the lyrics are about flying. Turn your volume down next time and I hope you enjoy it better. When you post your vid of you flying through mountains obviously you will chose music you like. :)

[@titup2]

ruined by the "music". turning off sound is not the same.

[@thelivster1]

Yeah I get that the music is not for everyone. As I've replied to others, it works for me. After receiving 3 or 4 similar comments here, I may re-post the video with just the cockpit noise. I appreciate your views however don't necessarily agree that the music 'ruined' the video. Cheers, Livvy.

[@dougieranger]

I thought the music worked. Did for me.

[@dougieranger]

@@thelivster1 Six years later and the music has stood the test of time.

[@thelivster1]

@@dougieranger I think so. I still like it.

[@adrianrowan5037]

A don't believe it your music has been added brill

[@adrianrowan5037]

Spoke too soon music deleted again why KZbin you player

[@adrianrowan5037]

Wasn't for long back of what's going on explain

[@adrianrowan5037]

You tube you player explain why the music was deleted from this vid

[@6brettes]

the way i see it you 2 both latched on to a past previous comment made very many weeks ago? now you want me to go and prove what was said by whom where & when in order to comply to some sort of deal that youve concocted? the posts were coherent to me when i typed them so it must be a problem with your misinterpretations of them nobody is being aggressive! you must both be a tad overly sensetive towards robust forms of personal expression? have been totally indoctrinated by uks pc culture cannot handle anything elses outsides of your control box or matrixes? if you havent made any references i must have erroneously mixed you up with another who did! woobedy boo what a big yt crime that is! sorry but i find responding to past events pretty tedious i have a vibrant life and prefer to keep it that way already there isnt enough of any substances being presented or offered on here? to warrant a proper responses? sorry but there has to be a real issue at stake here to be able to motivate me!! unfortunately there just isnt? i shall continue to post as i see fit and that will not be moderated or mal influenced by either of you? as i retain something you fail to recognise which is freedom of speech and expression i cannot honestly see what you are finding about my posts that are so highly objectionable you are evidently not used to being in a rather brusque type of company or camraderie as am i? i cannot therefore oblige or apologise for something i fail to fully comprehends is a fault or error on my part as it is within the very sec by sec min by min structure fabric or nature of modern threadlike comminucations to easily confuse the correspondents who have said what i imply? its rather like having 1 convo with a multi headed hydra especially when those with whom you communicate with setout out seek to persistently object disagree or see umbrages to everything that you say? i am no panacea and i also do not intend to be one i am who i am! so its now up to you to either like me or lump me? as i certainly wont be changing for the likes of you at the low respects level of those rather immature petulant exchanges ive so far daily expcd or witnessed upon here? one day somebody may actually say something worth listening to? we can always live in hope cant we?