What is the Mach Loop and why is it ideal for fighter jet training?

The Mach Loop is one of the UK's three Tactical Training Areas (TTA), mapped out for operational low flying training by fast jets and Hercules transport aircraft of the Royal Air Force and other allied nations.
Following a circular route through the Welsh valleys, the route provides an ideal location to train in the art of low flying - an essential skill that is practiced by fixed-wing aircraft between 100ft and 250ft.
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[@az956]

Was hoping to see view from the pilots’ perspective, but cool to get a bit of info on it. I watch Elwyn R ‘s videos on KZbin all the time,they’re amazing!

[@tams805]

It's very cool, though if you visit some of the anoraks can be a bit overbearing. And it's wonderful we have such a training area. I do wonder why it's one of the few in the world? Is it because of a good straight run, proximity to an airfield, lack of nature to disturb, etc.?

[@jonb3311]

Thirty years ago, the RAF used many more places in Wales for low flying. Many a time I looked down on an aircraft flying below my previous home in the Swansea valley.

[@itsjohndell]

Used to fly the Loop in the 80's in F-111F. We could fly it at mach 1.1 at 75 feet AGL using the Terrain Following Radar. Hands off. Then we could fly it again at 250kts with the wings swung out. Hands on. Helluva Aircraft retired to soon. 48th FW, RAF Lakenheath

[@Spookieham]

You were permitted to go supersonic in Wales? I thought supersonic was only authorised in the UK for interceptions?

[@johnnunn8688]

@@Spookieham, yeah, I think he’s from Texas.

[@tobiaswiegmann6689]

@@Spookieham cold war... Things were different back then.

[@itsjohndell]

@@Spookieham This was at the height of the Cold War. The MoD and Home Office thought rattling your teacups was a lessor priority. Rules were different then. Way things are going you may be rattled a bit soon.

[@Spookieham]

@@itsjohndell don't get me wrong I'm not objecting! I just thought supersonic was always banned overland in the UK unless it was a live interception which I presume was over water anyway as you want to intercept as far from the UK as possible

[@PhilbyFavourites]

30 years ago I was Hang Gliding off The Blorenge at Abergavenny and two Tornadoes barrelled through the valley - underneath us. Halcyon days…. And that was in the pre-week to the Inter Services Hang Gliding Championships….

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you. Nice to finally discover the origin of the name. I possibly should have guessed that it was the short version of a Welsh place name.

[@stephensmith4480]

It`s a Really nice part of the world. I have worked in that area a couple of times and it`s nice to drive around too.

[@lonewarrior6633]

Love these planes over, and under the precipice!!! My Aunt lives up there. The path is a little sketchy, but all good

[@Letter_l]

I know where one of the other two is, above my house, they fly low enough that if you are ontop of one of the hills you will likely look down on them

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

I hope we got our own rapid dragon type program going and if not why not? Its not pricy, just ingenious. Every air force in the world operate planes that can utilise it.

[@comeflywithlee433]

“It’s one of few places in the world where this training can be carried out in controlled protected airspace." The Mach loop is not in controlled or protected airspace. Yes, it’s partly within RAF Valley AIAA & yes it’s very wise to avoid the Mach loop area as a civilian pilot but it’s not as described in this report ( as far as I know and can see ).

[@neilkent9890]

You are correct it is class G - open airspace, anyone can fly there.

[@kiereluurs1243]

Cut the 'music'.

[@latch9781]

Went there last month, of course as I arrived the clouds rolled in all week

[@2Sage-7Poets]

how about map look?

[@vitaliyvyntu4566]

Hello from Ukraine

[@BeeRich33]

What is that trainer jet at 0:21 ?

[@jamiegray6931]

Hawk T2 RAF, replaced the T1 for flying training around 2014.

[@GamingNameless]

We was driving in this location the other day and saw them practicing. We didn't expect it till the jet flew over our head then the large cargo plane

[@mandelorean6243]

Poster: please either narrate or let us hear the jets, nobody, nobody on this channel came to dance to rave music

[@asheshinfinite3766]

Another awesome place for jet spotting is Jedi Transition in Death Valley, Nevada, USA💪👌

[@vectors2final36]

Its in California. But not too far from Nevada.

[@Deadbread650]

For pilots above 6ft I would do the Macchendiaz loop

[@user-mn7vh9pv9s]

Awesome 🇬🇧😉👍

[@RallyingSightsSounds]

Ideal, but they won't let the Typhoons through it anymore and most of the footage here is of Tornados... At least the USAF seem to make good use of it nowadays!

[@johnnunn8688]

Why don’t the Typhoons go through?

[@ianhardacre]

Shame Typhoons don’t use it then ! (PS the RAF doesn’t have any flying Tornados now, old clips guys)

[@jamesmansion2572]

I don't think that's true. They have been inspecting the ejector systems, but still kept the rapid response on call. Should be a very temporary blip.

[@alexlee6074]

@@jamesmansion2572 The typhoons haven't done the loop for a few years, only lake District really

[@Matt-yq4zr]

This video is a bit out of date. The tonkas and hawk t-1 have been moth balled by the raf.

[@richardhoffmann179]

Tornado out of service

[@johnnunn8688]

Why Tornado, it’s gone?

[@davidb8373]

Wow that music makes the video unwatchable

[@lonewarrior6633]

Don’t watch it then 🧐

[@davidb8373]

@@lonewarrior6633 blowme

[@davidtsw]

top speeds ? BS

[@bollewillem1]

Tactical training my #%$, it is just having fun with a jet.

[@JamesJoyce12]

every military pilot who undergoes basic jet conversion training flies low level at 400 kts or more - nothing magical here

[@TheArgieH]

Maybe so. But not always on a course where "bystanders" can look down into the cockpit because of the geography. Done that at the Mach Loop with the family when we looked down into a Tornado and got a wave from the back seat. We also watched a C 130 in the loop, that one was moving a bit more slowly.

[@jamesmansion2572]

Those are some of the most boring Mach Loop shots ever. Where have you been?

[@BroadHobbyProjects]

US Department of defence popup?

[@phatkid6811]

dissagree

[@gc2696]

Controlled & protected until Wales leaves the Union to rejoin the EU, or joins the Axis of Evil, Greater Chinese Empire or the 2nd Warsaw Pact.

[@jamiegray6931]

Why would wales do that, they voted to leave the EU as well.

[@Veni_Vidi_Vortice]

Yeah, right. Keep puffing on that pipe matey.