AIR FORCE!
MILITARY MIGHT SPOTTED IN THE SKIES OVER MIDLANDS
UNUSUAL military aircraft were spotted in the skies over the Midlands this week in the shape of two Army Apache ‘attack’ helicopters and a huge RAF Airbus A400M Atlas.
The RAF Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft, which is based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, was understood to have been conducting a training exercise with practice approaches and ‘touch and gos’ at Birmingham Airport. It completed a number of circuits – which involved both low approaches and touch and gos – as part of the exercise.
It caused plenty of excitement among aircraft enthusiasts who captured images of the huge transport aircraft when it was in the Midlands.
One of those was Yvonne Lewis who snapped the Airbus A400M in the Birmingham Airport vicinity close to her home. It was also photographed further afield with one aircraft spotter capturing an image in clear blue skies over Aston, Birmingham, and plenty more people across the Midlands sharing their images on social media.
The A400M is a rare visitor in local skies and has what some enthusiasts have described as an “unmistakable drone”. There was also excitement over the sighting of two military Apache attack helicopters, which actually landed at Birmingham Airport.
The Apaches are understood to be Army Air Corps helicopters.
They were reported to have spent around an hour at Birmingham Airport in Solihull before flying out again. The purpose of their visit was not known but is likly part of regular training exercises.
Some great images of the Apaches at Birmingham Airport were captured by Shahrukh Mahmood, who also photographed the RAF Airbus A400M.
AIRBUS A400M ATLAS
Airbus says the A400M Atlas is “the most advanced, proven and certified airlifter available”, combining 21st century state-of-theart technologies to fulfil current and future armed forces’ needs.
It combines the capability to carry strategic loads with the ability to deliver into tactical locations with small and unprepared airstrips and can act as a frontline-tanker. As such it says it is one aircraft that can do the work of three - the A400M.
Its tactical airlift mission capability includes landing on frontline air bases, landing on a grass and/or sand strip as well as the delivery of paratroopers or pallets by air drop. The RAF says it is operated by two pilots and a weapons system operator.
APACHE HELICOPTER
The Boeing AH64E Apache attack helicopter is designed to find and destroy air defence units, tanks and armoured vehicles.
It is capable of a wide range of battlefield tasks that include intelligence, surveillance target acquisition and reconnaissance.
The Apache can operate in all weathers, day or night. It can carry a mix of weapons that include a 30mm chain gun, 70mm rockets and Hellfire missiles to provide choice for the commander and flexibility during the mission. In addition to the Longbow radar, the aircraft is equipped with optical and thermal imaging sights that are used to visually identify potential targets and pilot the aircraft at night and in low visibility conditions.