Yesterday, with the southeaster still blowing a steady force 6/7 and gusting to force 8, it seemed an appropriate day to take the Coastguard truck for a patrol around the peninsula, something the team is asked to do on a fairly regular basis. It was buffeted if uneventful run until we approached the Coastguard station on our return, when we spotted the Raasay making her way across to Tobermory.
Through all the dreadful weather during the last few weeks, this brave little ship and her crew have hardly missed a run even though she bounces around like a cork and regularly ships waves across her car deck. That she maintains this link is important to West Ardnamurchan, not least because several of the local teenagers would hate to miss a day at school in Tobermory.
Just as we were completing our patrol, this fighter bounced in from the direction of Ben Hiant, almost took the roof off the Coastguard station, rocketed low across the pier, and wobbled out across the water as it hit the full force of the wind before swinging away south over the Sound - by which time the Diary had managed to fall out of the truck, turn the camera on, and take a hurried, distant photo of it departing down Loch Sunart.The American pilot was either thoroughly enjoying his rollercoaster ride, and didn't seem to be bothered by any low-flying rules, or was close to losing control of his machine. The Diary assumes it's a US F14 Tomcat but the tail arrangement seems different from the pictures on Google, so stands to be corrected.
It's an F15 - probably from Lakenheath in that county below Norfolk whose name may not be spoken. He is wearing wing tanks, though, so he could equally be from Holland or Germany.
ReplyDeletehttp://greenupgrader.com/files/2008/08/f15_15.jpg
He doesn't appear to be heavily armed, so you should be safe for now, but looking at the small bump on the outside of his port (top) wing tank, he may be carrying one missile. Whether he came out with only one I can't say, but if he has been causing trouble and flying erratically, give Lakenheath a call and let them know.
And while you are on the phone, you could also ask them whether he 'lost' anything while passing Loch Lomond on his way up to you...
Many thanks indeed for sorting out the aircraft - I didn't even know there was an F15. I'm not complaining about how low he was - I'm constantly envious of the pilots who get paid for such an exciting existence - but I know that those who keep stock round here aren't too happy when they fly very low, and some people are quite shocked when they come over very suddenly and very close - if they're coming straight at you they can't be heard until they arrive.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the link to the Loch Lomond mystery.
I forgot to say previously, but by way of a somewhat topical addition: the F15's nickname is 'Eagle', with the carrier-based variant known as the 'Sea Eagle'. The metal kind are considerably less keen on geese than their feathered namesakes, however.
ReplyDeleteAnother good reason to give Lakenheath a call, perhaps.
Wow! That's some video clip.
ReplyDeletewow you are right that was some video clip
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