Any pilots on here?

Triggermortis

Well-Known Member
I’ve just been watching video’s of F15’s and euro fighters doing the mach loop through the valleys, stunning to watch, my question is with all the modern flight aids on say the euro fighter would it be possible to fly so low through the valleys upside down ?
 
For many years, at least as far back as the days of the buccaneer squadrons, RAF pilots have routinely flown along valleys the right way up and then gone inverted over hilltops to keep the aircraft close to the terrain and prevent positive G on the pilot and air frame
So, in principle, the Mach loop could be flown inverted.

Cheers

Bruce
 
Yes PPL since 1989

Never done a MAC loop or any where near.

Low and slow is my thing

Ask away...
 
I’ve just been watching video’s of F15’s and euro fighters doing the mach loop through the valleys, stunning to watch, my question is with all the modern flight aids on say the euro fighter would it be possible to fly so low through the valleys upside down ?

Yes. When you watch the red bull air races gives you a flavour of what they can do upside down so a fighter would have no problem assuming skill level was high which it probably is.
 
There’s no reason you couldn’t from a handling perspective, albeit the pilot would need to remember they’re inverted and remember to push, rather than pull to climb away from the ground for obvious reasons! Well within their ability.

Other than that, the fuel systems don’t like being upside down for extended periods. Ie. The aircraft would be venting quite an amount of fuel when continuously inverted, usually through the tail and if continued you’d have a fuel emergency to deal with! Given Typhoon’s fuel system is critical to the aircrafts centre of gravity and because it’s an unstable aircraft, it’s ability to continue controlled flight.
 
For many years, at least as far back as the days of the buccaneer squadrons, RAF pilots have routinely flown along valleys the right way up and then gone inverted over hilltops to keep the aircraft close to the terrain and prevent positive G on the pilot and air frame
So, in principle, the Mach loop could be flown inverted.

Cheers

Bruce
Would that be to prevent negative G?
K.
 
Back in the day Phantom pilots would come in low from behind and pop up just above the trucks before letting off with the valcan 20's , loved the feeling in your bones and smell of avgas and that cannon rippppppppppppppppping .:love::drool:
 
Would that be to prevent negative G?
K.
Yes, my mistake for confusing negative G and positive G :oops:
For example, the Torndao has G limits of +7.8 and -1.5 so, when popping up to fly over a hill, it can pull a much tighter turn (and hence stay closer to the ground) when inverted (pulling positive G) than when the right way up (pulling negative G).


Cheers

Bruce
 
Yes, my mistake for confusing negative G and positive G :oops:
For example, the Torndao has G limits of +7.8 and -1.5 so, when popping up to fly over a hill, it can pull a much tighter turn (and hence stay closer to the ground) when inverted (pulling positive G) than when the right way up (pulling negative G).


Cheers

Bruce
I didn't like negative G when flying my Gyroplane.
Cheers Bruce.
Ken.
 
Did plenty of “low flying” on the Cairnryan trunk many moons ago - three abreast racing for the boat ,,,,

During the war of course 😂😂
 
A pilot can take a lot more positive G than negative. A fit person could probably sustain up to +6 G, perhaps up to +9G if wearing a special g-suit, before starting to grey/black out, commonly known as GLOC (G induced loss of consciousness). Red out, caused by excess blood in the brain, happens at about -2G and can be fatal due to internal haemorrhages.
To answer your original question, I think that one could not follow the same profile upside down as the tight turns would not be possible.
 
The guys can fly alright :) I once saw a pair of A10's dodging about the Northants countryside and they were L-O-W. So low their jet-wash was ripping the kale out of the field ! I was on my bicycle in the middle of nowhere at the time and I think they must have been thinking that there was no-one around to witness their antics. When I started waving to them as they passed me for the 3rd time they very quickly regained a bit of height and disappeared :lol:
 
The guys can fly alright :) I once saw a pair of A10's dodging about the Northants countryside and they were L-O-W. So low their jet-wash was ripping the kale out of the field ! I was on my bicycle in the middle of nowhere at the time and I think they must have been thinking that there was no-one around to witness their antics. When I started waving to them as they passed me for the 3rd time they very quickly regained a bit of height and disappeared :lol:
Nice to know they could actually fly well.

The only time I saw them shoot was on a military firepower demonstration where a Harrier and an A10 took turns to strafe a few tank hulks.

Unfortunately, our American cousin was consistently missing 50 yards to the left and the Harrier was spot in
 
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