Aircraft in ‘near miss’ over Saddleworth Moor
The jet fighter close to the Chopper. Photo: Stuart Littleford.
A jet fighter has been photographed over Saddleworth Moor, Denshaw, this afternoon, in what appears to have been a near miss with a helicopter.
Very close indeed. Photo: Stuart Littleford.
The helicopter was dropping material on the moor at around 5.15pm from a hopper slung underneath.
The fighter approached at high speed – it did not appear to notice or move away from the chopper. A group of ramblers said the aircraft had come “very close indeed” and had been very lucky not to have collided.
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that looks like a case of telephoto perspective compression to me. I would be surprised if the plane did not see the helicopter on it’s (rather sophisticated) radar.
that said, I would be interested to know where the ramblers were stood and their view.
I took the photo and there was no way there was three miles between them. I understand the lens issue but look at the moorland. Not even a mile apart in my opinion. Stuart
Interesting. I stand corrected. My first thought was telephoto effect as I’ve seen examples of this before. I don’t believe military traffic are subject to the same CAA clearance rules but are supposed to be given blocks of airspace away from civil traffic. Be interesting to see if the CAA comment. Looks like someone wasn’t where they were supposed to be
Mark. No your comment is very fair and I think it is one of those photos that will just be debated, but I had been watching the helicopter land pick up the container and it had just done this when the fighter came straight across, I was surprised to see the chopper in the viewfinder at the last minute. I am certain there could not have been the required distance – but I will leave that to the experts!
Would the helicopter not have appeared on the jets radar and would there have been advanced warning of the fly by? Perhaps the helicopter pilot could comment, do you know which company it is?
Great photograph, well snapped.
A
a jet fighter flying at the same height as a helicopter????
You can work out the relative distances from the camera if you know the relative size of the jet compared to the helicopter.
My rough calculation, based on jet being a Tornado and the helicopter being a Bell 206 (I’m probably wrong on both, someone will know I bet) puts the jet at roughly twice the distance away from the camera as the helicopter. Just need to work out the distance from the camera using the focal length and you can get a good idea of the distance between them.
Yes joy, low level flying is common for the RAF in this area. It’s a sight to be seen.
This is all you need to know on the subject.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vbd3E6tK2U
My thoughts too, Andrew. In fact I had assumed the same kinds of craft as well but I’m no expert there either! Not only is the tornado roughly just over half the distance again away from the camera as the helicopter but the camera is also looking up towards the helicopter which would put the Tornado significantly higher as well than it appears from the shot, so a significant vertical separation. Let’s face it, it’s nowhere near really. Nice pic though.
Had a few ‘experts’ look at the photo they say the planes are about half a mile apart at the most, I must admit I saw them with naked eye and would agree. both are around 45ft long so allowing for perspective still less than half a mile apart I’m told. BUT there will probably be no way to say for sure, the helicopter was not really much higher than my vantage point to be fair and the earlier stills do show the fighter close to where the chopper is. Reckon we’ll never know, still at least all people were safe.
Just to explain my calculation…
If it is a tornado (tail fin looks right?) and the Bell 206 (flys in the area) then the jet is a good bit longer (17m vs 12m). Also if you look the helicopter is more angled towards the camera. You can see a considerable amount of the front. That makes it appear less long. You need to take that into account, the factor is probably about 2^(1/2) if its flying (or at least pointing) with the front 45% towards the camera .
The jet isn’t quite flying parallel to the sensor plane(no pun intended) but its not as far off. Those two factors make it a rough calculation of (17/12)*1.4= 2 times further away for the jet.
Mail me the full image with EXIF info and I’ll try and work out the actual rather than relative distances.
from an informed source
“If there was an airprox you’ll soon find it reported here! www.airproxboard.org.uk/
The Tornado would have seen the Bell at least 10 miles away.”
Paul, good comment, but as the helicopter was landing then taking of and going behind dips and landing again, not sure how it would have been seen by the jets radar all of the time? If it was sat stationary would it be picked up on radar like a truck on a road. I think the fact it randomly flies up into the sky it could be missed, but you probably know more than me on these matters.