When I bought my house the Realtor never told me that it was on the flight path between Cherry Hill Naval Air Station and the A P Hill bomb range. The early jets like the A7 Skyhawks you could hear coming the new generations are quiet and give you no warning. They come in at tree top level and fly between my house and my neighbors which are a hundred feet away their navigation skills are incredible. The Air Force came over with a flight of C141’s carrying the 82TH Airborne at a hundred feet. I keep a Nikon D500 with a 300mm at the ready it’s nothing like have your own Mach Loop
Every time I went looking on Google for information about the Mach Loop I was always met with doom and gloom about how difficult everything is. It's all been confirmed in this video, but, with the addition of the footage and the straightforward advice, it's still a place I'd like to visit one day.
Twenty-two yrs. AF WSO (GIB, guy in back) for five and maintenance officer for 17yrs. flew in the F-15E out of Shady J. and RAF Lakenheath. Love the Mach Loop. Thanks, this was great.
My house in Wolverhampton is directly below the flightpath of the USAF going to the Mach Loop from Lakenheath, seems a lot of action Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with 2 to 4 F15s at a time normally around 12ish and in the afternoon around 3 till 5pm. Never been to the Loop but will get there one day, for now ill carry on watching them from my garden.
Same here, I live in Wolves also - I’ve been twice to the loop, hoping to get a visit in next week with the weather looking up. It’s great, get yourself up there one day. 👍🏼
Whilst hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge years ago, we were lucky to be at the summit of Whernside when to our surprise, a Tornado came screaming through the valley below us. We all watched in shocked silence and when it was over, we all looked at each other and erupted in cheers. It was amazing - none of us had ever been above a combat jet in flight. You could even clearly see the crew. What a rush!
I rarely leave comments on videos, but in this case, I feel compelled. What a fantastically informative, well-structured, and well put together video. I have for a long time wanted to visit but had lots of doubts about where to go, what to do, and what to expect. You have literally answered all of them. Great video, well done and your photos and videos are outstanding.
I travelled through the Mach Loop with relatives who had never heard about it. As we approached and I was explaining its use for low flying I looked up to see a Hawk trainer approaching knife edge. It passed over us barely 100 feet up. Magic.
Very good truths about plane watching anywhere. My dad and I had a Sunday with nothing to do so we got some lunch and went out to then McClellan AFB. Always dead on Sundays so we expected nothing. Guess what, we hit the jackpot.
Keeps the free world free? 😂😂😂 tell that to the Palestinians. I'm all for enjoying great engineering, but don't talk nonsense. These planes have been used to commit terror over millions, for oil not freedom.
Going to be there in a few weeks!!!! I am so excited! I was a crew chief on F111s and F15Es at RAF Lakenheath in the early and mid 90s. Going to bring back some old memories
I have been fortunate to have flown through the loop, I used to work on Helimed 61 (call sign for air ambulance based at Caernarfon). Initially in a Bolkow 105 and later the EC135, both fantastic aircraft but nowhere near as fast as the jets! They were fantastic days and have given me many memories 😊
I to have flown through the Loop during my time with the S.A.R. from Valley (RAF)169/71 on 1 tragic aircraft crash of an Hunter on Air test ,the Navy have a bothy in ogwen valley and used to have excercise during the summer months happydays
Hands down the BEST, most useful, friendly, and most wholesome video on RUclips in the past twenty years. Thank you, Gary. It was such a charm to hear the ending footprints line. As a former Eagle Scout, I haven't heard that spoken in quite some time...
Superb video Gary. I'm a 'togger' of MANY years standing - and a retired RAF aircraft Engineer (Three tours on C130K's plus a lot more!) Always wanted to try 'The Loop' but hadn't (nor still had until your video!) a CLUE! Thank you so much for this most informative video.
Drove through the loop today and on approach to the peak dropping down onto the lake I saw what was the most impressive feat of piloting... What I can only describe as a knife edge manoeuvre in what I think was a A400m after a tight pass at the peak above the car park. It left me in awe of how talented that pilot is.
That is the beauty of being a spotter even for military aircrafts...you never know when and what comes. No timetable. Makes it hard ofc. Many people are mistaken by watching an edited video of 20-30 jets flying...it sometimes takes weeks to catch them. Great video ❤
Amazing. Just amazing. How you maintain your level of enthusiasm and continue producing video after video is very very encouraging to this old (85) geriatric, so as a reward and honouring our shared Celtic Tradition I now send you blessings from my heart, sure in the knowledge they will multiply and return to bless the sender.
My parents took me here for my 16th for a few days. I’m a higher military aircraft enthusiast, and I found it amazing. On the first day we saw a C-130 but on my actual birthday, 4 F-15Es flew past twice round the loop, just above eye level! They must’ve known 😂
Great video, Gary. I know you've mentioned about how dangerous it is there. I can personally vouch for this as on 31st May, this year, I slipped whilst on the way back down from the Bwlch and suffered a double break in my leg resulting in two operations and a 2 week stay in Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Aberdyfi SART brought me down from the mountainside and were amazing all the way through. Like you said, as well, there is virtually no signal in the area, so I would definitely stress NEVER go on your own. Always go as part of a group or, at least, let people know exactly where you are. A friend was part of a group on the Monday after RIAT whereby another person suffered a similar injury on Corris. While the experience in the Loop can be amazing, it can also be an incredibly dangerous place.
Hello Gary Many thanks for all these very practical tips. I went to the Mach Loop on June 23 and 24, 2022. Thanks to your advice, I was very well prepared and as I'm on a motorcycle, no parking problems. But I still went quite early... and fortunately!!!! It would have been a shame to drive 850 km from France and miss the planes for a few minutes. We had 2 American F15s on the first day... 10 minutes after arriving and settling in... OUUUUAAAHHH I was already glad to have done all that driving and climbing on foot 😊😊😊. Then nothing more of the long day! The next day, same scenario with only 2 Texan trainers and much worse weather. You'd think I'd be disappointed, but not at all! F15 photos are some of the best aircraft photos I've ever taken, and no other airshow offers such a spectacle. All I want to do is go back. Little wink: in your tips Gary, I think you can add that Welsh restaurants close really early in the evening, really really early! Surprising for French people 😜😜. My limited English + Welsh accent + the wind made me lose a bit of richness on the exchanges with the people present and I regret it: there are real connoisseurs at Mach Loop. Thanks again for everything Gary, it's largely thanks to you that I was able to discover this incredible place. I'll definitely be back, and hope to see you there with pleasure. Pascal
Thank you for the good information. We were in Bewts-y-Coed in February when once at breakfast an old military propeller plane Kwasi flew through the valley below our window from the B&B (outside the village). .
You’ve just shown 99.5% of the reasons I let you folks do it. 😎👍Thanks, and the results are really something to see! I send them to my grandniece, who is 4.
I love the videos and photos I see from mach loop. I was in the military for 20 yrs. and I've always loved fighter jets. but the views and photos from those perches are unique and glorious!
I'm assuming since you guys are allowed to be on the Loop that its on or near civilian air space, so wouldn't the FIA have the training flights on record to keep Civilain Aircraft clear of the area? And wouldn't that make it easier to know atleast what days planes are activly using the Loop? I may be way off but numbers 1 & 2 could be cut way down on wasted time just by checking the FIA. Add on... I have something for you to try that probably rates right up there with this. Come to America go to a NHRA event and experience two 10,000+ horsepower Top Fuel Dragsters shake the earth and completly rip the breath right out your chest. Great vid no matter what! Those F-15 have such an epic whistle to them, and the F-35 has one heck of a screaming banshee to it!
One of the things I remember about a school trip to Wales in 1987 is seeing Harriers and Tornados low flying through the mountains, plus all the ground units on maneuvers.
Thomas, I'm in the same boat but have started planning. My thought is to fly to Shannon Ireland with a quick hop to Liverpool which is under an hour. Then rent a car and drive which I think is about an hour and a half. Stay for at least a week and hopefully enjoy some fast movers! If nothing else explore the beautiful country, there.
wooouw, what a stunning helping video ya shared here for us... i can`t go there anyway, but i love this video and the content you share whis us ! tank`s a lot man !!! 🙂
Gary a terrific discussion on such a special event watching military equipment… it makes my heart Warm with Pride and respect for the men and women who protect us ! Amazing systems
Never been to the Mach Loop, but back in 1976 I was on a school trip to North Wales. After the usual Snowdon climb, we found ourselves in the Nant Ffrancon valley and perched ourselves on a hill to have a break. The tranquility was suddenly broken two Hawker Hunters flying down the valley towards us at very low level. Great memories.
Both my brother and myself have been interested in planes since we were both kids and we're both over 50 now. We're looking at going to a camp site nearby for a week and making a holiday out of it. so looking at going out of school holiday time. I've spent quite a lot of time on Dartmoor here in Devon and can imagine what the weather up there will be like out of the summer season. As kids we used to stand beside the runway (in a field) of what I think was an American Air Force base (I think in Peterborough) in the 70s watching the planes come in and take off, getting frequent waves from the pilots. We're both looking forward to our first trip to Mach Loop and this video has highlighted points I've not thought of so a massive thanks for helping to make our trip even more memorable and enjoyable.
I was fortunate enough be be in your company on the loop that Friday. What an incredible day! Think it was around my 6th visit having drawn two blanks on my previous visits. Your videos and photography is inspirational Gary and it was an honour to meet you. I’ve been watching your videos since I invested in a camera and your advice and tutorials have helped me greatly. Thanks so much for your efforts making photography available and achievable. Can’t believe I’m briefly in a Gary Gough video. Hope to see you there again soon Ryan
Amazing photos. Were the two pilots actually waving at you as they passed you by, or was my imagination just playing up again. And to think that all of that was captured on Canon equipment. I'll have to think of ditching my old fashioned Nikon bits and bobs for some of that cracking gear if I am ever to catch up. Or maybe even borrow some stuff from Thomas Heaton, he should be able to spare a camera or two for a few days. Better stop now before I get banned from the Gary Gough Supporters club.
The scenery is gorgeous though. I could do it a few times just to see them both. The F-35 looks so cool from the bottom view but the F-15 looks like such a beast in every picture. The howling sound of the F-15 when it’s coming straight in. It’s such a blessing that the US and British work so closely together as well as share vital technologies and work together in order to create new technologies. So great to have such a good partner nation. Sending all the love and blessings y’all way brothers and sisters.
What a superb video. Everything anyone could wish to know highlighted and fullt explained. I've been watching videos of aircraft flying through the loop for years and find the quality of them amazing - and some of the photos are better than that. Well done sir, you've given me all the information that I needed to know - end result, I won't be going for an in-person visit! Perfectly happy to sit at home watching all the stunning vids/photos on social media. Thanks very much and happy hunting!
PRICELESS advice! Yours is the first video, sharing these nuggets of knowledge, that I've seen here. I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the late 80's, early '90's, and I knew of the Mach Loop, but never got the opportunity to see it for myself the 5 years I lived in your beautiful, amazing country. I worked on the F-111F back then. To have seen one of those fly through the loop would have blown my mind! I don't know if the F-111's ever did that, and I've never seen any video or pics of some flying through there. Very likely if there were, they'd be in 35mm, as digital cams were just starting to go mainstream a few years after then. Thanks again for the video, and SUPERB photography! Keep that virtual shutter clickin!
Pulled up in the lay-by at Cad West/Cad East whilst driving home from a short break in Wales a few years back, didn’t expect to see anything as we only had half hour or so to spare. Delighted to see 2 x C130 Hercules go through, one day I will pay a proper visit in the vain hope of fast jets, it’s definitely on my bucket list and your advice and tips are appreciated Gary 👍 be prepared to be bored rigid or have an experience of a lifetime 😉
Gary thanks for the information, a little tip for repelling the ticks and midges, if you can get hold of neem oil, it will repel both. It's not the best smelling of substances, smells like onion soup, but it works and is a natural antiseptic.
Gary what a Pleasure to meet you i've watched every video you have put on you tube but the points you have mentioned leaves me out riddled with arthritis 73yrs of age so it's back to computer to view you video's and wife keeps telling me to turn down the volume to loud and they are brilliant keep them coming Gary well done.
I would love to venture to the Loop but i am going to listen to your advice and abstain. Fat, unfit, no patience, and from way down in the south. Thank you. Great video.
The Mach loop is on my bucket list for a very long time since I seen a documentary on it on Forces tv ! this video has reinvigorated me to get my plans in action ! Thank you very much for all the tips and advice !!
Just wanted to let you know how much l enjoyed and learned from this video ( saw it on the Natasha and Debbie show this morning) l have now subscribed and will be looking into what other gems you have on your channel. Thanks for such a in-depth helpful and beautiful video
Tremendous! I’m nowhere near there, never thought about going. But I appreciate a person like you making a message like this. Good job! And thank you from the human race.
I have driven that road through the Mach loop many times while traveling from South Wales to North Wales and back and I have only seen one aircraft flying it and that was a Herculies flying down the road quite low, It was quite frightening to see something that size comming towards you. Some realy great shots, both video and stills by you, well done. And thanks.
Glad you have set the record straight on this vid and pointed out the very real reality, it's not a tourist attraction and is an actual low level training area
If you are going with kids get them some ear defenders and give them a whistle just in case the worst happens. Have been buzzed when out at sea by a harrier at low level and going flat out and the sound when it caught up with us was amazing.
Thanks for doing this, this is an eye's opening video as I did not realise it was so hard to get there, stay there and be lucky enough to come at the right time. One thing that was not mentioned as far as I know is the noise level I would imagine, a hear plug piece/headset might come handy as well in the back pack.
As an American interested in traveling to visit, I’m amazed at the amount of words used in the tips section, that I just don’t understand and need to lookup. For example, I thought car share meant taking an Uber, but now it seems like it what we call carpooling. Unfortunately I have no clue what a layby or midge cream is. Also, considering it’s private land, I’m amazed that the owner doesn’t completely restrict access in order to make a very large profit. Where I live in the states, trespassing on private property will likely cost your life, or jail time if your lucky. I think it’s really amazing that their is enough respect and courtesy between the owner and visitors, for the owner to continually allow access. Sadly, things like that don’t last long here since after a few days, visitors would have destroyed or trashed the area.
You’ll have to Google the words 😁😁 A lot of landowners in the UK have to allow access to the public. It’s a legal requirement. In Scotland, there are “right to roam” laws that allows the public even greater freedom. We don’t have guns in the UK so we rely on common sense and reasoning. 😁😁
Congratulations to an amazing two days at the Mach Loop. It certainly paid and you managed to return with great photographs. I have already watched your videos about photographing fast-moving aircrafts. But this video has watered my mouth to do it once again. And maybe one day I managed to climb up to the Mach Loop.
I am hoping that one day you get to see a Rockwell B-1B Lancer... wings swept flying through the Mach Loop..so fingers crossed..i hope it happens....you never know.👍👍👍
Spot on Gary. Great video and absolutely cracking to be part of that day. That visit is definitely one of the things that has spurred me on to want to be a better photographer (plus all your other content I’m trying to absorb!)
Another great video Gary. I have watched the previous one on the Mach Loop and it was very informative. Some really good advice in this video and stunning image's. As always catch you on the next video.
What a great video mate! Thanks for such great honest advice. I'm not planning on going in the foreseeable future, but maybe one day... If I did decide to go, at least I am very well advised by your kind video. : )
I only live a few miles down the road but have never been up the hills! I get regular flybys over my garden though, and last year I saw much of the action while fixing our roof!
great video, managed to spend a few hours there on the 10th July, did't see a sausage ha ha ha, but still will try and revisit next chance I get. coming from Jersey have to take the opportunity whenever I can squeeze it in on a photo road trip visiting wales and surrounding area.😄
Thanks Gary, fun video. Well, living in Australia, the Mach Loop is a little too far for me. However, every two years, there is a great airshow about 160km from my home and I will be at the next air show. Thank you, you just got me into aviation photography. ✈️
Great video, very well put together. I'm too old to do this and will have to console myself by watching RUclips videos instead, but I can understand why it would be addictive. I once saw a low flying jet, don't know what it was, by pure chance flying over Lake Bala and I've never forgotten it 👍so yes, if I were 30 years younger I would want to be up there too.
I've only been there once. It was overcast, windy, cold, and started to rain. But still, I'm glad I went because the valley is beautiful, and it was nice talking to the handful of other miserable souls who were there.
Great Video, Gary. had breakfast with a brace of F-15E's last week at the end of the LFA at Isle Ornsay, 9-12 shift on a Friday in Scotland, they even call out the sub ranges closed by 3...
I stumbled across the loop by accident on a motorbike trip with a mate. Now I know where it is I’ll definitely be going back. Thanks for the tips. Happy hunting🛫🚁
An exceptionally well made, informative and useful video, and a good presenter. Way back in the early seventies, we used to see how fast as could fly down over Lake Oven and get round the turn into the valley towards Bethesda. Got very fast and scary, until they banned anything over 360kts!
We had a day on Cad East last August. Saw 2 Texans screech over as we walked up from the car park. Looking good! 6 hours later, having not seen ANY more aircraft we walked back down. As we arrived at the car park, another solitary Texan whizzed overhead. Chatted to a few nice people though.
Awesome. I may never get there. Even if I did, I can't hike or climb very well. However, when I am determined to do something, there isn't much that can stop me.
The Mach Loop is just phenomenal, great fun, great people and even without the planes some great views. What a great day out that was. Thanks for the video mention, I still keep watching it back and that howl of the 2nd plane is stunning. You've definitely helped my photography and inspired me to go shoot more, cheers!
Brilliant video with loads of great tips and details, thank you very much. I've been to the loop area a couple of time, once getting buzzed by some fast jets while I was driving on the road below. I hope to get there with my camera some time soon.
Brilliant and informative video. Thanks. I was going to venture up from Cornwall, but i think I'll stick to watching on the Tube and go surfing instead.
Brilliantly done sir, very informative . I’m planning to go there this month on my camper road trip of wales . I know the parking lay-by as been there a few years ago but didn’t know it was the right one so we went to the cross foxes for a cuppa.
I'm in Perth, Western Australia, and if I ever get enough dough together I'm gonna head there for a few weeks. Just the hike up the hills would be worth it 😁
When I bought my house the Realtor never told me that it was on the flight path between Cherry Hill Naval Air Station and the A P Hill bomb range. The early jets like the A7 Skyhawks you could hear coming the new generations are quiet and give you no warning. They come in at tree top level and fly between my house and my neighbors which are a hundred feet away their navigation skills are incredible. The Air Force came over with a flight of C141’s carrying the 82TH Airborne at a hundred feet. I keep a Nikon D500 with a 300mm at the ready it’s nothing like have your own Mach Loop
I'm jealous
Do you have an insta or sth? Love to see some of those…
That’s pretty cool
You'll have to Air BnB your rooms :) Cheers Steve 👍👍
Do you mean the A4 Skyhawk or are you talking about the A7 Corsair II
I don’t know mate, just sitting on top of a mountain watching the clouds go by sounds like heaven right now
Agree totally 👍👍
Every time I went looking on Google for information about the Mach Loop I was always met with doom and gloom about how difficult everything is. It's all been confirmed in this video, but, with the addition of the footage and the straightforward advice, it's still a place I'd like to visit one day.
Glad I could help!
Twenty-two yrs. AF WSO (GIB, guy in back) for five and maintenance officer for 17yrs. flew in the F-15E out of Shady J. and RAF Lakenheath. Love the Mach Loop. Thanks, this was great.
My house in Wolverhampton is directly below the flightpath of the USAF going to the Mach Loop from Lakenheath, seems a lot of action Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with 2 to 4 F15s at a time normally around 12ish and in the afternoon around 3 till 5pm. Never been to the Loop but will get there one day, for now ill carry on watching them from my garden.
Same here, I live in Wolves also - I’ve been twice to the loop, hoping to get a visit in next week with the weather looking up.
It’s great, get yourself up there one day. 👍🏼
Hi there, is there a place close to Lakenheath base where it is allowed to take pictures of the planes landing and taking off? Cheers
Whilst hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge years ago, we were lucky to be at the summit of Whernside when to our surprise, a Tornado came screaming through the valley below us. We all watched in shocked silence and when it was over, we all looked at each other and erupted in cheers. It was amazing - none of us had ever been above a combat jet in flight. You could even clearly see the crew. What a rush!
I rarely leave comments on videos, but in this case, I feel compelled. What a fantastically informative, well-structured, and well put together video. I have for a long time wanted to visit but had lots of doubts about where to go, what to do, and what to expect. You have literally answered all of them. Great video, well done and your photos and videos are outstanding.
I travelled through the Mach Loop with relatives who had never heard about it. As we approached and I was explaining its use for low flying I looked up to see a Hawk trainer approaching knife edge. It passed over us barely 100 feet up. Magic.
Cheers 👍👍
@@GaryGoughI really want to go but I live 3 hours away is it worth a punt lol can I buy your photos and videos instead lol
Very good truths about plane watching anywhere. My dad and I had a Sunday with nothing to do so we got some lunch and went out to then McClellan AFB. Always dead on Sundays so we expected nothing. Guess what, we hit the jackpot.
You are so right. I could never get tired of it. The sight and sound of what keeps the free world free is precious and exhilarating.
Keeps the free world free? 😂😂😂 tell that to the Palestinians. I'm all for enjoying great engineering, but don't talk nonsense. These planes have been used to commit terror over millions, for oil not freedom.
Going to be there in a few weeks!!!! I am so excited! I was a crew chief on F111s and F15Es at RAF Lakenheath in the early and mid 90s. Going to bring back some old memories
I have been fortunate to have flown through the loop, I used to work on Helimed 61 (call sign for air ambulance based at Caernarfon). Initially in a Bolkow 105 and later the EC135, both fantastic aircraft but nowhere near as fast as the jets! They were fantastic days and have given me many memories 😊
I to have flown through the Loop during my time with the S.A.R. from Valley (RAF)169/71 on 1 tragic aircraft crash of an Hunter on Air test ,the Navy have a bothy in ogwen valley and used to have excercise during the summer months happydays
LOVED this video! Loved the honesty, the footage, the photographs! Thank you for such an incredible piece of work!
Thanks so much!
Hands down the BEST, most useful, friendly, and most wholesome video on RUclips in the past twenty years. Thank you, Gary. It was such a charm to hear the ending footprints line. As a former Eagle Scout, I haven't heard that spoken in quite some time...
Superb video Gary. I'm a 'togger' of MANY years standing - and a retired RAF aircraft Engineer (Three tours on C130K's plus a lot more!)
Always wanted to try 'The Loop' but hadn't (nor still had until your video!) a CLUE!
Thank you so much for this most informative video.
Drove through the loop today and on approach to the peak dropping down onto the lake I saw what was the most impressive feat of piloting... What I can only describe as a knife edge manoeuvre in what I think was a A400m after a tight pass at the peak above the car park. It left me in awe of how talented that pilot is.
That is the beauty of being a spotter even for military aircrafts...you never know when and what comes. No timetable. Makes it hard ofc. Many people are mistaken by watching an edited video of 20-30 jets flying...it sometimes takes weeks to catch them. Great video ❤
Cheers 👍👍
Moving to an old cottage in Dolwyddelan, on the A470 in January. I can see this is going to be our new hobby, lucky us 😁..
Amazing. Just amazing. How you maintain your level of enthusiasm and continue producing video after video is very very encouraging to this old (85) geriatric, so as a reward and honouring our shared Celtic Tradition I now send you blessings from my heart, sure in the knowledge they will multiply and return to bless the sender.
Thank you! xx
My parents took me here for my 16th for a few days. I’m a higher military aircraft enthusiast, and I found it amazing. On the first day we saw a C-130 but on my actual birthday, 4 F-15Es flew past twice round the loop, just above eye level! They must’ve known 😂
Great video, Gary.
I know you've mentioned about how dangerous it is there. I can personally vouch for this as on 31st May, this year, I slipped whilst on the way back down from the Bwlch and suffered a double break in my leg resulting in two operations and a 2 week stay in Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Aberdyfi SART brought me down from the mountainside and were amazing all the way through. Like you said, as well, there is virtually no signal in the area, so I would definitely stress NEVER go on your own. Always go as part of a group or, at least, let people know exactly where you are. A friend was part of a group on the Monday after RIAT whereby another person suffered a similar injury on Corris.
While the experience in the Loop can be amazing, it can also be an incredibly dangerous place.
Hello Gary
Many thanks for all these very practical tips.
I went to the Mach Loop on June 23 and 24, 2022.
Thanks to your advice, I was very well prepared and as I'm on a motorcycle, no parking problems. But I still went quite early... and fortunately!!!! It would have been a shame to drive 850 km from France and miss the planes for a few minutes.
We had 2 American F15s on the first day... 10 minutes after arriving and settling in... OUUUUAAAHHH
I was already glad to have done all that driving and climbing on foot 😊😊😊. Then nothing more of the long day!
The next day, same scenario with only 2 Texan trainers and much worse weather.
You'd think I'd be disappointed, but not at all! F15 photos are some of the best aircraft photos I've ever taken, and no other airshow offers such a spectacle. All I want to do is go back.
Little wink: in your tips Gary, I think you can add that Welsh restaurants close really early in the evening, really really early! Surprising for French people 😜😜.
My limited English + Welsh accent + the wind made me lose a bit of richness on the exchanges with the people present and I regret it: there are real connoisseurs at Mach Loop.
Thanks again for everything Gary, it's largely thanks to you that I was able to discover this incredible place.
I'll definitely be back, and hope to see you there with pleasure.
Pascal
Glad the videos helped. See yo up there 👍👍
Thank you for the good information. We were in Bewts-y-Coed in February when once at breakfast an old military propeller plane Kwasi flew through the valley below our window from the B&B (outside the village). .
You’ve just shown 99.5% of the reasons I let you folks do it. 😎👍Thanks, and the results are really something to see! I send them to my grandniece, who is 4.
I love the videos and photos I see from mach loop. I was in the military for 20 yrs. and I've always loved fighter jets.
but the views and photos from those perches are unique and glorious!
Cheers 👍👍
I would be worried about travelling all the way from America and showing up on the worst weather day of the century so that nobody was flying.
Yep, that’s always going to be a worry
I'm assuming since you guys are allowed to be on the Loop that its on or near civilian air space, so wouldn't the FIA have the training flights on record to keep Civilain Aircraft clear of the area? And wouldn't that make it easier to know atleast what days planes are activly using the Loop? I may be way off but numbers 1 & 2 could be cut way down on wasted time just by checking the FIA.
Add on... I have something for you to try that probably rates right up there with this. Come to America go to a NHRA event and experience two 10,000+ horsepower Top Fuel Dragsters shake the earth and completly rip the breath right out your chest.
Great vid no matter what! Those F-15 have such an epic whistle to them, and the F-35 has one heck of a screaming banshee to it!
Having flown the Mach Loop several times there is nothing that thrills me more than 500' @ 500 knts. Can't wait to go back and see it from the ground!
😂
One of the things I remember about a school trip to Wales in 1987 is seeing Harriers and Tornados low flying through the mountains, plus all the ground units on maneuvers.
I bet was an even more special place back then!
Thank you for your realistic appraisal of the situation in going there.
Cheers 👍👍
Thank you, Gary. I've wanted to visit the Mach Loop for a long time. Being stateside it seems like only a dream but maybe one day - or several
Thomas, I'm in the same boat but have started planning. My thought is to fly to Shannon Ireland with a quick hop to Liverpool which is under an hour. Then rent a car and drive which I think is about an hour and a half. Stay for at least a week and hopefully enjoy some fast movers! If nothing else explore the beautiful country, there.
wooouw, what a stunning helping video ya shared here for us...
i can`t go there anyway, but i love this video and the content you share whis us !
tank`s a lot man !!! 🙂
Gary a terrific discussion on such a special event watching military equipment… it makes my heart Warm with Pride and respect for the men and women who protect us !
Amazing systems
Cheers 👍👍
Never been to the Mach Loop, but back in 1976 I was on a school trip to North Wales. After the usual Snowdon climb, we found ourselves in the Nant Ffrancon valley and perched ourselves on a hill to have a break. The tranquility was suddenly broken two Hawker Hunters flying down the valley towards us at very low level. Great memories.
Great memories 👍👍
Both my brother and myself have been interested in planes since we were both kids and we're both over 50 now. We're looking at going to a camp site nearby for a week and making a holiday out of it. so looking at going out of school holiday time. I've spent quite a lot of time on Dartmoor here in Devon and can imagine what the weather up there will be like out of the summer season.
As kids we used to stand beside the runway (in a field) of what I think was an American Air Force base (I think in Peterborough) in the 70s watching the planes come in and take off, getting frequent waves from the pilots. We're both looking forward to our first trip to Mach Loop and this video has highlighted points I've not thought of so a massive thanks for helping to make our trip even more memorable and enjoyable.
There are bunkhouses close by. They’re cheap and warm. Bear them in mind if the weather is looking dodgy. Hope you have a great trip 👍👍
I was fortunate enough be be in your company on the loop that Friday. What an incredible day! Think it was around my 6th visit having drawn two blanks on my previous visits. Your videos and photography is inspirational Gary and it was an honour to meet you. I’ve been watching your videos since I invested in a camera and your advice and tutorials have helped me greatly. Thanks so much for your efforts making photography available and achievable. Can’t believe I’m briefly in a Gary Gough video. Hope to see you there again soon Ryan
Pleasure was all mine Ryan. 👍👍
Amazing photos. Were the two pilots actually waving at you as they passed you by, or was my imagination just playing up again. And to think that all of that was captured on Canon equipment. I'll have to think of ditching my old fashioned Nikon bits and bobs for some of that cracking gear if I am ever to catch up. Or maybe even borrow some stuff from Thomas Heaton, he should be able to spare a camera or two for a few days. Better stop now before I get banned from the Gary Gough Supporters club.
😁😁 You'll never get banned from mentioning TH. I think he's great 👍👍
What, you can't check with ATC to see if there are flight scheduled for the day?
Just brings a smile to my face.... Thanks. And thanks for your talent. Taken a few good pics myself, but mostly bad. Nice pics!!!
The scenery is gorgeous though. I could do it a few times just to see them both. The F-35 looks so cool from the bottom view but the F-15 looks like such a beast in every picture. The howling sound of the F-15 when it’s coming straight in.
It’s such a blessing that the US and British work so closely together as well as share vital technologies and work together in order to create new technologies. So great to have such a good partner nation. Sending all the love and blessings y’all way brothers and sisters.
What a superb video. Everything anyone could wish to know highlighted and fullt explained. I've been watching videos of aircraft flying through the loop for years and find the quality of them amazing - and some of the photos are better than that. Well done sir, you've given me all the information that I needed to know - end result, I won't be going for an in-person visit! Perfectly happy to sit at home watching all the stunning vids/photos on social media. Thanks very much and happy hunting!
PRICELESS advice! Yours is the first video, sharing these nuggets of knowledge, that I've seen here. I was stationed at RAF Lakenheath in the late 80's, early '90's, and I knew of the Mach Loop, but never got the opportunity to see it for myself the 5 years I lived in your beautiful, amazing country. I worked on the F-111F back then. To have seen one of those fly through the loop would have blown my mind! I don't know if the F-111's ever did that, and I've never seen any video or pics of some flying through there. Very likely if there were, they'd be in 35mm, as digital cams were just starting to go mainstream a few years after then.
Thanks again for the video, and SUPERB photography! Keep that virtual shutter clickin!
Very kind, cheers 👍👍
Well done. And the dramatic, wind-swept doggo and the seagull (or whatever that was) was a nice touch. I hope to visit someday.
That was my wee doggy 😁😁
Awesome video.Very factual and the pics and videos were amazing.Thank you.
Cheers 👍👍
Pulled up in the lay-by at Cad West/Cad East whilst driving home from a short break in Wales a few years back, didn’t expect to see anything as we only had half hour or so to spare. Delighted to see 2 x C130 Hercules go through, one day I will pay a proper visit in the vain hope of fast jets, it’s definitely on my bucket list and your advice and tips are appreciated Gary 👍 be prepared to be bored rigid or have an experience of a lifetime 😉
Gary thanks for the information, a little tip for repelling the ticks and midges, if you can get hold of neem oil, it will repel both. It's not the best smelling of substances, smells like onion soup, but it works and is a natural antiseptic.
Thanks for the info. Smells like onion soup, love that comment :)
Cheers Harvey 👍👍
Minute 10:00 is a ten. Glorious! 👍🏼
So I'm assuming they don't fly weekends or especially bank holiday weekends?
Gary what a Pleasure to meet you i've watched every video you have put on you tube but the points you have mentioned leaves me out riddled with arthritis 73yrs of age so it's back to computer to view you video's and wife keeps telling me to turn down the volume to loud and they are brilliant keep them coming Gary well done.
Very kind of you to say Eugene 👍👍
I would love to venture to the Loop but i am going to listen to your advice and abstain. Fat, unfit, no patience, and from way down in the south. Thank you. Great video.
lol love your honesty 😁😁
The Mach loop is on my bucket list for a very long time since I seen a documentary on it on Forces tv ! this video has reinvigorated me to get my plans in action ! Thank you very much for all the tips and advice !!
You’re welcome, cheers 👍👍
Just wanted to let you know how much l enjoyed and learned from this video ( saw it on the Natasha and Debbie show this morning) l have now subscribed and will be looking into what other gems you have on your channel. Thanks for such a in-depth helpful and beautiful video
Wonderful! Thanks for being here
Tremendous! I’m nowhere near there, never thought about going. But I appreciate a person like you making a message like this. Good job! And thank you from the human race.
I have driven that road through the Mach loop many times while traveling from South Wales to North Wales and back and I have only seen one aircraft flying it and that was a Herculies flying down the road quite low, It was quite frightening to see something that size comming towards you. Some realy great shots, both video and stills by you, well done. And thanks.
Cheers 👍👍
Glad you have set the record straight on this vid and pointed out the very real reality, it's not a tourist attraction and is an actual low level training area
Thank you for the advice, it was both enlightening and sobering. And thank you very much for the beautiful images.
Your enthusiasm is infectious!
Many thanks!
Brilliant video....answered so many questions. Thank you
Amazing images and thanks for Sharing Gary. Great to witness this through your photography.
Cheers 👍👍
Thanks for that video, Gary! I enjoyed it a lot. Mach Loop is something on my bucket list for a while. Maybe now is the time.
Absolutely brilliant Gary a thorough in-site into the Mach Loop, loved it
If you are going with kids get them some ear defenders and give them a whistle just in case the worst happens. Have been buzzed when out at sea by a harrier at low level and going flat out and the sound when it caught up with us was amazing.
Cheers Peter 👍👍
Thanks for doing this, this is an eye's opening video as I did not realise it was so hard to get there, stay there and be lucky enough to come at the right time. One thing that was not mentioned as far as I know is the noise level I would imagine, a hear plug piece/headset might come handy as well in the back pack.
Great video, loads of brilliant information. Next summer I'm going to get myself there and definitely watch this video again before hand. Cheers.
Hope you have a good one 👍👍
As an American interested in traveling to visit, I’m amazed at the amount of words used in the tips section, that I just don’t understand and need to lookup. For example, I thought car share meant taking an Uber, but now it seems like it what we call carpooling. Unfortunately I have no clue what a layby or midge cream is. Also, considering it’s private land, I’m amazed that the owner doesn’t completely restrict access in order to make a very large profit. Where I live in the states, trespassing on private property will likely cost your life, or jail time if your lucky. I think it’s really amazing that their is enough respect and courtesy between the owner and visitors, for the owner to continually allow access. Sadly, things like that don’t last long here since after a few days, visitors would have destroyed or trashed the area.
You’ll have to Google the words 😁😁
A lot of landowners in the UK have to allow access to the public. It’s a legal requirement. In Scotland, there are “right to roam” laws that allows the public even greater freedom.
We don’t have guns in the UK so we rely on common sense and reasoning. 😁😁
It's the sheep, if they look you in the eye you're done for, many a man hasn't made it back to the car. 😅
Great insight and tips ! Thank you much ! 😊
fantastic overview mate - im planning a trip from New Zealand so this has provided a lot of guidance... and food for thought.
That's nice that the land owners allow people access. Very nice of them.
Nice one Gary, as always; informative, consise, helpful and, of course, great photography!
Many thanks 👍👍
Congratulations to an amazing two days at the Mach Loop. It certainly paid and you managed to return with great photographs. I have already watched your videos about photographing fast-moving aircrafts. But this video has watered my mouth to do it once again. And maybe one day I managed to climb up to the Mach Loop.
Many thanks!
I am hoping that one day you get to see a Rockwell B-1B Lancer... wings swept flying through the Mach Loop..so fingers crossed..i hope it happens....you never know.👍👍👍
Spot on Gary. Great video and absolutely cracking to be part of that day. That visit is definitely one of the things that has spurred me on to want to be a better photographer (plus all your other content I’m trying to absorb!)
Cheers Chris. No doubt, I'll see you there again xx
Planning on booking some other stuff with you matey. Game on 👊
What a fantastic video! Thanks so much, very informative. I often think about visiting, thanks to your video I will think a bit more before going 👍👍
Another great video Gary.
I have watched the previous one on the Mach Loop and it was very informative.
Some really good advice in this video and stunning image's.
As always catch you on the next video.
Cheers Tim 👍👍
What a great video mate! Thanks for such great honest advice. I'm not planning on going in the foreseeable future, but maybe one day... If I did decide to go, at least I am very well advised by your kind video. : )
I only live a few miles down the road but have never been up the hills! I get regular flybys over my garden though, and last year I saw much of the action while fixing our roof!
great video, managed to spend a few hours there on the 10th July, did't see a sausage ha ha ha, but still will try and revisit next chance I get. coming from Jersey have to take the opportunity whenever I can squeeze it in on a photo road trip visiting wales and surrounding area.😄
Cheers Neil 👍👍
Great watch as always Gary. Cracking photos and footage.
I'm lucky to have a static caravan just outside of Borth, and have the experience of these flying directly above, the sounds are amazing.
Thanks Gary, fun video. Well, living in Australia, the Mach Loop is a little too far for me. However, every two years, there is a great airshow about 160km from my home and I will be at the next air show. Thank you, you just got me into aviation photography. ✈️
Sounds great! Have a good one 👍👍
Great video, very well put together. I'm too old to do this and will have to console myself by watching RUclips videos instead, but I can understand why it would be addictive. I once saw a low flying jet, don't know what it was, by pure chance flying over Lake Bala and I've never forgotten it 👍so yes, if I were 30 years younger I would want to be up there too.
I've only been there once. It was overcast, windy, cold, and started to rain. But still, I'm glad I went because the valley is beautiful, and it was nice talking to the handful of other miserable souls who were there.
Great Video, Gary. had breakfast with a brace of F-15E's last week at the end of the LFA at Isle Ornsay, 9-12 shift on a Friday in Scotland, they even call out the sub ranges closed by 3...
Very cool! Thank you! Cheers! 👍👍
Great little video gary, thanks for all the tips.
My pleasure 👍👍
I stumbled across the loop by accident on a motorbike trip with a mate. Now I know where it is I’ll definitely be going back. Thanks for the tips. Happy hunting🛫🚁
An exceptionally well made, informative and useful video, and a good presenter. Way back in the early seventies, we used to see how fast as could fly down over Lake Oven and get round the turn into the valley towards Bethesda. Got very fast and scary, until they banned anything over 360kts!
We had a day on Cad East last August. Saw 2 Texans screech over as we walked up from the car park. Looking good! 6 hours later, having not seen ANY more aircraft we walked back down. As we arrived at the car park, another solitary Texan whizzed overhead. Chatted to a few nice people though.
Great video! A bucket list destination, for sure!
Hope you make it one day 👍👍
Awesome. I may never get there. Even if I did, I can't hike or climb very well. However, when I am determined to do something, there isn't much that can stop me.
That's okay, I'll just keep on enjoying your photos and great shots but might give it a try if I visit the UK.
Great vids Gary. I’m a
Huge aviation fan. These are brilliant and make me want to head to the Loop more than ever. Thanks, Alastair, Scotland
Many thanks! 👍👍
Great info, cheers!
Glad it was helpful!
The Mach Loop is just phenomenal, great fun, great people and even without the planes some great views. What a great day out that was. Thanks for the video mention, I still keep watching it back and that howl of the 2nd plane is stunning. You've definitely helped my photography and inspired me to go shoot more, cheers!
Cheers Pete. A cracking couple of days indeed m8. Thanks for the video 👍👍
Brilliant video with loads of great tips and details, thank you very much. I've been to the loop area a couple of time, once getting buzzed by some fast jets while I was driving on the road below. I hope to get there with my camera some time soon.
Cheers Steve 👍👍
i was there on the 7th of july cad west, what a day 25 passes all within 2 hours got a bunch of great videos
thinking about it im sure we said hello :)
I think we did 😁
If not, next time 👍👍
Even though if I turned up empty handed, I love being at heights, be it on a building top or on a mountain top, I love looking out over the vista.
Great perspective Gary, TYVM!
Great video thanks, please don't forget non car owners though! Bus numbers T2 and 30 stop at the foot of the Mach Loop at Top Tal-y-llyn.
Thanks for the info! 👍👍
Brilliant and informative video. Thanks. I was going to venture up from Cornwall, but i think I'll stick to watching on the Tube and go surfing instead.
Saw your VLOG on Natasha & Debbie. Great stuff
Welcome!!
Great information! I have decided to remain in Thailand.
Brilliantly done sir, very informative . I’m planning to go there this month on my camper road trip of wales . I know the parking lay-by as been there a few years ago but didn’t know it was the right one so we went to the cross foxes for a cuppa.
Cheers Simon 👍👍
I'm in Perth, Western Australia, and if I ever get enough dough together I'm gonna head there for a few weeks. Just the hike up the hills would be worth it 😁
Definitely is 👍👍