Three Jet Fighters Land in Fuerte

[woe10]

Three Of these noisy Fighter Jets past over the Golf Couse in Caleta tonight, made a right row, and landed at the Airport. 
I managed to get a picture of one of them, checking on Google Images, they look like F35 Lightnings.

[Kat Nuts]

I wondered what on earth they were Woe - they were sooo loud!!!

[emmi]

Getting ready for Syria?

[Paddster]

It's incredible how loud they are isn't it ? Freaks me out........

[Magoo]

It's incredible how loud they are isn't it ? Freaks me out........

Try snorkelling in the lagoons at El Cotillo  when two of these flyboys come over at just below mach 1 & 500ft. Freaking out doesn't come close!

[Magoo]

PS. Cameron has been given a firm "NO" to adventurism, so don't expect any RAF Spitfires over anytime soon

[fatherted]

This might happen again!

Conversation overheard on the VHF Guard (emergency) frequency 121.5 MHz while flying from Europe to Dubai ..






Iranian Air Defence Site:   'Unknown aircraft you are in Iranian airspace. Identify yourself.' 

Aircraft:   'This is a British aircraft. I am in Iraqi airspace.' 

Air Defence Site:   'You are in Iranian airspace. If you do not depart our airspace we will launch interceptor aircraft!' 

Aircraft:   'This is a Royal Air Force GR4 Tornado fighter. Send 'em up, I'll wait!' 

Air Defence Site:   ( .... total silence) 

I love the RAF

[glenys]

Magoo, Parliament voted against going in to Syria, I think Cameron would love to flex his muscles out there. Good decision, we don't have enough people in the forces to see old ladies across the road never mind anything else. Or the money to fund another war.

[Spike On Q]

They are based in Gran Canaria and often fly from the south over Tuineje, over Tiscamanita and then turn hard left out to sea to attack the army range to the south in Pajara. Gets the adrenalin pumping!!

Normally they fly in twos but a few weeks ago four came over in tight formation at very low level - fantastic

Syria is a bit far - but the trouble spots in North Africa just a stones throw away - and the base near the airport has doubled in size over the last six months including some new big watch towers

Nice to know we're being looked after

Re. Syria - Wellington, Nelson, Montgomery, Churchill.    Alot of bodies turning in their graves!

[duncolm]

It's incredible how loud they are isn't it ? Freaks me out........

Loudest thing I ever heard was back during the cold war. I was sitting in a car fairly close to the runway at RAF Leuchars. A pair of Phantoms must have been scrambled to intercept a Russian. They went down the runway side by side with afterburners on.....

[emmi]

Which aircraft are based in Gran Canaria?  Spanish Air Force or British? Or other?

[Ronnietheblue]

Most Air force bases within the UN are available for other nations to carry out training operations. Don't know about Spain, but the nearest full time RAF base outside the UK isAkrotiri in cyprus

[Seasider]

They are F18 Super Hornets, not F35 Lightnings that as a single engine. The Hornet as two as can been seen in the pictures.
When I worked at British Aerospace four Tornadoes took off with full reheat. I thought my insides were going to collapse

[dagwood]

There only protecting Paddester and Can in the Caleta underpass at 3am on their way home from the "Club".

[Can the Man]

Glad to see somebody is looking out for the Paddster and the Man 

[Paddster]

There only protecting Paddester and Can in the Caleta underpass at 3am on their way home from the "Club".

Top man Dags 

[AviationFanatic]

could they be for Syria or the big fuss in Gibralter seeing as us brits have arrived in the middle of the big spain gibralter conflict?

[123456]

We have seen these on almost every trip to Fuerte. They fly over El Cotillo too. I doubt they are anything to do with Syria or Gibraltar! Sorry to disappoint. You are lucky to see them, normally by the time you hear them, they are long gone!

[charlatanefc]

Seasider is spot on, was just about to say they were F18's.

Wonder if they were looking for goats trying to escape the island by sea? 

[woe10]

They are F18 Super Hornets, not F35 Lightnings that as a single engine. The Hornet as two as can been seen in the pictures.

Thanks for that. very similar looking planes, It was hard to get a clear picture.

[Seasider]

Hi Woe10
You did very well to get the pictures you did.
The boring bit:
Ala 46, Gando AB (Canary islands), with Squadron 462 operating 22 ex-US Navy F/A-18s
They would be just on normal training flights, nothing suspicious (Gibralter Syria etc; )

[PHo]

PS. Cameron has been given a firm "NO" to adventurism, so don't expect any RAF Spitfires over anytime soon

As I read this just now the Battle of Britain Flight, including a Spitfire, passed over on the way to Shoreham Air Show.  Perhaps they will be going on to Syria after all!

[Spike On Q]

There is talk that a modern day Spitfire may be better in modern conflicts than supersonic jets -

My daughter lives next door to RAF Conningsby, home of the RAF Historic Flight AND base for the a number of Eurofighter squadrons - best of both worlds