Mach Loop

The Mach Loop (also known as the Machynlleth Loop) is a series of valleys in the United Kingdom in west-central Wales, notable for their use as low-level training areas for fast jet aircraft and propeller-driven aircraft. The system of valleys lies eight miles (13 km) east of Barmouth between the towns of Dolgellau to the north and Machynlleth to the south, from the latter of which it takes its name. The training area is within the Low Flying Area (LFA) LFA7, which covers most of Wales.[1]

A C130 passing through the Mach Loop, as photographed from a promontory.
Mach Loop
Location in Wales

Aircraft seen in the area include Royal Air Force Airbus A400M, Tornado, Typhoon, Hawk jets and C-130J and Short Tucano as well as U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35 Lightnings which are based at RAF Lakenheath and MC-130 and V-22 Osprey from RAF Mildenhall.[2] Aircraft from other European nations have been sighted training in the Mach Loop, such as Belgian F-16 Stingers.[3]

Photography

Mach Loop is among the few places in the world (Star Wars Canyon is another) where photographers can see combat aircraft flying below them.[4]

In virtual aviation

Many flight simulators have replicated the Mach Loop in Wales. A notable one is the FlightGear flight simulator, created by the FGUK community as an add-on for the simulator which provides the player with the challenge of guiding aircraft at high speed through rings that mark the route. In addition, the scenario has "start" and "finish" points, and each run in the Mach Loop is timed to let the player know the time per lap.[5][6]

Mach Loop routes at Machynlleth (Wales) on a T-shirt

See also

References
  1. MachLoop.co.uk
  2. Mach Loop Information - Low Fly Media Archived 16 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Belgian Air Force 1st squadron "Stingers"". Lowflyzone.co.uk, YouTube. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  4. Demerly, Tom (17 November 2017). "Is Star Wars Canyon, America's Plane Spotting Jewel, At Risk Of Overuse?". The Aviationist. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. http://www.fguk.me/index.php/forum/saturday-night-flying/4659-flightnight-9-8-14-mach-loop-challenge?limitstart=0
  6. http://www.fguk.me/index.php/forum/media/4703-mach-loop-challenge-event-screenshots-and-video#17052


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