View Full Version: That's what I call traffic control!

maltaspotters >>General Chat >>That's what I call traffic control!


MatthewBorgCardona- 09-08-2008
That's what I call traffic control!
Two British traffic patrol officers from North Berwick, east of Edinburgh, were involved in an unusual incident while checking for speeding motorists on the A1 Great North Road. One of the officers (who are not named) used a hand-held radar device to check the speed of a vehicle approaching over the crest of a hill, and was surprised when the speed was recorded at over 300mph. The machine then stopped working and the officers were not able to reset it. The radar had in fact locked on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet over the North Sea, which was engaged in a low-flying exercise over the Borders district. Back at police headquarters the chief constable fired off a stiff complaint to the RAF Liaison office. Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style. "Thank you for your message; which allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Tornado had automatically locked on to your 'hostile radar equipment' and sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, the Sidewinder air-to-ground missiles aboard the fully-armed aircraft had also locked on to the target. Fortunately the Dutch pilot flying the Tornado responded to the missile status alert intelligently and was able to override the automatic protection system before the missile was launched".

MarkZerafaGilson- 09-08-2008

Sidewinder air to ground missile?

AdrianGambin- 09-08-2008

Why was a Dutch pilot flying the Tornado?

MarkZerafaGilson- 09-08-2008

NATO exchange... However this story is a fluke for a number of reasons... 1. the RAF does not fly training using live ammo 2. a speed trap is aimed in a particular direction, no way that it can intercept something further away. 3. no Tornado goes that SLOW at low level 4. The RAF does not have anti-radar attack capability on its GR4s

AaronB- 09-09-2008

Shame sounds fun! Lets send this to Myth Busters! Would make a great show!!

MarkZerafaGilson- 09-09-2008

I agree. Can I hold a Nikon camera instead of a speed camera?

Ian Chantler- 09-09-2008

Every year the town next to mine Hoylake holds an annual Life boat open day to raise funds for the life boat and the R.A.F. depending on commitments usually send up a couple of aircraft for a bit of a display and in 2001 they sent us a Tornado and that was piloted by a Dutch pilot.Since Iraq all we have had is a Tucano,oh yes and the Red Arrows every year they are always worth seeing.

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