Typhoon FGR4 through Cad at 3:40 pm
A pair of Typhoons were still on the maps in the North and then over the radio we heard them call low level for the Mach loop. We watched them as they came down through England and into Wales with our fingers firmly crossed.
Now would they come through Bwlch? We all dashed back to our favourite spots and waited…
Two Typhoon FGR4s at 3:47 pm
And here they come towards us down the valley.
Texan T1 at 4:23 pm
Another solo Texan at 4:29 pm
Phenom T1 at 4:30
The Texan had just left our sight and within 30 seconds or less we saw our first Phenom T1 approaching us.
And the Phenom turned away from Cad.
Hawk T2 at 4:31
Suddenly it was busy as almost immediately after the Phenom a Hawk came fast towards us.
This was the fastest pass of the whole day.
And it had gone!
The Bwlch at 5:30 pm
The folks on the top of the mountain above us came down past us and chatted. They had thought that they had been on Top Shelf. We explained that here was Top Shelf. It seems that they had had pretty good views even though they were so much higher. Most important of all was that the hill below had not hidden the planes too much.
We were down at the car after 6 pm. Then we had to get off the verge and back onto the road.
The the folks on the top of the mountain above us came down they thought they had been on top shelf and we explained that we were on top shelf they said they had pretty good views even though they were so much higher than we were and that they mountain had not hidden the planes too much.
As we passed the layby under Bluebell the Dutch guys we had seen on the Bwlch the day before were just leaving.
Celebration dinner
The Red Lion was very busy with Loopers and other visitors adding to the locals. We chatted to regular Looper who told us about another site for watching planes. This he called Lumberjack which was above Dinas high in the trees.
On the Bwlch we had decided to celebrate seeing our first Typhoons through the loop with a steak.
And it was delicious washed down by Wexham Lager.
As we were leaving for Cad early next morning we paid our bills before packing and some rest after an eventful day – my best visit ever to the Mach Loop!
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