O/T aircraft above M40

[Cookie Monster]

As a very regular user of the M40 I have often seen a large military aircraft above junc 9(Bicester) dropping parachutes onto what I think is some sort of airfield below.

I saw it again on Friday morning drop about a dozen parachutes with something attached (I don't think it was people)!

 

Anybody know what that is all about? Some sort of target practice?

Seems a reasonably regular occurance.

 

Phil.

[Dickie Normuss]

Practice jumps onto Weston on the Green, sometimes it's the RAF using C130 Hercules, sometimes it's the private parachute school using a twin engined aircraft. I see it on the way home quite a bit too 😬

 

VX HPC - Loud and proud here

Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere

[Frying Pan]

They used to do jumps from a barrage balloon at Weston on the Green a few years ago.

 

They now use a Hercules which does a few loops round to let everyone out

 

---

See some pictures of the build here. 17000 miles completed!

[Cannonball Bob]

The twin engined aircraft is sort of military too. It's the Joint Service Sport Parachuting Association's Islander.

 

^{Get that bowser out of here! We'll go with what we've got!}

[Dickie Normuss]

Last time I passed there was a Shorts Skyvan parked there and was also landing there today?

 

VX HPC - Loud and proud here

Adding power makes you faster on the straights. Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere