By Graham Stocks

Introduction from the Ed:
This concludes the article that was published in the last issue, which finished by looking at some of the military aircraft that you can see in the skies over Quorn. Graham Stocks was prompted to write this article after noticing an increase in the number of low-level air traffic over Quorn. "The Quorndon" would like to thank Graham for his detailed research, and resulting article.

Other military types seen frequently in the sky over Quorn are the Boeing E-3A Sentry Radar Early Warning aircraft from RAF Waddington, using the East Midlands Airport’s circuit for training. The saucer-shaped radome on top of these aircraft is quite unmistakable.

Another fairly frequent military type, often crossing Quorn skies on an East - West track is the Hercules. In fact, Heavylift use an ex-military aircraft similar in appearance to the Hercules for cargo carrying in and out of East Midlands Airport. This is the Shorts Belfast.

All of the Heavylift aircraft are recognisable by the large white letter ‘H’ on the large red and blue tailfin. HeavyLift Cargo Airlines is an independent cargo charter airline which started in the spring of 1980 with five ex-Royal Air Force Shorts Belfast aircraft. The airline quickly built up a name in the niche market of 'outsize cargo'.

When the sun is rising late and in the southern sky on Winter mornings, multiple condensation trails very high up in the sky over Quorn are a common sight. You can detect these aircraft trails as low as five degrees above the horizon on really clear mornings. This means that you can see an aeroplane flying at forty thousand feet when it is 85 miles to the south of Quorn.

Aircraft flying at fifty thousand feet, seen at an elevation of ten degrees will similarly be 55 miles to the south. These figures assume that the aircraft are flying directly over Quorn and that they maintain a constant height. Aircraft flying at 50 000 feet over Quorn are nearly nine and a half miles above our heads! These aircraft are coming up from the airports in the south of England, either on their way to Prestwick and then out across the Atlantic to the USA, or out across the Humber to the Continent.

Other aircraft using this particular airway, which is ten miles wide, will usually be somewhat lower (25000 to 35000 feet) making their way to Manchester and other northern UK airports. Even at these altitudes it is sometimes possible to identify the aircraft type and operator by naked eye. For example, the Virgin aircraft with bright red tailfins and engine cowlings are quite distinctive from a distance of nine miles. From Quorn we can often see similar aircraft navigating another north-south airlane to the west of Charnwood Forest, in the direction of Birmingham.

There are of course many aircraft flying over Quorn which are not using East Midlands Airport. These are mostly ‘general aviation’ flights by light aircraft which may be flying cross-country between small airfields.

If flying in the controlled airspace of EMA they need permission to transit, otherwise they can fly beneath the 2500 foot minimum over Quorn. Strictly speaking, this is 2500 feet above the threshold at East Midlands Airport, which is about 85 metres above mean sea level - the centre of Quorn is around 45 metres above mean sea level . Forgive me for mixing units - aviation hasn’t gone metric yet.

We also have frequent overflights by helicopters, both military (e.g. Chinooks) and civil, some of which land here in Quorn. Since the Tornados moved from Cottesmore we seldom have the pleasure of being buzzed as they whizz over Rothley Common. Hot-air balloon flights also seem to have diminished in frequency around Quorn of late.

Thankfully, we don’t have as many of the illuminated nocturnal visitations over our village by Police helicopter as we used to. Presumably, villains are either walking home or taking taxis (sorry, paying taxis) these days!

This article goes a little way to explain the what and why of aviation over Quorn. Something like another fifteen frequently seen aircraft types have gone undescribed here simply because I didn’t have my camera ready.

If the demand is there I will produce a follow-up later in the year. This article may arouse comments both in favour and against aviation in Quorn’s airspace! Either way, let ‘The Quorndon’ know or write to me at: graham.stocks@lineone.net.