Typhoon Fighter Jets flying overhead (Olympics) I'm a great big wuss...

[WorraLiberty]

Oh I know I'm being unreasonable really but every time I hear the deafening sound of RAF fighter jets flying overhead...like they were 10 minutes ago (which they only seem to do at night??) it scares the beejayzus out of me

I live less than 10 mins on a train from the Olympic Stadium and worry that if they have to shoot anything out of the sky...they're going to do it over my house?!?

I admit to laughing when I read they're going to store surface-to-air missiles on the roof of a block of council flats near the stadium...but it's not funny really!

Well ok it was a bit funny cos I know the block of flats they mean and all I can say is they're going to need to bolt them down, or they'll find they've been nicked and replaced with a block of bricks

Anyway, the thought of a terrorist attack (God forbid) is a very worrying one...whether it's in the sky or on the buses/trains.

And hearing the jets flying overhead just makes it seem all the more real in a way.

Like I said...I'm a wuss

Fighter jets rock.

You have more chance of being hit by frozen poo from a commercial plane than debris from a downed aircraft.

I was thinking about this today while I walked the dog through the woods near the Olympic Park. I mean I know they have to protect from the air and all but really the main threat has to come from someone walking in? I'm getting more antsy by the day. I mean, what if they do have to shoot something down? Where's it going to land?

I think we'll head out of town for the duration now!

So budge up, I'm joining you on the wuss bench.

I love the sound of a military jet plane...and the smell of napalm in the morning (too many war films here too!)

But it must be scary to live nearby where they are being deployed "for real", Northolt or Olympics site. I've only ever seen them at airshows.

After at least 3 years of playing COD type games and blasting hell out of the enemy DS nearly kakked his pants today - we were driving through Windsor, past the Barracks and there was a sentry holding a SA80 (well, probably a L85A2). About 4 metres away but the sight of a real gun shook DS up for quite a while!

Well I know that there are quite a few Typhoon engineers who would like to be having some time with their families this Summer, not spending 11 weeks working flat out just incase they are needed during the Olympics.

Perhaps you could bare that in mind!

I think most people are aware that there are real people operating the planes [and the whole operation in general] landofsoapandglory!

Im certainly aware of that and that it is their job etc, doesnt mean I cant have an opinion or feelings about their presence and moreso the need for their presence.

That's something I've learned today then, Tapir.

And there was me thinking they're remote controlled landofsoapandglory

MissBetsy I wonder if Kayano would mind us all going to stay on her couch to marvel at her Geordie speaking cat?

We live 10 minutes away from Northolt and the planes have been back and forth quite a bit over the last few days. We don't mind, the kids always race out to see them go over. They are pretty cool to watch and it's not forever.

It might be their job Amberleaf, but TBH I really don't think there are many people who have much of an inkling of just how much the Armed Forces are being used in the fecking Olympics.

My DH has worked many 90hour weeks in the past few weeks gettting things co-ordinated, as has many more. Lots are going to be stuck in London for 11+ weeks working 12+ hour days with, if they are lucky, perhaps one day off a week. Some of them will be manning the car parks. I can guarentee you, not one of them signed up for that!

Apart from the shooting things down over your house thing, I think they are brilliant! Jet planes and great big helicopters are really SEXY!

Nope Im defintely aware of it landofsoap, I knew ages ago that all leave was being cancelled and what the impact on military families that would likely have.

I dont think its fair and I dont even want the bloody olympics in London!

Im not an olympics fan at all and I have every sympathy with everyone involved who has no choice in the matter.

The impact of it on me is minimal compared to families like yours and im still pissed off about it so I can imagine how much worse you must feel.

One who is being inconvenienced here, DH has been told he is working the Olympics, he is management level not just a young lad. Missing my 40th (he was in Afghanistan for his last year) and our DD's birthday too.

For those that find jet noise disconcerting, our Air Force is the best in the world, the lads and lasses are world class professionals and we will be in safe hands.

Typhoons (once known as Eurofighters) are bloody noisey but entirely effective!

Thank you Amber.

We are actually lucky, now DH has done his bit he is coming to the end of his current post and is posted to Typhoons in June, so won't be involved any further in the Olympics.

It is those who are going to be stuck away for the whole of the Summer, not allowed home who I feel sorry for.

Well...

Baggsy the back seat. I'm sure she won't mind eh?

Dog's going into kennels for the duration. Just as well as he is known to disgrace himself around cats.

I have to say as much as I'm a wuss when I hear the noise because it does kind of bring home the seriousness of it....I'm eternally greatful to our armed forces and I'd much rather them looking after us than not.

Oh MissBetsy I'd already sorted the transport....

With a few things to keep us amused along the way

Well Ginger and land your forces chaps are welcome chez Trotwood any time for a cake and a cuppa and a home made meal. Made by me though so they may want to stick with a sandwich from Westfield.

Much thanks for the supportive posts! Very much appreciated!

PMSL - that is off the hook! I wonder if the owl slows things down a bit?

There's a thought, surveillance owls could be trained to spot stuff that looked dodgy. Stick em everywhere, they'd look really menacing. But wise.

DH is away for 6 months so isn't involved in the Olympics, but I know lots of people who are. Its cheap labour for the governemnt, put them up in tents, and only have them away from home for a certain amount of days so they don't have to pay any extra allowances,a nd bugger up all their holiday plans into the bargain.

Chinooks circling my house. We get them a lot round here but not persistently iykwim. They are LOUD! My ageing, rotting windows are shaking!

Betsy My DH used to work on the Chinooks. When we lived at Odiham all the things on my dressing table used to start rattling ages before we actually heard/saw the Chinooks! I miss the Chinooks but I don't miss the frequency that DH was away!

For a very long time DS1 wanted to be a Chinook pilot, but because they drastically reduced the intake ot trainee pilots in the RAF he is now hoping to join the Army as an infantry officer.

Wtf was going on today by Tower Bridge? There seemed to be military helicopters hovering over my office for good chunks of the day. Drove me nuts.

I used to live under the flight path for most of these planes and helicopters. I miss them and am jealous. You'll hardly notice them soon, but you'll miss them when they've gone.

Nothing makes my day more than being waved at from a Chinook

I'm like a big kid