What would protect london in the event of a...

G man · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:06

Light aircraft crashing into a high profile building or event?

Reason I ask, growing up in the north London suburbs I would regularly see light aircraft flying above, inside the m25 but outside the a406. Buckingham palace being 8 miles approx from the a406, travelling at 70mph the aircraft would take 6 mins approx to arrive.

What would stop this rouge plane?

RAF Northolt doesn't keep quick response jets, only conningsby(Lincs) for the south east area. Rapier and star streak have been removed since the 2012 games,I've not heard of any surface to air missiles in londons defence system.

This question has been in my head for years. I'm leaning towards a helicopter being on the ready, to possibly rise up and take out said aircraft or missile.

I know it's a strange one for a Monday morning but could hold off asking no more.

Genuine question from a non terrorist

What do you think?

Rroff · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:10

More recently they had a Type 45 doing that role but don't think its continuous deployment. Have no idea myself but does seem a bit of a potential vulnerability but then maybe they just don't advertise it.

Hades · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:12

I doubt a light aircraft would do as much damage as the 9/11 event. I believe there are also anti aircraft and anti missile defences stationed around the capital.

No doubt it could crash into the general publics work or home building and kill us. But rest assured 'important' people will be safe and protected. Nothing to worry about.

G man · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:17

Hades said:
I doubt a light aircraft would do as much damage as the 9/11 event. I believe there are also anti aircraft and anti missile defences stationed around the capital.

No doubt it could crash into the general publics work or home building and kill us. But rest assured 'important' people will be safe and protected. Nothing to worry about.

Yes, wouldn't do as much damage as a b737 but laden with explosives it could.

Strangely, I'm led to believe london doesn't have missile or aircraft defence. Nothing has been confirmed and am sure we would know about it?

Ayahuasca · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:32

That feel when it's the start of the week and all you can think about is a plane flying into a building, are Monday's always this rough fella?

Tuppy_Glossop · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:44

They put some AA missile batteries on tower blocks during the Olympics.

G.s Glazing · 13 Nov 2017 at 08:45

Tuppy_Glossop said:
They put some AA missile batteries on tower blocks during the Olympics.

Yes they did. Gone now though.

cyber69 · 13 Nov 2017 at 09:05

I’d be more worried about one of these large multi rotor drones carrying high explosives

d_brennen · 13 Nov 2017 at 09:12

cyber69 said:
I’d be more worried about one of these large multi rotor drones carrying high explosives

It'd not carry that much tbh, much easier to pack a car/van with a bomb and drive up to a target

subbytna · 13 Nov 2017 at 09:26

G man said:
Light aircraft crashing into a high profile building or event?

Reason I ask, growing up in the north London suburbs I would regularly see light aircraft flying above, inside the m25 but outside the a406. Buckingham palace being 8 miles approx from the a406, travelling at 70mph the aircraft would take 6 mins approx to arrive.

What would stop this rouge plane?

RAF Northolt doesn't keep quick response jets, only conningsby(Lincs) for the south east area. Rapier and star streak have been removed since the 2012 games,I've not heard of any surface to air missiles in londons defence system.

This question has been in my head for years. I'm leaning towards a helicopter being on the ready, to possibly rise up and take out said aircraft or missile.

I know it's a strange one for a Monday morning but could hold off asking no more.

Genuine question from a non terrorist

What do you think?

The Palace has its own missile system iirc. Not common knowledge.

Yaayuh! · 13 Nov 2017 at 09:39

Does the plane have to be that specific colour?

Diddums · 13 Nov 2017 at 09:49

Rossi~ said:
Does the plane have to be that specific colour?

Thank GOD I'm not the only one who spotted this.

Also, if an aircraft started flying erratically and potentially dangerously in London's airspace with no good reason, it won't be flying there for long. I've seen some things first hand

Cleisthenes · 13 Nov 2017 at 09:50

Rossi~ said:
Does the plane have to be that specific colour?

Edrof · 13 Nov 2017 at 10:58

G man said:
What would stop this rouge plane?

We would have to make-up with the pilot before he mascaraed everyone.

G man said:
Genuine question from a non terrorist

That's exactly what a terrorist would say.

Dis86 · 13 Nov 2017 at 11:02

Edrof said:
We would have to make-up with the pilot before he mascaraed everyone.

That's exactly what a terrorist would say.

Double lol.

jonessa · 13 Nov 2017 at 11:03

Rossi~ said:
Does the plane have to be that specific colour?

yes.

Red for danger

Armageus · 13 Nov 2017 at 11:05

Edrof said:
We would have to make-up with the pilot before he mascaraed everyone.

That's exactly what a terrorist would say.

Lol and also thanks for the quote as I spent ages looking for what was wrong

Vonhelmet · 13 Nov 2017 at 12:49

There probably isn't much to stop it, but then it's also a pretty low risk, so it's probably not worth having manned SAM sites around the place. That way madness lies.

h4rm0ny · 13 Nov 2017 at 13:01

suggestions welcome! said:
Thank GOD I'm not the only one who spotted this.

I was about to make a joke about the Red Baron, but seems other posters have it covered!

Jean-F · 13 Nov 2017 at 14:43

I wanted to highlight the rouge thing too, got right down to post # 11, and Rossi did me up like a kipper.