The aircraft flying through the Mach Loop are the Nanchang CJ-6 CT180, the only Mk 52 Jet Provost still flying, G-PROV and the de Havilland Vampire WZ507.
Taken last week by our friend Dafydd Phillips, the unique video in this post features some classic aircraft flying through the Mach Loop.
“A gamble paid off after a heads up that three Classic aircraft had night stopped at Llanbedr airfield over a weekend. What an opportunity for them to fly the “Mach Loop’ and they did!,” said Phillips.
The aircraft featured in the clip are the Nanchang CJ-6 CT180 (the CJ-6 is a Chinese basic trainer aircraft designed and built by the former Nanchang Aircraft Factory and today named Hongdu Aviation), the only Mk 52 Jet Provost still flying, G-PROV (built by BAC in Warton as Jet Provost Mk 4 XS228, and delivered to the RAF at 27MU RAF Shawbury on Jul. 3, 1964. It was never issued to any RAF unit. Instead, it remained in reserve until January 1967, when it was bought back by BAC for refurbishment and re-sale) and the de Havilland Vampire WZ507 (WZ507 is privately funded by a small group of dedicated enthusiasts and has displayed at air-shows all around the UK).
The pilots of Vampire WZ507 remember the unique flight in an article appeared on Vampireflight.co.uk:
‘We […] also lucky enough to be joined by Swords Aviation’s immaculate Jet Provost T.52 from Nottingham and a Nanchang CJ-6 from White Waltham. With favourable weather in Snowdonia, we also took the opportunity to visit the valleys between Dolgellau and Machynlleth known as the Mach Loop on the transit. ‘The views were spectacular and the beaches from Barmouth to Llanbedr looked lovely in the summer sun.’
Photo credit: Dafydd Phillips
