Awestruck Edinburgh locals watch as state-of-the-art RAF warplane swoops over city

Jacob Farr
·2-min read


A Eurofighter Typhoon jet was seen swooping down over the bridges connection South and North Queensferry with eagle eyed onlookers capturing footage of the passing plane.

Sam Nicholls was in South Queensferry with his young son, Rory, who is 18-months-old, when he noticed the fighter jet coming over the Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge and Forth Bridge at around 4pm on Wednesday May 8.

Sam filmed the plane as it flew overhead as he watched the plane zoom past and said that Rory found the jet "much more exciting than a bin lorry."

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Iain Macdonald was also able to capture a picture of the aircraft, saying he was "lucky to catch the ZK322" from the Cramond Bridge.

The RAF say that two of their aircraft were out on a training exercise in the east coast of Scotland as they practised low level flying along with a diversion into Leuchars airfield.

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An RAF spokesperson said: "‘RAF aircraft use a variety of locations and airfields across the UK for training as they offer different challenges in terms of airspace and air traffic procedures.

"Yesterday two RAF Typhoons, from RAF Coningsby, Lincs were completing routine training on the east coast Scotland, this training included low level flying and a practice diversion into Leuchars airfield."

Describing the capabilities of the Eurofighter Typhoon, the RAF say on their website: "The Typhoon FGR.Mk 4 is a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft, capable of being deployed for the full spectrum of air operations, including air policing, peace support and high-intensity conflict.

"Initially deployed in the air-to-air role as the Typhoon F.Mk 2, the aircraft now has a potent, precision multi-role capability as the FGR4. The pilot performs many essential functions through the aircraft’s hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) interface which, combined with an advanced cockpit and the Helmet Equipment Assembly (HEA), renders Typhoon superbly equipped for all aspects of air operations.

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"Although Typhoon has flown precision attack missions in all its combat deployments to date, its most essential role remains the provision of quick reaction alert (QRA) for UK and Falkland Islands airspace. Detachments have also reinforced NATO air defence in the Baltic and Black Sea regions."

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