Military aircraft to fly after dark over Cumbria

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 05:59 · Archive

Exercise Yorknite will see military fixed-wing aircraft flying over Cumbria until December 4 between 2.30pm and 9.30pm.

Exercise Yorknite is a major military training exercise taking place across northern England and Scotland from November 9 until December 4. The Ministry of Defence says the exercise involves multiple fixed-wing aircraft, with flying scheduled between 2.30pm and 9.30pm each day. Cumbria is specifically listed among the counties affected by both daytime and night-time flying.

The exercise covers a large area including UK Low Flying Areas and designated night-flying sectors. Other counties affected at night include Lancashire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Durham, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and parts of Scotland. The timing means aircraft operating over Cumbria could be particularly noticeable after darkness falls, with sunset now occurring during the afternoon.

The Ministry of Defence has not identified the individual types of aircraft taking part, describing them only as 'multiple fixed wing'. Exercise Yorknite is separate from the RAF's programme of operational low-flying training in its Tactical Training Areas. The MOD says operational low-flying training can see fixed-wing aircraft flying between 100ft and 250ft in designated tactical training areas, although standard military low-flying activity can still take place when those areas are not being used.

Military aircraft are a relatively common sight over the Lake District and wider Cumbria, with the county forming part of the UK's military low-flying system. The MOD warns that it cannot provide a timetable covering every military low-flying movement because plans can change quickly as a result of weather and training requirements.

How it is being reported

• Military aircraft to fly after dark over Cumbria during major training exercisePeople across Cumbria may hear military aircraft flying after dark over the coming weeks as part of a major training exercise.NW Evening Mail · 14 Nov, 05:00
• Military aircraft to fly after dark over Cumbria during major training exercisePeople across Cumbria may hear military aircraft flying after dark over the coming weeks as part of a major training exercise.Westmorland Gazette · 14 Nov, 05:00
• Military aircraft to fly after dark over Cumbria during major training exercisePeople across Cumbria may hear military aircraft flying after dark over the coming weeks as part of a major training exercise.Whitehaven News · 14 Nov, 05:00
• Military aircraft to fly after dark over Cumbria during major training exercisePeople across Cumbria may hear military aircraft flying after dark over the coming weeks as part of a major training exercise.News & Star · 14 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Ministry of Defence · Cumbria · RAF · Lancashire · Northumberland · North Yorkshire · Scotland

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log