{"id":64272,"date":"2026-04-01T21:32:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T19:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=64272"},"modified":"2026-04-08T22:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T20:34:09","slug":"polish-armed-f-16c-jastrzab-fighter-jets-flying-at-low-altitude-in-wales-famous-mach-loop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2026\/04\/01\/polish-armed-f-16c-jastrzab-fighter-jets-flying-at-low-altitude-in-wales-famous-mach-loop\/","title":{"rendered":"Polish armed F-16C Jastrz\u0105b fighter jets flying at low altitude in Wales' famous Mach Loop"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2019 I told you here about the Mach Loop<\/a>, one of the best places in the world to photograph fighter jets flying at low altitude.<\/p>\n

Two of the best mountains in the world to see war planes flying at high speed<\/a><\/rel>
\nThe curious image of a USAF F-15C Eagle fighter with the White Eagle of Poland<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

That place is a few kilometers north of the small town of Machynlleth in Wales<\/strong>. It consists of valleys known as the Machynlleth Loop, although aviation enthusiasts often refer to it as the \"Mach Loop\".<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

This location is a \"Low Flying Area\" where military aircraft can fly at an altitude of less than 2,000 feet (609 meters)<\/strong> and at a maximum speed of 450 knots (833 km\/h), from 08:00 to 23:00 on weekdays.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Last week, Polish Air Force F-16C fighter jets flew through the Mach Loop<\/strong> as part of their participation in Exercise Cobra Warrior<\/a>, organized by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and held from March 16-17. The 31st Tactical Air Base in Krzesiny published a news report about this exercise on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

On March 24, the Facebook page of that Polish base published the photos you can see here of those F-16Cs in the Mach Loop<\/a>. They were taken by Captain Pawe\u0142 Krzeszkiewicz and Sergeant Marcin Kurkus.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

These photos show F-16Cs 4043, 4050, and 4051. Additionally, the aforementioned base published a second series of photos<\/a>, taken by Sergeant Marcin Kurkus, also show F-16Cs 4043, 4045, and 4049. As seen in the images, the aircraft were armed with AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

The F-16 is nicknamed Jastrz\u0105b (Falcon) in the Polish Air Force, although the mascot of the 31st Tactical Air Base is a raven<\/strong>, a bird historically associated with wisdom and observation in Poland and which appeared on the \u015alepowron<\/a>, a coat of arms used by various Polish noble families during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. One of the Polish pilots carried a stuffed raven in his cockpit for this reason.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the regular photographers at that location, Welshman Dafydd Phillips<\/a>, has published a video today showing these Polish Air Force F-16C fighters in the Mach Loop<\/strong>, specifically 4050 and 4052. The Polish Air Force deployed at least 7 of its 36 F-16 Block 52+ aircraft to the UK, a considerable deployment:<\/p>\n