THERE has been a visible increase in aerial activity by the Armed Forces over North Yorkshire in recent weeks, keen military observers say.
More aircraft, particularly from the US Air Force, have been busy with training flights and supply missions over the county.
Sleek supersonic F15 fighters from Lakenheath were over the Dales in droves last week, including a sortie where they flew alongside one of the visiting B-52 bombers that are now operating from Gloucestershire for several weeks.
Overflights of the county by giant transport aircraft such as the C17 Globemaster and C5 Galaxy shuttling between the UK and USA presently appears to be a daily occurrence.
The seeming increase in activity comes amid major diplomatic efforts to de-escalation tensions in eastern Europe, where Russian forces have been massing equipment and soldiers on the Ukranian border.
Locally, RAF Leeming played host to military helicopters last week for Exercise Wildcat Tempest. Eight helicopter crews, plus support from The Wildcat Helicopter Squadron, based at Yeovilton, Somerset, a specialist Aviation Reconnaissance Force spent six days operating from the North Yorkshire airbase.
They trained over the Dales and other parts of the region in including RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria - the only electronic warfare tactics facility in Europe. Aircrews practiced manoeuvres and tactics against threats and targets they face in contemporary warfare.
Last month, C130 Hercules and Ospreys from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk visited Teesside airport and areas of North Yorkshire as part of a training exercise.
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