RAF's Hercules aircraft spotted flying low over Mersham near Ashford
16:05, 17 March 2023
Two huge military planes caused a stir after they flew low over a village and across the Kent countryside.
The Hercules transport aircraft were caught on camera putting on an impressive display near Ashford.
Members of the public in Mersham were wowed as the quad-propeller aeroplanes dipped over fields and houses in the area.
In footage taken by a resident, one plane can be seen pulling in an arc low over the fields.
A second then follows, turning early and shooting low over homes and cheering families.
RAF spokesman Wg Cmdr Martin Tinworth confirmed the pair of craft had been on a training flight from a base at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
He said: "A pair of Hercules (C-130Js), one operated by 47 Squadron, the other by XXIV Squadron, completed a routine formation training sortie across the South East of England yesterday, such training ensuring that our crews continue to be ready for global operations."
Built by military contractor Lockheed, the Hercules has formed the backbone of the RAF's tactical arm since it was brought into service in 1999, eventually being replaced by the Atlas transport airctaft.
In 2020, an Atlas made a surprise appearance in the skies over a large swathe of the county, including Faversham, Ashford and Hawkinge.
While the RAF are turning to the Atlas for the future, 14 Hercules will remain in operation in the RAF until 2030.
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