A LOUD bang which was heard across the North East came from a training mission involving jets from the Swiss Air Force - and we got to have a look behind the scenes.

Earlier this week, residents across Ryedale reported a loud bang as early reports suggested an earthquake had taken place.

Residents described homes shaking and their windows vibrating after the noise at around 3.50pm on Wednesday.

Last night, the Swiss Air Force confirmed that they had been responsible for the noise as they said an F-18 Hornet had been on a training mission.

The Gazette & Herald's sister paper, The Northern Echo. got to go behind the scenes at the training mission at RAF Leeming to see what they are doing - and why.

This week, ten F18 Hornets have been circling the skies of the region after arriving on Monday along with a contingent of helicopters.

Flying has so far been taking place mainly over the North Sea and RAF Spadeadam, the electronic warfare range over in Cumbria, both day and night.

Now in its third year at the North Yorkshire base, so-called "Exercise YORKNIGHT" is expected to continue all the way up until the second week of December.

Lieutenant colonel Aldo Wicki, Detachment Commander, explained why they continue to come to RAF Leeming.

 

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He said: "When it comes to advanced training you need highly qualified assets to train with and against.

"Our Air Force is too small to set up the assets so the opportunities in the UK are just fabulous - working with operationally experienced units from the RAF, or the US Air Force."

He added: "The second detachment will be completely different, because it includes the young pilots.

"Their challenge will not only to stick precisely and correctly to rules, regulations and procedures, but also successfully do the basic exercises at night in the training sectors over the dark, black seat at night."

Addressing the loud bang on Wednesday, a spokesman for the RAF said: “Exercise YORNITE, involving the Swiss Air Force, will be operating from RAF Leeming from November 15 to December 10.

"As in the past two years, it will involve night flying until 10pm, Monday to Friday.

“We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused, and thank you for your patience. More details on the exercise can be found on the RAF Leeming Facebook page, if you have access.”