Historic attack jets in dramatic flight over Oxfordshire town

Multiple people in Bicester heard and saw the pair of BAC 167 Strikemaster Mk.82A jets on Saturday May 30.

Taking off and landing at North Weald Airfield near Harlow, the planes went to Stratford-upon-Avon and back, passing over Oxfordshire including Bicester.

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Their journey time was just over 45 minutes, taking off at 1.18pm and landing at 2.03pm.

On social media, Andy Stowe shared photos of the aircraft and said they came over Bicester at around 1.20pm, while noting that people may have heard them.

He added: “They were on the outskirts and moving pretty quick.”

Photos of a BAC 17 Strikemaster Mk.82A flying above Bicester (Image: Andy Stowe)

Others also said they saw and heard the planes with many seemingly delighted by the dramatic flyover.

The BAC 167 Strikemaster planes were produced by the British Aircraft Corporation and were first flown in 1967.

The model was typically marketed as a light attack or counter-insurgency aircraft but was also used to train pilots.

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Reportedly it did see combat service in Ecuador, Oman and Yemen with only around 150 having been produced.

Oxfordshire is well used to seeing unusual planes in the air, being home to RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s largest UK airbase, but the air force said the Strikemaster jets were nothing to do with them.

Instead, according to flight radar, they are operated by Strikemaster Flying Club.