Question - I live south of Dallas (actually so. of Waxahachie area) and have witnessed (numerous times) a lone helicopter followed by what looks like a F16 (?) trailing the copter. The copter is larger than a typical private or corporate helicopter and the jet is painted green/black/brown (?) cameo. The jet's wings are not swept and it has a sgl, vertical tail. (Sorry, no pics, best description I can offer.)

I am surprised the jet stays airborne given the copter's airspeed, but always trails behind and to one side of the copter by approx. 1/4 mile. No idea the altitude...but would guess approx. 1-2,000 ft. It appears some kind of testing is being done, but no idea what.

Any idea what this is????

This aircraft?

Aero L-159, contract adversary air for USAF and Air Guard. One of about half a dozen different foreign aircraft types flown by contractors as adversary air to be stationed at various air bases.

Perhaps...but w/o fuel tanks (?) on wing tips and certainly no ordinance under the wings. I've seen the above 'fly over' several times over the last year and a half. Sometimes the two craft make small turns and come over my hse going east and then return flying west...more or less, headed towards Ft. Worth. It's as if the jet is observing the helicopter.

Note - the helicopter has a sgl main rotor, is comparatively quiet for it's size and is not painted cameo like the jet.
Appearance, just seems weird and I suspect is somehow military in nature. Unfortunately, I don't own binoculars to check markings on either craft.

Could be a Mirage F-1 owned by ATAC. If you're on Facebook, join the "DFW Spotters" group and ask there. Surely someone will know. Also, add Flightradar24 app to your phone and to can see them if they're broadcasting ADS-B. Also, you can ask Siri "what planes are overhead?" if you have an Iphone.

More than likely a Bell/Textron project. They have a test flight facility in Arlington. I think they do most of their test flights south of DFW.

I know they have a large rotary platform they are trying to finalize. I think they had one crash in your area a year or two ago.

They also have a fixed wing jet they have been trying to bring to market.

Marauder Blue 6 said:

---

Could be a Mirage F-1 owned by ATAC. If you're on Facebook, join the "DFW Spotters" group and ask there. Surely someone will know. Also, add Flightradar24 app to your phone and to can see them if they're broadcasting ADS-B. Also, you can ask Siri "what planes are overhead?" if you have an Iphone.

---

ATAC just bought 60 of them. Should be seeing a lot of them.
Do they fly out OpFor out of Carswell? I know that the F-18's have a combat maneuver area over my office at Proctor Lake/Comanche County.

Really pisses me off when I am in a meeting and cannot go outside to watch them. Really cool airshow albeit a bit high up.

Straight wing, but twin tailed Textron AirLand Scorpion

Straight wing, single vertical tail, but turbo-prop

Textron/Beech AT-6B Wolverine

Garland Ag 78 said:

---

UAnd More than likely a Bell/Textron project. They have a test flight facility in Arlington. I think they do most of their test flights south of DFW.

---

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner!

Bell has a European jet trainer, I think an Albatross L-39, that they have been using around Amarillo to escort their latest tilt rotor, and I believe the tilt rotor designation is V-280 Valor. I suspect that's what the OP saw.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/24B3ktb][/url]Bell V-280 Valor in Flight With L-39 Chase Plane by Amarillo Aviation, on Flickr

The jet in the above pic looks very similar to what I've witnessed. However, the copter I've seen does not have dual/twin rotors, and is more typical of what one would think of as a normal helicopter...except larger than a standard commercial helo. What I've seen is noisy (concussion type, i.e., 'thump, thump, thump) as it approaches but very quiet while overhead. As I recall, the copter is mostly white with blue markings. By itself...it doesn't appear to be military.

Bought some binoculars yesterday, so next time I may be able to provide a better description.

PS - THANKS for everyone's efforts to provide an answer. This board is awesome.

ETA - Anyone know why they would use a jet to conduct tests on a helo...or vice versa?????

The V-280 is capable of 320mph. No helicopter in the world can fly that fast, the Albatross can. I don't know about the chopper you saw, but the Albatross stalls about 100mph, so if the chopper goes faster than that, they can hang with it

And it's an observation craft, not a tester. They escort, check for oil leaks, gear position, etc

whatthehey78 said:

---

As I recall, the copter is mostly white with blue markings. By itself...it doesn't appear to be military.

---

Oh crap. you have UN choppers checking out your house....

CanyonAg77 said:

---

[url=https://flic.kr/p/24B3ktb][/url]Bell V-280 Valor in Flight With L-39 Chase Plane by Amarillo Aviation, on Flickr

---

This very combo flew over my hse today (12:15 PM, 10/01). Made several turns/loops (left & rt.) over/around Italy, TX area then flew off in so. west direction.

Thoughts on whether test or training taking place?

I'm an aviation buff, not an expert. But I'm pretty sure this is a test flight, and the guy in the jet is another set of eyes, looking for things like oil leaks, doors open, control surface malfunction, etc

Marauder Blue 6 said:

---

Could be a Mirage F-1 owned by ATAC. If you're on Facebook, join the "DFW Spotters" group and ask there. Surely someone will know. Also, add Flightradar24 app to your phone and to can see them if they're broadcasting ADS-B. Also, you can ask Siri "what planes are overhead?" if you have an Iphone.

---

ATAC is not flying over Waxahacie. Only west out of AFW

whatthehey78 said:

---

CanyonAg77 said:

---

[url=https://flic.kr/p/24B3ktb][/url]Bell V-280 Valor in Flight With L-39 Chase Plane by Amarillo Aviation, on Flickr

---

This very combo flew over my hse today (12:15 PM, 10/01). Made several turns/loops (left & rt.) over/around Italy, TX area then flew off in so. west direction.

Thoughts on whether test or training taking place?

---

Spotted flying east over Eagle Mountain Lake. First time I've seen a valor in flight, so that was cool.

The V-280 made its "Public Debut" at the Alliance Air Show this past weekend. Though we up here at the DEW line have seen it several times.

It was a very impressive show - was surprised at how much the body looks like UH-60.

The black paint makes it look quite sinister

Yep, saw it Sunday at Alliance. Pretty damn cool. A LOT quieter than the V22 for sure. Also saw ATAC's F1 Mirage on static display.

whatthehey78

Sounds like you're describing the Bell 525. I've seen the L-39 escort / chase it before too. And I agree, looks like the L-39 appears to be barely above stall speed.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/D0p10dQtXfc/maxresdefault.jpg


Bell is testing both the V-280 and 525 out of Arlington, for many tests. They typically fly to the southwest, to Venus and back.

If I had a helicopter, I'd fly anywhere but Venus...