Donald Trump UK visit – US Special Forces choppers sweep London as huge security barriers go up
US special forces helicopters sweep through the sky above London as the £30million security operation for Donald Trump’s UK visit gathers pace today.
Visitors to Regent’s Park were greeted to the sight of two £50million V-22 Osprey tiltrotor military aircrafts, which can take off and land vertically.
They whipped up grass and litter as they skimmed the treetops yesterday afternoon – blowing onlooker Philip Robinson off his bike.
The speech therapist, 33, who captured the craft on camera, said: “It was unbelievable.
“These two huge American military helicopters came flying in, and hovered above the park for around 15 minutes.
“It was very noisy. There were a few people around, and most of them were intrigued. I think I was the only one who was a little bit annoyed.
“It’s a public park full of ordinary people just trying to enjoy some peace and quiet. They shouldn’t be allowed to do this here.”
The £50million V-22 Osprey can hover like a helicopter but fly like a plane.
Its ability to perform both functions come from its pair of proprotors attached to each wing.
It takes off like a conventional helicopter then the proprotors and engines rotate through 90 degrees to turn it into a fixed-wing aircraft.
It weighs 15 tonnes can carry 24 passengers, has a top speed of 316 miles per house and a range of 1,010 miles.
The aircraft’s Rolls-Royce engines see it climb at 36ft a second – faster than a helicopter.
It can also fly at up to 26,000ft, thereby avoiding enemy missiles.
Machine guns are installed in the nose and on the rear ramp.
The security operation for Trump’s three-day visit later this week is estimated to cost £30million as 10,000 police officers are deployed.
Security barriers were being erected today close to American Ambassador’s residence of Winfield House in Regent’s Park.
The President flies in on Thursday night and will attend a dinner in his honour at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, Winston Churchill’s birthplace.
He will then spend the night at the home of US Ambassador Woody Johnson in London, before visiting a military facility with Theresa May followed by talks at her country house Chequers.
V-22 Osprey at a glance
Cost: £50million
Weight: 15 tonnes
Capacity: 24 passengers
Top speed: 316 miles per hour
Range: 1,010 miles
Weaponry: Machine guns on nose and rear
Fuselage: Carbon fibre to reduce impact of bullets
Unique ability: Proprotors which rotate through 90 degrees allow it to hover like a helicopter and fly like a plane
Mr Trump will meet the Queen on Friday afternoon at Windsor Castle, then travel to Scotland for a two-day private holiday.
Speaking as he prepared to depart for his European trip today he has said that the UK is in “turmoil” and it is “up to the people” whether or not Theresa May remains Prime Minister.
Answering questions from reporters on the lawn of the White House as he and his wife Melania prepared to board the Marine One presidential helicopter, Mr Trump said that the UK “certainly has a lot of things going on”.
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