Mystery helicopter noise over Dorset? Here’s what was happening last night

This news article is sponsored by NFU Mutual Bournemouth

If you were kept awake by the sound of a helicopter in Dorset last night, you’re not alone. Many residents took to social media, puzzled by the persistent noise that seemed to hover above for hours.

The culprit? An AgustaWestland AW-159 Super Lynx helicopter, which took off from Yeovil and conducted a series of maneuvers, flying over Sherborne before heading south toward Weymouth and Portland. The chopper was likely performing training exercises just off the coast of Chesil Beach.

One resident from Beaminster shared, “I keep hearing a low droning sound all night. It’s like a low hum, like an airplane or generator noise, but it’s there all the time, even in the early hours.”

Flight records show that the helicopter left Yeovil at 7:22 PM, landed briefly at 9:09 PM, took off again at 9:37 PM, and finally returned to Yeovil just before midnight.

This advanced aircraft is not just any helicopter—it’s an evolution of the iconic Lynx, boasting cutting-edge tactical capabilities through its sophisticated avionics and mission systems.

So, if you heard a helicopter last night, it wasn’t just your imagination—it was part of critical training maneuvers by the Royal Navy, honing skills to keep the coastlines safe.