Airborne joyrider flies under M2 bridge

[007helicopter]

Ok own up - so who was it ??

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news.asp?article_id=27933

[DenhamPPL]

Save the image and zoom in. Looks like a fake to me.


See enhanced image below with what looks like a not particularily professional overlay of another image (ie an aeroplane) over the original.
http://www.hhukrecordings.co.uk/enhanced.jpg


If it isn't. What a :mad:!

[tmmorris]

Hmm. That could just be compression artefacts from an algorithm which compresses the image block by block. I'm not an expert on these things but I think your blown up bit doesn't disprove the story.

Tim

[007helicopter]

Denham - you would assume a newspaper would pick up a fake if that is the case, but see your point. Also they did say "The astounding "prank" left eyewitnesses" ie more than one witness.

[Runaway Gun]

It was DenhamPPL - he's even trying to cover his tracks !!

[172driver]

Denham - you would assume a newspaper would pick up a fake if that is the case, but see your point. Also they did say "The astounding "prank" left eyewitnesses" ie more than one witness.

Well, newspapers around the world recently did NOT pick up on fakes from Lebanon which were absurdly clumsy, to put it mildly. Don't forget, the press will never let the facts mess up a good story :suspect:

Re the pic: there is indeed a strange amount of 'blocking' around the a/c in the pic. There could be any number of reasons for this, one being a rapidly moving object shot with a sh**t camera, or, of course, someone comping this in. Hard to tell, though Denham PPL is covering his tracks pretty well here ;)

In any case, the journo, while trying valiantly ('disaster, dangerous, gasping in horror...') must be a trainee, as he/she left out the obvious: close to orphanage, narrowly missed convent, nearby school had just closed minutes before - coming to think of it, I'm sure there was a boatload full of handicapped kids just sailing underneath this bridge at this very moment....:E

[Kengineer-130]

probably not the cleverest thing in the world to do, but most people have to admit they think about it :ok: how high is the bridge?

[Final 3 Greens]

Trying to relate the position of the a/c to the bridge, I am wondering if this was a large RC model?

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've driven over it quite a few times, would be a doddle to fly under.

Tempting isn't it! I'm sure that many of us have had whymsical thoughts about flying under a bridge from time to time. Or at-least I have.


However, I think I'm with F3G, the proportions in that image look to me very much like an RC model.

Incidentally the line about "had he hit it, there would have been a disaster" strikes me as nonsense. That much pre-stressed concrete versus a tonne of aluminium - the bridge would barely get scratched.

G

[Kirstey]

Now had he've flown through the Medway tunnel rather then under the Medway bridge.. THEN I'd been impreessed!

[Tango Oscar]

I've heard, from a fairly reliable source, that it was flown by two microlight instructors in a Eurostar.:eek:

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've heard, from a fairly reliable source, that it was flown by two microlight instructors in a Eurostar.:eek:
Eurostar is low-wing, that photo looks like a high wing to me.

G

[markflyer6580]

If I had something with a bit of pace e.g P51,TBM 850 etc I would have a go at the Humber bridge-plenty of room between water and road level.
Transponder on but no height info dive from 1000' and pop back up at 300kts ish! to fast for anyone to get the reg if you did it early on I reckon you would get away with it.(you could bribe the radar controller not to say anything with some beer!):}

[stiknruda]

I've always had the desire to loop the Orwell bridge, to the south east of Ipswich. That final flight before I relinquish my licence and take up fly-fishing!

I knew a man who'd flown under it, but I think a loop entry at 180mph would give me bags of margin to get around it!

Still wouldn't be as cool as the late Ray H with his Spitfire under the bridge, someone no doubt can post the photo.


Stik

[007helicopter]

I've heard, from a fairly reliable source, that it was flown by two microlight instructors in a Eurostar.:eek:

Now that really is a good rumour - getting some where now !!

For those that asked I would guess its about 200ft gap, also its three very large bridges, 2 for the M2 Motorway and one for the high speed rail link so not only a boat full of orphans but a train load as well.

[BillieBob]

Save the image and zoom in. Looks like a fake to me.The caption to the picture says only that it is "The scene of the dangerous 'prank'" - There is no suggestion that the aircraft in the picture is the culprit. The photo is clearly taken looking east, so it's probably just some random flight out of Rochester (or something on a LYD3U out of LCY, although its probably a bit low for that).

['Chuffer' Dandridge]

It actually happened on Sunday 6th August, a substantial amount of un-informed guff can be read here:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=25068

[London Mil]

Eurostar is low-wing, that photo looks like a high wing to me.
G


Inverted? :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[charliegolf]

Done loads of bridges. And pylons- wires to be more accurate!










But only in Pumas!

CG