Low flying twin prop over Portlaoise

[r011ingthunder]

Heard a very low pass over the house at about 17:30 this evening. Ran out to have a look and it was an old twin-prop (like a DC-3 but I'm no expert). It was VERY low, seemed like between 500 to 1000 feet. Anyone any idea why?

SW of Portlaoise, Ireland. Weather overcast, ceiling about 3,000 to 3,500 feet approx.

[Rainboe]

Probably a Police one that circles endlessly driving everyone nuts! Look carefully to see if there are any protuberances, like gyro stabilised cameras.

Don't come back in till we call you.

[r011ingthunder]

:)
Nah, it was definitely a tail-dragger like a DC-3 or similar, and bigger than the Garda Plane (http://www.garda.ie/gasu/defender.html), which I've never seen aloft! It was very like this (http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DC-3_in_SoAfrica.jpg).

[Rainboe]

A DC3 is unique. Readily identifiable by the swept back wing leading edge. If you are unable to recognise that, I suggest you don't ever grace the hallowed halls of the Spotters Forum again! So what was it?

[r011ingthunder]

I honestly think it was a DC 3 despite the fact that it was highly unlikely to be. That's why I posted to see if anyone could shed any light.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Perhaps it was one of the Air Atlantic DC-3s based in Coventry. I believe that they have fishery and oil-slick enabled craft, so perhaps that would explain it's low altitude.


Regards


SHJ

[AircraftOperations]

Didn't think the DC-3 was commercially licensed anymore - or was that just for pax?

[stevef]

Atlantique don't have spray-equipped Dakotas any more. I believe the only one of their fleet flying on Sunday was at Kemble.
AO is right - they can't be used to fly pax as of July 15th this year.

[Danmadole]

I think I heard that there is a DC3 operating ground (mineral) survey flights. The heights you mention would fit the bill.

[Rainboe]

Oh wake up man! Swept leading edge, slooowwww, tailwheel, large fuselage, loud. The clues are there. How could you even post in Spotters if you can't get that right?

[r011ingthunder]

I posted in "spotters" because I was hoping a "spotter" had spotted it and could confirm my suspicions. I am not a spotter, nor an expert nor a pilot (just an enthusiast) so I make no apologies for not being 100% on what plane it was. It fit all I knew about the DC-3 hence my guess, however, I am not familiar with all the twin prop tail-draggers out there so I was hesitant about making a positive identification. I've seen how people can be torn apart on this forum for presuming.

PS Yes, it fit all the descriptors you used, tail-wheel, slow, very slow, large fuselage and very loud, however, as I was looking at it from behind, (yes it was THAT low), the swept wing was difficult to see.

<edit: added the PS>

[eigjb]

It was probably Turbo DC-3 C-FTGI - its based at Galway for a few weeks to operate survey flights over the midlands.

see photo:-

Photo Bell Aerospace Douglas DC-3 C-FTGI (http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=768188)

[737]

Its a Basler turboprop conversion of the DC3. I've seen it quite a few times over the last few months operating between 200 and 500 feet agl, once at very close range from a cub! Its carrying out a mineral survey apparently.

[r011ingthunder]

Thanks guys, 'eigjb', that pic is the very plane and '737', your agl's are the ones that made my heart race when it flew over. Curiosity sated. Thanks very much! Now if only I was piloting LOL

[SpringHeeledJack]

Assuming that this beauty is packed with sensors to see through the strata and the minerals within, a question. Where are the sensors ? I see only VHF antennae and you would've thought that there would be all manner of external protuberances :8

Also, at what altitude would this aircraft have crossed the Atlantic from Canada ?


Regards


SHJ

[harrogate]

Oh wake up man! Swept leading edge, slooowwww, tailwheel, large fuselage, loud. The clues are there. How could you even post in Spotters if you can't get that right?

I think that post needed to go in the 'W*nkers' forum.

Mods?

[casp3r]

Probably this one you saw.

DC3 (http://www.dalesplanes.co.uk/index.php?topic=1136.0)

[BladePilot]

r011ingthunder
Would agree with eigjb. There was a piece in a local paper and posters up in the local shops (North County Dublin) advising residents that a DC3 would be flying low level in order to gather information on mineral deposits around the county. Damn hope that doesn't mean they'll start opencast mining in this lovely part of the country:sad:

[diarmuid8]

Hi r011ingthunder,

I'm almost sure you saw a DC-3. It does surveying for the OS maps, they have a Radio Altimiter which allows them to fly at very low altitudes thus enhancing their survalence of an area. The operate free lance or sometimes contracted to Westair (EINN).
It couldn't have been anything else not in Ireland anyway!

[blaggerman]

Full details of the survey can be found here Airborne Survey 2008 (http://www.airbornesurvey.com/)