Aircraft ID help needed

[twinjetter]

Can anyone ID an aircraft that is currently orbiting the Waterbeach area 5KM north of Cambridge? (currently = 1500Local/12 Oct)

Right, here we go - Long lazy orbits (2 x so far) at estimate FL300+ making vapour from either fuselage or wing-root mounted engines x2, no noise whatsoever, pure white.

Has a wing profile (with my ancient telescope, and subject to being utterly innaccurate) akin to Dakota (but definitely not!)/Canberra/TR1.

BUT, under one wing, and one wing only is a large white object of some kind.

For the record, I am only on glass number two of a nice Sauvignon; so that can be ruled out:)

Any help appreciated, if only to satisfy my curios....Oh, why are those guys in that Black Omega putting on balaclavas?

Seriously though, please put my mind at rest

cheers

TWJ

[vespasia]

Sounds like the NASA WB57R (heavily modified Canberra) which is at Mildenhall currently!

You lucky b*gger!

Hope this helps:ok:

[twinjetter]

Vespasia

Having googled it, I think you're spot on!

Still not sure about why I could only see one nacelle though? looking at the google images, I see that one of the engines is matt-black? (guessing at a need for low-reflection for some kind of side-looking sensor/camera). So with the only alternative being catastrophic engine separation, I'm going for my theory!

I was half a keystroke away from going with B57 instead of "Canberra", as the wing profile certainly didn't match the known and loved uk Canberra profile, but I thought I'd broaden the possibilities of my question.

Also, looking at the photo's, my Dakota reference wasn't a million miles off either - I'm undoing all my good work now aren't I?!!

I think 18 minutes from random question to answer found is pretty impressive - long live PPRuNe.

Thanks V much Vespasia for the info

TWJ

[vespasia]

No worries - good description (the DC3 wing shape was spot on!), and I'd just been looking at a picture of it on the UKAR forum!

[twinjetter]

Historical linked image below (not mine) - certainly beats the F15's and various C135's usually found up above Greater Cambridge.

http://www.skywise711.com/misc/WB57/WB57-pass2b-enhanced.jpg

Definitely what was up and around CBG today; AND to the distant uninitiated, the image shows an apparent assymetric config. But now I know better!

Well played vespasia

TWJ

PS - Do I get banned for the linked image??????

[Sam-MAN]

Yep it's "NASA926" type WB57. Based at Mildenhall this month I believe.

Sam

[ground_star]

Also seen yesterday afternoon, about 1520 over Badwell Ash (nr Bury St Edmunds) in Suffolk :)