View Full Version : Unusual sighting
Ian Titcombe
13th Jan 2013, 12:14
At grandson's football match this morning in Swindon lots of air traffic on Green One as usual then saw heading North to South unusual vapour trails. Passing directly overhead at 35000ish feet was a large four engined plane closely accompanied by two fighters either side. Anyone have any further info. on who what or why?
Big Eric
13th Jan 2013, 15:11
4 Swedish AF Gripens and a USAF KC-10 on their way to Red Flag in the USA via Lajes, Azores.
With thanks to Fighter Control forum.
"a large four engined plane"?? Also cannot see how they would route that way? South westerly route?
Big Eric
13th Jan 2013, 15:55
Ian, they passed over Swindon at around 10.40 - would that be about right ?
BOAC, yup - SW route out over Cornwall, they'd diverted into Mildenhall on Friday with 4 other Gripens and another KC-10 after refuelling problems to the SW of Lands End. I think these should be trying again tomorrow.
TEEEJ
13th Jan 2013, 16:59
As already pointed out Swedish Gripens and USAF KC-10. Some images at following links.
Flickr: ilminsterpix's Photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilminsterpix)
KC-10 and friends | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/philsph0t0s1/8375516477/)
Amazing info/pics guys/gals! It was the "4 engines heading North-South" that fooled me.:)
Tupperware Pilot
13th Jan 2013, 17:55
We wondered what the formation was!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8377721130_20a236140a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tupperware_pilot/8377721130/) Passing over Hinton.. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tupperware_pilot/8377721130/) by Air Frame Photography (http://www.flickr.com/people/tupperware_pilot/), on Flickr
FlightPathOBN
13th Jan 2013, 19:30
aerial spraying for sure! :}
TEEEJ
14th Jan 2013, 16:16
Footage of the KC-10 and Gripens.
8fFiSzMT8_c
nacluv
14th Jan 2013, 17:17
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8377721130_20a236140a_z.jpg
Another shuttle breaking up on re-entry?
DaveReidUK
14th Jan 2013, 20:55
Another shuttle breaking up on re-entry?How amusing.
chiglet
14th Jan 2013, 22:30
It was the "4 engines
When I was at Brum in 1969. we got a phone call from the police of "4 single engined jet bombers trailing smoke"
Turned out to be a C130.....:O
Big Eric
15th Jan 2013, 17:22
Well said DaveReid, we can do without that sort of sick comment.:=