View Full Version : Lucy in the sky with diamonds, well circles.
Cell
22nd March 2006, 13:43
I say this sort of thing some months ago but didn't have my camera handy, this time I have. (low quality due to it been taken on my video stills card)
Just took the below shot from the bottom of my garden, it's north of EGNM. I think it's only one aircraft but could be two doing constant wide turns approx. 10 minute intervals. The v-trails are moving to the east as the a/c is doing the circuit, so it's not tracking to the west.
Does anyone know what they are doing ? Is it military ? I was thinking tanker ops but I thought it wasn't permitted over populated areas ?
(resized picture...sorry I forgot) All forgiven:) :)
http://www.6th-heaven.com/DSC00313.jpg
Oshkosh George
23rd March 2006, 15:16
Most likely is an AWACS on station during some sort of exercise. We get them doing that over here a lot.
Cell
23rd March 2006, 16:14
That sounds likely, plenty of military areas in north of the UK. Thanks for the reply George.
timmcat
24th March 2006, 10:15
Just to add to this, I noticed it myself, it looked from my position to be roughly over the York area.
It really was noticable, far more than cell's picture shows. I could clearly see two or three 'orbits', from one or more aircraft.
topcat450
24th March 2006, 11:40
Did you reg it Timm? :E
Gonzo
24th March 2006, 14:57
Chemtrails,
Gotta be........ http://p211.ezboard.com/bchemtrails
SixDelta
24th March 2006, 16:37
Looks like an E3 orbit to me.
Love those Chemtrail nutters :D
PPRuNe Radar
25th March 2006, 21:49
The UK AIP is always a good source ;)
UK Orbit Area 4
543800N 0011600W - 535200N 0002700W - 534300N 0005200W - 534300N 0010900W - 542200N 0015200W - 543800N 0011600W.
FL 290 - FL 330
Hours: Permanently available.
Remarks: RVSM compliant aircraft only.
FJJP
26th March 2006, 14:07
Or it could be just one orbitting AWACS - with jetstreams up there (100+mph), the contrails drift downwind. In other words, you can get a series of circles made by one aircraft over a period of several hours.
unclenelli
26th March 2006, 14:49
The E3 is an unusual aircraft.
The E3D has 4 wingtips and is the only bi-plane currently in RAF service.
All E3s are a tube within a tube for the fuselage - this serves 2 purposes....
-extra sheilding from the radar for those inside
-the inside tube rotates to keep the floor level while going round and round in circles in its orbit area.
Pick the bones out of that!!!!!!