I assume the Barry Bland referred to is the sports photographer who I guess was covering the West Ham v Blackburn game at the aforementioned Upton Park in which case he would be using a very high spec digital camaera and a very long lens (probably 300mm possibly even 500mm given that he is begining to loose background definition).
Barry will know that such lenses compress perspective dramatically and that the real separation of the aircraft is significant (probably very much more than the 1000 ft mentioned above).
Naughty Barry, where is your integtity?
Read all about Barry Bland;
http://www.bluegreenpictures.com/per...apher;ph_id=56