Over London

[cheechm]

What flew over London at about 11:50pm last night? (Around the 27R flight path for Heathrow / Hammersmith Bridge). There seemed to be a few aircraft in formation moving rather fast!?

[SpringHeeledJack]

What type of aircraft engine sound (passenger, prop, fast jet etc) ? What kind of height (obviously a guess as it was dark) ? What kind of local weather etc ?


SHJ

[Hotel Tango]

:zzz: Too many of these type of questions on the forum recently. It is quite obvious that there are numerous special air operations over and around the capital in anticipation of not one but two up-and-coming special events.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Whilst there is no doubt stuff going on, until now all military flights over the capital have been pre-planned and publicized so as not to alarm the good citizens and night flights are rare at low levels..


SHJ

[cheechm]

Hard to tell what level because they weren't too close to me, but they seemed to be in some formation, and moving very fast!

[SpringHeeledJack]

This might have been it ? A night time practice, no flights in or out of LHR at 11.50pm and if they were heading west/wnw etc then that might be mystery solved, none better than the Red Arrows at flying in close formation.

RAF Flypast for Diamond Jubilee (http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/raf-flypast-for-diamond-jubilee-30052012)



SHJ

[Groundloop]

You do NOT practice a daytime formation flypast at midnight!!

I doubt Red Arrows Hawks even have formation lights.

[Torque Tonight]

until now all military flights over the capital have been pre-planned and publicized

Not correct.

[SpringHeeledJack]

Whilst there are 'certain' movements that aren't shouted about and notwithstanding the normal Chinook/Thames passages, any low(er) flying flights have been advertised in a generalized way so as to not alarm the good citizens below and keep them onside. That the OP thought they heard 'several' low-flying aircraft close together the choices are few. Yes the night-time practice of the Reds does sound silly (perhaps with NVG's ?), but unless it was an escorted civilian airliner coming into LHR then what ? Any SF flying would be countered by the chance of something going wrong and carnage on the ground which would be a disaster in all senses.

By the by, only this lunchtime I looked up to see a west-bound contrail in the blue sky and a thick white 'cross' caught my eye. It was moving so slowly that I thought it must be a large party balloon, however, it then proceed to speed up and commence a large sweeping turn. Silent, unusual looking and had me scratching my head as to what it was, perhaps a drone ? :suspect:



SHJ

[Skypilot]

Indeed - a Hunter plus a couple of piston-engined aircraft that I couldn't see clearly enough to identify have been over our place (North Hampshire) this lunch time. There was also a Typhoon earlier, presumably on his way back from Portsmouth.

[MB27]

Whilst there are 'certain' movements that aren't shouted about and notwithstanding the normal Chinook/Thames passages, any low(er) flying flights have been advertised in a generalized way so as to not alarm the good citizens below and keep them onside

Hi, can you recommend any ways of finding out about such flights? I often wondered if information is published in advance.

Thanks

[cheechm]

Just had some more aircraft right now fly north to south. The unmistakable sound of a fighter aircraft. Estimate they were somewhere in between LCY and LHR.

[SpringHeeledJack]

That would be the flypast at Buckingham Palace to end the Diamond Jubilee. The Red Arrows finished it up and came from the east and after the palace were seen (by me) heading SW perhaps to another flypast/display.

Hi, can you recommend any ways of finding out about such flights? I often wondered if information is published in advance.


Unless you're military or ATC the chances are slim. The Chinooks are very regular London area transit aircraft flying in both directions along the Thames heli-corridor, you'll hear them more than see them! The others....well just look up and you might get lucky to see something.



SHJ

[WASPERNATOR]

Red Arrows heading for Southampton..

the three Queen's are in situ today!

[Skipness One Echo]

the three Queen's are in situ today!
How long for?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

They go tonight. Click the link and scroll down a bit.
Cruise Ship Schedule - Southampton VTS - ABP Southampton (http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/)

[Gulf4uk]

The Arrows according to TV Landed at Bournemouth but were unable to perform at Southampton over the 3 Queens Due to extremely poor weather.

Tony
farnborough

[Have briefs]

SpringHeeled Jack

Further to your reply.

Last week I looked up at some very high contrails and saw a new one for me?

Aircraft two was flying exactly through, and on the same heading, as the contrail left by aircraft one!

Surely a rare occurrence to have no jet-streams at that altitude?

Now I bet all you pilot types are going to contradict me................:=

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<Surely a rare occurrence to have no jet-streams at that altitude?>>

Not sure what you mean? Also, the aircraft might have been vertically separated.

[Groundloop]

Aircraft two was flying exactly through, and on the same heading, as the contrail left by aircraft one!

Surely a rare occurrence to have no jet-streams at that altitude?

They could both be following an airway that just happened to point directly into the wind on that particular day.

As the jetstream is a comparatively narrow stream there are more areas of airspace without a jetstream than with.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I saw a beautiful DH89 Dragon Rapide, perhaps dark colour scheme flying over SE London at lowish altitude this lunchtime heading eastwards. I wonder what that was up to, lucky sods having a tour no doubt ;)



SHJ

[cheechm]

Next one - a seminole or duchess looking aircraft flying not more than 1500ft around southfields. Something to do with Wimbledon tennis? Thought they used a helicopter for weather forecasts.

[SpringHeeledJack]

There is one that is used for photography/filming based in Staverton (?) that was flying around 2-3 weeks ago according to my spies and no doubt, with the sunshine today the task was repeated to get some good footage/stills ahead of the rain/deluge that is forecast for the upcoming days :{


SHJ