AN-225

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

3 July I read in another forum that the AN225 is en route from the USA to Paris-Vatry airport with an approx ETA of 10.30 Z and possibly routeing over southern UK.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

09.10z it's just crossing the SE Irish coast heading for Strumble.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I took some pics as it overflew Reading but my elderly hands can't hold telephoto lenses too steadily nowadays!

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a610/brendan_mccartney/Aircraft/UR82060_5_zps7f8b00f0.jpg

[treadigraph]

Blast, wish I'd sneaked a look at PPRuNe earlier, even withouit a trail it was probably visible from Croydonia.

Be nice to see the old behemoth again!

PS bloody good pic - I've never been able to hold telephoto steady!

[SpringHeeledJack]

Same here, wot he said above. Nice 'catch' mr HD, I'd say most people without one of those 'gun type' lens thingamies would have had a job to get a sharp image that is moving high above.


SHJ

[treadigraph]

Just looked at the playback, it sailed straight over my head! Rats!

[superq7]

Spiffing photo Mr HD. :ok:

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Thanks chaps. It was up around FL300 at the time. It's so monstrously huge!

[chevvron]

I've 'cabbed' it at Farnborough!

[Burnie5204]

Did y'all miss it when it flew in and landed at EMA last month then :p

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I got lots of pics of it at East Midlands in 2005!

[treadigraph]

Remember it at Farnborough, when it took off the left wing almost seemed to be over the crowd line.

[kcockayne]

Saw it overflying EGJJ once, on a "gin clear" summer Sunday. Fantastic sight !

Congratulations on your 'photo, HD.

[G-CPTN]

We get occasional overflights of a heavy propeller-powered aircraft that I presume to be a transport carrier.

The sound of the propellers is loud and distinctive, even though it passes over very high (and takes a long time to pass). Four engines - probably contra-rotating props (from the sound).

Last time was Wednesday 2nd July heading south about 5.30 pm (N55 W2).

Any ideas?

I would have suggested An22 - but I don't think there's any still flying (to the UK).

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Suggest either C-130 or AN12. I don't think there are any AN22s flying unfortunately.

[G-CPTN]

Thank-you - I remain puzzled as I thought it would be An22 until I researched the service history.

It seems much louder and deeper than a C130 (we get those over, but usually at (very) low altitude - its a military low-flying corridor from Spadeadam and Otterburn Ranges).

It probably took ten minutes from horizon to horizon.

[DaveReidUK]

Suggest either C-130 or AN12.Or possibly the A400M on an outing?

[Allan Lupton]

Continuing the drift, there was what looked and sounded like a Belslow high over here in the last day or so.

[Aksai Oiler]

Just landed from Dubai, the AN-225 is sat on the Tarmac in Doha

[DaveReidUK]

Continuing the drift, there was what looked and sounded like a Belslow high over here in the last day or so.Well we know it couldn't be a Belfast. Let's see - 4 Tynes - maybe two Transalls flying in formation ? :O

[MrSnuggles]

Mr Heathrow Director


You did excellent with the photo. No need to worry.


I have yet to see this beauty with my own eyes. If anyone happens to know if/when it will land at ARN I would be delighted if that anyone would share this information with me.

It is surely sad times when her sister is still unassembled in a hangar somewhere. Such a wonderful plane!