Anyone out there know the reason for the P68 patrolling the area of the airport / M42 at BHX for the last hour or more this afternoon?

Might be this one: -

http://images3.fotopic.net/?iid=yomr...980&quality=70

Based at Gloucester with a Danish King air, Navajo and/or C421 doing survey work all over the country.

Thanks. Most probably it was, though unfortunately I could not see the rego'. It just seemed a bit coincidental that it was apparently flying a fixed pattern for a couple of hours and seemed to coincide with an increased presence of the 'security services' at BHX. I was stopped by them just returning a hire car. I suspected an 'incident' of some sort - like someone trying to smuggle an extra tube of toothpaste onto an aircraft maybe. I would have expected a survey aircraft to fly a moving pattern not to basically orbit on the same track for a couple of hours.

Thanks anyway.

I think the Pn68 was G-BFBU (or similar)

FC

Anybody have any news on this. It happened last night.

Ah, so that's why it was parked up just beyond T1 today. I was sat on the port side on taxi so didn't get good view of any work around it. I was flying BHX- ORK today and was up in the viewing gallery - saw quite a slam by a BMI Baby 737 at about 1:30pm .. 'flaring, what's that?' sort of an affair. Have watched many landings and that one was had a bit more 'ouch' to it than usual. Also, an Air India got a bit lost when parking, taxied almost all the way back to 33 and had to execute such a tight turn to back track along thos taxiways (sorry I know not the names of them there) ... it was all quite amusing to the 10 of us watching. Weather conditions have been very good these past 24h .... wonder whats in the water today?!

Sorry I can't add much more but something to read for this evening

yeah that air india getting lost was quite funny. Its true what they say about women drivers. There was a woman piloting it.

Edit: By 'piloting' I suppose you mean 'on the radio'? Which probably means there was a man doing the 'getting lost' - any comments?

Come on Topslide6 don't be so PC, it was just a little joke. We all know that there wouldn't be any women pilots at all if aircraft had to be reversed into the gate

ok im sorry if i have offended anybody, was just meant to be a bit of tongue in cheek.

Um, I didn't make the women driver comment Topslidesix , chill out !

I posted this in what I thought would be a safe heaven from the 'look down their noses' drivers that love to berate the masses. So TS6, you really are taking my comment too seriously and out of context. I'm only qualified in so far as having flown a few times around the world and many places in between, know my ETOPS from my ACARS and am forever in awe at those wonderful flying machines. Not put in any hours on MSFS as I use a Mac

There were a few people looking at that AI driving around BHX and a few chuckles were made, so I guess that's my reason to use the word 'funny' well, at least nobody was harmed eh? It's tight for those Heavies, the pilot did a good job. If that helps ease the tension... sheesh!

Happy flying folks, it's a windy day here -> Rough landing thread will gain a few inches by the end of the day...

Two questions, is VP-BKZ Gulfstream V based at Birmingham?

And registered lessor, Dennis Vanguard Intl Switchgear Intl., I assume they design/build high voltage switchgears??? I was unable to find much on the Internet other than their corporate jets they've owned over the years.

Just wondering what it is the company does???

No doubt daelight feels qualified to comment as he/she has logged many hours in FS2004.

Hundreds of hours on the SMS/Overland 737-700, me!

Don't knock it, you'll be grateful one day if I'm on board and both pilots are incapacitated.

Saw the previous comments about the VC-10 so here is a video of it with a C-17 I took at Birmingham in 2007. It made change to hear real jet engines.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MzheZGITYQ

I understand they also own CEF (City Electrical Factors) which are a large electrical company based in Birmingham. They did buy a BBJ I thought but it was sold. VP-BKZ is meant to be the one of the, if not the highest houred G5's about. Dennis Vanguard also involved with Dam building, generators etc..... Destinations regular from BHX include BJS, GVA (think this may be Maint) NCE, LAS, PMI, PBI but suspect some of these are leisure/personal related.

T34706 diverted to BHX anybody know why?

a few of us are cnsidering a day visit too bhx,never been,do you handle many 744s?a330s etc,whats the busiest day or are they all the same?i guess you have quite a lengthy runway?any news would be great,thank you in advance,brs planespotter

I think you might be a little disappointed! If you want real action go to LHR, LGW or MAN. As far as scheduled ops are concerned BHX might see a B777 or three on some days (AIR INDIA, EMIRATES & PIA) and the daily (evening) Emirates A330. The rest will be the usual mix of 737, 757, the odd 767, A320, A321, RJ85, EMBs, DHC-8s and so on. The only time you would see B744s are one off charters (rare) and when BHX handle divertions from either LHR, LGW or MAN.

Runway length 8500 feet. By the way you could get loads of info incl runway length etc. simply by googling. Try this too: http://forum.flybhx.co.uk/
Have fun

Just passed through on the train tonight and caught a glimpse of a Monarch A330 (or was it a A300 if they still have them) on the Exec apron.

Anyone know what it whas doing there?

Apologies, just found out it was an A300 on an MOD charter(?)