D X Wombat - sorry, in your picture the lights - landing lamps, taxy lights & wingtip taxy lights - are on, as they would be for landing. The taxy lights are fixed to the main landing gear so they are not visible unless the gear is extended. They may have been carrying out an approach to overshoot at Shobdon.

Thank you Ken. :ok: We usually have a note posted on the notice board at Shobdon saying something along the lines of: "27.9.07, 21:40hrsL, Lyneham, C130 x 2, 250', E - W then turning N." I know the photo isn't wonderful but it is exactly what I wanted. I had somehow blotted out the fact that I had seen the landing gear as knew they were just flying low through the airfield. It took Seldomfitforpurpose's post to jog my memory :O I wouldn't know an early model from a late one, I simply enjoy seeing them and could watch them all day - they are so full of character (and no doubt some characters too) and yet very graceful. I find them remarkably quiet for such a big aircraft. It was such a clear night that I had been able to watch these two approaching from somewhere near Worcester. :) The third one sneaked in about an hour later but hadn't had its intended arrival posted on the board so I wasn't able to get outside in time.

KS

I think you will find the taxi lights are actually attached to the main U/C doors and not the U/C itself. You are right though when you say the gear has to be down for the lights to be visible. Hope this helps.

MBH

MBH,

speaking in anorak/spotter/sad giffer talk

I think you will find the taxi lamps themselves are in fact attached to brackets which themselves are attached to the undercarriage doors..............:rolleyes:

Any more wonderful examples of utter nitpicking are welcome...........I;iiiiiiii thankyou:D

Well, to be fair, the lamps are attached to the reflector/lamp holder, which is then attached to .....

MBH: thanks for the correction, I was being rather general in my description. You're right, they are actually attached to the door. Had a look today on my walk round before flying just to be sure.

Giving the aircraft number might compromise the anonymity which I enjoy on this site! Remember, the Thought Police are reading this too - have you not wondered why ABIW no longer posts?

You mean your names not Ken and you're not a Scot .... well I'll be buggered !! :rolleyes: