Activity over Melbourne - 2.
 

OK, I'll try once more and hope it can be kept civil and not locked again :-)

Thanks for the one or two serious answers in the previous thread:-

Activity over Melbourne
For many months now I have been aware of an aircraft operating over Melbourne in a way that intrigues me.

The aircraft appears to be a C208 or similar and does the following;

It flies around in what look like racetrack holding patterns at around 8000' or higher. These "holding patterns" vary between 6 to 10 minutes leg length and vary in their alignment. They occur over greater MEL as well as to the east of the city and over the bay.

I have watched the aircraft through binos on a number of occasions during the day and have also been aware of it operating through dusk into the night. It also operates above and below cloud - that would tend to eliminate photography.

This often occurs on several days throughout each week.

I've spoken to an aviation aware friend and he has also noticed this activity.

Can anyone shed any light on what is happening and why? A serious question to which I'd appreciate serious answers.

witwiw, silly question, i'm sure you've already thought about this. But as you can see it through some Binos have you been able to see the Rego at all? or maybe any distinguishing markings or logos or anything like that?

Quick search of the Registry for 208s with their Registered Operators State being VIC shows only 2:
OPH - NAUTILUS AVIATION PTY. LTD.
UCR - U C AVIATION PTY LTD

No, unfortunately the binos are not that good and it has always been at a distance.

It would appear to have a blue belly, but not 100% sure.

Compressor is correct,


It has been answered correctly in the original thread. The blue belly aircraft is a C210, VH-ZIO. It is operated on behalf of Nearmap, and the flights are for the purpose of getting high res ground pictures. Look up the rego on flight aware, it is tracked flying the patterns you describe at 8,000.


Dash

Edit: It has a blue top, not belly, my mistake.

Thank you all for your sensible replies.

The aircraft I've seen is more the size of a C208 and sounds more of a turbine than does a C210. One still night recently there was no doubt it wasn't a piston.

Also, if it's taking high res piccies, why does it fly above cloud and on occasions beyind the end of daylight?

Nonetheless, I'll look it up on Flight Aware as you suggest. Thanks again.

I'm not too sure what all the secrecy is about here its pretty obvious (takes very little research to find out who it is & not via this forum either) who operates the Turbine Cessna but in the interest of national security I can't say anymore but the Mods obviously know who it is & slammed the door just quickly as I suspect this thread will also:-)

Wmk2

The aircraft us a C208 VH-UCR . Survey aircraft

... Removed due to an inaccuracy.

The spooks'll be all over your arse if you PM details, bro, be carefull, probably over your house right now with your ISP.

Love the use of gramma there Jacko, got to the point and saved a few letters :-)

I hope I don't get arrested by the spook with the empty holster :-)

PS I'm sure "someone" actually knows what the aircraft does :-) Australia doesn't have many secrets. No doubt they are doing some drug raids or something useful for the betterment of us all.

The rumour is Gillard is about to pamphlet bomb the electorate with Labor propaganda.

You heard it here first!

Well they found the intrepid bush walker...........It hasn't been used to find a 'non politician' but they used it to find him.

Some flash looking dangly bits for a civi aircraft...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7...070e9e63_z.jpg

Maybe it is quietly watching down below for the thieves that are pinching miles of copper wire from the railways. The media says there is a special surveillance aircraft hired to catch the thieves. :ok:

Infrared and all the toys with a real time downlink by the look of all those aerials.

VH-UCR Private Cessna 208B Grand Caravan - Planespotters.net Just Aviation

Hydroponic dope farms stand out like the proverbial on infrared at night too.

So that's way they spend so much time over Melbourne! That is where all the dopes are! :E

Edited due to security implications.

Maybe we could get it to bounce a laser back at the "unauthorised laser illumination" that seems to appear around Epping on the weekends.......

Watch it all, Triple X may be a spook :E

Nah, I just read this:

http://theorstrahyun.********.com.au...es-use-of.html

http://theorstrahyun.blogXXXspot.com...es-use-of.html

Remove the series of X's.