Strange "aircraft" at Elstree today

[GiveMeABreak]

I was flying between Stapleford and Elstree this afternoon approx 1400 local, following a very strange looking object, probably a microlight. It was flying around 70 kts as we were barely gaining on it in our Rallye (we don't usually catch anything up !). We lost sight of it approaching Elstree, then as we flew abeam the field we saw what looked like a huge blanket possibly "landing" adjacent to the runway.
Now I swear I hadn't been drinking, nor do I believe in UFOs. Would anyone have a clue as to what it was ?

thanks in advance,

[yawningdog]

Powered parachute with trike?

[007helicopter]

To the west of the lea Valley last weekend we saw what I assumed was a huge banner, maybe being towed by a Helicopter, we were not close enough to read it or see what was towing but it was massive.

[GiveMeABreak]

This was quite sizeable, shaped like a parallelogram; when it turned and flew directly away from us it was quite difficult to spot. We never saw anything that appeared to be towing it. I'm not sure that the "blanket" type object to the north of the runway was connected to this odd sighting. Still, at least others have also seen it. My flying mate and I have over 70 years of private flying experience but have never seen such a strange looking object.

regards to all,

[VictorGolf]

I'm glad it's not just me. I nipped out of my granddaughter's 4th birthday yesterday to watch the cricket on Ham Common (near Richmond) and to keep an eye on the airliners on approach to Heathrow. At about 1500 I saw the object mentioned in the previous posts but in the time it took to get my camera out of my bag and to have a look at it with a long lens, it had dropped out of sight behind some houses. Very odd. By the time I got back to the party and told my wife she thought I'd been in the "Hand and Glove".

[vanHorck]

hmmm perhaps a sketch of the thing posted here could jog some memories?

[leader12uk]

Banner

It was a helicopter from elstree (cant remember which one advertising the FA CUP final at Wembly, Visable from 06 centre line at Denham

[AndoniP]

there is banner flying from elstree. recently there's been the PKR banner. held aloft by helicopter and flown around north west london, don't know how far it flies.

[kms901]

Victor Golf, you had definitely been in the pub- It's the "Hand and Flower"