Acceptable flying pattern?

[dochealth]

How close to the tree were you standing?

Thanks Contactower

I was standing next to trees beside my house, so pretty sure about the height estimate at this point.

But I accept your point about estimating height over village; its about a third of a mile away... having said that if a/c was in level flight over house and it throttled back and lost height over village does that not suggest a lower altitude over village?

DH

[FREDAcheck]

If you're sure it really was that low, and you say you got the registration, if it's UK registred (G-Registration) then look it up in G-INFO (Google for it) and you'll get the owner's address.

I'd recommend a friendly approach (unless he or she keeps on doing it), noting all the comments about how hard it is to estimate height of an aircraft.

[sunday driver]

Well I've tried estimating heights, and I just can't do it.
So how about this?

• Spot the suspect aircraft
• Hold out your arm (length .62m in my case) = R1
• Measure the span of the aircraft against your index finger = S1
• Identify the aircraft (e.g. PA28, span=9.8m) =S2
• 500 ft rule distance (152.4m) = R2

Then S1/R1=S2/R2
=> S1=R1xS2/R2
As S1=500 feet (152.4m), then S1=4cm, as near as dammit
So if the span at arm's length is more than 4cms, then the PA28 is closer than 500 feet.
All I need to do now is calibrate my arm and finger against a PA28 at circuit height.

SD