Great variety in the skies

[surely not]

Just looking at FR24 and it struck me how many different types of GA aeroplanes were up flying around, and that is only those using ADS-B. Motor gliders and gliders, permit aircraft, modern LSA and a few SEP types. The variety of aeroplane now on offer is great to see and contrasts with airlines where it is mainly Boeing or Airbus and only the airline colour schemes provide much interest.

Were you one of those up and flying today, 27th Dec at around 1330? Looks like it was a good day for flying over most of the UK.

[MrAverage]

Not quite that late - landed at 12:25 - :


https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...g-blfi#c00cf9e

[Jan Olieslagers]

It was a great day for flying, and not only over the UK.
Myself stayed put, though, and carry no ADS-B out anyway.

[7of9]

I was airborne about then out of Wickenby! They had a fly in over 90 visiting aircraft so I was told.
Bit hazy up north here but nice to fly.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

GA aircraft tend to live longer than airliners. It's interesting to look at a scene from a couple of decades ago of airliners and light aircraft on an apron (sadly an increasingly rare sight as big airports shun GA). Most of those airliners have since been scrapped, while the GA types are usually still around.

However, varied though the GA fleet is, for the newcomer to flying and the club hire-er there isn't a lot of choice. Club fleets today tend to be the ubiquitous C152 / PA38 / PA28. Not very inspiring!

[Curlytips]

Was riding shotgun in an Arrow today - Rochester to Norwich earlier than your question and returning later. We had radar coverage both ways and ADS-B, but were amazed at just how few other aircraft were around on such a fabulous flying day.......

[Andy H]

Took the RANS down to Sandown on the Isle of Wight this morning. I wasn't surprised that airspace in the area was quite crowded. Lots of people grabbed the chance of a good flying day.

[mothminor]

[QUOTE]but were amazed at just how few other aircraft were around [/QUOTE


Was that amazed a how few a number of aeroplanes that you electronically saw.


Best use multiple of at least 6 for all the non-squawking and non-radio types around

[treadigraph]

Curlytips were you in G-BIKE? I was near Diss with a quiet half hour to myself so had a look at FR24 to see what was around - BIKE was about the only light aircraft nearby. Should have gone outside and waved...

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

G-BIKE? That reg was sequential with a whole series allocated to the first BA 757s. G-BIKA onwards, but omitting G-BIKE.

Something to do with Norman Tebbit and his telling lazy workers around that time to 'get on their bikes' to find work, I think.

[Curlytips]

Yes, was in my mate's "BIKE". Registration has something to do with previous owner and his occupation.

As far as other traffic was concerned, there was not just little on ADS-B, but very few seemed to be working Southend or Norwich (Wattisham was closed of course). Most activity we heard was people out of Ludham, and then we met 2 (non-radio obviously) paragliders towards Southend on return. Maybe we were just too early going out in the morning, and everyone was home early in case the fog came in.

Either way, it was a superb flying day without a bump to be found.

[surely not]

The area around Oxford seemed to be the busiest on FR24 when I was looking. The Vans RV's were numerous and also the Ikarus C42. Also a couple of Sport Cruzers which has to be one of the sexiest of the new breed of aeroplanes.

Plus a good sprinkling of Cessna and Piper spamcans pottering around. Sadly as SSD points out, these are generally quite aged and yet still form the backbone of the training fleets.

[treadigraph]

My very redundant and creaky spotting synapses recall the Arrow being out of sequence and allocated well ahead of BA's 757s.

While we had lunch around 1pm, something was cavorting overhead (Botesdale) for a few minutes - my highly tuned ear reckoned a Pitts, may well have been an RV though.

[Curlytips]

Can you work it out?

Hate to have to say it, and much as I love the new types, but MY spam can (not my buddy's BIKE) gets better every year (due TLC and gradual upgrading and kit) and will probably see me out.

But I've noticed that as I we both get older, the age of my aircraft is catching me up. When I bought her in 1985, her age was only 45% of mine. By 2000, her age was 62% of mine. Next year her age will be 70% of mine. Question is, how soon will she be as old as I am - or can you work out how old we are?

[Curlytips]

Oops!

Just realised what I said in last post was poor phrasing. I should point out that the BIKE also improves every year with its upgraded kit - before I get beat up by the owner!........

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

My very redundant and creaky spotting synapses recall the Arrow being out of sequence and allocated well ahead of BA's 757s.

You're no doubt correct, Tredders. I never was a spotter, but of course out-of-sequence registrations are not uncommon. Hardly surprising that someone claimed G-BIKE before the 757 allocations.

One that seems to have got away was G-AVRO; it went to a lowly Britannia 737.

[RO13FLY]

G-BIKE was imported into the U.K. by Australian cycling champion Ron Webb. During the import process, he was informed by someone in the CAA of the availability of the "BIKE" reg which he liked and so requested. The BA fleet came along after G-BIKE was imported hence the gap in their fleet sequence. G-BIKE was later repainted with accents reflecting the Australian cricket team colours of green and gold which completed his personalisation.

As Curlytips says, the skies and radio were quiet during the flight to/from Norwich. The two paragliders were at around 2,500ft to 3.000ft a few miles south west of Colchester. Fortunately, one of them stood out from miles away being nicely contrasted against the setting sun and Southend Radar helpfully confirmed the presence of two reported in the vicinity.

Hopefully it won't be the last opportunity of 2016 to get some flying done.