Flashing yellow light
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Flashing yellow light
Saw an aircraft at low level tonight, almost certainly a helicopter (I was driving so couldn't hear it) with usual red/green/white nav lights plus a flashing YELLOW light on the tail. I presume it was military since my understanding is that anti-collision lights on civil helis have to be flashing red.
It wasn't bright yellow but it certainly didn't look white. By the configuration of the lights I reckon it could have been a Chinook. Is this some kind of NVG-compatible lighting fit?
Any enlightenment appreciated.
NS
It wasn't bright yellow but it certainly didn't look white. By the configuration of the lights I reckon it could have been a Chinook. Is this some kind of NVG-compatible lighting fit?
Any enlightenment appreciated.
NS
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Could you see the lamp directly or is it possible you were seeing a reflection on yellow livery from an white strobe that was obscured from your angle? Could be something strange like that, the dark play tricks on your eyes...
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I doubt it would have been a Chinook; you'd have heard one of those even driving with stereo blaring!
Cheers
Whirls
Cheers
Whirls
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SS:
No, it was very clearly a 360-visible flashing light, on the tail above the rear nav light, and with none of the structure visible. Like I say it's possible it was white, just showing a yellowish tinge because of atmospheric effects or something, but it certainly wasn't red.
As to not hearing a Chinook, I had my 15 year old daughter in the car with me. I rest my case!
NS
is it possible you were seeing a reflection
As to not hearing a Chinook, I had my 15 year old daughter in the car with me. I rest my case!
NS
Avoid imitations
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Do Chinooks still have an anti-collision light that can be selected from red to white? If so the atmospherics might have made it look yellow-ish.
Either that or it was a gritting lorry........
Or.... something unexplained.... well, you know..... (did your car engine cut out at any time, have you had any memory blanks about this and does your bottom hurt, etc)?
Either that or it was a gritting lorry........
Or.... something unexplained.... well, you know..... (did your car engine cut out at any time, have you had any memory blanks about this and does your bottom hurt, etc)?
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Shy T
From the original post, I don't think the traffic Police were involved in this instance 
(did your car engine cut out at any time, have you had any memory blanks about this and does your bottom hurt, etc)?
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NorthSouth,
some mil, police or med copters have special anit-collision lights to fly with night vision glasses. I think you have seen such an anticol light. But I only know green ones. Perhaps an answer.
There´s a picture - that shows Bavarian Police EC135 on the fin after the red anti-col a blue one
http://www.flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=616800
some mil, police or med copters have special anit-collision lights to fly with night vision glasses. I think you have seen such an anticol light. But I only know green ones. Perhaps an answer.
There´s a picture - that shows Bavarian Police EC135 on the fin after the red anti-col a blue one
http://www.flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=616800
Last edited by TiAr; 15th Nov 2007 at 13:04.
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2 scenarios
1. Maybe it was a landrover waiting on the ramp to be pushed off
2. Someone did a pi$$ poor walkround, and all 3 forgot to undo the ground handling tug before departure
1. Maybe it was a landrover waiting on the ramp to be pushed off
2. Someone did a pi$$ poor walkround, and all 3 forgot to undo the ground handling tug before departure
will swap for Land Rover
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NorthSouth,
IMO, you are 100% correct. I think what you saw was indeed an NVG equipped Helicopter.
The tail Strobe on the NVG aircraft have a definate Amber hue compared to the normal white strobes.
Where did you see it?
IMO, you are 100% correct. I think what you saw was indeed an NVG equipped Helicopter.
The tail Strobe on the NVG aircraft have a definate Amber hue compared to the normal white strobes.
Where did you see it?
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Possibly
What you saw might have been a low-flying C-130 tanker. Tankers have an amber underbelly beacon which, when flashing, indicates readiness to refuel receiver aircraft.
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Let that be a warning to all: next time you see a steady white light turning to yellow, get out of there quick - it's a jet reversing towards you.
NS
NS
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Saw an aircraft at low level tonight,
What you saw might have been a low-flying C-130 tanker. Tankers have an amber underbelly beacon which, when flashing, indicates readiness to refuel receiver aircraft.
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there is one machine that would display all the usual nav lights AND a yellow flashing light- besides arismount's plonker in a c-130 tanker; and this machine does fly - if a little low to the ground; and that would be a HOVERCRAFT! They are obliged to show a yellow flashing light. Just a thought. TF
