Low 747 at Manchester?
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Low 747 at Manchester?
Please don't flame me for this, but I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about a 747 that was flying quite low north of the airport, about north-northwest, about 7 miles from the airport, looked like a Virgin Atlantic from the colour on the tail but was obscured a bit by clouds. Was about 9:50z (10:50 local). Was probably nothing but wondered why it was so low in that area?
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I seemed to be staying level, was headed west, and seemed at a very weird place for aircraft headed for Manchester, they are usually much further north than where I saw it, and higher... just seemed a little weird and wondered if anything happened to it for it to do that... seems not...
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MAN is using 05L for departures at the moment. A Virgin 747 flying transatlantic would climb straight ahead until it is just about over Stockport then turn left (i.e. to the North-NW of the airport). The block on these departures is 5000ft (I haven't done a westerly off 05L for a while though) and a heavy 747 might take all the time available to reach that block. Alternatively, it could be headed north to GLA (POL departure) if it is the MAN-GLA-MCO flight. So, I expect what you describe will simply be the aircraft on the climb-out/departure. Aircraft do tend to have periods of low flight when either approaching or leaving the ground you see.
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What other routes do VS fly from MAN? I was SLF through the airport during the last week when I saw a 744 depart off 05L. It didn't turn left to the USA or right to London (ferry) but stayed on RWY heading for a long time, looking as though it must have had a decent load onboard.
Was it a charter, or an unusual departure for a usual routing? Must have been 5 days ago or so.
Was it a charter, or an unusual departure for a usual routing? Must have been 5 days ago or so.
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UnderASouthernSky
It could be the 747 that routes MAN-GLA then onwards to MCO. This would continue straight ahead for a while off 05L then turn left to POL a lot later than the WAL departures do.
Diaz:
I wouldn't have thought it was 'having difficulty' climbing. You make it sound like it was in trouble! It was probably a 747 full of holiday passengers and fuel for the transatlantic trip so very heavy. 4 engined heavies don't climb as quickly as the twins so although it may be climbing slower than a B767 for example, it certainly wouldn't have been having 'difficulty'! You should see an A340 climb, especially at the higher levels 
Diaz:
After getting some more information, it does seem that it was a departure that was having a bit of difficulty climbing- nice to know!
