Very low flying BA with Helicopter escort?
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Very low flying BA with Helicopter escort?
Son just called me and reported seeing alow flying BA aircraft south of Gatwick being followed by several helicopters.... pretty sure he hasnt been drinking, but differences in speed and capability make this sound a little odd.....anyone have any ideas?
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Could be a perspective thing - BA some distance away and helis closer making it look as it they were keeping station with it. All sounds extremely unlikely..
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I remember very vaugley a PA31? escorted by 1 (possibly 2) helicopters do a fly through of 09L (10L as it was then) at LHR in the late 70's early 80's, never found out the reason for this though 
Last edited by Toodle; 21st Jan 2009 at 21:13.
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Toodle - Is it possible they had all been waiting for an opportunity to cross? Possibly just a coincidence and they were not related?
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Toodle.. "Escorted" seems unlikely as in those days formation flights in that area were not allowed. I wonder if, again, it was a persepctive thing. Maybe a couple of helicopters providing their own separation with a fixed wing aircraft 1000ft above them?
I don't recall hearing anything about such an event and we did tend to talk about such things!
I don't recall hearing anything about such an event and we did tend to talk about such things!
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no definantly together, my house and garden in those days was directly under the 28L approach ( near the Green Man) from my garden there was a clear view of the old Concorde Hangers and an unobstructed view towards the airport across open fields, this formation flew down 10R together then once past the furthest hangar (prob over Cranebank) they banked, again together, my memory tells me they were generally white in colour (so not Mil) but there again this is around 30 years ago! 
Another memory is of the BoB flight flying full chat down 28L and a Dragon Rapid departing on 10R, this was probably the one the BEA/BA apprentices restored though.
edit; just thought of another, an Air Canada B747, again departing (or overshooting 10R) who had one of the engines explode (explode is prob an overstatment!) on climb out, the flash of flame and the resulting bang were both visiable and audable fom the kitchen.
Another memory is of the BoB flight flying full chat down 28L and a Dragon Rapid departing on 10R, this was probably the one the BEA/BA apprentices restored though.
edit; just thought of another, an Air Canada B747, again departing (or overshooting 10R) who had one of the engines explode (explode is prob an overstatment!) on climb out, the flash of flame and the resulting bang were both visiable and audable fom the kitchen.
Last edited by Toodle; 22nd Jan 2009 at 12:31.
