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Just Plane Boring, " So she thinks"

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Just Plane Boring, " So she thinks"

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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:00
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Just Plane Boring, " So she thinks"

I must say with the good weather over London the past few days its been excellent viewing of the birds flying over at over 30000. With help from the lap top its very is to get their destination. The fasinating part is im sat on the grass looking up watching the EK 777 on route from DUB-JFK flying over the top of the house.

Ive treid to explain to the other half but i might as well talk to the dog.....

Is their anyone else who finds it good just to look up and watch the world go about its work and have a bit of an understanding on whats going on.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:09
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I Love looking up at the traffic in the thousands, espcially on cool crisp morning, this morning I saw a KLM 777 & 747 Enroute for the Americas producing a long contrails.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:10
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Ive treid to explain to the other half but i might as well talk to the dog
No, my dog takes more interest than my OH.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:23
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My wife is a lifelong aircraft spotter so she enjoys looking upwards too - we've had two new ones already today: P4-ARL and SX-OAN!
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:34
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Nothing better than to sit at Chelsea Habour, opposite London Heliport, and just watch the planes fly in.

Just don't call me a spotter, I have an interest in aviation.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:47
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"With help from the lap top its very is to get their destination"


what software / website are you using?!

cheers

19er
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:47
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UKDean,

Fortunately for me, I have a very enthusiastic companian in my 5 year old boy who can tell the diff between an A330, A340 and also point out 777,767,747-400 and why it is 400, we are regulars at LHR, Hatton cross and enjoy the traffic on 27L , he gets a little confused differing A320s to A319s LOL...

Just out of interest, what software do you use to trak the birds ?
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:50
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Was EK777 lost ?

"watching the EK 777 on route from DUB-JFK flying over the top of the house" and I assume you were in London" Shurely shum mishtake?

Did you mean DXB-JFK? Kidding aside, enjoy doing the same myself, shame my employers don't agree
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:58
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what software / website are you using?!

Without wishing to promote the competion a combination of flightaware and google earth does the trick
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 11:59
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Guys Very easy,

With the use of the old faithfull scanner and the use of "google" just type in the flight number/prefix and Bingo. Top of the page, gives flight arr/dep and if on time etc etc.

Yes, my mistake it is DXB-JFK and yes London

Last edited by ukdean; 25th Sep 2009 at 12:01. Reason: Add reply
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 12:04
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Or you can get SBS, PlanePlotter etc.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 12:08
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I thought very hard about SBS, Is it worth it, Will it keep me GLUED to the lap top, Does it pick up everynting from your location,....HA what do you think
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 12:27
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SBS receives evrything which is transmitting Mode S within range of your receiving location. I am only interested in seeing aircraft so am happy with the 150-odd miles coverage I get, depending on the altitude of the a/c, etc. It is real-time whereas several other systems have delays built-in for some obscure reason. It's a fun toy, although I'm not sure of the legality of it under the WT Act.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 12:47
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AAARRRGHH!!! You lazy lazy people. Sitting on your backsides with a laptop on such a gorgeous day! Get out and see some aircraft close up for the love of God, you'll live longer.


I think SBS is tremendous but I never use it. Gotta have the callsign on the RT or sight of the reg in my book. Modern life is getting WAY too easy.
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 13:03
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Sk1E I'm 65; my wife is 63 and infirm. We've done all you suggest - spent our younger lives wandering all over but now we have to do it in feet-up mode. We still try to get to Popham Fly-Ins though!!!
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 19:04
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I'm with ukdean on this, it's been a very good week for it. I always find myself wishing I was up there looking down.

Slightly OT but looking in the same direction, it's been an awesome week for ISS spotting. Three successive days with just-after-sunset flyovers, not a cloud in the sky. Brilliant, and even She Who Must Be Obeyed was impressed
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Old 25th Sep 2009, 22:12
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I was aware that over my home territory (Dorset/Hampshire border - near 'TARAN') we get a lot of traffic routing London/Europe to the USA/Caribbean, but with SBS I've found out a lot more.

Just this week a Delta B777 was flying Atlanta-Dubai, which took it directly over my house. I didn't realise we also get some traffic for the Canary Islands/Portugal which elects to miss the turn over the Isle of Wight but route down to Land's End before turning South. Even some South American traffic has appeared close enough to be seen from here.

It would be great to see the real thing at major airports but I just don't have the time. At least SBS makes the most of the 'Over the Top' traffic from the comfort of my back garden.

All I need now is an update to date radio with 8.33Khz spacing so I can get all the newer frequencies.

airsmiles
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Old 26th Sep 2009, 07:02
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<<It would be great to see the real thing at major airports but I just don't have the time.>>

Do hope you are not a workaholic.... or you may not have much time to enjoy even the SBS!!!
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Old 26th Sep 2009, 09:31
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If you get PlanePlotter, you can get what SBS does, but the whole of Europe or 75% of it, Sydney and some of USA. I can see everything for LHR apart from BA 757s, coming over my house. Not just a range your sbs can pick up.

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Old 26th Sep 2009, 20:18
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I would reccomend the above program as well. I have had it for about 6 months now and find it fantastic, especially if you are interested in what is going over/around you. And for £25 you can't go wrong. It basically does exactly what SBS-1 does but for a fractino of the price.
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