Over London
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Over London
What flew over London at about 11:50pm last night? (Around the 27R flight path for Heathrow / Hammersmith Bridge). There seemed to be a few aircraft in formation moving rather fast!?
What type of aircraft engine sound (passenger, prop, fast jet etc) ? What kind of height (obviously a guess as it was dark) ? What kind of local weather etc ?
SHJ
SHJ
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Too many of these type of questions on the forum recently. It is quite obvious that there are numerous special air operations over and around the capital in anticipation of not one but two up-and-coming special events.
Whilst there is no doubt stuff going on, until now all military flights over the capital have been pre-planned and publicized so as not to alarm the good citizens and night flights are rare at low levels..
SHJ
SHJ
This might have been it ? A night time practice, no flights in or out of LHR at 11.50pm and if they were heading west/wnw etc then that might be mystery solved, none better than the Red Arrows at flying in close formation.
RAF Flypast for Diamond Jubilee
SHJ
RAF Flypast for Diamond Jubilee
SHJ
Whilst there are 'certain' movements that aren't shouted about and notwithstanding the normal Chinook/Thames passages, any low(er) flying flights have been advertised in a generalized way so as to not alarm the good citizens below and keep them onside. That the OP thought they heard 'several' low-flying aircraft close together the choices are few. Yes the night-time practice of the Reds does sound silly (perhaps with NVG's ?), but unless it was an escorted civilian airliner coming into LHR then what ? Any SF flying would be countered by the chance of something going wrong and carnage on the ground which would be a disaster in all senses.
By the by, only this lunchtime I looked up to see a west-bound contrail in the blue sky and a thick white 'cross' caught my eye. It was moving so slowly that I thought it must be a large party balloon, however, it then proceed to speed up and commence a large sweeping turn. Silent, unusual looking and had me scratching my head as to what it was, perhaps a drone ?
SHJ
By the by, only this lunchtime I looked up to see a west-bound contrail in the blue sky and a thick white 'cross' caught my eye. It was moving so slowly that I thought it must be a large party balloon, however, it then proceed to speed up and commence a large sweeping turn. Silent, unusual looking and had me scratching my head as to what it was, perhaps a drone ?
SHJ
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Indeed - a Hunter plus a couple of piston-engined aircraft that I couldn't see clearly enough to identify have been over our place (North Hampshire) this lunch time. There was also a Typhoon earlier, presumably on his way back from Portsmouth.
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Whilst there are 'certain' movements that aren't shouted about and notwithstanding the normal Chinook/Thames passages, any low(er) flying flights have been advertised in a generalized way so as to not alarm the good citizens below and keep them onside
Thanks
That would be the flypast at Buckingham Palace to end the Diamond Jubilee. The Red Arrows finished it up and came from the east and after the palace were seen (by me) heading SW perhaps to another flypast/display.
Unless you're military or ATC the chances are slim. The Chinooks are very regular London area transit aircraft flying in both directions along the Thames heli-corridor, you'll hear them more than see them! The others....well just look up and you might get lucky to see something.
SHJ
Hi, can you recommend any ways of finding out about such flights? I often wondered if information is published in advance.
SHJ
Last edited by SpringHeeledJack; 5th Jun 2012 at 14:53.
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They go tonight. Click the link and scroll down a bit.
Cruise Ship Schedule - Southampton VTS - ABP Southampton
Cruise Ship Schedule - Southampton VTS - ABP Southampton
Last edited by HEATHROW DIRECTOR; 5th Jun 2012 at 18:24.
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REDS
The Arrows according to TV Landed at Bournemouth but were unable to perform at Southampton over the 3 Queens Due to extremely poor weather.
Tony
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SpringHeeled Jack
Further to your reply.
Last week I looked up at some very high contrails and saw a new one for me?
Aircraft two was flying exactly through, and on the same heading, as the contrail left by aircraft one!
Surely a rare occurrence to have no jet-streams at that altitude?
Now I bet all you pilot types are going to contradict me................
Further to your reply.
Last week I looked up at some very high contrails and saw a new one for me?
Aircraft two was flying exactly through, and on the same heading, as the contrail left by aircraft one!
Surely a rare occurrence to have no jet-streams at that altitude?
Now I bet all you pilot types are going to contradict me................
Aircraft two was flying exactly through, and on the same heading, as the contrail left by aircraft one!
Surely a rare occurrence to have no jet-streams at that altitude?
Surely a rare occurrence to have no jet-streams at that altitude?
As the jetstream is a comparatively narrow stream there are more areas of airspace without a jetstream than with.