Light twin over SW London 25May
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Light twin over SW London 25May
A light twin (Seneca?) was flying a somewhat random track low over Surbiton/Kingston this afternoon (c14:25Z); a rather unusual occurrence! Anyone any idea what it was doing?
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Construction related aerial photography. I regularly get an email from the photographer concerned to say he will be in action over London on a particular day, any projects we'd like captured; got one earlier this week. If you look closely you'll see the rear door is absent. He always uses a Seneca.
Construction related aerial photography. I regularly get an email from the photographer concerned to say he will be in action over London on a particular day, any projects we'd like captured; got one earlier this week. If you look closely you'll see the rear door is absent. He always uses a Seneca.
Aerial Photography / Flight Charters - Stapleford Flight Centre
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That's the beastie. They do joy rides over London with it as well I believe, presumably with the door in place! Think they have two or three.
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Thanks Treaders, that was indeed the aircraft I saw; she seems to be quite a venerable old lady! And the mission explains some of the more 'interesting' manoeuvres over Kingston...
But Wonderbus: I don't understand why
? It seems to be a normal commercial operation.
But Wonderbus: I don't understand why
The fuel bill is paid by taxes.....
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OK thanks Wonderbus for clarifying. I think I know the one you mean; it's a bit greyer and usually about 9000 feet higher!
And I well remember the "flying eye", but that was eons ago...
And I well remember the "flying eye", but that was eons ago...
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And I well remember the "flying eye", but that was eons ago...
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G-FLYI is indeed at Biggin these days. Recall Bryan Wolfe doing the spotting way back and I believe Spencer Flack did the flying on occasion.
Anyone know why/when it stopped? Economics, traffic (increasing LCY ops must have had some effect?), or simply overtaken by the march of technology?
Anyone know why/when it stopped? Economics, traffic (increasing LCY ops must have had some effect?), or simply overtaken by the march of technology?
Anyone know why/when it stopped? Economics, traffic (increasing LCY ops must have had some effect?), or simply overtaken by the march of technology?
As an aside there was a pretty noisy twin doing many circuits over the capital a few days ago at the higher altitude mentioned earlier, notable in the respect that it was very obvious compared to it's Bembridge brethren. It looked like a PA31 and that would make it one of those that fills in, as it were.
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For some sort of "event" years ago Capital allowed the SVFR Director at Heathrow to talk "on-air" for a minute during the traffic session. I rang my wife and told her to listen and she warned our sons. The SVFR Director's contribution was something like: "Hi Nic and Roly. I just beat your Dad at snooker!!" Mad days....
Last edited by HEATHROW DIRECTOR; 26th May 2017 at 15:27.
G-FLYI is indeed at Biggin these days. Recall Bryan Wolfe doing the spotting way back and I believe Spencer Flack did the flying on occasion.
Anyone know why/when it stopped? Economics, traffic (increasing LCY ops must have had some effect?), or simply overtaken by the march of technology?
Anyone know why/when it stopped? Economics, traffic (increasing LCY ops must have had some effect?), or simply overtaken by the march of technology?
Bryan Wolfe, for all that he seems to have come from an acting/entertaining background, certainly seemed to know his stuff about aviation, some of it came out on the radio programme, and he was also a choice for commentator at a few weekend airshows I recall. Either he was a closet aviation buff or very well briefed.
For some sort of "event" years ago Capital allowed the SVFR Director at Heathrow to talk "on-air" for a minute during the traffic session.
.Regarding light aircraft over London, there was a Cessna 172 operating out of Blackbushe doing multiple loops between LCY and Central London at about 1900 today (Sat 28/5), above the Heathrow inbounds, climbing slowly under full power (so it sounded from the ground) at about 9,000 feet. Was there a skydiving drop somewhere around Hyde Park ? Is a single OK for that ? (Land Clear Rule ? Yeah, engine failure, stick it in the Thames).
As far as I remember, the LBC helicopter was an Alan Mann A109 operating out of Fairoaks with Mastermind winner Fred Housego doing the 'spotting' and talking.
Regarding light aircraft over London, there was a Cessna 172 operating out of Blackbushe doing multiple loops between LCY and Central London at about 1900 today (Sat 28/5), above the Heathrow inbounds, climbing slowly under full power (so it sounded from the ground) at about 9,000 feet. Was there a skydiving drop somewhere around Hyde Park ?
Nor can I find any photos of the aircraft in question with its door removed for skydiving (it's very tricky, though not impossible, to jump from a C172 with the door in place for obvious reasons).