Interesting aircraft - what have you seen on your computer today?
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Yup, heard the drone and nipped outside, a small white dot a few miles to the north, overhead Lewisham...
Heard, but not seen. Lovely.....I wonder where they're all based atm ? I know they're like tramp steamers, b ut there must be a 'home' now that home is unavailable.
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Hi,with regard the Texans,there were two,”Swift1 and 2”. Both routed out of Valley to Benson……if you want serials I can supply them later?.
With regard only one aircraft showing a registration/serial that is quite normal as reported earlier. Today 21 April, the Red Arrows left Scampton to go to Lyon,Fr en route to “summer training camp” in sunnier climes! The Reds routed over just to the east of London in one single formation apparently,( normally route in two groups), as far as I can ascertain they only had one aircraft “squawking” with all the rest using “standby”. Hope this is of use??
With regard only one aircraft showing a registration/serial that is quite normal as reported earlier. Today 21 April, the Red Arrows left Scampton to go to Lyon,Fr en route to “summer training camp” in sunnier climes! The Reds routed over just to the east of London in one single formation apparently,( normally route in two groups), as far as I can ascertain they only had one aircraft “squawking” with all the rest using “standby”. Hope this is of use??
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Just heard a Spit departing Biggin, looks like another newly completed two seater, G-TCHI/BS410. Lost count of how many in the UK now, must ge double figures.
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Hi,with regard the Texans,there were two,”Swift1 and 2”. Both routed out of Valley to Benson……if you want serials I can supply them later?.
With regard only one aircraft showing a registration/serial that is quite normal as reported earlier. Today 21 April, the Red Arrows left Scampton to go to Lyon,Fr en route to “summer training camp” in sunnier climes! The Reds routed over just to the east of London in one single formation apparently,( normally route in two groups), as far as I can ascertain they only had one aircraft “squawking” with all the rest using “standby”. Hope this is of use??
With regard only one aircraft showing a registration/serial that is quite normal as reported earlier. Today 21 April, the Red Arrows left Scampton to go to Lyon,Fr en route to “summer training camp” in sunnier climes! The Reds routed over just to the east of London in one single formation apparently,( normally route in two groups), as far as I can ascertain they only had one aircraft “squawking” with all the rest using “standby”. Hope this is of use??
Anyone know who the white Islander flying low-level over London around midday belongs to ? It didn't show up on any tracker which made me think 'one of those' islanders, but when it helpfully went past i could make out a reg and see see two parallel thin red cheat-lines down the side.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Possibly GAMA Aviation's G-BJEC which answers that description, though there may be others.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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RAF A400 just went south over here out of Waddington, leaving the most beautiful twin vortices amidst its vapour trail several miles behind - very reminiscent of the Smokewinder trails left at airshows by various Sea Furies. Several complete loops formed then broke up, intersections left sudden gaps, other sinuous shapes formed... amazing. Not sure if it was the vapour trail itself coalescing or additional vapour formed by the interaction of the props on each side - as I recall, inner and outer turn in opposite directions.
That's the one Treadigraph! Is it a survey frame ? I thought that GAMA were just VIP steed management bods ?
Yes, that A400 was pretty loud going by. Unlike you I didn't see it, so cannoy wax lyrical about it's contrails. Your description make me wish that I had ;-)
Yes, that A400 was pretty loud going by. Unlike you I didn't see it, so cannoy wax lyrical about it's contrails. Your description make me wish that I had ;-)
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Think they do surveying of one type or another! Ahem...
Just noticed on Plane Finder that a hot air balloon shape has performed a circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight out of White Waltham. Reg seemed familiar, G-HHII, it is in fact the two seat Hawker Hurricane!
Just noticed on Plane Finder that a hot air balloon shape has performed a circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight out of White Waltham. Reg seemed familiar, G-HHII, it is in fact the two seat Hawker Hurricane!
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Hi, Regarding the Islander you saw, it could possibly be one of the “specials” that operate out of Northolt. Both G-BIIO and G-BSAH have been out and about over the past week on a regular basis……neither show up on tracking sites! The only doubt I have about it being one of those, is the fact the one you saw was at “low level”.
With regard to the A400 that routed south, this was carrying equipment etc, in support of the Red Arrows who left Scampton yesterday for training in “sunnier climes”
Regarding some interesting aircraft operating over London, there are Aussie C-17s airlifting “equipment” eastbound via Brize. Also there is a New Zealand Herk in Brize for the next two months, which is also helping out with the same airlift!
With regard to the A400 that routed south, this was carrying equipment etc, in support of the Red Arrows who left Scampton yesterday for training in “sunnier climes”
Regarding some interesting aircraft operating over London, there are Aussie C-17s airlifting “equipment” eastbound via Brize. Also there is a New Zealand Herk in Brize for the next two months, which is also helping out with the same airlift!
Having looked at the liveries of the above two islanders I'm now unsure if it might have been one of these as well. It was flying at 1000ft or less and seemed to be looking for something rather than running a pattern. I've actually seen this a few times over the last decade where they come down low perhaps to 100% something's location.
Having looked at the liveries of the above two islanders I'm now unsure if it might have been one of these as well. It was flying at 1000ft or less and seemed to be looking for something rather than running a pattern. I've actually seen this a few times over the last decade where they come down low perhaps to 100% something's location.
I would agree that the RAF aircraft stay at 8,000ft or thereabouts, although I have seen them in a direct descent from the loitering area back into NHT a few times at much lower altitudes. Same for the civvy frames that take over from time to time over the years. I would say this is 99% of the time, they stay at a set altitude doing their thing. However, in deference to your knowledge DRUK, I have seen non-RAF, but doing the dance, descend to between 2000-500ft and fly around for short periods before before heading off and up again. Perhaps a handful or two over the last 20 yrs. These are not taking aerial photos of a site of interest, not doing surveys, not doing air quality runs. They always seem to have a different quality to them, as though they are searching. Ultimately I don't know of course.
Perhaps as a web-track enthusiast you would be so kind to see what the Islander was the other day and if it had indeed descended from above (which I didn't witness this time) ?
Perhaps as a web-track enthusiast you would be so kind to see what the Islander was the other day and if it had indeed descended from above (which I didn't witness this time) ?
My enthusiasm (if that's the right word 
) for Heathrow's WebTrak is slightly dented by the fact that the module that displays individual aircraft tracks has been down for most of the last week.
That said, even when it's up and running, you will look in vain for tracks of the spook missions. I believe Heathrow got their knuckles rapped for publishing them in the past, and they have suppressed them from the public system for the last few years.
Nor do the flights appear to use Mode S at all, presumably relying on Mode A/C and primary radar to allow ATC to keep them clear of LHR inbounds.
) for Heathrow's WebTrak is slightly dented by the fact that the module that displays individual aircraft tracks has been down for most of the last week.That said, even when it's up and running, you will look in vain for tracks of the spook missions. I believe Heathrow got their knuckles rapped for publishing them in the past, and they have suppressed them from the public system for the last few years.
Nor do the flights appear to use Mode S at all, presumably relying on Mode A/C and primary radar to allow ATC to keep them clear of LHR inbounds.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Three of interest almost at once over Chez Treads, DH-90 Dragonfly, Ukrainian AN-124 and a nice bright red Super Cub...
Doesn't apply, of course, to the crews of Tui, Jet2, etc !
