Interesting aircraft - what have you seen on your computer today?

[SpringHeeledJack]

With those aircraft it could be mission scrubbed or a non-100% mx status causing a turn-back, rather than that Hank forgot the sammiches and corfee ;-)

[pabloc]

Test flight 👍🏻

[SpringHeeledJack]

The NASA/DLR B747SP N747NA just starting it's very last flight from Palmdale to Davis Monthan AFB if anyone is interested to follow it's progress.

[treadigraph]

USAF E-11B (Global Express) heading east down Green 1 (?) twixt Strumble and Brecon, on current course passing over London maybe 0840... FY21, paint must smell new...

Edit: went straight over the top but I was distracted and forgot to pop out for a gander!

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by treadigraph

USAF E-11B (Global Express) heading east down Green 1 (?) twixt Strumble and Brecon, on current course passing over London maybe 0840... FY21, paint must smell new...

Edit: went straight over the top but I was distracted and forgot to pop out for a gander!

Interesting - I hadn't realised there were more E-11s - possibly a replacement for the FY2011 aircraft that crashed in Afghanistan a couple of years ago.

I see that the E-11B is based on the Global 6500, whereas the original E-11A was based on the Global Express.

[roger4]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

Interesting - I hadn't realised there were more E-11s - possibly a replacement for the FY2011 aircraft that crashed in Afghanistan a couple of years ago.

I see that the E-11B is based on the Global 6500, whereas the original E-11A was based on the Global Express.

It's the first of potentially six E-11B.

[MATaxi]

Anyone have any idea what a Turkmenistan B737-8 was doing in Exeter this morning ? Very short stay. Arrived around 0745 and off again at circa 1000GMT ? Seemingly on Flightradar has a Turkmen flight number. Cargo ? VIP ? Seems very odd.

[c52]

Luftwaffe A350 seen crossing London.

The TUA 737 has been to Exeter at least once before.

[bobbytables]

Originally Posted by MATaxi

Anyone have any idea what a Turkmenistan B737-8 was doing in Exeter this morning ? Very short stay. Arrived around 0745 and off again at circa 1000GMT ? Seemingly on Flightradar has a Turkmen flight number. Cargo ? VIP ? Seems very odd.

Turkmenistan Airlines' VIP ones are -700s so presuming you meant -800 it's in normal passenger config. Wouldn't be an obvious choice for a freight mission. Probably just a diplomatic delegation or something. Many people don't realise that UK and Turkmenistan have fairly warm relations.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by MATaxi

Anyone have any idea what a Turkmenistan B737-8 was doing in Exeter this morning ? Very short stay. Arrived around 0745 and off again at circa 1000GMT ? Seemingly on Flightradar has a Turkmen flight number. Cargo ? VIP ? Seems very odd.

Slightly unusual routing took it direct over Central London just before 07:30.

Appears to have been an -800 rather than an -8 (TUA don't have any MAXs, although they did originally order MAX 7s, subsequently cancelled).

[c52]

DC-8 just gone east over Oxford. A secret DC-8-72CF, but as there is only one of that model flying in the world....

[CHINOOKER]

Originally Posted by c52

DC-8 just gone east over Oxford. A secret DC-8-72CF, but as there is only one of that model flying in the world....

Operated by “Samaritans Purse” International Relief organisation…..routing out of Greensboro, NC and routing to Katowice, Poland…..N782SP

[DaveReidUK]

As of a couple of months ago, there were half a dozen stretched DC-8s still flying, all but one -72/-73s plus a single -62 with the original JT3D engines.

[SpringHeeledJack]

plus a single -62 with the original JT3D engines.

Who does that belong to ? NASA maybe, or someone in Africa or S America ?

[treadigraph]

I think it's Congolese or similar. NASA's (still airworthy?) example has CFMs.

[CHINOOKER]

Originally Posted by treadigraph

I think it's Congolese or similar. NASA's (still airworthy?) example has CFMs.

9S-AJG….operated by Trans Air Cargo Services, Congo. Aircraft is 53.4 years old.

[treadigraph]

A Chadian F900 just departed Biggin and I noticed another African bizjet the other day, Senegalese or Gabonese or somewhere; also an F900 I think and probably inbound Luton or Stansted.

[WHBM]

Not so much the aircraft as routing, but a Pilatus PC12, Salzburg to Southampton, this morning passed (audibly) over London City, and in the afternoon went back much the same way. Now there doesn't seem any particular reason for such a "long way round", avoiding France but going instead right through the most congested airspace in Europe at medium levels and then back southwards again. Often see the same for southern Europe to Dublin flights, passing overhead London but headed due west.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...e-ego#2e9666ba

[sealo0]

Something very fast , low and noisy has gone over my house in Bournemouth, any ideas?

nothing on fr24

Mike

[Null Orifice]

Originally Posted by sealo0

Something very fast , low and noisy has gone over my house in Bournemouth, any ideas?

nothing on fr24

Mike

Santa's sleigh?

Merry Christmas everybody!