Interesting aircraft - what have you seen on your computer today?
RAF F-35Bs returning from exercise in Alaska (ZM153, ZM155, ZM159, ZM160 & ZM162 all read off at Marham on landing). There are three more still to return, two in Lajes where one went tech on the attempted final leg Lajes to Marham Friday and returned to Lajes with a buddy, and one is in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) where the six that continued the last leg on Friday to Marham diverted to!
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Saw two small objects trailing in very loose formation westbound over Woking yesterday afternoon - "aha!" thunk I. Nope, a pair of US registered Falcons, a 50 and a 2000, a 1000' vertical separation and probably a mile or two horizontally - looks they diverged after Compton, the 2000 descended towards Dublin, the 50 went more westbound and looks like it popped into Shannon.
Other carriers, notably BA, seem to select different tracks for close departures of long-haul flights on the same general route. There must be some policy by carrier.
I've had a quick look just now, and none approaching London, but three Qatar eastbounds (from different US start points, must be more difficult to co-ordinate) running close together over Morocco, the normal North Atlantic approach where eastbounds are commonly much further south than westbounds.
RAF F-35Bs returning from exercise in Alaska (ZM153, ZM155, ZM159, ZM160 & ZM162 all read off at Marham on landing). There are three more still to return, two in Lajes where one went tech on the attempted final leg Lajes to Marham Friday and returned to Lajes with a buddy, and one is in Santiago de Compostela (Spain) where the six that continued the last leg on Friday to Marham diverted to!
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Various light aircraft disappearing into that vast swathe of Thanet concrete known as "Manston" this morning - bit of a fly in going on. Hope the airport reopens properly in due course.
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Dangnabbit! Bloody CV-22 passed within spitting distance of me last night, I noticed it crossing the French coast down near Caen and thought it would probably follow another one across eastern Sussex and Kent - nah, further west, pretty much over Biggin Hill at 10k - probably would have seen it had I not been distracted. Never seen one other than very distantly - up in Suffolk end of next week, perhaps this time I'll get a squizz at one.
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Boeing B.727-100 VP-BAT is currently routing Van Nuys to Iqaluit !
Next stop Athens so may grace our skies on its way ?🤞
Not very many-100 series still flying ??
Next stop Athens so may grace our skies on its way ?🤞
Not very many-100 series still flying ??
I think you mean VP-BAP, which is a very smart-looking Super 27 (re-engined 727), originally with Pan Am and now used by US real estate developer Geoffrey Palmer. It's based at Van Nuys and visited Gatwick in 2021.
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As mentioned I don't think it's VP-BAT which I believe was a Qatar Amiri Boeing 747SP until about 5 years ago which I remember parked for long periods outside the Diamond hangar at Stansted followed by a spell being based at Bournemouth..
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Nice view of a Galaxy trailing down toward Lands End earlier on - another one preceded it... they do look quite big even at 34000!
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Reminds me, I noticed a Dominican Citation leaving Heathrow a day or so back. Really? Or a miss-code?
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Thanks Dave - certainly a long way for a little bizjet!
The school snapping C172 G-ECGC has been down in this neck of the woods again, busy over some local educational establishments.
The school snapping C172 G-ECGC has been down in this neck of the woods again, busy over some local educational establishments.
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Not particularly interesting but the dulcet tones of a Cherokee Six could be heard overhead Chez Moi at 4.30am this morning - wondered if he was doing a Dawn to Dusk attempt, last seen rather higher half way across the Channel.
Speaking of "across the Channel", two USAF C-130s and a German A400 at low level along the Normandy beaches, presume there is a big D Day remembrance event in train.
Speaking of "across the Channel", two USAF C-130s and a German A400 at low level along the Normandy beaches, presume there is a big D Day remembrance event in train.
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Breakfast outside watching a Squirrel Helo being used in firefighting water Bomber role on a moorland fire above Marsden West Yorkshire. They started yesterday pm and still at this morning. The other year they used a German registered Huey which was more dramatic visually and audibly, but I alike Hueys 🙂
Cheers
Mr Mac
Cheers
Mr Mac
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First time I've seen a B-1 on ADSB I think... over North Sea north of Holland heading SE. Assume one the aircraft currently at Fairford.
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Little hope of it doing an RTB via Sarf Lunnun I imagine... well, the Buffs did once or twice.