Interesting aircraft - what have you seen on your computer today?
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Another Saudi AF C-130 just droned NW over London, assume an H as it was quite a deep drone.
Re Aeroflot, not seen anything of them since the embargo began and I'd assume any passenger/freight communications for Russian diplomatic staff will be via a third state - think there are flights between Moscow and Dubai for example? As I recall there have been at least two Rossiya flights to the USA to pick up expelled diplomats!
Re Aeroflot, not seen anything of them since the embargo began and I'd assume any passenger/freight communications for Russian diplomatic staff will be via a third state - think there are flights between Moscow and Dubai for example? As I recall there have been at least two Rossiya flights to the USA to pick up expelled diplomats!
I have no idea how things work when a country has been sanctioned in regards to diplomatic movements, so perhaps they have to go via Turkey or Dubai, but I'm just surprised that there haven't been necessary flights for supplies/staff/ whatever that come directly to London from Moscow in the last year and three-quarters.
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Nice shape wafting around overhead a few minutes ago sans ADSB, believe it to be L4H Grasshopper G-BBLH which has been resident at Biggin since around 1976 - I recall seeing it there in January '77! It orbited Croydon Airport/Wallington a couple of times, I believe a friend of a friend flies Shipping and Airlines collection occasionally and lives over that way.
Another Saudi AF C-130 just droned NW over London, assume an H as it was quite a deep drone.
Re Aeroflot, not seen anything of them since the embargo began and I'd assume any passenger/freight communications for Russian diplomatic staff will be via a third state - think there are flights between Moscow and Dubai for example? As I recall there have been at least two Rossiya flights to the USA to pick up expelled diplomats!
Re Aeroflot, not seen anything of them since the embargo began and I'd assume any passenger/freight communications for Russian diplomatic staff will be via a third state - think there are flights between Moscow and Dubai for example? As I recall there have been at least two Rossiya flights to the USA to pick up expelled diplomats!
"Except in case of some limited exceptions. In accordance with Regulation (EU) 833/2014 it is prohibited for any aircraft operated by Russian air carriers, including as a marketing carrier in code-sharing or blocked-space arrangements, or for any Russian-registered aircraft, or for any non-Russian-registered aircraft which is owned or chartered, or otherwise controlled by any Russian natural or legal person, entity or body, to land in, take off from or overfly the territory of the Union, except in case of an emergency landing or emergency overflight."
I am not sure whether the UK sanctions are exactly the same but, assuming that they broadly are, no Russian-owned or -registered aircraft would be permitted to enter UK sovereign airspace unless by agreement. In the case of the US, I think that access has also been permitted in connection with attendance at the UN General Assembly in New York, for example.
The LC-130Hs from Schenectady being a familiar sight and sound around here, a noticeably different and louder drone caught my ear yesterday evening... AN12BK UR-CAJ making its way slowly north from KIN to YMX.
I have no idea how things work when a country has been sanctioned in regards to diplomatic movements, so perhaps they have to go via Turkey or Dubai, but I'm just surprised that there haven't been necessary flights for supplies/staff/ whatever that come directly to London from Moscow in the last year and three-quarters.
United Nations delegates in New York have a unique position, and the USA has always accepted UN diplomatic flights from Cuba, Iran, or wherever they may have travel bans against. They commonly go into a remote area of JFK, bringing some interesting types in. The main security issue is protests against such visitors by expat former nationals of these countries now in the USA, attempts to serve legal documents on them (including trying to impound their aircraft), etc, which the various police authorities have long experience of having to deal with.
Last edited by WHBM; 20th Nov 2023 at 19:48.
Irish Air Corps CN-235 left the former RAF Eastleigh (Southampton Airport) earlier, not seen one there before, but that may just because I was otherwise engaged or unobservant. I assume its days are numbered now both the MPA '295s have been delivered.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Can anyone tell me what altitude 775' translates as today around 2pm in the London area please? Ta.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Cheers, so around 1100', far more reasonable - when I actually saw the "culprit", ADSB read out was 1200', thus 1650' which certainly looked authentic height above my slightly elevated position (nearby peak is 575'). The readout a few minutes earlier certainly looked eyebrow raising (so was the track but I imagine clearance from LHR to take a bit of a shortcut was probably forthcoming!)
Just curious...
Just curious...
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Bit different, Ukrainian Bell 505 just whizzed overhead out of Biggin...
Hmmm, interesting routing... wondering if they know whence they go.
Hmmm, interesting routing... wondering if they know whence they go.
Last edited by treadigraph; 28th Nov 2023 at 11:53.
Well, this may not count as I didn't see them on my computer initially, but.....
Driving past Lakenheath on Monday, there were 2 Canadian Alpha jets and an A4N Skyhawk. Having seen them at the holding point, I then looked at FR24, which showed them to be "Ambush71 &72" and "HotRod 01"
Haven't seen a Skyhawk in years.
Driving past Lakenheath on Monday, there were 2 Canadian Alpha jets and an A4N Skyhawk. Having seen them at the holding point, I then looked at FR24, which showed them to be "Ambush71 &72" and "HotRod 01"
Haven't seen a Skyhawk in years.
I think that they were based in Germany for a few years, or at least the Canadian company was doing similar sorties with the Luftwaffe and NATO. The Skyhawk is somehow a good-looking aircraft, despite being a relation of Quasimodo.
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My Ukrainian Bell 505 friend was back again today, this time he headed up the heli-lane from Banstead towards Barnes and had a whiz eastwards along the Thames, before heading round NE London and disappearing NW somewhere over Watford way.
In Saffron Walden yesterday, astonished to hear a Cirrus taking off from Duxford - pity it wasn't something more interesting. Also Bolkow Junior G-ECGO which appears to live at the Audley End strip. Long time since I've seen one...
Re A-4s - sat in a cockpit once, bloody tiny it seemed!
In Saffron Walden yesterday, astonished to hear a Cirrus taking off from Duxford - pity it wasn't something more interesting. Also Bolkow Junior G-ECGO which appears to live at the Audley End strip. Long time since I've seen one...
Re A-4s - sat in a cockpit once, bloody tiny it seemed!
I went past Bournemouth airport earlier and there was a Star air (Maersk) 767 freighter parked on the passenger terminal. Any idea why, maybe WX diversion?
In Saffron Walden yesterday, astonished to hear a Cirrus taking off from Duxford - pity it wasn't something more interesting. Also Bolkow Junior G-ECGO which appears to live at the Audley End strip. Long time since I've seen one...