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

[SpringHeeledJack]

I haven't seen a TriStar in years... Strange how some types fade so quickly, though I guess it is a long time since the last one was built - 250 in total?

SpringHeeledJack, did you see the pair of USAF HC-130Js which just flew westbound over London? I could hear them but rather hazy...

I saw the 2nd one, but the first went by blocked by broken clouds ;-) They seemed to come out of Ramstein, probably heading back home after a rotation wherever. A USN C-130T went by not long after from somewhere in Suffolk/Norfolk. Add in two survey planes going back and forth and my ears were twitching constantly :-)

TriStars.....I remember seeing the demonstrator in PSA colours at Farnborough and thinking it very impressive. Last one I saw was (I think) at CDG parked over near the FedEx cargo ramp. Lucky person to still see one in the air!

[TheFrenchConnection]

treadigraph

Hi, I don't think so , this 2 seater , does not satisfy social distancing , all the pics I have seen , press pics , spotters pics etc, since March have been Pilot only. Their website says something like - you have 18 months to rebook your flight, passenger ? ...
Regards TFC.

[TheFrenchConnection]

pax britania

Hi thanks , yes we agree , spend a lot of time in the west side of Bracknell. We see a lot of unusual types there , luckily, just skimming London TMA North-South or South North. Bagshot Tower is of course on the SW corner of London TMA , and our Bracknell location is about 3 ish miles NNW of the tower . On VE75 morning in Bracknell saw the Red Arrows just to the NW of town and later that morning saw the Spitfire doing a barrel roll , seemed liked 300 feet , right over us, SW Bracknell , right place, right time - fantastic ! regards TFC.

[treadigraph]

TFC, they may just be doing maintenance flights or pilot proficiency. Both G-BMSB and G-AVAV have each been up several times that I've noted - sadly not when I've been within earshot! When the wind is from the right direction and one is away from the dratted traffic, a Merlin at take off power settings is quite audible and unmistakable five or six miles away!

SHJ, the Dutch Tecnam came over here just now after refueling at Biggin.

[wub]

Another one through Edinburgh today

[jensdad]

Nice photo, wub. Is that RAF or USAF?

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by jensdad

Nice photo, wub. Is that RAF or USAF?

RAF - 8 Squadron dagger on the fin.

[Ian Burgess-Barber]

The Big one comes (full of PPE)

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

RAF - 8 Squadron dagger on the fin.

An-225 ADB3429 over Germany at this time is en-route to SNN ex China stuffed with PPE for the Irish Health Service. Hope to see it on base leg if the cloud base stays as is and the wind favours 06. I know from previous visits that we will certainly hear it!

Ian BB

[treadigraph]

Damn, it flew over me, like to have seen it!

[SpringHeeledJack]

Perhaps it will come back over on the way back towards Ukraine ?

I saw an Azerbijan A320 this morning heading into LHR. Are these regular, or somewhat unusual ? Seems a stretch for the route to use an A320.

[Ian Burgess-Barber]

Just a glimpse of her - 13.40 hrs, in and out of the shower cloud at 3000 ft, right base to 06 after a 'wiggly' descent over County Limerick. Great sound 'tho.
If, as expected they overnight, we may see the departure tomorrow - if the wind says use 24 - que sera sera!

Ian BB

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by SpringHeeledJack

I saw an Azerbijan A320 this morning heading into LHR. Are these regular, or somewhat unusual ? Seems a stretch for the route to use an A320.

Unusual nowadays, though they have used A319/A320s on the Baku-LHR route a fair bit in the past before standardising on the B788 about 5 years ago.

In recent weeks, it's only been the ad-hoc flights that have used the Airbus narrow-bodies.

[TheFrenchConnection]

Azerbaijan Airlines - Baku to LHR , A320 ?

Originally Posted by SpringHeeledJack

Perhaps it will come back over on the way back towards Ukraine ?

I saw an Azerbijan A320 this morning heading into LHR. Are these regular, or somewhat unusual ? Seems a stretch for the route to use an A320.

SpringHeeledJack : normally they have up to 5 flights a week in the summer Baku - LHR , yes an Azerbaijan Airlines AA. A320 is unusual in the UK.
normally they fly 787's on this sector. Love the AA blue livery seen both in the air or on the ground when I'm skimming around LHR to get to the M25 .
The range I think for a standard A320 is about 3300 N.Miles , Baku-LHR is about 2200 N.Miles
Azerbaijan Airlines recent press release here ; https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...cy-variations/
TFC

[TheFrenchConnection]

Finally on AA Baku-LHR , a recent Covid-19 downsize update here ;
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ght=Azerbaijan
ONE flight a week and a A319 , the same for our comrades
TFC

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by TheFrenchConnection

Finally on AA Baku-LHR , a recent Covid-19 downsize update here ;
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ght=Azerbaijan
ONE flight a week and a A319 , the same for our comrades
TFC

That once-a-week timetable lasted exactly a week - the last operation of J2007/008 was more than 2 months ago, on 2nd April.

Since then there have been only 7 ad-hoc rotations, roughly one every 10 days, all but one with the A319/A320.

[SpringHeeledJack]

A Phillipine registered Reims Cessna flying over North London. Seems a long way from home.

MC-130 heading over through the London TMA presently.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by SpringHeeledJack

A Phillipine registered Reims Cessna flying over North London. Seems a long way from home.

Sadly, I think you may be mistaken about that. What's your source?

[treadigraph]

I recall being told about a Philippinian Aero Commander at Gatwick's GA terminal sometime around 1980. Next morning I cycled 15 miles down there - no Commander. Blast! I cycled back (via Redhill I think, I remember seeing the first Bristow S-76s in the hangar) and was home in time for lunch. 30 mile round trip.

Being an energetic bugger in those days, I decided to head up to Biggin that afternoon, about 10 miles each way with several steep hills. Tucked away inside the Express Aviation hangar was the Philippinian Aero Commander - result!

Speaking of S-76s, one has just clattered over...

[dixi188]

Anything special going on at Bournemouth this afternoon?
I've just been past and there are 30 or 40 people by the fence, some with big lenses on cameras. Usually only about 10 or so people around.
Only two BA 747s left but still loads of A320 series a/c.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by treadigraph

I recall being told about a Philippinian Aero Commander at Gatwick's GA terminal sometime around 1980. Next morning I cycled 15 miles down there - no Commander. Blast! I cycled back (via Redhill I think, I remember seeing the first Bristow S-76s in the hangar) and was home in time for lunch. 30 mile round trip.

Being an energetic bugger in those days, I decided to head up to Biggin that afternoon, about 10 miles each way with several steep hills. Tucked away inside the Express Aviation hangar was the Philippinian Aero Commander - result!

Speaking of S-76s, one has just clattered over...

And, speaking of helicopters, the mis-reported "Philippine Cessna 182" (here on PlaneFinder) was actually the ubiquitous Agusta A109S N449C, which made a brief visit to Elstree this morning, arriving from and departing to the northwest.