Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Misc. Forums > Spectators Balcony (Spotters Corner)
Reload this Page >

5 x Dassault Falcon 20 - Prestwick

Wikiposts
Search
Spectators Balcony (Spotters Corner) If you're not a professional pilot but want to discuss issues about the job, this is the best place to loiter. You won't be moved on by 'security' and there'll be plenty of experts to answer any questions.

5 x Dassault Falcon 20 - Prestwick

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 19th Oct 2020, 15:15
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Here
Posts: 962
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
5 x Dassault Falcon 20 - Prestwick

I was looking at FR24 playing bae

Some kind of training I guess?

Anyone any suggestions as to what they are up to? There was a Hawk in the same area too.



Hawk seemed to operate out of and returned to Aberdeen.



Last edited by jimjim1; 19th Oct 2020 at 15:31.
jimjim1 is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 15:48
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 15,816
Received 199 Likes on 92 Posts
The Falcons were probably Cobham's.
DaveReidUK is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 16:15
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Here 'n' there!
Posts: 589
Received 10 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by jimjim1
I was looking at FR24 playing bae

Some kind of training I guess?

Anyone any suggestions as to what they are up to? There was a Hawk in the same area too.

Hawk seemed to operate out of and returned to Aberdeen.
Maybe this as it seems the screenshots show the 15th Oct. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/u...scottish-coast

4th - 15th so the screenshots could have been from the last day I believe.
Hot 'n' High is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 16:34
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: England
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
For me it looks like a testflight after heavy maintenance
Mount Shasta is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 16:59
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Near VTUU or EGPX
Age: 65
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Military Exercise - Joint Warrior, well publicised these days !

The Cobham Falcons are often based at Prestwick.

The recently finished JW also had visiting participants from France and Canada based at Prestwick.

The Fat Controller is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 17:25
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Out on the bike in Northumberland
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Been playing off the NE coast today as well, along with a pair of Voyagers and KC135s, hawks and things that were noisy but didn't have Mode S on.....ADSB exchange gives access to Callsigns and airframe info.
almost professional is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 18:05
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Reading, UK
Posts: 15,816
Received 199 Likes on 92 Posts
Originally Posted by almost professional
Been playing off the NE coast today as well, along with a pair of Voyagers and KC135s, hawks and things that were noisy but didn't have Mode S on.....ADSB exchange gives access to Callsigns and airframe info.
They likely had Mode S (but not ADS-B).

In the absence of Mode S, the only way to ID an aircraft (other than Mk.1 eyeball) is to correlate the Mode A squawk that ATC have allocated.
DaveReidUK is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 18:15
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Out on the bike in Northumberland
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We used to ring the London mil assistant to find out what was wearing the interesting squawks that appeared now and then.....
almost professional is online now  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 18:29
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Near VTUU or EGPX
Age: 65
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are Cobham Falcons based at Durham Tees Valley and they frequently work all over the North Sea.

https://www.teessideinternational.co...sside-airport/
The Fat Controller is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 18:30
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westnoreastsouth
Posts: 1,826
Received 32 Likes on 28 Posts
We were staying in Uig (Skye) last week and 2 of the Cobham Falcons in close formation skirted the village at approx 500ft (wed I think at approx 1630-1700ish).
The day before we had 2x Hawks overfly us whilst walking around the little peninsula (An Aird) at Balmeanach Bay mid morningish (1000ish ??).
Lovely to see a little flying going on
longer ron is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 18:43
  #11 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Here
Posts: 962
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Thanks everyone, that is interesting. I had no idea that these aircraft existed. According to Dave Reid's link they use the Hawks to simulate sea skimming missiles :-)

Sorry, I should have made the date clearer.

Regarding ADSB Exchange, does anyone know if it is possible to replay historic material on the map? I recently had a good look and didn't find anything.
jimjim1 is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 18:53
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westnoreastsouth
Posts: 1,826
Received 32 Likes on 28 Posts
Originally Posted by jimjim1
Thanks everyone, that is interesting. I had no idea that these aircraft existed. According to Dave Reid's link they use the Hawks to simulate sea skimming missiles :-)
Some years ago whilst I was doing a 6 month contract at Hurn,one of the Culdrose 'Fleet Requirements' Hawks flew so low over a Navy ship/through the ship funnel exhaust plume that he had a flameout on the engine,he pulled up and luckily got an engine relight - closely followed by a diversion into Hurn.
There is no truth at all in the rumour he had his girlfriend in the back seat
Hawks have a very small frontal Radar RCS which makes them ideal to play a 'missile'.
longer ron is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 20:15
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Here 'n' there!
Posts: 589
Received 10 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by jimjim1
Thanks everyone, that is interesting. I had no idea that these aircraft existed. According to Dave Reid's link they use the Hawks to simulate sea skimming missiles :-) ......
Certainly do!

In the early '90's I was "stitched up" to organise the Potential Officer Candidates who were visiting the FAA. The "win" was that, whatever I organised for them to do I got to do too (me being mere Engineer-filth (but who could fly gliders)!). Even if I say so myself, they had a brill couple of weeks - as did I . One of the highlights was a trip with FRADU, then based at Yeovilton. Flight Refuelling Ltd (Cobham) had the contract by then.

On my trip we were flying on a "Thursday War" off Portland in Hunter T8C WT772/875 against various ships. On the way out I'd mentioned I had flown gliders + had 10 hrs PPL training and so I was given control to have a play over Dorset while we awaited our Serial to begin. Nothing was said but it was great!

Eventually, into "war" we went and "low level" (this is below bridge height of a Type 42) was the order of the day. Unbelievably, as we rolled in for the 3rd or 4th run the immortal words "You know the score ... your turn! Ready? You have!!" and that was it.

Fortunately, Portland Radar had our Mode 3 readout as, half way in on my run we had "C/S XXX, check height!". Cool as a bl@@dy cucumber from the Pilot all I got was "Ease it up a bit H 'n' H, I don't want to swim if that's OK!" and I completed the run in.

To this day, I wish I had that Pilots name (he must be long retired now) - to thank him for his absolute trust in me that day. Clearly, my "playing" over Dorset had told him enough - and I went on to Instruct and fly commercially in several roles. But I still have the photos of that day which was, to be honest, the absolute BEST. Plus the memories of that whole flight are etched in my mind and soul still today.

Arrival back at VL for a few "touch and goes" by the Pilot the first "arrival" which was quite "firm" (but seemingly normal) to which I involuntarily said "Owch!". Pilot turned to me with a big smile under the mask "What's up H 'n' H, that was a b@@dy good touchdown!!!!! You should see a bad one!!"

To that Pilot, thank you Sir for an absolutely unbelievable hour or so in my life!!!!! Probably The best ever!

Last edited by Hot 'n' High; 19th Oct 2020 at 20:28.
Hot 'n' High is offline  
Old 19th Oct 2020, 22:19
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: 4DME
Posts: 2,919
Likes: 0
Received 12 Likes on 10 Posts
Living 4 miles on the approach to Teesside I have the pleasure of the Da 20s most week days, a fast and low return by a pair for a run and break sounds great. Or more fun when they get chased by up to three Typhoons.
N707ZS is offline  
Old 20th Oct 2020, 00:09
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Manchester MAN
Posts: 6,642
Received 74 Likes on 46 Posts
But I still have the photos of that day ...
Come on Hot 'n' High, we're waiting!
India Four Two is offline  
Old 20th Oct 2020, 09:50
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Here 'n' there!
Posts: 589
Received 10 Likes on 6 Posts
Originally Posted by India Four Two
Come on Hot 'n' High, we're waiting!
Some people!!!! For I42! Excuse the non-David Bailey standard and, for some reason, at some point, I cropped the side view. Anyway, now scanned in. I see from some notes I dug up it was XF289 who was 875 at the time (seems nose codes moved as airframes came and went by the look of things). The flight was on 4th July 1986 (blimey, even longer ago than I thought) and was against HMS Gloucester (a Batch 3 Type 42 if you want full geek mode!!).

Most pix self-explanatory. The return is back to Yeovilton where, on the turn in to final, the ski jump can be seen to the left of the main Runway 27. Positioning on the run-ins against the ship was dictated by the PWO(A) on the ship who wanted us to fly various headings inbound and to pass ahead or astern but, IIR, it was almost always to pass ahead, presumably so the Sea Dart could track us.

Six weeks later I was on the Illustrious in Singapore for the latter part of Global 86 returning to the UK in Dec 86! Yes, I did do some work ..... honest! As many of my Staff Reports observed, "If cornered like a rat, H 'n' H will attempt to achieve something which at least appears on the surface to be something akin to "productive work". Sadly, though, such events are few and far between."

Happy daze eh!!!! H 'n' H



XF289/875 on the FRADU Line, Yeovilton 4/7/86

Heading into the Portland Exercise areas

Low-level turn

On a run-in against HMS Gloucester

Bit high on that one .... but a good view from the bridge for the OOW

Downwind for a Roller

Continuous turn approach

Rolled out on "short final".

Safely back down ... or maybe just rolling again

1:45 after leaving the line it was, sadly, time to park up again.

Last edited by Hot 'n' High; 20th Oct 2020 at 10:12.
Hot 'n' High is offline  
Old 20th Oct 2020, 10:08
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Explains why I saw a variety of military jets flying low through the pass last Thursday as I climbed up the fells overlooking Grasmere.

Two Hawks came through followed about 30 mins later by what looked like Ospreys. Couldn't believe I was seeing tilt-rotors in the Lakes but makes sense if the Americans were in town.
Diverskii is offline  
Old 20th Oct 2020, 10:40
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: In front of a computer
Posts: 2,356
Received 92 Likes on 36 Posts
jimjim1

if it is possible to replay historic material on the map?
Yes if you click on a target that is currently displayed. On the panel that opens to the left there is a caption marked "history" which you can click on to open a search function.

ETOPS is online now  
Old 22nd Oct 2020, 09:06
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 648
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cobhams G-FRAJ is 50 years old!
nivsy is offline  
Old 22nd Oct 2020, 10:04
  #20 (permalink)  
Gnome de PPRuNe
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 60
Posts: 12,610
Received 289 Likes on 158 Posts
Is that the one that's one of the original FedEx aircraft? I think one is...
treadigraph is online now  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.