747 lowish over Wimbledon
 

At about 0930 this morning, heard loud engine sounds, just caught a glimpse of a 747 northbound, looked less then 2000'. Quite odd, we're about 10nm from LHR..just a repositioning go around or a less than perfect CDA?
Just curious

I can confirm the same, saw it too. The loud sound of the engines approaching made me wonder if there was about to be a ......., but the 747 flew over, banked, lowered it's undercarriage and seemed to be joining 27L without further incident. I thought that it was a ferry from LGW to LHR to be honest, but nevertheless it gave me a fright, we're not used to them that low in these gentle parts.


SHJ

Saw him outbound out of Heathrow at about 1500 feet not climbing, obviously returned to Heathrow. According to flightradar24 it was BAW117 to New York

Climbed to 1500ft then descended to 1300ft (1200ft agl) then back up to 1800ft while turning downwind.

Casper - live aircraft tracking Reset date to 2/10 and time to 09.20. BA117 gets airborne from 27R at 09.20:38. Hold arrow over aircraft to see altitude.

any identifiable livery ?

I think the clue is in BAW...

It's good to know you all keep a close eye on what happens at LHR...I'll be careful where I drop my gear in future;)

As long as it stays attached to the airplane :E

Wouldn`t it be overweight on landing if planning to do such a long flight?

It's one of BA's shorter flights for the 747! Possibly a bit 'overweight' if they didn't dump fuel, but procedures exist to land 'overweight' anyway.

Stopping is not an issue, it's just that engineering checks have to be carried out if an overweight landing is made.

Should have sent for Larry Grayson.

BBC News - BA flight to New York in London emergency landing

Just waiting for the Daily Mail's version - undoubtedly will be in a similar vein to their recent outrageous shock-horror-end-of-the-world 'reporting' on the Delta 4951 gear-up landing.

"Disaster averted over London !!! - Passengers screamed in terror as the hero pilot wrestled with the controls and tried to regain control of the small flashing light. Hundreds of lives saved... house prices rise again etc..." :yuk:

What a shame it is a Saturday as that means there were no (busy) schools for the pilot to avoid.

But maybe a field of cricket players or a hospital?

Yes, but it did skim over the top of shopping centres packed with thousands of Saturday morning shoppers who were screaming in horror as the stricken jet plunged ever closer to the ground. They could clearly see the panic stricken faces of the thousands of passengers who were helplessly trapped in their seats as the pilot wrested with the joystick to bring the massive Airbus Jumbo Jet under control.

New Daily Mail sensationalist based on bollox campaign
 

Close the airports near cities - simples ;-)

Emergency landing?

saw the b747 when i was ploding the streets in southfields what a great site banking to the left wished i had a camera now.....

Yup, it was one of the hosties nipping out for a quick ciggie.

:) In this unusual instance they lowered the undercarriage exactly as they did a steep left bank, that is during. I might have led a sheltered life, but i haven't witnessed that before outside of airshows. I'm glad that they landed safely, especially as overweight, but am curious as to why they were vectored across so many people at such a low altitude and not diverted to LGW (less urban) ? They flew almost directly over one's abode and it was loud.



SHJ