Unusual sighting
 

At grandson's football match this morning in Swindon lots of air traffic on Green One as usual then saw heading North to South unusual vapour trails. Passing directly overhead at 35000ish feet was a large four engined plane closely accompanied by two fighters either side. Anyone have any further info. on who what or why?

I'd guess KC135?

4 Swedish AF Gripens and a USAF KC-10 on their way to Red Flag in the USA via Lajes, Azores.

With thanks to Fighter Control forum.

"a large four engined plane"?? Also cannot see how they would route that way? South westerly route?

Ian, they passed over Swindon at around 10.40 - would that be about right ?

BOAC, yup - SW route out over Cornwall, they'd diverted into Mildenhall on Friday with 4 other Gripens and another KC-10 after refuelling problems to the SW of Lands End. I think these should be trying again tomorrow.

As already pointed out Swedish Gripens and USAF KC-10. Some images at following links.

Flickr: ilminsterpix's Photostream

KC-10 and friends | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Amazing info/pics guys/gals! It was the "4 engines heading North-South" that fooled me.:)

We wondered what the formation was!
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8...a236140a_z.jpg Passing over Hinton.. by Air Frame Photography, on Flickr[/IMG]

aerial spraying for sure! :}

Footage of the KC-10 and Gripens.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8053/8...a236140a_z.jpg

Another shuttle breaking up on re-entry?

How amusing.

When I was at Brum in 1969. we got a phone call from the police of "4 single engined jet bombers trailing smoke"
Turned out to be a C130.....:O

Well said DaveReid, we can do without that sort of sick comment.:=