Been nice to have seen them - bit cloudy round here at that point.

By 'eck there's lots of gliders up today! I think it was Tuesday with a NW wind, looked like a lot of people were making use of the slope soaring possibilities along the scarp ridge of the South Downs, those from Parham being joined by pilots from Lasham and I think some from further north to get a bit of distance - I believe Booker are currently operating from Charlton Park.

A Pilatus PC-6 has been boring grooves in the sky all day here, it finally came near enough for me to spot it. It looks like it has a LIDAR pod on the wing.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3e9e0ae31c.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d4c0006280.jpg

There was a Dornier 27 went up and down the coast over Great Yarmouth yesterday afternoon. A very distinctive engine noise too!
Closely followed by an Xtra 300 doing aeros over the beach. That was nice to see as well!
Thanks to both for brightening up what had been, until then, an average day.

A PC-9 went humming over central London a while ago, which was a fairly unusual aircraft for this area.

Just passed over us Near Farnborough and down to the coast is 03 Bartck33 the one not been in to FAB
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1f0b8c1052.png
03 Bartck33

Irish Air Corps example (266), appeared from the general direction of Birmingham, routing SE, and then turned due east at Croydon. I wonder where it was headed?

Appears to have landed in the Lucerne area, probably Stans. Major overhaul? Probably heard it, I was walking from Selsdon out towards Biggin Hill at the time!

Catalina G-PBYA is currently airborn in the vicinity Duxford and Cambridge.

Air China 777 just departed Edinburgh for Dalian

There's an A400M just off Weymouth / Portland doing very low patterns over the ocean, 250ft. Been at it for at least an hour. Practise search and rescue? I'd post the screen grab from FR24 but I lack the privileges.

USAF Dornier C-146A Wolfhound 11-3016 just headed west across northern London...

Earlier today there was an interesting formation in one of the North Sea AARefueling areas, 2 x USAF KC135s topped by a Netherlands AF DC10 T-235.Plus an RAF C130 doing a circuit at Sculthorpe.

That's a rare bird! I believe they normally operate in places that are not in the holiday brochures. Currently descending into Shannon, before heading across the pond, no doubt.

Rather surprised to see and hear an Atlas do three approaches into Biggin while I was out for my stroll tonight. Don't know if it touched down or not. Not the biggest aircraft that's ever gone in there, as I tink I recall the Orbis DC-10 in the static at an Air Fair in the 1990s? Their DC-8 certainly did... and a Globey in the 60s must be approaching the same size!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a428160d40.jpg
It had a whizz over Edinburgh too

RAF C17 ZZ176 currently flying circuits at RAF Sculthorpe,been round 4 times so far and ADSB shows her down to 100' each time.I didn't know Sculthorpe was active.Also flying very close to Fakenham at 1500' .

RAF Sculthorpe was used by USAF today is not used for flying ? history at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sculthorpe_Training_Area

Antonov AN-22A (ADB 5436) has just rumbled its way overhead at FL220 en route Ghardaia - Ostende.

"Hello" I thought "That isn't the usual AN-12" and indeed it wasn't.

Even the Senior Management looked up from her iPad to enquire as what was making the glasses vibrate.

Fantastic! Love the sound of the AN-22, though it's been several years since it flew over the UK I believe.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e02916d842.jpg


He's back!