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

Thought a single thread on the more interesting and unusual aircraft we see passing over our heads or perhaps notice on ADSB might be ... of interest! So, wherever you are in the world, what have you seen?

Just noticed that the DLR flying laboratory Falcon 20 D-CMET flew westbound over London this morning and is currently doing 75 mile north/south runs at 34000' off the west coast of Ireland. Doing some form of meteorological research perhaps?

That Falcon went past outbound/inbound on Saturday, again out to the Atlantic off the West coast of Ireland. Perhaps trying to predict the next wave of less clement weather that is apparently heading our way for the next days. Either that or he's looking for Hy Brasil ;-)

A340-600 going into Bournemouth again this morning from China. Big NHS lettering on fuselage. Think its the third trip there for it. 2 days ago, 747 Dream Lifter over Minehead to Taranto

https://www.flightradar24.com/DADLR/249d1a6f

D-ADLR, G550, doing the same.

There’s a DC-6 currently on route to Stavanger in Norway from Yellowknife. 14 hour flight at 11,000’.

Madness.

According to FR24, the A340's which have been coming into Bournemouth several times a day have been coming from Cardiff. I notice them because, they fly past my study window on final approach onto 08. Do they land at Cardiff to unload and then fly across to EGHH? The first flights to Tianjin a few weeks ago certainly came direct to EGHH.

That's interesting! Where can one follow it's progress ? No luck with the usual offerings. Is it going to retire in Norway ? Surely not hauling oil drilling equipment ?

its in & out of ADS-B just north of Scotland last I saw - maybe about 90 mins flying time to go.

I believe it’s going to a Museum, but it is carrying one passenger - the Norwegian winner of this years Iditarod dogsled race!

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.c...ntl/index.html

Just had a Spitfire past my bungalow in Chedburgh, Bury St. Eds. Nice.

DC6 and Yellowknife ? Does that mean Buffalo ??

Nice idea for a thread - sat in the sun earlier watching an A400 doing low/go around Newcastle.

There is a Pilatus PC-6 doing aerial survey runs over Lanarkshire, for the third day in a row.

https://www.flightradar24.com/N151/249c8673

On approach to Bergen by the look of it

I think that’s one of the Everts planes. If it’s the one I’m thinking about It’s heading for a museum in Norway. Its cargo includes a Norwegian musher and his dogs: they ran the Iditarod but couldn’t return to Norway due to the coronavirus lock down.

Not many around these days. DC6 or jobs flying them.
 

N151. YZF - SVG 15:44
What an interesting flight.

Everts are advertising for a DC6 FO.

https://www.latestpilotjobs.com/jobs...recruiter/2388
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....97656fb85c.png

No. They are Maleth Aero acquisitions, doing crew training OUT of Bournemouth.

Ttfn

Nordwind 777 from Moscow inbound to DSA overhead at 13000'.

We had a Wildcat come over an hour ago. I wouldn't go as far as to describe it as 'exciting' though; not compared to last week's flying visit from a Spitfire/Hurricane combo from the BBMF.

Westland or Grumman? :p

The DC-6 would have been a lovely thing to see... will they fly it for a bit or is it static? Can't imagine it will fly given the snags that have beset other European propliners recently.

Several Tiger Moths (once a formation of three) up and down the Thames over Canary Wharf at about 1,500ft.

A340-600 crew training???. Surely not! Currently heading back to Qingdao [TAO] 39,000 feet on crossing the English coast going east.. Just off North Netherlands coast at this mo. MLT621 on FR24

Saw this over Ascot Today
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c941ab9f9d.jpg

Just trying to work out which model, er, I mean mark that is!

PK553: :according to Google it's a mark 22. Didn't know any of those were flying. That's a nice picture and a nicer catch!!

I just happened to be passing Mildenhall and Lakenheath today. They had the usual KC135's, RC135's C130's and F15's blasting around.
Nothing really special, but the sight, and sound of freedom was morale!

1/48th, I presume ?

Crew training with callsign MLT346T for the past two days and some last week as well. Multiple flights plans BOH-CWL-BOH-CWL-BOH. They have two A346 flying atm, the one not used for training doing China cargo charters for NHS.

Spot on, Killed a few hours during lockdown

Interestingly, the DC6 involved ,N151, used to live in Europe as OO-VGL with Delta Air Transport

According to this FB page:
DC 6 B ex LN-SUB Braathens SAFE ex OO-LVG Bangladesh Biman ex OO-VGL DAT ex C-GICD ship 45 waterbomber Conair Canada, N-151- Air Cargo Express freighter Alaska

Is it Airfix? Do the wings fit any better than their other 1/48th Spitfires?

The DC-6B in question was originally delivered to Cathay Pacific Airways in June 1956 as VR-HFK. It was sold to Braathens SAFE in Nov 1962 and operated with them until circa May 1971. Having operated with several owners, already mentioned, it finished up with Everts in Apr 2004. It is now returning to go on display at one of its past homes.

BBMF Hurricane FL363 flying out of Coningsby earlier. Playback available on FR24. Sadly not visible from here. Anyone see it?

Yes it is and no the wings did not fix too well. Last time I did one was forty odd years ago and they do not seem to have improved that much. But Passed away a few hours during lockdown.

Thanks Jaydubya, think I have one in the stash - will need more filler then.

A DC-8, eh, love to see that!

There's a float-equipped Soloy (presumably) Cessna 206 D-EBIW approaching the Essex coast - interesting visitor!

ASCOT488
 

A400 Going round and round Gatwick at the moment, not landed yet. Presumably this is to give the local controllers something to do/practice? Got close enough, just, to see him in the distance on his downwind leg, can someone ask him to make that leg 3 miles further south please?

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c8f606ef56.jpg

You should try DCS World game. It's free for the PC. You only pay for modules. There's a really nice Mk 9 with normal; or clipped wings and a Normandy 1944 map to play it in. It'll use up all the time you have if you let it!

ASCOT488
 

Just woken up the controllers at Southend and the pilot of a DA42!

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2263dc021f.jpg

ASCO488
 

And so onto Norwich Airport...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....43371a47de.jpg

Where to next?