Plane-spotting in comfort

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tomorton

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This is a thread where T2W people are invited to post up interesting spots on flightradar24.com.

I mentioned the site the other day and got some Likes. The current suspension of so much scheduled air traffic has made the unusual over-flights easier to see (though there are fewer of them).

This might turn out to be the most anorakkie thing I've ever done, feel free to laugh, I can take it. Anyway here's what I see that's interesting right now, concentrating on the UK and especially the SW -

ASCOT119 - RAF Lockheed C-130J Hercules ZH879 from Brize Norton, at 975ft would you believe it, heading NE over Devon.

ETP86 - Avro RJ70 G-ETPK from the Empire Test Pilot's School (yes. there is such a thing) at RAF Bscombe Down: circling over the Channel SE of Weymouth after sortie SW to S of Land's End.

Beech B200 Super King Air - operating from Ostend, flying a never-ending N-S ladder pattern at 16,100ft over Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire etc. Probably aerial surveying.

GAWLI - Piper PA-22-150 Caribbean G-AWLI, a very pretty 1957 vintage 2-seater, just cruising around over South Downs and Sussex coast. An older aircraft than most enthusiasts fly, operates from Shoreham I think, maximum speed somewhat less than a second-hand BMW.

Take care, stay sane.
 
TARTN39 - Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) from Brize Norton flying an interesting pattern over the North Sea, could be looking for Russkies !
 
Dowser said:
TARTN39 - Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) from Brize Norton flying an interesting pattern over the North Sea, could be looking for Russkies !
Click to expand...


The RAF Voyagers use interesting ID's - tartan, madras etc. Their "normal" patterns involve NW to Shropshire then NE over the North Sea and then ovals up and down off the coast at 10,000ft. He's finshed in the Norfolk sector and is moving back towards the Tyne area. These are tankers so I guess they are in-flight re-fuelling smaller combat aircraft on training flights.
 
Also now over Devon, RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, ZZ171.

These are truly enormous transporters that can carry a 72-ton load! I hope to see this chap making a run-in to Exeter Airport in the next minutes, he's heading the right way and is only at 2,500ft.
 
tomorton said:
. . .I hope to see this chap making a run-in to Exeter Airport in the next minutes, he's heading the right way and is only at 2,500ft.
Click to expand...
I can't believe I'm reading this thread.
Dear oh dear oh dear, what has T2W come to and, more importantly, what's it done to me!!! As for you Tom, my advice is don't let Mrs. Orton catch you looking at this stuff: she's probably be happier if you spent your days watching porn. Let's face it, that would be more normal!
:p
 
timsk said:
I can't believe I'm reading this thread.
Dear oh dear oh dear, what has T2W come to and, more importantly, what's it done to me!!! As for you Tom, my advice is don't let Mrs. Orton catch you looking at this stuff: she's probably be happier if you spent your days watching porn. Let's face it, that would be more normal!
:p
Click to expand...


Well the original title of the thread was going to be "porn-spotting in comfort", but I thought better of that idea.....
 
tomorton said:
Also now over Devon, RAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, ZZ171.

These are truly enormous transporters that can carry a 72-ton load! I hope to see this chap making a run-in to Exeter Airport in the next minutes, he's heading the right way and is only at 2,500ft.
Click to expand...


Incidentally, this is ID RRR815. Other RAF RRR ID's have been used also recently for personnel transports from Brize Norton, I've seen them on two separate days, flying SE across the Channel and on towards SE France or Italy. This might be normal armed forces deployment / logistics or I wonder if they're repatriating sick people?
 
Talking of newish hobbies, I've been researching software-defined radio (before 5G ;)) and all of a sudden trad radio has entered the digital world, track aircraft (listen to them), satellites, weather, listen to chat, telegraph messaging, the list is endless.

All for about £50 !!
 
One you don't see every day -

GUKTV - helicopter icon - tracking N towards London from Surrey - Aerospatiale AS355 F2 Ecureuil 2, G-UKTV - This is a Sky News helicopter

A couple of miles to his NE, on a converging course, a slightly lower altitude, a London air ambulance -
GLNDN - MD-900 Explorer, G-LNDN

Its a quiet day today...
 
BA168/BAW168
British Airways
PVG --> LHR

Passenger 35 looks like they have COVID-19 symptoms and should be tested on arrival.
 
There hasn't been much unusual lately but here's an interesting sight -

TOW2233 - RAF Airbus A330-243, G-VYGJ, a tanker aircraft, ZZ339, entering the Bristol Channel NE, having flown up from Dakar, Senegal, west Africa.

At this same time -

TARTN19 - RAF Airbus KC2 Voyager (A330-243MRTT) tanker, ZZ335, cruising up and down off the Norfolk coast at 16,000ft.

So it seems the RAF DO work nights, not just when its sunny.
 
Beluga goes home!

BGA241B - Airbus A300-608ST Beluga, F-GSTB - See photo of this unbelievable transport aircraft, developed (and used solely) by Airbus to move bulky items around, such as aircraft wings, for full assembly. This guy left Chester earlier and is currently at 31,000ft over Hampshire, no doubt returning to Toulouse.

1587559881064.png


I promise, this pic has NOT been photo-shopped.
 
tomorton said:
Beluga goes home!

BGA241B - Airbus A300-608ST Beluga, F-GSTB - See photo of this unbelievable transport aircraft, developed (and used solely) by Airbus to move bulky items around, such as aircraft wings, for full assembly. This guy left Chester earlier and is currently at 31,000ft over Hampshire, no doubt returning to Toulouse.

View attachment 278538

I promise, this pic has NOT been photo-shopped.
Click to expand...

Was it carrying the UK supply of PPE?
 
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