Any closet plane-spotters?

[oldwheels]

They were Robinson R66..
Passed me overhead near Carronbridge yesterday and were heading to Inverness (?) FR24 said one flew there...so I assume.
Returned to the Glasgow area overnight . Stornaway was the destination today.
Originally from Northholt via Belfast then Cumbernauld (fuel stop?) then Inverness, Glasgow and Stornaway.

Edited to add, one at least has gone to Skye, Broadford area, they left Glasgow (area) then down to Prestwick (fuel stop?)before heading N.

I think (or FR24 told me)
@Brandane G-ILDA was one of your Spitfire..
been based at Cumbernauld for a few days before the Viking jolly, trips available from 2 grand I think...
comes up yearly...

The helicopters I saw were heading in the opposite direction possibly from Inverness if they followed the Great Glen down. They looked to be heading perhaps to Coll or Tiree.
Helicopters are no great novelty here and sometimes military ones in pairs but so many more or less identical is worthy of note.
My thought was a club perhaps out on a jolly but have no idea if such clubs exist.
The microlights from Oban sometimes did illegal trips to Barra from Oban according to one member I knew. " Wind blew us off course, honest guv".

 

[Mo1959]

The helicopters I saw were heading in the opposite direction possibly from Inverness if they followed the Great Glen down. They looked to be heading perhaps to Coll or Tiree.
Helicopters are no great novelty here and sometimes military ones in pairs but so many more or less identical is worthy of note.
My thought was a club perhaps out on a jolly but have no idea if such clubs exist.
The microlights from Oban sometimes did illegal trips to Barra from Oban according to one member I knew. " Wind blew us off course, honest guv".

Wonder if it's the same ones that were over here the other day. Someone said they were Apaches.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

The helicopters I saw were heading in the opposite direction possibly from Inverness if they followed the Great Glen down. They looked to be heading perhaps to Coll or Tiree.
Helicopters are no great novelty here and sometimes military ones in pairs but so many more or less identical is worthy of note.
My thought was a club perhaps out on a jolly but have no idea if such clubs exist.
The microlights from Oban sometimes did illegal trips to Barra from Oban according to one member I knew. " Wind blew us off course, honest guv".

One is now heading south, currently over Morecombe Bay...
it left Skye, did a few loops near Lismore, landed in Ayrshire yesterday evening then was spotted there around 8.30 today then headed south..
I'll have a look later to see if any still up here..

Wonder if it's the same ones that were over here the other day. Someone said they were Apaches.

Quite possible, they were heading in that direction when they flew over me.
I had a look in an airport forum where this stuff normally shows but nothing....

Just checked, they passed over Comrie at approx. 11.45 Tuesday....

 

[DaveReading]

Wonder if it's the same ones that were over here the other day. Someone said they were Apaches.

I though a previous poster had identified those as Robinsons?

A Robinson is about as far away from an Apache as it's possible to get - one cuts its own tail off if mishandled, they other is capable of spoiling your entire day, as the saying goes.

 

[oldwheels]

I though a previous poster had identified those as Robinsons?

A Robinson is about as far away from an Apache as it's possible to get - one cuts its own tail off if mishandled, they other is capable of spoiling your entire day, as the saying goes.

I know nothing about helicopters but these were very small. Possibly only 2 seaters but perhaps 4 at most.

 

[Mo1959]

I though a previous poster had identified those as Robinsons?

A Robinson is about as far away from an Apache as it's possible to get - one cuts its own tail off if mishandled, they other is capable of spoiling your entire day, as the saying goes.

This?

 

[DaveReading]

Yes, that's the one you don't want to be on the opposing side to.

And one of the few helicopters - possibly the only one - that has a tail rotor in the form of an X, as can just be discerned in the photo.

 

[Drago]

That's the Augusta Westland Apache Longbow, a regular sight in Poshshire.

 

[DaveReading]

Close - AgustaWestland

Nowadays rebranded as Leonardo - I kid you not.

 

[Brandane]

Wonder if it's the same ones that were over here the other day. Someone said they were Apaches.

Was it these ones?....

If it was, all is revealed in the Ardrossan Herald!

For those who don't like newspaper links:


There was much speculation over what they were up to, as Flightradar showed the aircraft move from Glasgow to Arran and Prestwick throughout the day.

However, half a dozen private 'copters were spotted on Monday morning on the lawn of Knockinaam Lodge, near the Rhins village of Portpatrick in Dumfries and Galloway.


The fine-dining venue, the lawn of which also doubles up as a helipad, said: "What is a Helicopter Safari?

"It is when a group of like-minded people decide to travel around the country, stopping off at different locations.

"What a fabulous site for a Monday morning.

"P.S. please book ahead."

 

[midlife]

Are those Robinson R44's?

 

[Drago]

Hard to say. They could be 66's, the silhouette is near identical. Either way, I'd like one please.

 

[DaveReading]

Hard to say. They could be 66's, the silhouette is near identical. Either way, I'd like one please.

Some of each, I believe. A post earlier in the thread suggested R66s, but photos in the media at one of their stops shown at least one R44.

There's not a huge difference in performance between the two, but I know which one I'd rather have - piston-engined helicopters always remind me of M.A.S.H. and Whirlybirds.

 

[gbb]

Out on an hours bumble late this afternoon, stpped to watch the BBMF (I assume) Dakota gracefully fly over, almost serenely banking slightly as it flew above the A1.l

 

[Drago]

Had a go at photographing a few as they fly past drago towers, doubtless paparazzi trying to get a pgoto of me nude sunbathing in my oxygen tent.

Anyway, ive had some limited success, but its clear I need a tripod. So a tripod duly ordered yesterday.