The plane enthusiasts thread

[DaveReading]

I was at a job next door to Leeds/Bradford (Yeadon) Airport sat in the van, when there was a huge noise as a C17 Globemaster was taking off, not something you would expect at a civilian airport, but I had also seen one coming in to land at Newcastle Airport during the summer, don't know why they would be going to those airports though.

During the lockdown, the RAF seem to have had a campaign to send C-17s and A400Ms to as many civil airports as they could.

I don't know why.

 

[DRM]

During the lockdown, the RAF seem to have had a campaign to send C-17s and A400Ms to as many civil airports as they could.

I don't know why.

It's strange, I can't see that it makes sense flying personnel or kit in to, or out of a civilian airport, you would think they would go into an RAF airfield for such things, as in what the public don't see, doesn't get out into the public domain, most peculiar, but I've seen them going over the house at a height and direction that suggests they're going to, or have just taken off from LBA

 

[Solocle]

Old one, but notably March 22nd 2020, and I didn't post it at the time.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

During the lockdown, the RAF seem to have had a campaign to send C-17s and A400Ms to as many civil airports as they could.

I don't know why.

All sort of RAF planes come to do practise approaches at Liverpool
They approach then pull up at the last minute

Over the pandemic I saw all sorts, hawks are normal ( from Valley) but I also saw Herc, Atlas and Poseidons

but only the frequency was different - it is not unusual for something to do an approach about once or twice a week

 

[F70100]

Air Traffic Controllers have to maintain currency (i.e. keep their eye in) just like pilots do. During the pandemic there wasn’t enough traffic for them to do this so the RAF helped out. Military aircraft use civvie airports if it’s convenient. There’s a US Navy listening station just up the road from Leeds Bradford; I’ve seen a few US Navy aircraft at Leeds over the years.

 

[Illaveago]

During the lockdown, the RAF seem to have had a campaign to send C-17s and A400Ms to as many civil airports as they could.

I don't know why.

I have seen the A 400m often flying in and out of Bournemouth airport.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

don't know why they would be going to those airports though.

Training mostly. RAF pilots new to that type will have largely only operated from military airfields during elementary and multi engine training. Given the humanitarian role of aircraft like the C-17 the crews need to be really familiar with civilian airports, the different setups, ATC, procedures etc. They start that familiarisation at quieter airports like Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow Prestwick etc so as (1) to keep the workload manageable but also (2) so that they can do several practices at a time without impacting the civil traffic.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Somewhere near the start of the pandemic I rode to Liverpool airport as usual (it was just within the government approved range - as demonstrated by the PM himself on his bike ride to some London park or other)

I stopped, as usual, to have a biscuit and can of coke in a field near an emergency gate about half way along the runway

I noticed a Hawk on approach from the North so I watched it - normal approach and pull out of it before landing then fly down the runway and pull round over teh river.
As usual I gave him a wave - big wave like an idiot just because.

He did the approach 2 more time with me waving each time

Then one more time and this time he pulled far harder right and did it right by me rather than at the end of teh runway

I like to think he was acknowledging my enthusiastic waving

or amybe showing off to the control towe which is there as well!!

 

[a.twiddler]

This morning I was about to go out shopping when I heard an engine noise from above. Recently I've seen a couple of powered paragliders but today it sounded like a light aircraft but had a profile like a helicopter. It flew low and faster than the typical helicopter and I realised it was a gyrocopter. A prety rare sighting, it flew in a southerly direction until I lost sight of it. My brief impression of it that it was small, had an open cockpit and was certainly quieter than a helicopter.

 

[DaveReading]

This morning I was about to go out shopping when I heard an engine noise from above. Recently I've seen a couple of powered paragliders but today it sounded like a light aircraft but had a profile like a helicopter. It flew low and faster than the typical helicopter and I realised it was a gyrocopter. A prety rare sighting, it flew in a southerly direction until I lost sight of it. My brief impression of it that it was small, had an open cockpit and was certainly quieter than a helicopter.

German company AutoGyro has a pretty strong presence in the UK market, with upwards of 100 from its range of gyros currently flying in this country.

 

[Cycleops]

This morning I was about to go out shopping when I heard an engine noise from above. Recently I've seen a couple of powered paragliders but today it sounded like a light aircraft but had a profile like a helicopter. It flew low and faster than the typical helicopter and I realised it was a gyrocopter. A prety rare sighting, it flew in a southerly direction until I lost sight of it. My brief impression of it that it was small, had an open cockpit and was certainly quieter than a helicopter.

When I was working my boss's father was the chief test pilot for for Cierva. Unfortunately he was killed flying one.
I see the company is still in existence and operating now from California.

https://www.cierva.aero/


View: https://youtu.be/PbalOh4smnM

 

[DRM]

Training mostly. RAF pilots new to that type will have largely only operated from military airfields during elementary and multi engine training. Given the humanitarian role of aircraft like the C-17 the crews need to be really familiar with civilian airports, the different setups, ATC, procedures etc. They start that familiarisation at quieter airports like Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow Prestwick etc so as (1) to keep the workload manageable but also (2) so that they can do several practices at a time without impacting the civil traffic.

Makes sense, and when their time in the RAF ends, they’re going to become civilian pilots so it will stand them in good stead for the future

 

[midlife]

There's the odd gyro copter that flies around the lake district and is seen on the ground at shows touting for its business (scenic flights over the lakes)

 

[Bromptonaut]

It's strange, I can't see that it makes sense flying personnel or kit in to, or out of a civilian airport, you would think they would go into an RAF airfield for such things, as in what the public don't see, doesn't get out into the public domain, most peculiar, but I've seen them going over the house at a height and direction that suggests they're going to, or have just taken off from LBA

I was a spotter at Leeds in the seventies and, via the internet, have re-acquired an interest in its comings and goings.

Even now, after the pandemic, it's not uncommon for aircraft from the Brize Norton transport base to do a trip out to LBA or another civvy airport. Usually a couple of approaches with go arounds or a 'touch and go'.

Most of the scheduled traffic at Leeds is an early morning exodus to destinations in the Med basin or Canaries etc. There's a quiet spell until they return and head off on subsequent rotations. RAF visitors can slip in during those windows.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

ANyone know of a way of finding out about these visits beforehand - I often include Liverpool airport on my bike rides but seeing an interesting aircraft is pure random
it would be nice to be able to schedule it better!