The plane enthusiasts thread

[DaveReading]

I didnt realise the BBMF out of Conningsby had a (they have 2 apparently) Chipmunk.

The two Chipmunks are used as general runabouts, but also to provide taildragger training for pilots who are to fly the BBMF's Dakota. They do displays occasionally but, with the best will in the world, they're no match for the Spifires and Hurricanes.

As a schoolkid, I was allowed to loop a Chippie once - most of the 12 AEF pilots were bit stuffy, but there were a couple who would let you do aeros.

 

[figbat]

The two Chipmunks are used as general runabouts, but also to provide taildragger training for pilots who are to fly the BBMF's Dakota. They do displays occasionally but, with the best will in the world, they're no match for the Spifires and Hurricanes.

As a schoolkid, I was allowed to loop a Chippie once - most of the 12 AEF pilots were bit stuffy, but there were a couple who would let you do aeros.

I got some aerobatics in my flights.

 

[gbb]

Lots of military activity in the evenings and night on adsb. Last three nights I've heard what I think are heavy lifter jets , I assume taking off from RAF Wittering, 11pm and later, one each night.
Lots and lots of Grob trainer flights out the last few days out of Barkston near Grantham. One flew right over as far down as Peterborough yesterday.
Typhoons popping up everywhere. Three of them around Peterborough last night.
Lots of US activity out of Lakenheath.

Seems to me more night flying from all services...

 

[Punkawallah]

Is it me, or is there a T38 flying out of Teeside?

 

[DRM]

Is it me, or is there a T38 flying out of Teeside?

Not a portable loo is it, by any chance, hang on wrong thread

 

[Drago]

Is it me, or is there a T38 flying out of Teeside?

So long as the pilot isn't an astronaut it should be fine.

 

[classic33]

Lots of military activity in the evenings and night on adsb. Last three nights I've heard what I think are heavy lifter jets , I assume taking off from RAF Wittering, 11pm and later, one each night.
Lots and lots of Grob trainer flights out the last few days out of Barkston near Grantham. One flew right over as far down as Peterborough yesterday.
Typhoons popping up everywhere. Three of them around Peterborough last night.
Lots of US activity out of Lakenheath.

Seems to me more night flying from all services...

You had the tankers in the air last night, with a fair bit of activity off the east coast.

 

[DaveReading]

Is it me, or is there a T38 flying out of Teeside?

Are you sure it wasn't one of the L-159s that are based there with Draken?

 

[gbb]

You had the tankers in the air last night, with a fair bit of activity off the east coast.

Interestingly, the three 'heavy' jets we heard on consecutive nights didn't show on adsb...which infers some secrecy .

 

[DaveReading]

Interestingly, the three 'heavy' jets we heard on consecutive nights didn't show on adsb...which infers some secrecy .

Do you mean that they weren't transmitting ADS-B, or that they weren't showing on the flight tracker websites? Not necessarily the same thing.

 

[classic33]

Do you mean that they weren't transmitting ADS-B, or that they weren't showing on the flight tracker websites? Not necessarily the same thing.

I'd assume not showing on the website is what was meant.

ADSB Exchange, often shortened to ADSB, being the website, in the same way FlightRadar24 is shortened to Flight Radar.
We know where they refer to.

 

[Punkawallah]

Are you sure it wasn't one of the L-159s that are based there with Draken?

Quite possibly - sighting these things from the road does make for snap decisions, and work tends to quibble when I stop everything to gawp at passing aircraft. Quite unreasonably, I thought.

 

[gbb]

Do you mean that they weren't transmitting ADS-B, or that they weren't showing on the flight tracker websites? Not necessarily the same thing.

Not showing on flight tracker sites...you'll often see that US military aircraft won't show on adsb or FR, particually the rare sightings I've had of B52s for instance, they showed up on neither.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Not showing on flight tracker sites...you'll often see that US military aircraft won't show on adsb or FR, particually the rare sightings I've had of B52s for instance, they showed up on neither.

That's because they're so ugly, tracking stations look away.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Not showing on flight tracker sites...you'll often see that US military aircraft won't show on adsb or FR, particually the rare sightings I've had of B52s for instance, they showed up on neither.

WHen they are based in Fairford then they do sometimes

You can see them having left and come back on https://ffdmovements.blogspot.com/

but whether or not they appear depends on the missions I think

some are clearly training missions over Norway or the Atlantic
some fly over Europe and up to Kaliningrad and all that area then wander around for a bit and head home
That last one is clearly sending a message

at other times they just don;t appear at all - who knows wher they go?

The U2s based there sometimes show up - but not very often and they seem to have one up somewhere most days

other times I see a tanker type aircraft happily circling over Easter Europe well in from Russian (or similar) territory but with nothing showing that might need it
I reckon this is clearly showing that something is around there - probably small and fast and carrying missiles - but "they" don;t want the general publib knowing what it is or where