Interesting or unusual planes?

[Tim Hall]

A fairly ordinary civilian-type helichopter is not unusual but it, or rather its crew, appeared to be taking a deep and abiding interest in a high-tension power line next to the M25 near Potters Bar this afternoon.

Wichita Lineman, innit, but in Potters Bar, obvs.

[Mr Larrington]

Did the Wichita Lineman of song and legend have a helichopter, then?  I'd always thought he'd have had a pickup truck.

[Mr Larrington]

Something tentatively identified as a Pilatus PC-12 flow low over Fort Larrington at lunchtime.  Single prop, long nose, tricycle undercarriage, T-tail, not noisy enough to have pistons.

[clarion]

There are often helichopters fly (mostly in pairs) past my work (perhaps over the Thames, but it looks closer than that).  Usually Chinooks or some other transport-y type whirlybird, but last week, we had a couple of treats.  First there were two fighty-looking planes (Apache, or the like), and, later in the week, a pair of Ospreys.  Not a breeding pair, I don't think, because these were V-22 Ospreys.  I've only ever seen them in the vicinity of Mildenhall before.

[T42]

The other evening we had thick overcast, through which I could hear what sounded like heavy transport aircraft high above it, for about half an hour.  It reminded me of the time in January 1991 when the first Gulf War transports passed over on their way from Ramstein to Iraq. Back then it went on for hours.  I don't know if Ramstein & C° are still functioning, but the other evening sounded like it.

[Jakob W]

A-10 Thunderbolt (or Warthog) returned to it's former base at Bentwaters this week by low loader not air unfortunately

Looks like it's been zapped by the RAF - that's a 56 Sqn phoenix on the nose isn't it?

[trekker12]

That I don't know. I've not got into the museum compound where it's currently parked - this was taken through the wire fence. I'm here on weekdays and the museum is only open to the public at weekends. I understand it's been out of public view at RAF Alconbury - an American station for many years. Squadron badges and locations are not something I know much about.

[spesh]

A-10 Thunderbolt (or Warthog) returned to it's former base at Bentwaters this week by low loader not air unfortunately

Looks like it's been zapped by the RAF - that's a 56 Sqn phoenix on the nose isn't it?

I don't think so:

For a comparison, here's a link to an image of the RAF 56 Sqn crest: http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafiles/7CF21BCF_A7FF_ABBC_F06C50ACE6E1A730.jpg

Having flexed my Google-Fu, it would appear not to be a squadron marking, but it is nose art applied for the Desert Storm campaign.

http://www.bubbamoose.com/A-10_Nose_Art.html

[TheLurker]

AWAC over Lechlade
AWAC hiding behind a chain link fence at B-N

And in other news; there is at least one B-52 back at Fairford as of Thursday. However everybody here knows what a B-52 looks* like and they're hardly unusual; at least not hereabouts. Terrifying? Yes. Unusual? Not so much.

*Sits back and waits for Mr. Larrington to post a picture of a certain popular(?) beat combo from a (distressingly large) number of years back.

[Mr Larrington]

(click to show/hide)

["You're fired!" - Ed.]

We aim to please

[matthew]

(click to show/hide)

["You're fired!" - Ed.]

We aim to please

Was that the name of the band or the lighting rig 

[Mr Larrington]

That, as any fule kno, is Motörhead's lighting rig which made its debut on the 1979 tour to promote the album "Bomber".  It is possible that I'm in the audience.

[matthew]

Pleads ignorance due to being born in '81 

[TheLurker]

...snippity...
And in other news; there is at least one B-52 back at Fairford as of Thursday.
...hacketty

Ahem. There are two. Seen at about quarter to five o'clock this afternoon.  Now one isn't unusual, but two in "formation"? Yeah, that is.

Pair 01
Pair 02 (poor focus)
Lead aeroplane

[TimC]

Vampire in someone's garden

Venom, I believe.

No, it is indeed a Vampire T11. The markings are from 5FTS at RAF Oakington, around 1960. I don't know this particular aircraft, but there are plenty around.

[TheLurker]

Spotted 47's jazzed up Herc today as part of a stream of low flying westbound stuff (Tornadoes, Typhoons and other bric-a-brac) at about 1pm.  Assume they were heading back to Brize for tea and buns after attending Brenda's bash in That Nodnol.

Unusual markings thread

[rr]

Flew directly over our house on the way in

[Aidan]

Chinook over Scarborough



followed shortly thereafter by a Spitfire dogfighting a seagull







and a Hurricane came along

[Jurek]

Chinook over Scarborough
............

Cool!
For which occasion?

[Jaded]

V. cool!

[Mr Larrington]

It's what Farrago dreams about:

[...]
followed shortly thereafter by a Spitfire dogfighting a seagull

EEEEEOOOOWWWWW dakka-dakka-dakka!  Take that, feathery immigrant scum!

[Aidan]

This was armed forces day last weekend , they always have something come and display.

[Oscar's dad]

This was armed forces day last weekend , they always have something come and display.

That's interesting. Was the seagull some sort of covert attack aircraft?  I suppose they are cheaper than drones.

[fuzzy]

Chinook over Scarborough

That looks to be almost IN Scarborough

[Wombat]

You should try working in Gosport* - Chinooks seem to be more frequent than the No11 bus....  if they're not flying directly overhead while I'm trying to make a phone call, they're coming down the A32 on a low loader to be mended 'cos they've broken down again (or been shot at by nasty furriners).

* No, not really.