What's flying over your house

[Peter Miller]

On Friday afternoon I was lying on my bed and a jet went over very low. I lept off the bed as it vanished but I could hear it going up in a huge loop. Then it cam past again but I didn't see it but could still hear it. Then I heard it coming back low and going like stink.

THis time I did see it coming head on, low and fast. I I estimate 600 mph. In the brief couple of sesconds I could see it had swept wings, could have been a Hunter or possibly an Hawk but I think the Hawk looks fatter.

I did notice a blonde lady walking past (Ilive in the village walk).

THis morning sometime after 11 am it came back in one really fast pass. I didn't see it but dashed out and by coincidence the same lady was walking past. She hadn't a clue what it was but did say it was the same shape.

This was on the Suffolk Essex border between Sudbury and Clare.

Is there another Hawker Hunter in operaton in the area, North Weald or Duxford.

[Tony F]

Dunno Peter, but was the blonde nice ?

Tony

[Peter Miller]

Not bad and pleasant to talk to. She did wonder if it was a Spitfire!!!! But then one must fogive them when at least she knew it was the same shape as the friday one and had a triangular fin.

I couldn't see that

[John Lee]

All civilian Hunters are still grounded following the Shoreham crash, Peter.

[Andrew Price 2]

You will have to set your bed up in the garden Peter. You need then only open your eyes and look (squint) skyward for some really comfortable and efficient plane spotting. Don't whatever you do let the blonde see you though. You never know where that will lead!!

[Peter Miller]

Er, Not in this weather. And unfortunately I have a feeling that this old codger might not be much of an attraction in any way.

[Keiran Arnold]

John,

there are Hunters still flying Hawker Hunter Aviation at Scampton are still flying

"The HHA fleet of aircraft, which is used for various Aerial Support activities on behalf of the Defence Community, is operated on the UK Military register. The Military Type Airworthiness Authority has not imposed any restrictions on the normal operation of military registered Hunter Mk58 aircraft, which are exempt from the CAA temporary grounding order affecting civil registered Hunter aircraft."

[John Lee]

Thanks Keiran. I was probably too brief in my response to Peter who asked about Hunters operating out of North Weald or Duxford, which, of course are not 'military' airfields in the sense we are discussing. Your point is well taken and thanks for the clarification.

[Peter Miller]

Ah, Glad to know that. I was geting woried with my identification.

Well who or what ever it was, he was having fun!!

I did try searching on Flightradar 24 and nothing showed up so that does indicate a military aircraft.

[Andrew Dunn 1]

At about 11:30 i saw a pair of V-22 Osprey's heading east on a flight path between Yeovil and Salisbury Plain V

[jonryan]

This goes over my place quite often. Diamond DA-42 Twin Star, RAF apparently, though not marked as such

[John Privett]

The CAA G-INFO site says it's ownership status is "Chartered" and owners are DO SYSTEMS LTD.

Notes in the registration history for the period 14 July to 7 November 2008 says "Transferred to another country or authority > MINISTRY OF DEFENCE".

[..]

A Spitfire at 4pm today. I was just walking around to my sons school when I heard that unmistakable music as she banked to the left & overflew me before heading of to the north east.

We have a twin spit fly past on sat down here but sadly I'm going to miss out.

[onetenor]

I too have been asking a similar question about a very heavy 4 engined jet. 3 times in as many months between 3 and 4 in the morning this thunder comes from the almost due North of the house. heading south. I know the Vulcan is supposedly grounded but this plane sounds just like it. Being crippled with arthritic hips I am slow to get to the window but I heard it a bit earlier on the last trip and got to the patio in time to see a pure black sky with nothing against it except 3 not very bright lights forming a slow moving triangle The engines sounded just like 4 Olympus blow lamps stuck on the back of a Vulcan Do any of of you think it possible ?

[Cuban8]

Yesterday afternoon had a Bell-Boeing Osprey doing very low circuits over our area. After dark, it reappeared with its rotor tips (in heli mode) illuminated by green lights so they formed large circles!. Very impressive as it went over our chimney pots at only a couple of hundred feet. Eventually landed at the nearby Colchester Garrison.

Earlier in the day had a little Folland Gnat go hurtling over just to the south and again fairly low.

[Tony Read 2]

Hi C8,

Must have been the same Osprey that flew over me at about 17.30 from the Sudbury direction towards Colchester. Came back about 20 minutes later. First time I have seen one.

[John Privett]

Quite a busy afternoon, not quite over my house, but over (or almost over) the club strip on the Downs not far away.

First to fly past was a de Havilland Rapide, too far away to read the reg, but possibly G-AGSH (from the colour).

Five or ten minutes later a trio flying together, maybe doing an aerial photo-shoot? This consisted of a Chipmunk plus a high-wing monoplane and a biplane, neither of which I could identify... After passing us the trio all headed off in different directions. I wondered if one (at least) might have been headed for Redhill, but the arrivals board there shows only helicopters arriving this afternoon. Probably because the grass runways are all closed due to surface conditions, and f/wing is only operating off an unlicenced "runway" (taxiway normally)

A few minutes later a Spitfire flew past in the distance.

All of these were heading west. Probably an hour or so later the Spitfire flew past again heading east - I'm assuming it was the same one!

So, was there a 'get-together' somewhere today for classic/vintage aircraft? Seems like the wrong time of year, though the Spitfire has every excuse to be flying today to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the prototype on 5th March 1936.

[John Privett]

Posted by onetenor on 04/03/2016 02:48:28:

I too have been asking a similar question about a very heavy 4 engined jet. 3 times in as many months between 3 and 4 in the morning this thunder comes from the almost due North of the house. heading south. I know the Vulcan is supposedly grounded but this plane sounds just like it. Being crippled with arthritic hips I am slow to get to the window but I heard it a bit earlier on the last trip and got to the patio in time to see a pure black sky with nothing against it except 3 not very bright lights forming a slow moving triangle The engines sounded just like 4 Olympus blow lamps stuck on the back of a Vulcan Do any of of you think it possible ?

I'd say the chances of it being a Vulcan are significantly less than the chances of me winning the lottery jackpot tonight. XH558 is now grounded, and not legally able to fly. It will continued to be maintained to enable it to taxi, and last week one of the engines was being replaced - no idea if the work on that is now finished. As well as any flight now being highly illegal, even when it did fly during the past few years, they never flew at night as far as I'm aware - their permit to fly was most likely valid only for VFR conditions (daylight, good weather)

[Tony Bennett]

yup the dragon rapide, chippie, bipe and some high wing thing cam over my house as well today.

[ChrisB]

Was at the field today, a few miles south of East Midlands Airport when a big 4 engined airliner appeared, unusually low, slow and quiet and was being flown manually, as it was flying in a way that an autopilot wouldn't. Very swept and unusually narrow wings, 4 conventional engines, cowls were half blue and half white.

Unusually large for EMA, time was about 1.30pm and it re-appeared about an hour later on the same track, as though it was doing big circuits. It wasn't a Boeing or Airbus.

Have checked FR 24 for all arrivals and departures at EMA and BHX today and nothing at all of that size other that a couple of A380's at BHX.

It was heading SSW between Twycross and Hinckley when I saw it and was slowly climbing from about 8000ft, which is about half the normal height at the point I was at.

Anyone near EMA that also saw it?

Cheers

CB

[Nigel R]

Bank Holiday Sunday, rare treat from Worcester based G-EWIZ running through what I assume is some of his display routine, at display level, right over our house. I'm guessing the nearby motorway was his 'crowd line'. 15 minutes of show standard aeros complete with smoke. Lovely job.

[iqon]

Had 2 Jets fly low over house the other day, hope they NEVER come back thought my roof was collapsing. Heck of a noise

Edited By iqon on 05/05/2016 13:06:56

[Peter Miller]

Last Thursday we had two Hercules make a turn over the valley in front of the house. They were virtually at eye level as I sat in the living room with a friend, Not more than 500 yards from the house.

Made a nice change from Apaches roaring round day and night

[Andrew Price 2]

A mustang over Henlow. sounded very nice - thank you very much.

[Ernie]

Hi Peter, Call John Wayne to keep the Apaches away.

Its usually pretty quiet round here, but the French aerobatic team are practicing just up the road...They are very good.

ernie