P3 Orion Spotted

[Tomliner]

Was sitting outside in sunshine(yes really!) this pm when I heard a deep rumble of turboprops at altitude.Having run for the binocs and airband radio,I caught a brief glimpse of an Orion and from radio I found that it was headed for Lossiemouth and was using the call sign VVPD323.Can't recall seeing one up here before this.Makes a nice change from the usual Ryanair/Easyjettraffic,although I saw the 787 earlier which was approaching EGPH on the new service to/from Doha. EricT

[dodger]

Hi Eric,

A long shot but i wonder if it was one of these,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP-3D_Orion

Roger.

[Kevin Farnell]

Eric

Looking on the Fightercontrol website, I found this -

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/v ... 74&t=98913

They seem excited about it, as it appears to be from Hawaii.

[EDIT] found a piccie too -



As for the 787 did you hear it as well as see it? Last night I was watching Flightradar 24 and noticed the evening Emirates 777 from Birmingham was heading over my house at approx 25000ft. I could hear this through my double glazing. It was followed immediately by the Air India Birmingham to Delhi 787 at approx. the same altitude. Standing outside, I could barely hear this.

Cheers

Kevin

[dodger]

Hi Kevin,

I don't want to Hi-jack this thread but talking of airliners i have noticed this last few months that Emirates A380 is a regular visitor now to Gatwick so to me it looks like Gatwick could be in line for a new runway at some time, of course knowing this country it could be in Ten years or more!

It may be old news of course as i do not follow airliners now like i used to except watching them on Flightradar24 like yourself.

Sorry Eric

Roger.

[Tomliner]

Hi gents.As I mentioned I only caught a brief look at it because it was flying away from me to the north and became obscured by some cumulus cloud.Initially I thought from the sound that it might be one the regular Flybe Dash 8s that are so frequent which is why I was a bit slow getting my binocs, but the depth of the sound struck a chord.I can't quite recall his FL but I did hear Scottish enroute ATC clear him(actually her) down to FL 200 then FL 90 before handing over to Lossiemouth.
Re the 787 I saw it on FR24 then heard EGPH approach vector him for r/w 24.On base leg it would have been approx 12 or 13 miles from me.I think that it is now a 5 day a week service.Commenced just about the same time as Edinburgh's trams but probably comes in on time,on budget and will be more useful! EricT

[Harry Basset]

Maritime Patrol Aircraft? Not needed in our country are they?

[Chris Sykes]

Since the Nimrods were retired we have been outsourcing to the USN for maritime patrols!