light aircraft at night?

[cahami]

There is a light aircraft that circles east london essex border at about 20 min intervals usually on sunday nights around midnight for about 2hrs
however it has apeared tonight/this morning mon/tue. Is this surveilance of some sort? Any ideas?

[cahami]

Thanks for the replies, Not sure if single or twin engined, and lol nothing to hide. Is there a website for tracking planes like AIS for ships?

[cahami]

mattviatura said:

OP, I have a (conspiracy) theory about this. Do you live anywhere near a major flight path?

Im close to the flightpath for london city, maybee as its normally sun night/mon morning the are checking radar etc. Its quite a noisy fecker at that time of night and stands out.

[cahami]

eharding said:

Sneaky-beaky Turbine Islanders from Northolt, they've been doing it for years.

As I understand it, the mates in the back are toasty warm because of all the blinkenlights stuff, the mate at the front is freezing his arse off most of the time. Engine management is apparently non-trivial, and they need to be pointed in *precisely* the right direction, which is hard when you've got frostbite in your feet.

I remember leaning back in my chair out on the lawn at Waltham a few years ago, and looking up at a light twin who was clearly smack bang in the London TMA, and orbiting in a slightly erratic fashion. Generally, that is a very bad thing. A quick call on the bat-phone was met with an abrupt "We know. Not a problem" from Heathrow. Excellent - at least not the Mother Of All Zone Busts then.

Turns out they were filming some "Rubber Dinghy Rapids" enthusiasts at a paintball place just down the road.

Summary: Keep calm, and carry on.

Now im really fricken lost

[cahami]

Oh st have i opened a big can?

[cahami]

Rowan138 said:

yes you've opened one of these:

full of PH worms

So is anyone on here able to spill those beans and tell us what its all about i will report back if it starts flying over tonight