Twin Engined Aircraft Flying around and around the West End

[Cuchillo]

Its been flying around for a good few mins now.

Anyone know what it is all about?

TIA

Cuch

[Laurel Green]

I believe the police have a twin engined spotter craft, perhaps it is this. No idea what they might have been spotting though.

[tuffer]

Eurofighter, that is twin engined..... What type of engines, wing configuration and tail shape?

[Cuchillo]

tuffer said:

Eurofighter, that is twin engined..... What type of engines, wing configuration and tail shape?

Not a plane spotter so was not paying much attention to the design, but I'll take a guess:

Type Engines: Prop of some kind. 2 of.
Wings Config: "Normal" looking wings in the middle.
Tail Shape: Sorry, no idea but am sure it had one.

HTH

Cuch

[tuffer]

Cuchillo said:

tuffer said:

Eurofighter, that is twin engined..... What type of engines, wing configuration and tail shape?

Not a plane spotter so was not paying much attention to the design, but I'll take a guess:

Type Engines: Prop of some kind. 2 of.
Wings Config: "Normal" looking wings in the middle.
Tail Shape: Sorry, no idea but am sure it had one.

HTH

Cuch

Like this:

[Cuchillo]

tuffer said:

Like this:

Engine and wings look familiar. Not sure about the tail config and it was all "white"

[seeby]

That sounds like plane I see and hear (cos it has got a bit of a unique sound)most weekends while I,m working near the City . Iassumed it is tourist/sightseeing sort of trip as it comes quite low and on a same "track" .

[tomtom]

seeby said:

That sounds like plane I see and hear (cos it has got a bit of a unique sound)most weekends while I,m working near the City . Iassumed it is tourist/sightseeing sort of trip as it comes quite low and on a same "track" .

I live very centrally in London and see this a lot too. I'm not sure where it's from or what it is but it reminds me of an Avro Anson, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Anson

[eastsider]

Its a sightseeing aircraft operating commercial flights over London, based at Stapleford airfield in essex (nr m25/m11 junction). Can't remember the exact type. Its a twin of some sort, single pilot commercial ops usually. You'll see it more frequently Saturday afternoon - Sunday morning as London City is closed noon sat - noon sun.

[seeby]

eastsider said:

You'll see it more frequently Saturday afternoon - Sunday morning as London City is closed noon sat - noon sun.

Yep

[leigh1050]

Does Capital radio still have the flying eye?That used to be a twin engine plane.

[seeby]

leigh1050 said:

Does Capital radio still have the flying eye?That used to be a twin engine plane.

Nah, Russ Kane and the eye got pensioned off years ago ,also it was a Mon to Fri service .

[Cuchillo]

seeby said:

...also it was a Mon to Fri service .

The thing is that I saw it on the Wednesday.

[don logan]

I`ve seen it too, I assumed it was taking air quality samples!

[roscobbc]

I would have thought that the 'pleasure' trips over London would be very tightly controlled nowadays due to terrorist concerns. Some 20+ years ago (in the days of Capitals Flying Eye) I organised a corporate flying day for some customers out of Stapleford. The trip to QE2 bridge, up the Thames, around Tower of London and circling Buckingham Palace was fantastic - just looking down the wing and in to the inner courtyard of Buck House was incredible.

[Trevatanus]

seeby said:

leigh1050 said:

Does Capital radio still have the flying eye?That used to be a twin engine plane.

Nah, Russ Kane and the eye got pensioned off years ago ,also it was a Mon to Fri service .

One of my friends was his pilot!

[Trevatanus]

There are certain aircraft that fly over parts of the UK listening for things.
If I told you any more........

[AndrewEH1]

Could be an Britten-Norman Defender?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britten-Norman_Defen...

Based on the Britten-Norman Islander and is popular with the police/security services.

Edit:

Or perhaps a P68 as used by the National Police Air Service.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partenavia_P.68

Although the Police in London use 'secret' planes believed to be a Cessna... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-ord...

Edited by AndrewEH1 on Thursday 31st March 13:04

[QuadCamCapri]

The RAF Islander out of Northolt is usually sitting up around 5-10,000ft over London, think it listens for key words on mobile networks etc.

Here it is on my dashcam on the A40 coming in to land at Northolt, must have been time for elevenses