Help me identify a plane

[moleamol]

A light aircraft currently circling over Wigan. It has one blue static light and the lights on the wings are flashing white. It seems odd to see light aircraft at night, can the lights identify it?

[anonymous-user]

Sounds like a slightly odd lighting set up IMO but it may have been tricky to see exactly where each one was.

No way of identifying it from those lights. Tail number would be the easiest way but obviously tricky at night and when it's not v close.

[ecsrobin]

That certainly sounds an odd lighting especially a blue light.

Although I think I know what it is, but ill wait for someone else who may have a better guess.

[moleamol]

ecsrobin said:

That certainly sounds an odd lighting especially a blue light.

Although I think I know what it is, but ill wait for someone else who may have a better guess.

My guess was Police spotter aircraft or RAF trainer. Any of those?

[ecsrobin]

I don't know what police aircraft you have in that area but a high winged twin turboprop aircraft is my guess.

[moleamol]

ecsrobin said:

I don't know what police aircraft you have in that area but a high winged twin turboprop aircraft is my guess.

Which one are you thinking? If you are thinking ATP they have a flight path over here (in the opposite direction) and I'm sure it wasn't one of those, it was smaller.

[ecsrobin]

I was thinking smaller like an islander. A few police forces use them.

[Eric Mc]

ecsrobin said:

I was thinking smaller like an islander. A few police forces use them.

Agreed - they are often used as a cheaper alternative to a police helicopter.

[onyx39]

Don't "5" have planes that fly around "listening" for terrorist chatter?

eta: apparently they do...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1041011/MI...

Sorry for the "Wail" link.

Edited by onyx39 on Wednesday 6th March 15:22

[perdu]

I thought the Islanders were Lycoming powered until I allowed myself a delve into Googly

Allison powered nowadays with bigger wings, cool stuff

The fin top lamp doesn't look blue though
http://www.plane-mad.com/aviation-photos/view/grea...

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

perdu said:

The fin top lamp doesn't look blue though

That's because it's an Anti-Collision Beacon.

[Eric Mc]

perdu said:

I thought the Islanders were Lycoming powered until I allowed myself a delve into Googly

Allison powered nowadays with bigger wings, cool stuff

The fin top lamp doesn't look blue though
http://www.plane-mad.com/aviation-photos/view/grea...

Turbine powered Islanders have been around quite a while. 20 odd years ago the Red Devils parachute team were a regular sight practising over the Aldershot/Farnborough area - jumping from their BN2T Islander G-ORED.

[perdu]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

perdu said:

The fin top lamp doesn't look blue though

That's because it's an Anti-Collision Beacon.

Ah blimey guvner

somebody (me) forgot his grin(ny) smiley

Kinda knew that ma'am

[ecsrobin]

onyx39 said:

Don't "5" have planes that fly around "listening" for terrorist chatter?

eta: apparently they do...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1041011/MI...

Sorry for the "Wail" link.

Edited by onyx39 on Wednesday 6th March 15:22

Sssshhh they'll be flying over your house now!!

[onyx39]

ecsrobin said:

onyx39 said:

Don't "5" have planes that fly around "listening" for terrorist chatter?

eta: apparently they do...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1041011/MI...

Sorry for the "Wail" link.

Edited by onyx39 on Wednesday 6th March 15:22

Sssshhh they'll be flying over your house now!!

S'ok, airspace is already full of "Black Helicopters"

[moleamol]

Cheers, I reckon that's what it was. I thought the wings looked high.