Just seen something fly over
Just seen something fly over
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Halb

Original Poster:

53,012 posts

207 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Sat on the settee, on the laptop and watching RIPD when I saw some zoom across the sky, it looked too low for anything normal, as it zoomed closer I thought it was a propeller plane, Spitfire or something, as it got closer maybe a small civilian plane someone was flying low, as I jumped up to get a better view just as it zoomed overhead, it looked like a white missile with wings. Reminded me of ones I've seen in Bond films.

Could it be a drone? Do RAF test winged missiles over land? I ran out of the house to get a view of it travelling North but annoyingly the Northern border is stuffed full of trees and I couldn't get close barefoot. So could just barely hear it's noise as it went on it's way.

saaby93

32,038 posts

202 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
was it that paggio plane with the rear facing props
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.180_Avanti


ecsrobin

18,528 posts

189 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Your location and timing may help.

Halb

Original Poster:

53,012 posts

207 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
saaby93 said:
was it that paggio plane with the rear facing props
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.180_Avanti
Thanks. I've looked at pics on the net from the underside, it's very similar, but no wings on the nose and there were no propellers on the wings. It was a straight shape with small clean wings and I could tell there was something on the back, some sort of tailfin.

ecsrobin said:
Your location and timing may help.
North of Warrington. The time was the post, can't see it in quote box. It was travelling south to north

-Pete-

2,914 posts

200 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Halb said:
saaby93 said:
was it that paggio plane with the rear facing props
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.180_Avanti
Thanks. I've looked at pics on the net from the underside, it's very similar, but no wings on the nose and there were no propellers on the wings. It was a straight shape with small clean wings and I could tell there was something on the back, some sort of tailfin.

ecsrobin said:
Your location and timing may help.
North of Warrington. The time was the post, can't see it in quote box. It was travelling south to north
Doodlebug. You're ok unless you hear the rocket motor stop...

saaby93

32,038 posts

202 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
Halb said:
saaby93 said:
was it that paggio plane with the rear facing props
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.180_Avanti
Thanks. I've looked at pics on the net from the underside, it's very similar, but no wings on the nose and there were no propellers on the wings. It was a straight shape with small clean wings and I could tell there was something on the back, some sort of tailfin.
How do you think it was powered

I saw what I think was one of those Piagios go over once but also not convinced it had nose wings/canards
The plane looked too long in the nose than is normal for the position of the wings
It might have been something else

Halb

Original Poster:

53,012 posts

207 months

Tuesday 11th July 2017
quotequote all
saaby93 said:
ow do you think it was powered

I saw what I think was one of those Piagios go over once but also not convinced it had nose wings/canards
The plane looked too long in the nose than is normal for the position of the wings
It might have been something else
I can only guess at a jet coming out the back, the wings had nothing on them.
I looked at pictures, this seems to be the sort of thing.

By the time I had ran outside it was travelling away from me, the noise was not great, or even noticeable, I have heard vehicles go over before; Chinooks (they make the house judder), aeroplanes of different sorts, some jet fighters, those power parachute things, powered gliders, lots of things. The noise was not great, one wouldn't have noticed it if one wasn't listening for it.
It moved like it was sailing through air, not seen anything like it, like it was a shark in water.

dr_gn

16,772 posts

208 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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We're leaving the the EU.

Trump is president.

The Royal Navy attacking Warrington with cruise missiles is entirely possible IMO.

Eric Mc

124,916 posts

289 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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-Pete- said:
oodlebug. You're ok unless you hear the rocket motor stop...
Doodlebug wasn't rocket powered. It had a pulse jet engine -


eharding

14,648 posts

308 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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dr_gn said:
The Royal Navy attacking Warrington with cruise missiles is entirely possible IMO.
Due limited resources, RN SLCM assets are reserved for high value targets.

Hence Warrington safe. Super safe, in fact.

Halb

Original Poster:

53,012 posts

207 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Shame, it is a silly place.

dr_gn said:
We're leaving the the EU.

Trump is president.

The Royal Navy attacking Warrington with cruise missiles is entirely possible IMO.
made me rofl



Something I forgot to mention, though it was startling obvious at the time, it's height. It was the lowest flying thing I've ever seen beyond a radio controlled helicopter. That's primarily what made jump up off the settee and make me think Spitfire (sharp pointed nose, old plane, civvie pilot having a buzz?). When a Chinook goes over I can squish them 'twixt thumb and forefinger KITH stylie ('I squish you with my thumb!'), but this, if I stretch my forefinger from my thumb, still not sure I could make the size of it as it zoomed past. I would guess it was closer to me as it flew over than my car is now.

V8FGO

1,664 posts

229 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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Quite possibly a BAE Systems drone prototype testing. They did fly the Taranis out of Warton which is on the east side of the M6 to Preston, so no that far. Some of the types BAE are mentioned here and sound similar to what you described under related development.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Mantis

ecsrobin

18,528 posts

189 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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If it was remote control helicopter low how about it was a kids drone of some sorts.

As above Warrington is not a high value target rofl

Although the karting centre is pretty good.

-Pete-

2,914 posts

200 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
-Pete- said:
Doodlebug. You're ok unless you hear the rocket motor stop...
Doodlebug wasn't rocket powered. It had a pulse jet engine -

Alright, keep your socks on Werner vB! biggrin

Eric Mc

124,916 posts

289 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Werner had no involvement in the Argus pulse jet project.

maffski

1,905 posts

183 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
Halb said:
I can only guess at a jet coming out the back, the wings had nothing on them.
I looked at pictures, this seems to be the sort of thing.

By the time I had ran outside it was travelling away from me, the noise was not great, or even noticeable, I have heard vehicles go over before; Chinooks (they make the house judder), aeroplanes of different sorts, some jet fighters, those power parachute things, powered gliders, lots of things. The noise was not great, one wouldn't have noticed it if one wasn't listening for it.
It moved like it was sailing through air, not seen anything like it, like it was a shark in water.


Watchkeeper?

dandarez

13,898 posts

307 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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Prob connected with this weekend's RIAT at Fairford for which I'm intending to go, but 30 mins ago having quiet cuppa in the garden waiting for any decent aircraft to spot heading there or to Brize (ie Spitfires, Lancaster etc) and I get a 'wow, that sounds low!' to be met by passenger plane, with 2 fighter jets, one either side of rear tail fin flying very quickly overhead and not much above rooftops. I had my camera but hardly had time to pick it up, so sadly no pics.

Just did a quickie on local flying (I'm in shouting distance of Brize Norton) but no mention I can see.

ecsrobin

18,528 posts

189 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
dandarez said:
Prob connected with this weekend's RIAT at Fairford for which I'm intending to go, but 30 mins ago having quiet cuppa in the garden waiting for any decent aircraft to spot heading there or to Brize (ie Spitfires, Lancaster etc) and I get a 'wow, that sounds low!' to be met by passenger plane, with 2 fighter jets, one either side of rear tail fin flying very quickly overhead and not much above rooftops. I had my camera but hardly had time to pick it up, so sadly no pics.

Just did a quickie on local flying (I'm in shouting distance of Brize Norton) but no mention I can see.
Live Photo arrivals http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&amp...

Halb

Original Poster:

53,012 posts

207 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
quotequote all
maffski said:
That is quite like it. I can imagine it being that.

j4ckos mate

3,382 posts

194 months

Wednesday 12th July 2017
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Those avanti's do come into man, so thats what i reckon, or one of
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutan_VariEze