Plain spotter expertise request?
Discussion
Just been home for lunch and was buzzed by a small Blue/Black 4 engine Business jet sporting weapons rails, some kind of belly tank or radar and RAF markings, had a look on the RAF.gov site and couldn't find them listed.
Purely out of curiosity any of the plane buffs on here care to illuminate me as the type of aircraft and more importantly usage of such a craft?
I'd have assumed it was just personal transport if it wheren't for the large missile rails, as far as I know missiles aren't "defensive" as such.
Purely out of curiosity any of the plane buffs on here care to illuminate me as the type of aircraft and more importantly usage of such a craft?
I'd have assumed it was just personal transport if it wheren't for the large missile rails, as far as I know missiles aren't "defensive" as such.
Could have been one of the FR Aviation Falcons 20s
They have the pylons and pods but no RAF markings and only twin engines.
It could be a Dominie navigation trainer
Still only two engines and no pylons or missiles/pods
or it could be one of the new Sentinel R1s
yet again, twin engined
The only four engined RAF aircraft in that general configuration is the much bigger VC10
Four engines but wrong colour. The things you saw under the wings might be the hose/drogue units.
They have the pylons and pods but no RAF markings and only twin engines.
It could be a Dominie navigation trainer
Still only two engines and no pylons or missiles/pods
or it could be one of the new Sentinel R1s
yet again, twin engined
The only four engined RAF aircraft in that general configuration is the much bigger VC10
Four engines but wrong colour. The things you saw under the wings might be the hose/drogue units.
Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 18th November 13:35
Eric Mc said:
Could have been one of the FR Aviation Falcons 20s
They have the pylons and pods but no RAF markings and only twin engines.
This is the closest, must have been mistake on engine count (only had view from below and thought it was two each side) Colour size and layout are correct and markings match what I saw, clearly not RAF markings though, sorry for the bum steer.They have the pylons and pods but no RAF markings and only twin engines.
Assume they are some kind of decoy/EW plane?
(PS- Am in Weymouth Dorset and it was heading out into Lyme Bay, maybe for RN to play with?)
scubadude said:
Eric Mc said:
Could have been one of the FR Aviation Falcons 20s
maybe for RN to play with?)
That is EXACTLY what they are for. FR stands for Fleet Requirements and these aircraft fly simulated attacks on navy ships, The pods under the wings carry electronics which allow the Falcon to look like a number of different type of aircraft or missiles on a ship's radar.maybe for RN to play with?)
In the "old days", rhis facility was provided "in house" by the Royal navy by the FRADU (Fleet Requirements and Development Init). They operated a myriad of interesting types over the years, Sea Furies, Sea Hawks, Canberras, Meteors Hunters etc. Since the 1980s, the service has been contracted out to FR Aviation.
I think you will find that in the case of the Dassault Falcon 20, the FR stands not for 'Fleet Requirements' but for 'Flight Refueling' since that was the name of the Company that operates them in this role (the Company 'Flight Refueling Ltd' was set up in 1934). They rebranded themselves 'Flight Refueling Group PLC' in 1985 and then as 'Cobham PLC' in 1994 (as tribute to the Company's founder Sir Alan Cobham).
7 a/c are operated out of 'Durham Tees Valley' airport (ex Teesside airport, ex RAF Middleton-St-George). Not only do they carry out the ex FRADU role for the RN (for which I believe they detach to, and operate out of, Bournmouth Hurn), but they also provide EW training support to the RAF, having taken over the role from the 360 Sqn Canberra T17s following their disbandment at RAF Wyton in 1994.
I believe they also contract out to other NATO Air Forces for EW training as well.
7 a/c are operated out of 'Durham Tees Valley' airport (ex Teesside airport, ex RAF Middleton-St-George). Not only do they carry out the ex FRADU role for the RN (for which I believe they detach to, and operate out of, Bournmouth Hurn), but they also provide EW training support to the RAF, having taken over the role from the 360 Sqn Canberra T17s following their disbandment at RAF Wyton in 1994.
I believe they also contract out to other NATO Air Forces for EW training as well.
Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Thursday 18th November 17:08
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
I think you will find that in the case of the Dassault Falcon 20, the FR stands not for 'Fleet Requirements' but for 'Flight Refueling' since that was the name of the Company that operates them in this role (the Company 'Flight Refueling Ltd' was set up in 1934). They rebranded themselves 'Flight Refueling Group PLC' in 1985 and then as 'Cobham PLC' in 1994 (as tribute to the Company's founder Sir Alan Cobham).
7 a/c are operated out of 'Durham Tees Valley' airport (ex Teesside airport, ex RAF Middleton-St-George). Not only do they carry out the ex FRADU role for the RN (for which I believe they detach to, and operate out of, Bournmouth Hurn), but they also provide EW training support to the RAF, having taken over the role from the 360 Sqn Canberra T17s following their disbandment at RAF Wyton in 1994.
I believe they also contract out to other NATO Air Forces for EW training as well.
I'm pretty sure they don't just detach to Bournemouth, they are always there as it's one of their main operating and maintenance bases on the North side of the airfield. There are always around 6 to 8 Falcons on the ramp.7 a/c are operated out of 'Durham Tees Valley' airport (ex Teesside airport, ex RAF Middleton-St-George). Not only do they carry out the ex FRADU role for the RN (for which I believe they detach to, and operate out of, Bournmouth Hurn), but they also provide EW training support to the RAF, having taken over the role from the 360 Sqn Canberra T17s following their disbandment at RAF Wyton in 1994.
I believe they also contract out to other NATO Air Forces for EW training as well.
Edited by Ginetta G15 Girl on Thursday 18th November 17:08
The only four engined bizjet I know of (apart from privatised airliner types) would be the original Jetstar. Most of those have been re-engined though with two, more modern and more efficient, engines.
My first thought was FRA's Falcons although it looks like you've already had that suggestion. Ties in with the area you saw tham and direction of travel. By the way, I doubt you were actually buzzed by it
My first thought was FRA's Falcons although it looks like you've already had that suggestion. Ties in with the area you saw tham and direction of travel. By the way, I doubt you were actually buzzed by it
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