Big red and white jets low flying over English Channel?

[Huntsman]

This afternoon there was two big jets flying close together over the English Channel along the back of Isle of Wight.

Red nose and tail. White middle. Like a jumbo but not as big.

Looked like a smaller plane chasing them.

They went back and forth a few times.

What they up to?

[SeeFive]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[djc206]

Oil spill response 727's, I assume practicing and perhaps a photoshoot. They passed over my house very low in close formation earlier, G-OSRA and G-OSRB.

[RouseyD]

I work for Oil Spill Response Limited. We were carrying out a training exercise today with our three UK-based aircraft - two 727s converted to spray dispersant, and our surveillance aircraft which covers the UK Continental Shelf.

If you're interested there's more info about our aircraft and the roles they play during an oil spill here:: https://www.oilspillresponse.com/services/member-r...

[ecsrobin]

RouseyD said:

I work for Oil Spill Response Limited. We were carrying out a training exercise today with our three UK-based aircraft - two 727s converted to spray dispersant, and our surveillance aircraft which covers the UK Continental Shelf.

If you're interested there's more info about our aircraft and the roles they play during an oil spill here:: https://www.oilspillresponse.com/services/member-r...

Is the Dornier still based at Bournemouth? I used to work with G-NOIL before moving on to my current employer.

[RouseyD]

We no longer use the Dornier platform - we have moved to a PA-31 Navajo which is based out of Lasham - G-UKCS.

We have only rarely used Bournemouth airport in the past few years.

[ecsrobin]

RouseyD said:

We no longer use the Dornier platform - we have moved to a PA-31 Navajo which is based out of Lasham - G-UKCS.

We have only rarely used Bournemouth airport in the past few years.

I remember a job 18months ago, by the time the dornier pitched up from Bournemouth there was nothing to see

So is the whole operation run by 2excel and not cobham these days?

[RouseyD]

The UK-based aircraft are run by 2Excel now.

We also have a Hercules in Singapore and a Bandeirante in West Africa which are run by IAR and Aberdair respectively.

What do / did you do?

[ecsrobin]

RouseyD said:

The UK-based aircraft are run by 2Excel now.

We also have a Hercules in Singapore and a Bandeirante in West Africa which are run by IAR and Aberdair respectively.

What do / did you do?

And you did have the Herc from SA at Cardiff but I'm led to believe that's what the 727 has replaced?

I worked in airborne surveillance now working with red and white aircraft of a different kind.

[RouseyD]

That's correct - through 2015 that was our IAR Herc which we positioned in the U.K. to give coverage during the latter stages of the design and development of the dispersant spraying system in the 727.

We sent the Herc back to Singapore around the start of 2016 once the 727 became operational.

[Supernova190188]

40 months , 5 posts, 4 of which are on here.
Top lurking! 👍🏻.

[ecsrobin]

RouseyD said:

That's correct - through 2015 that was our IAR Herc which we positioned in the U.K. to give coverage during the latter stages of the design and development of the dispersant spraying system in the 727.

We sent the Herc back to Singapore around the start of 2016 once the 727 became operational.

I'm sure it wasn't an easy process get them signed off but great now you have 2 operational.

[NNH]

RouseyD said:

I work for Oil Spill Response Limited. We were carrying out a training exercise today with our three UK-based aircraft - two 727s converted to spray dispersant, and our surveillance aircraft which covers the UK Continental Shelf.

If you're interested there's more info about our aircraft and the roles they play during an oil spill here:: https://www.oilspillresponse.com/services/member-r...

I love how the 1 and 3 engines are visibly bigger than the #2 engine after the Valsan upgrade!

[RouseyD]

This talk about engines is beyond the limits of my expertise now.

See you all in another 40mths ;-)

Edited by RouseyD on Friday 16th September 15:34

[Eric Mc]

One of your 727s put on an excellent series of displays at Farnborough this year.