What did I see...

[Connectors]

...flying over Amersham this morning? It had 6 engines, I couldn't tell if they were prop or jet as visibility was poor. It was probably a mid/light grey colour and had swept wings.

[dr_gn]

An 225?

[aeropilot]

Unlikely, as it's been going back and forth between Kiev and Dammam in Saudi Arabia for the past few days.

[ecsrobin]

The AN225 is the only 6 engines aircraft flying in the world is it not? So if it isn’t that the OP must have miss counted the engines.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Six-engin...

[dr_gn]

Maybe a B-52, from a distance?

[Connectors]

Visibility wasn’t great so I could well have miscounted, especially if it was a B52. The wing shape of the B52 definitely fits what I saw. Thanks guys.

[aeropilot]

Only thing is there's been no spotter reports of a B-52 detachment coming in to Fairford.......and that is the only time a B-52 would be seen in the UK, other than for airshow at RIAT.

So, tbh, I have doubts it was a B-52, and especially seen as far east as Amersham given the proximity to LHR air corridors in that area.

[ecsrobin]

C17?

[Connectors]

ecsrobin said:

C17?

No, even though visibility was poor it definitely appeared to have 6 engines. Two of them could have been something other than engines.

I’m no aviation expert (obviously) but if it’d been an A380 (for instance), I’d have just thought “that A380 is flying low” and forgotten about it.

This was definitely something unusual.

[motomk]

KC135R or Omega B707 Tanker?
Some of these have refuelling pods on the wings.
Just today, I was out driving near an international airport and thought, ah that's an A330, no hold on it has 4 engines, its an A340.
No three quarter correct first time, it was a KC30A (A330) with the pods on the wings and a boom on the back.

Edited by motomk on Friday 10th August 15:18