Contrail spotting

Air_Defence · Post by **Air_Defence** » 04 Jan 2006, 13:17

Today sunny weather in Belgium

An E-3A from NATO based at Geilinkirchen during an operational patrol

Grtzz Dirk
BTW happy new year to all of you!

Air_Defence · Post by **Air_Defence** » 04 Jan 2006, 17:56

A BAF F-16 high level

Grtzz Dirk
www.voortmansdirk.be

Skystef · Post by **Skystef** » 05 Jan 2006, 11:11

Inderdeed, Dirk some nice weather on January 4, but please continue in English.

Here a small grip:

1419: very recognizable bird of Martinair: PH-MCU full of roses heading SE.

1205: another MD11 of Martinair, the presence of windows (+ACAR) identified it as PH-MCP heading SE.

1604: Lauda Air B767-300 OE-LAX cruising W wards.

1610: a late evening shot of Biman A310-300, heading for the UK.

contrailwatcherUK · Post by **contrailwatcherUK** » 05 Jan 2006, 18:51

nice photos. i often see martinair over my house

Post by **Kapitein** » 07 Jan 2006, 18:27

Taken on 04/01 and 06/01

A330 LTU

Das Air Cargo, 5X-BON, heading to BRU flying for ET

LH A340-300

And 6 minutes after PH-MCP crossed Skystef it came above Landen heading SE

UA 777-200 coming from Germany heading to the States

And if someone can help me with this one (04/01). Heading to the East.

pipodeclown · Post by **pipodeclown** » 08 Jan 2006, 10:10

Brubiac,

IMO last one is A340-500 9V-SG_ operating as SQ021 JFK-SIN.

When was it taken?

Pipodeclown

pipodeclown · Post by **pipodeclown** » 08 Jan 2006, 10:13

People,

SQ021 is EWR-SIN

Pipodeclown

Post by **Kapitein** » 08 Jan 2006, 11:23

Thanks Pipodeclown,

that was also my first idea. I always taught they flew in the other direction back to EWR.
Photo was taken on 04/01 around noon.

A little suggestion: please use the "Edit" button when you want to corrected your previous post, thanks

elnombre · Post by **elnombre** » 08 Jan 2006, 14:05

Gentlemen
I was intrigued by this shot as the SIA A345 usually flies to the north of our country, however I can confirm that on the 4th Jan SIA021 crossed KOK@1038 and REMBA@1050 UTC (+1 For Local)
Aircraft reg: 9V-SGA
Today she's going north again via Danish airspace
Best Regards
Elnombre

pipodeclown · Post by **pipodeclown** » 08 Jan 2006, 14:46

Elnombre,

I saw SQ021 passing overhead EHAM inbound ARNEM last Monday or Tuesday.

What is its normal routing overhead Danmark?

Pipodeclown

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 08 Jan 2006, 15:27

Very interesting shot of the SIA A345! I haven't spotted an overflying SQ A345 yet...

About two weeks ago, I spotted the EK201 DXB-JFK flying into the direction of KOK, a first as well for me.

By the way: http://www.antonakis.co.uk/acars.php?page=request is an excellent resource to tie up registrations if you have the flight number.

A pity that there are so many clouds today, as TC-JNB (TK's latest A332) was due LHR this morning.

@Skystef: I saw OE-LAX as well on 04JAN, it was routing VIE-VRA-HOG.

Regards
Frederic

pipodeclown · Post by **pipodeclown** » 08 Jan 2006, 16:02

Sabena_690,

EK201 DXB-JFK was most likely flying inbound COA. KOK is used for eastbound traffic.

Pipodeclown

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 08 Jan 2006, 16:23

Hi pipodeclown,

That's very well possible; I only mentioned KOK to give everybody an idea of the direction of the aircraft.

You seem to know a lot of waypoints etc, do you know where I can find a list of those in and surrounding Belgium (perhaps with a map)?

Thanks
Frederic

Air_Defence · Post by **Air_Defence** » 08 Jan 2006, 17:00

Hi,

today only 1 military plane during my spotting period.
This C-17 from McChord AFB is onroute to Ramstein AB.

Grtzz Dirk

Ivan_Eagle · Post by **Ivan_Eagle** » 08 Jan 2006, 17:47

Very nice pictures of you all!!
I just do contrailspotting whit my binocular (verrekijker

).
I saw some many big baby's

8)

Greats Ivan

Skystef · Post by **Skystef** » 08 Jan 2006, 17:53

Thx for info Fred, concerning OE-LAX.

Saw a couple of times the SIA A340-500 cruising E, has perhaps something to do with the position of the jetstream.
I even made a photo of this Airbus on October 20 2005, also 9V-SGA en route EWR-SIA.
In general I dislike pictures with opposite light, so do not make lots of efforts picturing the planes cruising towards the East, unless the contrail self or airplane is of interest.

The best shots are with backlight and in my area they are planes cruising to the WNW.
Especially with the Emirates, practise is possible as more than a dozen are passing.
How close can U get? Perhaps this close, taken on January 8 around 1200LT.

A few minutes earlier a Cargolux with a contrail is special to me as usually to low to see damp.

moons · Post by **moons** » 08 Jan 2006, 18:05

Hi,

The F 16 picture...
I'm a bit surprised.

I thought that the engines of fighter jets were to " light " to cause contrails? I read this in the book " Jongens en Wetenschap ". Or is this a lying book?

Greets and nice pic's by the way !

Air_Defence · Post by **Air_Defence** » 08 Jan 2006, 19:25

Hi ,

Fighter aircraft like the F-16 can make contrails!
I'm an air defence controller in the BAF and last week a pilot told me during the debriefing that the F-16s were having conrails as from FL200, (this depends from day to day)

When I did my backseat, I took this schot when we passed 2 other F-16s during a CAP mission (combat air patrol) They were having contrail as well http://www.voortmansdirk.be/fotosvd/contrails.jpg

Most of the time the fighters try to stay below the contrail level because this is not very tactical, you can see other jets with contrails from over 30NM when you are in the sky... And as a fighter you don't want to be seen.

Grtzz Dirk
www.voortmansdirk.be

Post by **Bruspotter** » 08 Jan 2006, 20:16

Hello

Nice pictures again guys!!

Really cool the SQ 345 , I would guess SQ operates the SIN-EWR route over the Pacific via LAX

Isn't that less far? Anyway , I'd really like to see THAT one , but I'm not on the good location I'm afraid

.

Did saw another ANA All Nippon Airways B747-400 enrouting NRT-CDG. But it's only the usual traffic.

Looking forward to the next bright day.

Best regards: Yannick

pipodeclown · Post by **pipodeclown** » 09 Jan 2006, 08:29

Guys, girls,

SIN-EWR SQ 22 is most likely flown over the pacific.
EWR-SIN SQ21 is most likely flown over the atlantic.

I've never seen reports SQ22 flying overhead Europe. SQ21 is normally flying higher North than Belgium.

Flying Eastward means full advantage of the jetstream. This is far more important than choosing the shortest distance. Following the jetstream means that the actual flown distance decreases. If you fly Westbound(against the jet), your actual distance will increase.

Depending on the position of the stream, the routing is chosen. Be aware that many factors come into play when choosing the optimal routing for a long flight! This can save huge amounts of fuel (=money)!!

Bruspotter: You can see it passing from Oevel, just look at the contrails South of you! It might be difficult with the backlight, of course!

Mind your English: I always see you writing: 'did saw'. It is 'did see'! Did + "present infinitive"

Pipodeclown