Simviation Forum - Contrails

Mar 23^rd, 2003 at 2:31am

Smoke2much Offline
Colonel
The Unrepentant Heretic
Sittingbourne, Kent,

Posts: 3879

This morning I was outside at dawn having a cigarette. In the sky, heading into the rising sun were about 15 contrails of aircraft in formation heading south east.

I have no idea what sort of aircraft they were but since the 1940's this area has been home to US bombers.

During WW2 people in east anglia watched the 8th airforce heading to the continent at dawn, they counted them back on their return. Many of those crews never came home. God willing the planes I saw this morning will all stay safe.

It is chilling to see a reminder of this latest conflict in mankind's long and bloody history so close to home.

Will

Who switched the lights off? I can't see a thing....... Hold on, my eyes were closed. Oops, my bad...............&&

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Reply #1 - Mar 23^rd, 2003 at 6:58am

Craig. Offline
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Birmingham

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i would say it might have been the B52's returning home but since they were heading south east that wouldnt make sense. Are there any in active service there now?? bearing in mind they fly two by two formation, or at least have every time i have seen them, so that would mean 16 contrails maybe one wasnt visable
who knows:)

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Reply #2 - Mar 23^rd, 2003 at 11:32am

Smoke2much Offline
Colonel
The Unrepentant Heretic
Sittingbourne, Kent,

Posts: 3879

I didn't do an accurate count, fifteen implied "more than ten, less than twenty." They could well have been flying NW I wasn't watching that closely and to be honest I did't realise the significance of what I was seeing until I got back inside.

They were flying in two's, the last two contrails were visible alone for a few minutes after the others had dissipated. Thanks for explaining why.

Will

Who switched the lights off? I can't see a thing....... Hold on, my eyes were closed. Oops, my bad...............&&

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Reply #3 - Mar 23^rd, 2003 at 12:03pm

Craig. Offline
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Birmingham

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could have been a fleet of 747's flying formation:)

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Reply #4 - Mar 23^rd, 2003 at 6:01pm

Smoke2much Offline
Colonel
The Unrepentant Heretic
Sittingbourne, Kent,

Posts: 3879

You're right. It could have been anything. I started this thread after being awake all night. It could have been high level clouds or avenging angels. I haven't bothered to ask the US embassey yet LOL.

Joking apart it was probably nothing but it could have been B-52's heading out or back.

Will Shocked

Who switched the lights off? I can't see a thing....... Hold on, my eyes were closed. Oops, my bad...............&&

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Reply #5 - Mar 24^th, 2003 at 3:33am

Craig. Offline
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Birmingham

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could have been angry skunks aafter a rather nasty curry Grin

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Reply #6 - Mar 25^th, 2003 at 3:15pm

Smoke2much Offline
Colonel
The Unrepentant Heretic
Sittingbourne, Kent,

Posts: 3879

Thinking about this seriously I don't think B-52's have any need to fly to where they're going to, from where they're flying from, over where I was standing when I was standing there.

So it was probably funny looking clouds.

Will Grin

Who switched the lights off? I can't see a thing....... Hold on, my eyes were closed. Oops, my bad...............&&

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Reply #7 - Mar 25^th, 2003 at 4:15pm

Craig. Offline
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Birmingham

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huh

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Reply #8 - Mar 25^th, 2003 at 10:07pm

Smoke2much Offline
Colonel
The Unrepentant Heretic
Sittingbourne, Kent,

Posts: 3879

I meant that Norwich probably isn't on the flight path of a B-52 flying from wherever they are based to Iraq. In addition they probably wouldn't fly over at about 5.00 AM anyway.

That should make a little more sense.

Will Grin

Who switched the lights off? I can't see a thing....... Hold on, my eyes were closed. Oops, my bad...............&&

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Reply #9 - Mar 25^th, 2003 at 10:15pm

Blade Offline
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Annapolis, MD

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Norwich in England? Well it would make sense, there are B-52's and B-1B's at Fairford and Lakenheath doing bombing missions on Iraq.

&&&&Dell 4550&&P4 2.53Ghz &&512MB DDR SDRAM&&GeForceFX 5900 129MB&&60GB HD @ 7200RPM &&PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

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