Sounding like a wasp on steroids, I spotted an unusual aircraft at high altitude over Maidstone this afternoon, as it was in sunshine I only got a brief glimpse of it, I think it was either a Beech Starship or a Piaggio Avanti. Did anyone else see it ?.
Robin.
Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Per Ardua ad Astra
Re: Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Probably an Avanti,as I don`t think there are any Beech Starships still flying.
Re: Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Absolutely; 'a wasp on steroids' is a perfect description of the Avanti's unique sound!
And as the smart ship grew,
In stature, grace and hue,
In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too....
In stature, grace and hue,
In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too....
Re: Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Yep, FR24 shows that Avanti M-GCAP took off from Biggin Hill at about 15.10 this afternoon, and overflew Maidstone at 5000ft shortly afterwards.
And as the smart ship grew,
In stature, grace and hue,
In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too....
In stature, grace and hue,
In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too....
Re: Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Hi Seahornet.
Thank you for confirming that my spotting skills are still there. The aircraft looked much higher than 5000, though I was looking into the sun.
Thank you for confirming that my spotting skills are still there. The aircraft looked much higher than 5000, though I was looking into the sun.
Per Ardua ad Astra
Re: Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Robin wrote:Hi Seahornet.
Thank you for confirming that my spotting skills are still there. The aircraft looked much higher than 5000, though I was looking into the sun.
It's quite a small aircraft, so that might have been deceptive. On the other hand, he was gaining height rapidly in a looped flightpath over Kent, before overflying London at 15-20000 ft (en route Edinburgh). Depending exactly where you actually spotted him, he could easily have been well above 5000ft.
And as the smart ship grew,
In stature, grace and hue,
In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too....
In stature, grace and hue,
In shadowy silent distance grew the iceberg too....
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Re: Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone
Some spotters call the Avanti the Wasp on Speed!