Puzzling Aircraft over Maidstone

[Robin]

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.

[RAF4EVER]

Probably an Avanti,as I don`t think there are any Beech Starships still flying.

[Seahornet]

Absolutely; 'a wasp on steroids' is a perfect description of the Avanti's unique sound!

[Seahornet]

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.

[Robin]

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.

[Seahornet]

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.

[Black Projects]

Some spotters call the Avanti the Wasp on Speed!