Near Miss

We are frequently buzzed by light aircraft from local airfields, and occasionally see one venturing a little bit too close to the residential areas when trying out loop-the-loops. I tend to keep my eye on them and take the odd photo. Tonight a couple of pilots (not doing tricks) seemed to get their navigational wires a bit crossed. I don't think there was ever any real risk of contact, but I'd rather not see two planes this close above the garden :yikes:

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This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. JackYeung

    4 Aug 2007

    It's the 1st time I have come across your blog here,
    the photos you take are amazing,and I love them at first sight
    I'M expecting more.
    Only through a proxy server, can I acess my.opera.com,so it's
    a shame I cannot be sure if I will be able to feel my way back to
    your blog next time.

  2. SittingFox

    4 Aug 2007

    :yikes: I hope they knew what they were doing!

  3. Flying Red Fox Blog

    4 Aug 2007

    Ah this type of optical illusion is common, being an aviation enthusiast iam very sure they are operating perfectly under VFR conditions. VFR stands for Visual Flight Rules which mean pilots can fly close together while maintaining each others whereabouts.

    The twin engine plane is closer to the camera than the single engine one, because the twin engined one is a bigger aircraft 😀

    But i do agree that for the person whos aviation knowledge isnt as good, it can be viewed as quite a scary encounter as they certainly dont want aircraft pieces falling onto their garden or houses!

    The aircraft are: Single engine – Piper Tomahawk and Twin engine – Beechcraft Baron. 😉 Iam not sure if light aircraft are fitted with TCAS – Traffic Collision Alert System, but they both knew each others presence otherwise you get a big CRUNCH!

  4. Words

    4 Aug 2007

    Mark, thanks for the technical information. I saw these two coming in from opposite directions. As I said I don't think there was much risk of a collision (slightly different altitudes as well), but they were a heck of a lot closer together than any pair I've previously seen over here. I'm sure they knew what they were doing, but very mean to startle me like that!

    The Beechcraft Baron is a great looking plane (thanks for the i.d).

  6. Words

    4 Aug 2007

    Wow, I just looked at that shot. Very close indeed!

  7. ALLY_G

    9 Aug 2007

    ohhh, that is breath-taking. :eyes:
    And that above your garden? You should apply for danger pay. 😀

  8. Flying Red Fox Blog

    9 Aug 2007

    Hey Words i saw the same sort of thing this morning with two passenger airliners, one was descending into Gatwick, a 777-200 of BA, and a 757-200 of Thomas Cook departing southbound.

    The BA plane was at 10,000ft and the Thomas cook one was at about 8,000ft, but they looked really close! Would have taken a pic if i had the camera ready.

    I thought it was exciting lol 😛

  9. Words

    9 Aug 2007

    Ally, yes above the garden. No real danger, but I keep my eyes open.

    Mark, I heard on the news today that there had been an increase in aircraft being at the wrong altitude in the past year, mainly during landing manouevres. Plenty of additional safety routines prevent disaster. Some are blaming pilot fatigue, and according to the radio 'scientific research' has shown that people who are tired make more mistakes! :doh:

  10. gdare

    9 Aug 2007

    Not to mention that air corridor above London is one of the most crowded in the world :worried:

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