Flightradar24 Interesting Finds

[MossRoad]

Second time I’ve seen a Gyrocopter with a transponder. And its at 7000 msl and 96 kts.

EDIT. We are currently experiencing strong wind from the North. Probably explains air speed.

View attachment 857171

Pilot is probably screaming "YEEEE HAAAWWWW!!!"

 

[dmccarty]

Second time I’ve seen a Gyrocopter with a transponder. And its at 7000 msl and 96 kts.

EDIT. We are currently experiencing strong wind from the North. Probably explains air speed.

I have seen gyrocopters a few times, and saw one yesterday, but they sure are not commonly seen that is for sure. The Goodyear blimp has also been flying around the last few days.

 

[dmccarty]

....

Last night I saw a WB57! There are only a few of these planes flying anymore, and though they are assigned to NASA, they are obviously doing non research work. This is 927 and NASA has 926 and 928 that are supposedly down for repairs. 927 was brought back into service after 40 years in moth balls. The WB57s are supposed to be based in Johnston Space Center in Houston but they one last night flew out of Warner Robbin's south of Atlanta. NASA has some information on the planes at NASA Airborne Science Program Tracker which says, implies, the plane was doing imagery last night and tonight. Can't imagine it was taking photos of the Newport News area.... The planes, though owned by NASA have flown over the Middle East as a communication node which makes me wonder if it was doing testing of that mission over Newport News though it was flying out fairly low so maybe it was taking photos...


View attachment 839238

Notice the flight altitude:

Wow. I got lucky. I posted this back on 12/19/2023. Never seen a WB57 before and it was flying a perfect circle over the Newport News area. Actually, it was flying a perfect circle around Langley AFB...

One of the websites I read each night had a very interesting article yesterday, Mysterious Drones Swarmed Langley AFB For Weeks.

The unidentified drones were such an issue that assets were called in from around the government, including a NASA WB-57 high-altitude jet.

Langley Air Force Base, located in one of the most strategic areas of the country, across the Chesapeake Bay from the sprawling Naval Station Norfolk and the open Atlantic, was at the epicenter of waves of mysterious drone incursions that occurred throughout December. The War Zone has been investigating these incidents and the response to them for months. We know that they were so troubling and persistent that they prompted bringing in advanced assets from around the U.S. government, including one of NASA's WB-57F high-flying research planes. Now the U.S. Air Force has confirmed to us that they did indeed occur and provided details on the timeframe and diversity of drones involved.

"The installation first observed UAS [uncrewed aerial systems] activities the evening of December 6 [2023] and experienced multiple incursions throughout the month of December. The number of UASs fluctuated and they ranged in size/configuration," a spokesperson for Langley Air Force Base told The War Zone in a statement earlier today. "None of the incursions appeared to exhibit hostile intent but anything flying in our restricted airspace can pose a threat to flight safety. The FAA was made aware of the UAS incursions."

"To protect operational security, we do not discuss impacts to operations," the statement added. "We don’t discuss our specific force protection measures but retain the right to protect the installation. Langley continues to monitor our air space and work with local law enforcement and other federal agencies to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities, and assets."

 

[bdhsfz6]

Flying at 52,600' at a speed of 34 knots, I couldn't figure out what this was at first. Turns out it's a balloon!

 

[dmccarty]

The balloon is heading out to sea from NC. Surprised I noticed it... It has the same registration number as the balloon seen by bdhsfz6. Looks like it was launched just west of Cedar Rapids.

 

[bcp]

2 dead in crash of cargo plane near Fairbanks

A witness described hearing an explosion before the Douglas DC-4 went down Tuesday morning along the Tanana River.

www.adn.com

Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah I saw that this morning. I think it was the last DC4 in Alaska. Only appears to be one left in the U.S. down in Florida.

N3054V (DOUGLAS C54D-DC owned by ALASKA AIR FUEL IN) Aircraft Registration - FlightAware

N3054V (DOUGLAS C54D-DC owned by ALASKA AIR FUEL IN) aircraft registration information with aircraft photos, flight tracking, and maps.

www.flightaware.com

Last flight...

N3054V Flight Tracking and History 23-Apr-2024 (FAI / PAFA - FlightAware

Track N3054V flight from Fairbanks Intl to Fairbanks, AK

www.flightaware.com

 

[orezok]

First time I’ve seen this one

 

[bdhsfz6]

What's with all the balloons lately?

I've been using Flightradar for a few years now and never saw one before. Three this month so far!

 

[bcp]

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021-Aug/TARS_508%20compliant.pdf

Bruce

 

[kenmbz]

https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021-Aug/TARS_508%20compliant.pdf

Bruce

We had tars at most of the bases I worked at.
They usually stayed tethered to a pier or secure area and I don't remember seeing them move.

 

[MossRoad]

What's with all the balloons lately?

I've been using Flightradar for a few years now and never saw one before. Three this month so far!

I've seen them for years on there.

 

[dmccarty]

Happened to glance at one of the flight tracking pages today and noticed a four engine jet flying in central NC. Four engines are unusual and it turns out it is the DC 8 from Samaritan's Purse. Looks like it is headed to the islands with hurricane aid.

 

[MossRoad]

Happened to glance at one of the flight tracking pages today and noticed a four engine jet flying in central NC. Four engines are unusual and it turns out it is the DC 8 from Samaritan's Purse. Looks like it is headed to the islands with hurricane aid.

View attachment 878298

Interesting....
from here:

Douglas DC-8 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the United States, the DC-8 has been retired from commercial service entirely; only one example maintains active registration (with one flying). Samaritan's Purse (a faith-based humanitarian relief organization) has operated a DC-8-72 Combi (acquired from Air Transport International) since 2015.[53]

 

[workinonit]

Interesting that you can track the plane that you are flying on while you are flying on it. It's quite handy in identifying the towns and cities you are flying over and see out the window.

 

[dmccarty]

Interesting....
from here:

Douglas DC-8 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

In the United States, the DC-8 has been retired from commercial service entirely; only one example maintains active registration (with one flying). Samaritan's Purse (a faith-based humanitarian relief organization) has operated a DC-8-72 Combi (acquired from Air Transport International) since 2015.[53]

Yep, I knew about the Samaritan's Purse being the only DC-8 still flying since I have seen it before and was curious about the plane. I typed that info up, but deleted it, and forgot to mention it again. Glad you did since it is interesting information.

It flew down near Trinidad so it had to be taking aid for the hurricane affected areas. Sure did not take them long to respond that is for sure.

 

[bcp]

Balloons this morning.

Bruce

 

[dmccarty]

I did not get a screen shot, but last week, I noticed a 737 airliner doing a race track pattern over the center of the state. I will see this with military aircraft but not passenger planes so I got my attention. It seemed likely that it was trying to land at RDU but was put into a holding pattern which says there was something happening at the airport or on the plane. Then I saw another passenger plane join the race track....

So something was happening at RDE....

A short time later, I saw Air Force One take off.

 

[MossRoad]

Several airlines use SBN to do practice approaches and touch and goes. You see the same plane going over 15-20 times some days.

 

[dmccarty]

Noticed these three Pipers flying this morning. Then noticed the other two aircraft. The Pipers are training military pilots to get their ATP(Air Transport Pilot) certification.