Aeroplane help needed please.

[Tugmistress]

i wasn't quick enough last week with the camera and before it's suggested i know it wasn't the B17!
Last week a 'fat' plane flew low over thurso bay, very low, banked along the top of the cliffs at scrabster then headed off over the back of thurso in a southerly direction.
It was all light grey, no markings anywhere. body shape was a very fat cigar as were the wings as they were rounded at the ends not squared off and seemed very wide too in comparison to the overall length of the thing. the wings came out of the centre of the body, not the top or bottom, it was prop driven but i can't remember if it was 2 or 4 prop, i just remember it seeming very quiet! in my limited knowledge it looked like either a bomber or transporter plane of some sort, definately military in style.
Did anyone see it? get a photo? or more importantly what breed of plane was it?!

[Dog-eared]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Lockheed_C-130_Hercules.jpg/300px-Lockheed_C-130_Hercules.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lockheed_C-130_Hercules.jpg)

[Tugmistress]

definately not, the wings come out at the top of the fuselage on that pic, these came out of the centre of the body with rounded ends , nose was also rounder.
thanks, nice try :)
any more suggestions... keep them coming :D

[skinnydog]

I saw it too and couldn't believe how low it was flying. Does look a bit like the picture but I can't say for sure!

[Phoebus_Apollo]

I`m sure I remember being told this was a Land survey plane although what type I`ve no idea...

[cemmts]

http://homepage.eircom.net/~steven/images/P3S666.jpg

P3 Orion ?

[evelyn]

There definitely was a C130 Hercules last week,tugmistress. I saw it doing a low pass over Wick Aiport. It was light grey in colour as well.

Perhaps there was some sort of manoeuvers on that had other types involved.
Anybody goy any ideas?

[MadPict]

Light grey with no markings ( it would have subdued markings ) indicates it is probably going to be military. The Orion came to my mind tto but the UK doesn't use the Orion but some EU nations do fly it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-3_Orion

Other option is Breguet Atlantique - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breguet_Atlantique

[Kevin Milkins]

There definitely was a C130 Hercules last week,tugmistress. I saw it doing a low pass over Wick Aiport. It was light grey in colour as well.

Perhaps there was some sort of manoeuvers on that had other types involved.
Anybody goy any ideas?

I saw the Hercules over Wick airport as well .
We were pulling into Tesco car park.

[warrior]

Was it not the Nimrod that comes in for practice at Kirkwall and wick on a regular basis.Its a beast of a thing down low.

[Tugmistress]

I know the nimrod, it certainly wasn't that,this thing was too fat and yes i've been at the side of wick on a practice land :)
the P3 is very similar except the wing tips are rounded, (very rounded) on whatever it was that flew over. the atlantique thing is wrong for the tail, it didn't have the lumps and bumps lol
cemmts that picture of the P3 is close in colour aswell but this thing was a lighter.
sorry for being a pain

[TBH]

http://www.stinsonflyer.com/prop/dc4-05.jpgThis perhaps?

[Tighsonas4]

Was it not the Nimrod that comes in for practice at Kirkwall and wick on a regular basis.Its a beast of a thing down low.
at what time of day was this tuggs
not implying anything mind [lol] tony

[Tugmistress]

Very close TBH!
I know, you're going to tell me there is none flying now lol
the only thing different to that pic i seem to remember the nose not being quite as prominent, but i could be wrong, in which case that is certainly very close to what i saw

[Tugmistress]

hi tigh,
to be honest i can't remember, i know i was on my way to woolies and was driving up by the RBS when it flew in front of me so i shot straight over and parked at 'the seaside' in time to see it turn and bank over scrabster. I am guessing about lunch :confused

[MadPict]

OK, Air Atlantique used a DC-6 for oil survey/aerial reconnaissance work IIRC - might have been that?

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/airshow03/biggin/dc-6.jpg

[TBH]

Very close TBH!
I know, you're going to tell me there is none flying now lol
the only thing different to that pic i seem to remember the nose not being quite as prominent, but i could be wrong, in which case that is certainly very close to what i sawI'm not sure Tugs, it's a DC4, maybe Madpict would know if any are still flying?

[Tugmistress]

Put the wings on this plane http://www.airshows.org.uk/2006/airshows/bigginhill/photographs/aacf_anson_2.jpg

on the body of this plane
http://www.airshows.org.uk/2006/airshows/bigginhill/photographs/aacf_dc6_1.jpg

only out of where the windows are

and you just about have it apart from a rounder nose (maybe):confused

gawd if you aren't as confused as me now you soon will be lol

[MadPict]

A Fokker?

http://www.geocities.com/lucktam/awacs/fokker/fokker.htm

[Tugmistress]

A Fokker?

http://www.geocities.com/lucktam/awacs/fokker/fokker.htm

errr, nope, nose too pointy, defo bigger too

[grumpyhippo]

How about this one Tuggy, a DC3.........

[http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/DC-3/Aero29G1.jpg

[Tugmistress]

sorry GH no, not that :(
i get the feeling i wont ever know what it was

[MadPict]

Again DC-3s are flying in the UK - Foundation Dakota Norway were displaying their highly polished DC-3 at Duxford last weekend. Might be them on their way home...
http://www.dakotanorway.no/english/DC3_history.html

[MadPict]

Tugmistress - go and buy an aircraft recognition book ;)

[dessie]

tugs..there was 2 hercules c130,s few over the day you were talking about they past lybster about 2 miles out...and definatly hercules..when i worked at belfast international airport we had a few of them based there ...:Razz

[Tugmistress]

Hi dessie,
there was myself and a work mate saw the plane, him at scrabster and me in town and both of us are positive it wasn't a herc.
Madpict, i think i might just have to do that lmao