ON A CLEAR DAY WITH TRAILS

[keefyboy]

Hi Folks

No trails for me today over Chippenham, Wiltshire but I managed to see a few goodies in the clear blue sky to the north thanks to ADS-B.

I was just wondering what your experience is of where you live when there is a decent blue sky with lots of aircraft trailing.

For my part, I'm lucky enough to catch a good bit of trans-Atlantic traffic in and out of Heathrow (at about 20k so not trailing) but from the first floor windows, I reckon on a clear day I can see trails for the best part of 50 miles in all directions with a decent set of binos.

To the west, I can clearly see the southbound traffic from the likes of MAN over Newport heading south but I can't see the northbound traffic which is further away over Cardiff. To the east I can see most of what's on the airways as far as Newbury and to the south - anything heading east/west as far as Southampton (though the sun can completely bugger this). To the north, I can see trails as far as Cheltenham.

Okay so I'm curious as to where many of you dot spotters live and what your 360 views are like - eg: do you have bloody great hills that spoil your view in a particular direction?

Well it is bloody cold - but what's your story when there are trails?

Cheers

Keith

[dave]

hi,
i'm in or very near to Newcastle under Lyme/ Nugra... to my nw I get OTT-DUB traffic, to my east its airways traffic to Polehill, to the west anything Anglesey-south over Wales, and to the south nothing very much, occasionally a Juno from Shawbury strays as far as Newcastle and that's in the bag...
I'm good for a/c heading south out of Manchester, in if on 05, - EMA if coming from the west, LPL and HAW if from the south...BHX traffic from the north. Atlantic traffic into London overhead me.
If its trailing its great even see stuff heading west over south Wales, but sbs is a must if not trailing, I did have a web sight that forecast if a/c would be trailing but I lost it.
Local land marks for me a neighbours small tree is for a/c near Shawbury, a chimney opposite positions o/h Manchester, and 2 telephone wires down the street is usually where a/c out of Manchester run between heading south over Wales...

So i'm pretty well situated, but whenever I travel south i'm a bit overwhelmed by the amount of traffic high and low to be seen, but i'd like the challenge... BUT if its cloudy and raining its all to no avail?

good spotting, regards,
dave...

[gtf4j2m]

I live in Shropshire on top a hill so can see far and wide. To the North aircraft eastbound towards DOLAS from WALLASEY and inbound to EMA & BHX, to the east I can see aircraft south & northbound as far away as Derby. To the south I can seen aircraft over South Wales if they are trailing. Overhead I get all the flights that follow the welsh border south & north. I use a Leica telescope with a 60x zoom usually outside as we are surrounded by fields. A very good place for spotting.

Graham
GTF4J2M

[graham]

Pretty much the same as you Keith as we don't live far from each other. Managed to see a Singapore AL A350 (9V-SMP) heading south from MAN a couple of days ago over Newport. Often see plenty of helis whilst walking the dogs, Chinooks from Odiham, Squirrels from Upavon and Apaches from Wallop. Like you too, often pick out trails with the bins heading W or E way down south over Bournemouth.

As far as GA is concerned, I regularly see residents from Old Sarum, Thruxton, Yatesbury, Clench Common, Kemble and Oaksey over the house including a certain Mr Wasey in G-BALFy. I often walk the dogs down the grass strip at Coate where Mr Hibberd has his two Jodels and his lovely Turbi tucked up in an old barn. There are occasionally a few visitors, the most regular being Silvaire G-BRUG and a beautiful N reg Stinson V-77

[jerryrowe]

Here in Weybridge, there are a number of airways which go more or less overhead, or at least within viewing distance on a clear day. Apologies for not knowing the various reporting points, I can only describe them by reference to directions and places.

Coming down over East Anglia and heading for Isle of Wight, mainly Scandinavian (Norwegian, Novair etc) go overhead. The opposite direction generally go to my east but are usually visible. Also can see some LTN and STN inbounds coming from SW and SE.

Coming down from the NW and heading for the south coast and France also go overhead, or between 5 and 20 miles west.  Mainly AF, Hop! But also UK carriers including EZY, FlyBe, Jet2 plus Ryanair. Heading north they are usually about 10 miles west, visible if trailing.

Coming up from France heading for Compton go just south of here, a range of European and US airlines plus biz jets.

Transatlantics and others heading for Ireland routing Clacton-Compton go about 10 miles north, usually clearly visible. The opposite direction route Compton-Dover, overhead or slightly north. Wide range of carriers, but most already fleeted.

Aircraft routing Biggin-Brookmans Park are about 40 miles away, can usually see them only if trailing. Wide range of carriers, includes some BHX and MAN inbounds. 

From my my bedroom window I can see LHR 09 inbounds, and some LHR 27 outbounds if they do not turn north too soon. From my study window I can see a limited selection of LHR 09 outbounds, but no 27 inbounds. 27 Dover departures go overhead. I can’t see any LGW movements except the occasional inbound from the NW after dark.

GA in London airspace is limited! Fairoaks is my local field but I rarely make more than 1 or 2 when I visit.

[christoff]

I live on the outskirts of Newport, with fairly good views all around. I can see trailing and some non trailing (If above Fl300) traffic passing over LHR in an East-West/West-East direction on good days ( about 70 miles ), Plus the south coast track GIBSO-SAM-MAYFIELD.

To my East I have both high and low level traffic for LGW,LHR and other locations, I can also see stuff climbing out of EGLF, LHR+LGW heading towards the south coast from about 7,000ft upwards.

To the West it is predominantly traffic routing North-South towards LELNA-ORTAC.

To the South there is not much to see, just some odds and sods cutting corners from the east towards Jersey.

I think I do quite well considering I live on an Island