Unusual light pattern on aircraft

willier

Hi folks! Just a quick question for ye. I've seen an aircraft on 2 occasions over the last 3 years or so that has me a bit puzzled. The last time I saw it was the 2nd January last when driving south bound on the M1 near Drogheda. There was only 2 white strobes on the plane, one at the front and one at the rear. They both flashed on and off at the same time. The aircraft was travelling west to east and seemed to be fairly big judging by the distance between the strobes. There were definately no other lights on it that I could see. It was also at a high altitue as I could see it coming towards me from my right for at least 3 minutes. The first time I saw it I got a much better view of it as I was out walking and it passed over head me. I'm certain it was the same plane. Anyone seen this or have any idea what it is?

Steyr

Sounds like you have just seen the strobes of an Aircraft at altitude, sometimes thats all you can see as the Nav lights wouldnt stand out as much as the strobes.

willier

I'm not sure, seen as the strobes were so far apart I should have easily been able to see other running lights?? I'll just have to keep my binoculars at hand from now on!

giantturkeyleg

First post!

Could it have been the International Space Station, followed by the Shuttle? Both look like bright white lights, and depending on how near the shuttle is to the station they may look like one. They often go east-west, at least any of the times I have seen them. The station is visible in the sky for another week, and the shuttle might be seen too, although it could be further away or docked.

Also, since the 'lights' on the two are just reflected sunlight they would go out when they pass into the shadow of the Earth.

tricky D

giantturkeyleg wrote: »

First post!

Could it have been the International Space Station, followed by the Shuttle? Both look like bright white lights, and depending on how near the shuttle is to the station they may look like one. They often go east-west, at least any of the times I have seen them. The station is visible in the sky for another week, and the shuttle might be seen too, although it could be further away or docked.

Also, since the 'lights' on the two are just reflected sunlight they would go out when they pass into the shadow of the Earth.

Welcome to the forum/boards.

Seeing them together is a fantastic sight. However, it can't have been the shuttles, they've been on the ground for the last few weeks. The ISS would only ever appear as a single bright light without strobing and only just after sunset.

vulcan57

willier wrote: »

There was only 2 white strobes on the plane, one at the front and one at the rear.

willier wrote: »

It was also at a high altitue as I could see it coming towards me from my right for at least 3 minutes.

These two sentences have me a little baffled. If the plane was at high altitude how could you tell that there was one strobe at the front and one at the back? And if it was that close that you could tell this, surely you would be able to have a better idea what it was. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying that you are wako or anything. Aircraft should have 2 strobes, but on the wing tips. Could it have possibly been 2 aircraft flying in formation? Just a thought.

Mythago

vulcan57 wrote: »

Aircraft should have 2 strobes, but on the wing tips. Could it have possibly been 2 aircraft flying in formation? Just a thought.

Not necessarily; the DHC8-400 has 2 strobes, 1 at the top of the tail & the other on the belly aft of the Pax door. Have a vague memory of possibly an Antonov 124 with a similar arrangement, but not 100%.

pclancy

Yeah several types have belly/tail strobes, the jetstream and some other regional props also.

vulcan57

pclancy wrote: »

Yeah several types have belly/tail strobes, the jetstream and some other regional props also.

I didn't realize that, the sites that I was looking at just gave the wing tip strobes. So there really isn't much of a mystery here after all, even though I can understand that it might have looked strange.

willier

Well now that you mention it an An-124 is a regular visitor to Shannon and the first time I saw this it would have been coming from that general direction. I would have expected that to be lit up like a Christmas tree though!

It definately wasn't the ISS or Shuttle as I've seen ISS several times. Haven't seen the two together yet though. I think they are both visible this week iirc?

@Vulcan57, I could only see one strobe at first and as it got closer to me I could see the second strobe right behind it. It couldn't have been two seperate planes as they flashed on and off at exactly the same time.
I should have pulled over to get a better look at it. Kind of hard to watch it and keep my eyes on the road at the same time.:D