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Mystery light aircraft over Wexford town last week

  • 24-09-2012 2:17pm
    #1
    RadioRetro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭


    I snapped this (terrible photo but only had a swift glimpse) tootling about over the town last week. It seemed to follow a definite route criss-crossing the town's southern end. Despite the lack of focus and shaky image, can anyone ID the type and hazard a guess at what it was doing?
    DSCF0426_zps7f289b9d.jpg


Comments

  • #2
    Bearcat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭Bearcat


    Co Wexford, believe it or not is a busy spot of light aviation and home of ilas (iRish light aviation society). What you saw I'd hazard a guess was normal fare.


  • #3
    globemaster1986
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 351 ✭✭globemaster1986


    Looks like an Air Corps PC-9M to me.


  • #4
    Growler!!!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,980 ✭✭✭Growler!!!


    Through squinty eyes it looks like a Piper Aztec. If it was "criss crossing" it could be on a survey flight. With a bit of cloud around they would be at a height of 2500ft.

    http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6831855&nseq=0


  • #5
    Su Campu
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,279 ✭✭✭Su Campu


    There was a plane similar to that doing the same back and forth east-west routeing over north Co. Dublin on Saturday afternoon, within the CTR. Looked to be at around 2,000 ft.

    Im May 2009 I saw one doing the same but at around 6,000 ft. I reckoned it was doing surveying and lo and behold there I am in the driveway on Google maps now!


  • #6
    Peregrine
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 26,403 Mod ✭✭✭✭Peregrine


    globemaster1986 wrote: »
    Looks like an Air Corps PC-9M to me.


    It does look like one of them to be honest, are those roundels I see?


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  • #7
    RadioRetro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭RadioRetro


    Not a PC9M, not a turboprop. Thought survey aircraft myself, they've already got indications of gold in the north of the county. Thanks guys, sorry again for the snap's lack of clarity. But if it had been focused I could have ID'd it myself!


  • #8
    bluecode
    Closed Accounts Posts: 794 ✭✭✭bluecode


    I'm guessing it was this aircraft. Westair's Aztec. They currently have the Ordnance survey contract and are always out on good days on their tasking. They were out over Tipperary on Saturday. On a good day they could be anywhere in the country. That contract is up for renewal. We might be seeing the last of them soon.

    741742.jpg

    I remember standing in my garden once when it flew over. I pointed it out to my wife. Now on Google Earth you can just about make us out standing in the garden.


  • #9
    vicwatson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,404 ✭✭✭✭vicwatson


    Is it to do with the geological survey going on at all?

    Thread here - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056582044


  • #10
    Growler!!!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,980 ✭✭✭Growler!!!


    bluecode wrote: »
    That contract is up for renewal. We might be seeing the last of them soon.

    Would be interested in knowing who else is looking to get the contract with the OSI. Afaik its wording is fairly specific in the type of a/c to be used. It would be a pity to lose it to a company outside of Ireland as the current company with the contract has been giving new pilots a start on the commercial ladder for a few years now.


  • #11
    Skyknight
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 392 ✭✭Skyknight


    Su Campu wrote: »
    There was a plane similar to that doing the same back and forth east-west routeing over north Co. Dublin on Saturday afternoon, within the CTR. Looked to be at around 2,000 ft.

    Im May 2009 I saw one doing the same but at around 6,000 ft. I reckoned it was doing surveying and lo and behold there I am in the driveway on Google maps now!

    I think I saw that alright, Royal blue Astec or a Chieftain, Metalic\silver reg. Outbound on a NNE heading and then back along a rough heading of 188 at approx the same height, .


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  • #12
    bluecode
    Closed Accounts Posts: 794 ✭✭✭bluecode


    Growler!!! wrote: »
    Would be interested in knowing who else is looking to get the contract with the OSI. Afaik its wording is fairly specific in the type of a/c to be used. It would be a pity to lose it to a company outside of Ireland as the current company with the contract has been giving new pilots a start on the commercial ladder for a few years now.
    Well providing pilot's a start is not the purpose of the contract. All I know is that the contract is up for renewal. I too would be interested in who is bidding for it but I don't know. But whoever gets it would have to operate out of Ireland. So it's not as if the jobs would go elsewhere.

    On the point of the type of a/c to be used, surely they can't specify Aztecs only? There are any number of suitable types, from big singles to twins which would take those big cameras and more to the point would be less expensive to operate. Westair are handicapped by having to operate two rather elderly and expensive twins.

    You have to assume that in this era of costcutting they will be looking for value for money. A single engined aircraft with a decent cabin is bound to be cheaper than a twin.


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