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Prestwick Galaxy

by | Sep 30, 2024 | Aviation News, Spotting

Prestwick Ramblings

When I was at Prestwick yesterday, sitting on the North side was a Lockheed Galaxy. It is strange, not so long ago a visiting C-5 was quite the thing. Now a Galaxy barely elicits a mention in most spotting forums, changing times or is spotting fundamentally changing. There will be the usual flurry of photographs on social media, followed by the usual flurry of oooh’s and aaaah’s.

A changing hobby

Is spotting undergoing a fundamental change, probably, there is now an immediacy that was never there before. With applications like “have I seen it”, you can filter ADSB to show just the frames or scrapes that you need. Although you do have to give them a copy of all your existing data, before it will work for you. But to me, there seems to be an element of cheating (it just feels like it) to this.

Seeing the phone screen of aircraft, you poke one with a stylus or a finger and the icon vanishes from the screen and the entry apears in your database. Pretty nifty huh? Pretty soulless if you ask me, I have considered moving my own application data into a commercial package but the task is pretty daunting.

But Data from the ADSB network, the FAA and any number of other places can be manipulated, or incorrectly entered. Having recently watched a purported Stinson flying at 45,000 ft and 450 Kts, I’m guessing that the Hex Code was wrong – unless there had been a recent upgrade to the Stinson. As to the data being manipulated, well there are the FAA’s LADD and PIA programmes – so not so much manipulated as hidden or obfuscated.

Back to Basics

Going back to basics sometimes seems a drastic solution, but if we rely on the technology we have to rely on the data. It is simple to identify an aircraft using the Mk I eyeball, a dot at 30,000 ft – you have to go with what the tech says. This as I’ve said for the most part is OK, but there will be errors and they will be hard to identify.

Sometimes I miss the old notebook and pen, funny that – because the old logbooks are still readable.

 

Support this site.

It does take some time and effort to create these downloads, also there are a number of costs associated with running the site. So if you can consider supporting this site with a donation it would be helpful, if you find the site useful then why not treat me to a doughnut – or even a doughnut and a coffee if you’re feeling really flush.

Or if you are thinking of ordering something from Amazon then you could click the link to get there, it doesn’t actually cost you anything. And it will help me to pay for the site hosting, which is getting more expensive like everything else.

But regardless of whether you donate or not, I hope that the contents of the files are of some use, also bear in mind that the files are as dated in the bar graph on the down load page – I will try and produce a new data set every month or more frequently if time allows.

Please note these files are provided for personal use, if you want to use them for any other purpose or if you want to make them available through your own site – get in touch first.

 

 

Visit to the Mound

by | Sep 29, 2024 | Airport News, Spotting, Spotting Locations, Spotting News

Prestwick Mound

A quick vist to the mound yesterday, for a couple of pictures of the Colombian ATR42. There were a few people about, the weather was kind and the ATR42 was coloutful as you can see from the photograph above.

What else was there, there were a couple of Australian C-130’s, an RAAF C-17 arrived – the usual contingent of RCAF C-130’s was there along with a USAF C-5. Although everything except the ATR42 was old, it was not bad weather wise and there were lull’s in the heat haze so there was a chance for some reasonable photo’s.

The Global Airlines A-380 was being worked on, so guessing that it will be heading to Dresden soon. Global Airlines are still aiming for an early 2025 service, not really sure what early means here. But there is it would seem some progress on that front, not sure if it will just be an on the day departure or if there will be advanced warning on that front.

 

Support this site.

It does take some time and effort to create these downloads, also there are a number of costs associated with running the site. So if you can consider supporting this site with a donation it would be helpful, if you find the site useful then why not treat me to a doughnut – or even a doughnut and a coffee if you’re feeling really flush.

Or if you are thinking of ordering something from Amazon then you could click the link to get there, it doesn’t actually cost you anything. And it will help me to pay for the site hosting, which is getting more expensive like everything else.

But regardless of whether you donate or not, I hope that the contents of the files are of some use, also bear in mind that the files are as dated in the bar graph on the down load page – I will try and produce a new data set every month or more frequently if time allows.

Please note these files are provided for personal use, if you want to use them for any other purpose or if you want to make them available through your own site – get in touch first.

 

 

Been and Gone

by | Sep 28, 2024 | Airport History, Aviation History, Aviation News, Spotting

Last KC10 Extender

It would seem that the last KC10 Extender has been and gone at Prestwick, or anywhere for that matter. I was a spotter before they were a thing, I’m still a spotter after they have gone. It seems odd to know that there will never be another one as a Prestwick Visitor. There was something quite majestic about them, now the feeling will be nostalgia.

Only photographs and log books will record that they were ever at Prestwick, survivors are now relegated to museums. I’ll no doubt feel the same when the Galaxy and the Stratotanker goes, but there’s progress for you.

Enthusiats would have felt the same when any number of aircraft were retired from service. At least now there is more focus on preserving some examples, I doubt that we’ll see one flying though. There are examples of large aircraft being kept flying, but I’m confident when I say you won’t see a Red Bull Extender.

Still that’s progress for you!

 

Support this site.

It does take some time and effort to create these downloads, also there are a number of costs associated with running the site. So if you can consider supporting this site with a donation it would be helpful, if you find the site useful then why not treat me to a doughnut – or even a doughnut and a coffee if you’re feeling really flush.

Or if you are thinking of ordering something from Amazon then you could click the link to get there, it doesn’t actually cost you anything. And it will help me to pay for the site hosting, which is getting more expensive like everything else.

But regardless of whether you donate or not, I hope that the contents of the files are of some use, also bear in mind that the files are as dated in the bar graph on the down load page – I will try and produce a new data set every month or more frequently if time allows.

Please note these files are provided for personal use, if you want to use them for any other purpose or if you want to make them available through your own site – get in touch first.

 

 

Global Airlines – The New Story

by | Sep 24, 2024 | Aviation History, Aviation News, Spotting, Spotting News

Global Airlines – Maybe?

So it looks like I and many other  armchair aviation experts might have to eat our words, Global Airlines, that’s the one with the A-380 sitting at Prestwick and not the other one. Are indeed moving forward with plans for a trans atlantic service, from Gatwick to New York.

They have announced in social media, that they have struck a deal and that the A-380 will leave Prestwick for re-certification in Germany. Although at the time of this post there was nothing that I could see on their website.

So it is possible that people will be able to view the only ever A-380 departure from Prestwick, having witnessed the possible only ever landing – makes you think doesn’t it!

 

Support this site.

It does take some time and effort to create these downloads, also there are a number of costs associated with running the site. So if you can consider supporting this site with a donation it would be helpful, if you find the site useful then why not treat me to a doughnut – or even a doughnut and a coffee if you’re feeling really flush.

Or if you are thinking of ordering something from Amazon then you could click the link to get there, it doesn’t actually cost you anything. And it will help me to pay for the site hosting, which is getting more expensive like everything else.

But regardless of whether you donate or not, I hope that the contents of the files are of some use, also bear in mind that the files are as dated in the bar graph on the down load page – I will try and produce a new data set every month or more frequently if time allows.

Please note these files are provided for personal use, if you want to use them for any other purpose or if you want to make them available through your own site – get in touch first.

 

 

Registers Update 16th September 2024

by | Sep 17, 2024 | Aviation News, Downloads, Registers, Spotting

Latest Register Files

So as soon as I say that I think the Australian civil register update frequency has dropped to once a month. A nuw update drops two weeks later, just to prove me wrong. The register files on the download page have now all been updated, with the files dated the 16th of September 2024.

Again feel free to download the files, for your personal use only. You should note that these are at the date specified on the downloads page, as is the record count.

As the Australian file seems to have the longest update interval, no I’m not going to specify the interval as it seems to change whenever I do. So all the files will carry the date where Australia updates the available register. The canadian and US files are updated on a daily basis, but the work of consolidating the data files on a daily basis is more than I want to do.

These files will be ahead of commercial products for just a short time, until the updaters catch up.

 

Support this site.

It does take some time and effort to create these downloads, also there are a number of costs associated with running the site. So if you can consider supporting this site with a donation it would be helpful, if you find the site useful then why not treat me to a doughnut – or even a doughnut and a coffee if you’re feeling really flush.

Or if you are thinking of ordering something from Amazon then you could click the link to get there, it doesn’t actually cost you anything. And it will help me to pay for the site hosting, which is getting more expensive like everything else.

But regardless of whether you donate or not, I hope that the contents of the files are of some use, also bear in mind that the files are as dated in the bar graph on the down load page – I will try and produce a new data set every month or more frequently if time allows.

Please note these files are provided for personal use, if you want to use them for any other purpose or if you want to make them available through your own site – get in touch first.

 

 

The Princess

by | Sep 17, 2024 | Aviation History, Spotting

The Saunders-Roe Princess

The Princess – Luxury Travel

The Saunders-Roe (SR.45) was to have epitomised luxury travel, there had been a number of desing studies before and during the second world war. And in 1947 the Pricess design was effectively finalised. This would be the largest all metal flying boat ever built, it would carry 100 passengers in luxury from Southampton to New York.Power would be provided by 10 Bristol Proteus engines in six installations, four coupled and two single.

After significant delays with the engine and ballooning costs, the prototype G-ALUN took to the air. As to be expected there were teething troubles, but more of an issue was the way the expectations for air travel had changed. The De Havilland Comet was already in production, the Boeing 707 was in build – jet transportation had arrived.

An Aviation Lesson – Times Change

In the inter war years, long distance flying was luxurious and dominated by the flying boat. Nearly all intercontinental routes were flown by the flying boat, few realised that the second world war would change that for ever. The war time requirement for larger aircraft with longer ranges and heavier payloads, meant that the days of the flying boat were numbered.

All the way from the first world war to the end of the second world war, the flying boat had a leading role in aviation. From mail planes through, air sea rescue and maritime patrol the sea plane or flying boat was pre-eminent. But during the second world war, literally thousands of runways were laid down in all parts of the world, followed by a huge surplus of cheap and readilly available planes and pilots.

It should have been apparent that the writing was on the wall, but Saunders-Roe pushed ahead with the Princess in anticipation of the expected upturn in the luxury travel market.

The War Legacy

After the second world war Great Britain was to put it bluntly, broke. The cost of the war had been staggering, with Britain running up huge debts. The Government of the day was in no position to fund anything, let alone a flying boat with potentially no market and no customers. There was talk of trooping requirements at the time, but there were other means of moving troops.

There were post war flying boat services operated by BOAC, formed by the merger of Imperial and British Airways. These services didn’t continue for long after the war years. A number of other companies did operate flying boat services in South America and the Pacific, noteably PanAm. Although it was just a matter of time before nearly all commercial passenger traffic, would cease for the flying boats.

It was in this environment that Saunders-Roe decided to press ahead with the Princess, to give some context. The Princess was nearly as large as the early model Boeing 747’s, it had a range in excess of 5000 miles. Was capable of flying at 40,000 feet and at 380 Kts, but didn’t have any cofirmed customers. The development costs soared, from £2.6 Million to £10.5 Million.

There was support from the Ministry of Supply, but that was only for the initial build. The British aviation industry was at its zenith, the Princess is testimony to that being almost 100% indigenous.

The World Moved On

The world had moved on, the large flying boat was now in its swan song. Like the airship, the potential for the flying boat was for the most part gone. The customers who had expressed an interest, now focused on the newer jet aircraft. Most large cities had a local airport, the infrastructure was already there for the land planes and there was no need to invest in infrastructure for flying boats. And so it was that the Pricess was relegated to a could have been.

Although there were a number of attempts to make something of the one that had been built and the two near completion, corrosion got the better of them and they were all scrapped in the late 1960’s.