G-NOSE

[Roy Lime]

This has been circling South East Manchester all morning. Does anyone have any idea what it is doing?

[Eric Mc]

It's operated by the Ordnance Survey so that might be a clue -

[Roy Lime]

Absolute speculation on my part but could it be engaged in air sampling?

[Eric Mc]

I wouldn't think so. The pictures doesn't show any pods, scoops etc that an air sampling aircraft might carry. Ordnance Survey are usually involved in mapping and/or other geographical type work.

[Roy Lime]

There has been a massive fire a few miles away. I saw the registration and just took a wild guess. Wrong - never mind.

[Eric Mc]

Roy Lime said:

There has been a massive fire a few miles away. I saw the registration and just took a wild guess. Wrong - never mind.

It might still be involved in surveying the fire for other reasons besides atmospheric sampling.

[Hooli]

Considering how the Ordnance Survey started, I'd say it's an artillery spotter & it's time you ducked.

[anonymous-user]

They are clearly lost. Should have packed a map......... ;-)

[Bodie390]

I'm sure a mate of mine flies this plane.

[andy97]

I actually think it's owned and operated by RVL Group on contract to OS, out of East Midlands Airport.

[williamp]

Always wondered how they know where to draw the all those coloured lines on the maps

[onyx39]

Eric Mc said:

I wouldn't think so. The pictures doesn't show any pods, scoops etc that an air sampling aircraft might carry. Ordnance Survey are usually involved in mapping and/or other geographical type work.

Picture shows a 2009 copyright, could have been modified?

[ecsrobin]

onyx39 said:

Picture shows a 2009 copyright, could have been modified?

[Geneve]

Eric Mc said:

I wouldn't think so. The pictures doesn't show any pods, scoops etc that an air sampling aircraft might carry. Ordnance Survey are usually involved in mapping and/or other geographical type work.

The Met Office were planning to commission a modified C421 for air sampling, following the volcanic ash debacle

[Eric Mc]

I know that during the ash cloud fiasco they were using a German registered Dornier.

[mrloudly]

A few years ago I had an epic 4hr trip in a Piper Navahoe Chieftain G-NERC (National Environmental Research Council) (( I believe the Reg has been re-assigned now)) out of Coventry.

We were tasked with doing photographic work over the Gower Peninsula, run after run after run... Coming back, the Kiwi pilot gave it the beans at very low altitude through the Brecon Beacons
a highly memorable trip!