Mystery plane - what did I see?

[minimoog]

Let's see if anyone can beat Eric to the answer

From the train northbound near Darlington tonight I saw a jet which I didn't recognise. It was some way off and moving away to the north so I didn't get a great look but here's what I can remember:

Pretty sure it was military from the colour.
Had fairly long swept wings and a swept back T-tail.
Four (I think) tail mounted jet engines.
Seemed to have a sizeable bulge under the nose, almost looked like an intake like that on a Corsair. Presumably it wasn't, but that's how it looked.
Medium sized - bigger than a Phantom but smaller than a Victor, I think. Maybe F111 sorta size or a smidge bigger, but hard to tell.
Looked quite old.

Anything interesting? Or have I just seen a boring small passenger jet in dull paint?

[muley]

Like this



?

http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/sentinelr1.cfm

Edited by muley on Wednesday 9th April 21:25

[Eric Mc]

Was it one of the new RAF Sentinels I wonder?

http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/sentinelr1.cfm 

Tarnations - beaten by 1 minute.

Edited by Eric Mc on Wednesday 9th April 21:27

[phlap]

Could be a Bombardier Sentinel? Its a twin jet with T tail and rear engines and with a pod underneath. Used by the RAF anyway.

Damn, beaten to it again......

Edited by phlap on Wednesday 9th April 21:28

[muley]

Heh heh

[minimoog]

muley said:

Like this

http://www.raf.mod.uk/structure/5squadron.cfm

?

I believe that's the very chap! Well done sir



So much for it looking old

[hugoagogo]

i'm going to have a guess at a Raytheon Sentinel


edit: bugger - far too slow, 1st posted pic though

Edited by hugoagogo on Wednesday 9th April 21:32

[minimoog]

Well done everyone - beers all round in the mess

[Mattt]

I reckon a Sentinel.

[ehyouwhat]

Could be a sentinel maybe?!?

Damn, beaten to it.

Edited by ehyouwhat on Wednesday 9th April 22:02

[Sixpackpert]

Probably a Sentinel

[Simpo Two]

The RAF has a new plane? Blimey, how did they manage that then?

[LukeBird]

Never even heard of one!

[muley]

Simpo Two said:

The RAF has a new plane? Blimey, how did they manage that then?

My understanding is that they lease the aircraft through some sort of PFI deal? I'll ask my high ranking RAF bloke when I see him next.

Edited by muley on Wednesday 9th April 22:19

[Simpo Two]

muley said:

Simpo Two said:

The RAF has a new plane? Blimey, how did they manage that then?

My understanding is that they lease the aircraft through some sort of PFI deal?

Ha, that's be about right. Only double the cost to us then, no doubt!

[Sixpackpert]

Ever since the TSR2 being cancelled (Labour gov. again ) the British aircraft industry has been dead IMHO.

[Mrs H]

5 Sqn out of Waddo, crying shame really they used to have "High speed aluminum pursuit tubes "

Real aeroplanes

[eharding]

Simpo Two said:

muley said:

Simpo Two said:

The RAF has a new plane? Blimey, how did they manage that then?

My understanding is that they lease the aircraft through some sort of PFI deal?

Ha, that's be about right. Only double the cost to us then, no doubt!

Actually, I see this and the 'sprint' C3I King Airs as a sign of some sanity in a procurement process that's been broken for donkeys' years. Take a stock airframe, bolt on a proven set of radar/comms kit and deploy it as soon as possible. At the end of the lease, unbolt the kit and hand it back.

[anonymous-user]

I think these have been bought outright. I think there have only been two delivered at the moment.

One did an overshoot at St Mawgan the other month when I was down there, which was an unusual and nice suprise visitor.

Must have been up at some altitude for a while as there was still ice under the wings

[Eric Mc]

Intersting thing to notice. I've never seen that before.