‘
Over the last few minutes I’ve seen a Britten-Norman Islander, evidently in “Ex-Coastguard” colours gently swanning around in what appeared to be a (kinda like) large oval track flight pattern, low down, over the Norfolk countryside between Sandringham & Sculthorpe.
(rushed out onto the balcony & it appeared back & forth a few times).
Now I must admit, I’m NOT big on civvies & I wouldn’t know where to look “if” I wanted a potted history of “that” particular plane !
I’m assuming (at a glance, not knowing) that it wuz most probably this plane here ?
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000583597.html
(I just dialed up Ex-Coastguard Britten Norman Islander & checked some pix & that link came up).
So, my questions are….
1, Is it likely to be THAT particular a/c or are there more than one ‘Ex-Coastal’ Islanders floating around ?
2, After sighting it (close by, overhead), I tried FR.24 (Flightradar24.com, well, why not, after CGVRA ? 😀
Well, it never showed up on their radar ~ A bit like the Mynarski Lanc’
(****** me, I reached this point in typing & it’s just re-appeared in person, flying overhead AGAIN !)
Any particular reason as to why that might be so ?
(as in, “is it” still civilian owned ?)
3, Assuming it is privately owned, is it used for parachute training flights ONLY ?
(the weather here is overcast/windy ~ she was V.low down, so, no parachute flight this one…)
4, If any civvie fans “know” where she’s currently based, please do tell, I’m rather curious.
5, Was this (by any chance) “THE” B-N-Isl’ that I saw in the episode of BBC’s Top Gear ?
(the one where May, Clarkson & Hammond cross the English Channel in a white Toyota Pick-up)
Answers on a postcard…. etc….
Haven’t got the (extended time) to search all the necessary on the ‘net, as I was on the laptop for hours last night…
(my back is killing me !)
Bleary eyed this morning/lunchtime from TOO MUCH computer (eyestrain) plus too much beer !!!!!!! :very_drunk:
Would love to know about this particular a/c (“if” it’s the one in the link), as it’s (very) different from the 48th’s F.15’s that I usually see overhead !
(bloody hell = here it comes again (!), I can hear it approaching outside !!!!!!!)
By: snafu - 16th August 2014 at 20:42
As it wuz flying over it prompted the thought… “why didn’t I buy the Airfix-kit version as a kid ?” 😀
Anyone know “if” the Airfix kit is much kop ?
Depends how you like your drastically overscale external detailing… Lots of rivets and grossly oversized reinforcing plates as I recall.
By: TonyT - 16th August 2014 at 16:47
Ex costaguard marked
Previous registration
Coast guard answers here
By: Hornchurch - 16th August 2014 at 16:01
She is owned and operated by RVL at East Midlands and does photo mapping amongst other things, hence the runs back and forth.
‘
Hi Tony, many thanks with answering (my) questions 2, 3 & 4
Only 1 & 5 to go now…. 😀
After I typed that post, she flew past (back n’ forth) twice more
(& weirdly whilst typing/answering at this very point, a Cessna G-BTHE has just done same, once)
If only the two Lanc’s would pass over (sighs), still they’ll be here next week (Marham).
Once again, thanks for the swift answer(s).
It isn’t too often thesedays that I get to see a Britten-Norman Islander & it was (well) nice to see.
As it wuz flying over it prompted the thought… “why didn’t I buy the Airfix-kit version as a kid ?” 😀
Anyone know “if” the Airfix kit is much kop ?
As regards to ‘Q’.5
I’d STILL like to know “if” it was that a/c that flew in the Top Gear episode (described in post # 1)
Also, “if” there are (many?) others like it (or was that “the” only Brit’ Coastguard one ?)
Thanks for the info’ so far Tony.
By: TonyT - 16th August 2014 at 14:21
She is owned and operated by RVL at East Midlands and does photo mapping amongst other things, hence the runs back and forth.
http://www.rvl-group.com/our-aircraft/
Bluesky signs 3 year deal with RVL Group
1 Nov 2013
Having successfully completed a trial year with our newest customer, locally-based Bluesky, RVL Group is proud to announce that a new contract has been signed to provide them with two dedicated aircraft until the end of 2016.
The Cessna 404 and BN2 Islander will be employed gathering LiDAR and thermal data throughout the UK as Bluesky’s presence in the aerial surveillance and mapping market continues to grow.
Bluesky is the latest customer to take advantage of the availability of offices, operational and engineering support and a 24 hours response capability within RVL’s facility at East Midlands Airport.
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August 16, 2014 at 1:47 pm