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Atlas tours

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TonyS
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Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:54 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Atlas tours

Post by TonyS » Fri May 01, 2020 8:01 am

Don't know if this a new thing or not. Yesterday, I notice an A400 from Brize with Ascot callsign on FlightRadar, circling Newcastle airport and carrying out several non-landing approaches. It then headed south across NY Moors to Humberside and did the same again there. Today, Leeds is being given the same treatment. Can anyone tell me what these flights are?

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vulcanxl425
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Location: East of Lossiemouth

Re: Atlas tours

Post by vulcanxl425 » Fri May 01, 2020 8:20 am

RAF Brize Norton describe on Facebook that these flights are for essential training and not for coronovirus. The flights are as you saw different and ranging from Aberdeen to Newquay in south. Perhaps they are taking advantage of quieter skies with less traffic and utilising other airfields and ATC facilities purely for training ?
Al

" Thoir an Aire - Be Always Alert "

TonyS
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:54 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Atlas tours

Post by TonyS » Fri May 01, 2020 8:38 am

Thanks for your reply. Ascot480 is currently heading NW on 315 from Leeds/Bradford, having done 2 or 3 fly-throughs. Might be heading for Glasgow, perhaps. I guess it might be airfield familiarisation, for possible COVID PPE deliveries.

Seahornet1
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Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:51 am
Location: Severn valley, South Shropshire

Re: Atlas tours

Post by Seahornet1 » Fri May 01, 2020 8:58 am

Nothing out of the ordinary, as far as I can see. They've been doing these sorts of regular 'circuit-bashing' flights all over the UK, ever since the Atlas came into service.

POL
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Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:26 pm

Re: Atlas tours

Post by POL » Fri May 01, 2020 9:10 am

Vulcan's post LITERALLY says it's not to do with Coronavirus.

Ross Forsyth
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Re: Atlas tours

Post by Ross Forsyth » Fri May 01, 2020 9:13 am

Taking advantage of very quiet airfields that a lot of the time,especially from April onwards they just can`t get the chance to book a practice diversion to,also helps keep ATC on their toes at respective airports😃
We`ve had Typhoons,Atlas and E-3`s all doing circuits in the last couple of weeks aswell as the IAC PC-12 at Edinburgh,something we used to see all the time but not very often anymore until the last month.

Unknown74
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Re: Atlas tours

Post by Unknown74 » Fri May 01, 2020 9:26 am

Just about to post regarding the Atlas on Wednesday Ross, Apart from that of the Atlas I did see the 2 Typhoons (only just), the second Sentry which went over but missed the approaches of the Irish PC-12. Haven’t seen anything of the Helicopters which have been around.

I also think there was another Atlas which passed over heading for Prestwick from Aberdeen a couple of Weekends ago.

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T_J
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Location: Lincs

Re: Atlas tours

Post by T_J » Fri May 01, 2020 10:25 am

TonyS wrote:
Fri May 01, 2020 8:01 am
Can anyone tell me what these flights are?
RAF Brize Norton have been doing regular updates on flight activity.

https://twitter.com/RAFBrizeNorton

Peachy00
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Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:59 am

Re: Atlas tours

Post by Peachy00 » Fri May 01, 2020 11:34 am

We had an A400 down here in Jersey last week for training. They come here fairly often. C17 due today, we will see.

iainpeden
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Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:20 pm

Re: Atlas tours

Post by iainpeden » Fri May 01, 2020 12:14 pm

TonyS wrote:
Fri May 01, 2020 8:01 am
Don't know if this a new thing or not. Yesterday, I notice an A400 from Brize with Ascot callsign on FlightRadar, circling Newcastle airport and carrying out several non-landing approaches. It then headed south across NY Moors to Humberside and did the same again there. Today, Leeds is being given the same treatment. Can anyone tell me what these flights are?
That came right over my house making a right racket. Unfortunately we had 10/10 cloud so I couldn’t see it or estimate height but was significantly lower than usual.

stevep22
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Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 9:29 pm
Location: Rothwell, twixt' Leeds and Wakefield

Re: Atlas tours

Post by stevep22 » Fri May 01, 2020 7:48 pm

ZM415 did four practice approaches at Leeds/Bradford Airport today before heading off to do similar at Prestwick. I've posted a couple of snaps in the photography section.

Steve

TARGET
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Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:17 pm

Re: Atlas tours

Post by TARGET » Sat May 02, 2020 9:19 am

It also helps maintain currency for airport controllers during times of very limited activity

Unknown74
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Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:13 pm

Re: Atlas tours

Post by Unknown74 » Sat May 02, 2020 1:48 pm

Is it just me or is it the same Atlas on the same trip? ZM415 was up here at Edinburgh during the Week & I noticed it was on some other trips as well.

Vulcanone
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Re: Atlas tours

Post by Vulcanone » Sat May 02, 2020 2:29 pm

No. They are using whatever is on the line on a given day.

CHINOOKER
Posts: 6216
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:58 pm
Location: North of r/w 25 Northolt

Re: Atlas tours

Post by CHINOOKER » Sat May 02, 2020 8:21 pm

Could always use Northolt,whilst Heathrow isn't that busy!🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

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toom317
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Re: Atlas tours

Post by toom317 » Sun May 03, 2020 10:15 am

Unknown74 wrote:
Sat May 02, 2020 1:48 pm
Is it just me or is it the same Atlas on the same trip? ZM415 was up here at Edinburgh during the Week & I noticed it was on some other trips as well.
Different aircraft will be fitted out for whatever roles are required. You see the same aircraft being used for the same task, as there is no point in fitting out an aircraft for a role, if there is already one rigged for it.
No one gets out of life alive.



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