A0605E

[Watson-Watt]

Spotted yesterday (1948-2001 BST 18th June) was PJF125 SE bound on a track between Daventry and Dover roughly speaking.

No type was displayed but the Hex Code was A0605E. Airframes.org returns this as N123RR which is a balloon. Given that BS Reporter first recorded it at 410 and last listed at 421 climbing, I think that an error might have crept in somewhere along the way.

Any thoughts, Gentlemen?

Ta!

W-W

[Smudger98]

GAS has this as N123RR, and the FAA has N123RR as a Balloon also..?

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=123RR

[viking9]

Registered Owner looks a bit unlikely! 

[Watson-Watt]

Curiouser and curiouser..... 

Thanks Gents

W-W

[viking9]

I see that its reg has also expired. Could be a MIB cover.

[Watson-Watt]

I see that its reg has also expired. Could be a MIB cover.

Could you enlarge on that for me please, V9?

Ta,

W-W

[viking9]

Certain aircraft used by US Government agencies show no registration. Some of these are known to be used for covert purposes and often transmit a spurious hex code.

[Watson-Watt]

Certain aircraft used by US Government agencies show no registration. Some of these are known to be used for covert purposes and often transmit a spurious hex code.

Ah, thanks for that.

Possibly just co-incidence, but I was observing the flight on adsbScope which is fed by a DVB-T dongle. At one point, the aircraft's position jumped about fifty miles to the right of its track. The same thing happened several times over the next minute or two. Now, I am not yet used to the quirks and foibles of this system, so the problem may be a completely local one. If, however, 'dark forces' were at work, I wonder whether it was an ECM measure. Admittedly there's a time and place for these things and the London UIR isn't likely qualify but who knows?

FWIW, I saw a Japanese Air Force (or is it SDF?) 747 en-route to Bovingdon this afternoon. Putting two and two together I assume that it had something to do with the big political pow-wow in Enniskillen. I wonder if PJF125 was similarly tasked?

W-W

PS The B747 Hex Code was 87C001 Reg 20-1102  (Courtesy of BS Reporter)

[Anmer]

adsbScope is known to cause aircraft to "jump".

[Watson-Watt]

adsbScope is known to cause aircraft to "jump".

Oh well, that explains it!

(Collapse of stout party)