Secret Craft spotted over England...?

[flarkey]

I took this photo whilst on holiday in England this morning. I was looking up at the very deep blue sky, I'd say it was almost an azure colour, when I saw this flying wing craft whizzing by at amazing speed. I took a photo using my phone and you can clearly see that it shows some kind of flying wing craft, possibly a Secret US Stealth Drone or perhaps the super secret TR3B or perhaps even the Flying Dorito that was seen over Wichita a few years back. Here is a photo I took.


Enhanced and zoomed...



Okay, okay. This isn't a secret plane, but it shows a great example of how the lighting and background can affect what someone sees when looking at a plane with blue sky behind it. This is similar to the tic-tac effect with white bodied planes and dark wings that Mick has made numerous videos about.

I know exactly which plane this was. If you want to try and find it yourself the details are that it was seen overhead Sleaford in Lincolnshire, at 1029 am local time on Friday 7 April 2023 heading roughly North West. A prize* goes to the first person to post a picture of the plane.



*There is no prize, it's just for fun.

 

[Duke]

I took this photo whilst on holiday in England this morning. I was looking up at the very deep blue sky, I'd say it was almost an azure colour, when I saw this flying wing craft whizzing by at amazing speed. I took a photo using my phone and you can clearly see that it shows some kind of flying wing craft, possibly a Secret US Stealth Drone or perhaps the super secret TR3B or perhaps even the Flying Dorito that was seen over Wichita a few years back. Here is a photo I took.


Enhanced and zoomed...



Okay, okay. This isn't a secret plane, but it shows a great example of how the lighting and background can affect what someone sees when looking at a plane with blue sky behind it. This is similar to the tic-tac effect with white bodied planes and dark wings that Mick has made numerous videos about.

I know exactly which plane this was. If you want to try and find it yourself the details are that it was seen overhead Sleaford in Lincolnshire, at 1029 am local time on Friday 7 April 2023 heading roughly North West. A prize* goes to the first person to post a picture of the plane.



*There is no prize, it's just for fun.

You know its identity based on a flight tracker site like Flightradar24?

 

[flarkey]

You know its identity based on a flight tracker site like Flightradar24?

Yes.

 

[Trailspotter]

I might have seen her contrail too a few minutes earlier, when she passed NE from my place.

 

[flarkey]

Congratulations @Trailspotter you win the prize of .... zip!

This is indeed the plane, with the azure blue body taken from the Italian national colours.

 

[NorCal Dave]

Nice! I wanted to try but I only have a free version of Flight Aware on my phone with no history options. However, I did find that they might give me a ADS-B tracker depending on where I live and that would entitle my to a bit of history. But then, even better, they have planes to make my own tracker with a Raspberry Pi and some other bits and bobs! So, it's off to Amazon to order up some parts and see what we can come up with.

 

[Duke]

Any idea why an Italian airliner is operating with an Irish registration? A lease a/c maybe?

 

[Trailspotter]

Any idea why an Italian airliner is operating with an Irish registration? A lease a/c maybe?

A359 EI-IFF is probably leased by AerCap, an Irish aviation leasing company, the world’s largest owner of commercial aircraft.
48% of the world’s commercial aircraft fleet is leased. Some countries may require re-registration of leased aircraft, but within the European Union the registration of any member state probably suffice.

 

[Duke]

A359 EI-IFF is probably leased by AerCap, an Irish aviation leasing company, the world’s largest owner of commercial aircraft.
48% of the world’s commercial aircraft fleet is leased. Some countries may require re-registration of leased aircraft, but within the European Union the registration of any member state probably suffice.

Ok thanks. I know aircraft leasing is common in commercial aviation, particularly by smaller/niche airlines. And it might make sense the EU allows such airlines within the Union to keep the registration of aircraft leased by other EU countries. First time I've noticed it however, but my background/interest is military aviation.