Aircraft Recognition

[Vagabond]

This morning, at about 9 am, was walking Dunwich Heath (Suffolk). I heard a heavy throb which brought back memories of German bomber raids. VERY heavy, as it made itself heard even to my deaf ears.

 

Spotted the aircraft, flying very high - to the east out across the Noth Sea. It had SIX engines, old-fashioned ones with propellers. Long parallel-sided wings, square tips. Flew against the sunlight so lost sight of it fairly soon

 

Absolutely baffled as to what it might be - the nearest I have in my old recognition books is the Blohm and Voss BV-222G, but these are well obsolete unless someone has restored one.

 

Definitely not jet engined - rules out the 6-engined Antonov 225 (which has tapering wings anyway)

 

Any suggestions ? Both Dornier and Messerschmitt made six-engined planes, but like the BV-222 I thought they were all long gone.

 

I know one or two on here have an interest in old planes, so may have thoughts on what it might be.

[ayjay]

 

Could it have been a (four engined) C130 with two under wing fuel tanks?

 

 

It's also got very square wing-tips.

 

[Worms]

Ayjay's comment is about the only logical one!

[Phone]

All,

 

Vagabond, google "Six-engined tractor aircraft" . Several meet your specs.

 

Phone

[Vagabond]

All,

 

Vagabond, google "Six-engined tractor aircraft" . Several meet your specs.

 

Phone

Thanks, it brought up several I had already looked at - what I really need is a "plan" illustration, from below.

 

C130.... I think not - all engines (or fuel tanks) projected the same distance forward, and each set of three were equidistant from each other, The wings were proportionately longer than the illustration of the Hercules.

 

I can't think of any rational explanation other than a restoration job

[Phone]

Vagabond,

 

I went back to 1941?

 

Experiential? - shiny or dull in color? - did you notice if it was a wing over boat hull design

 

Phone

[wotnobivvy]

Is there not a web site that will give you the planes and flight paths at a given time. At that hight it must have filed a flight plan

[Andy_1984]

Is there not a web site that will give you the planes and flight paths at a given time. At that hight it must have filed a flight plan

http://www.flightradar24.com/

 

was thinking the same thing. Dont know if or how long they will hold data

[Huge_Vitae]

Posted it on a specialist forum for you Vagabond, but can only add to your mystery!

 

The census of opinion, after leaving it there for few days (international site) is the AN225 is the only flying plane with 6 engines. But like you said, they are turbofans.

[Huge_Vitae]

And following Ajay's line, have a look at a C130 "spooky" variant, can't post you a pic but you should find it easy enough, I think that might be your mystery.