4 September 2010

Jet with a spike in its bottom?

4 September 2010 | nanzan

Over the last couple of weeks I have noticed a very unusual-looking aircraft flying over Canberra – in and out of Canberra Airport I presume.

It is a rather large jet aircraft with a long protrusion at its rear which looks just like a huge spike – I guess it is an antenna or some sort of measuring device. It just looks very odd!

Any ideas what this aircraft is – and what’s it doing over Canberra?

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Me no fry11:32 am 06 Sep 10

DBCooper said :

Prolly just working out the bugs on an experimental microwave weapon. I’m sure it relatively safe.

Yeah, I did feel boiling hot on the outside and icy cold on the inside after it flew over…..

DBCooper4:41 pm 05 Sep 10

Prolly just working out the bugs on an experimental microwave weapon. I’m sure it relatively safe.

nanzan11:17 am 05 Sep 10

Ah, the power and the joy of RiotACT!

Yes, those photos show the plane I saw – it was the white one, not the yellow one, I think. As you can see, a very distinctive aircraft when you see it low in the air. And yes, I guessed it was a jet, but clearly its not. It’s whatever planes that aren’t jets are called!

Thanks everyone.

H1NG09:53 am 05 Sep 10

And none of these planes mentioned appear to be jets

fgzk9:23 am 05 Sep 10

What we need is an old warhorse, rasist, sexist, bigoted RAAF Capt to enlighten us. He has to have some use.

Very Busy8:48 am 05 Sep 10

It’s not a spike. It’s a needle!!!!

wombat7410:25 pm 04 Sep 10

This is the other aircraft flying around Canberra doing the same thing http://www.airliners.net/photo/Fugro-Airborne-Surveys/CASA-C-212-200-Aviocar/1656434/L/&sid=cb7dcad10e7f856fa22c6c88d254f329

troll-sniffer10:15 pm 04 Sep 10

It’s conducting an aerial magnetic survey which has to be done at low level.

The aircraft is a Fletcher based in WA I believe. A New Zealand cropdusting aircraft modified for the purpose.

The dictionary definition of cute (ugly but interesting) suits this aircraft to a tee.

wombat7410:11 pm 04 Sep 10

This is probably the aircraft you saw. Its been parked at Canberra Airport over the last few months. As mentioned above its a geologic survey aircraft. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Fugro-Airborne-Surveys/Pacific-Aerospace-Cresco/1329651/L/&sid=bbe682a2cf6ac62d742b24a4f046a6c3

wycx8:55 pm 04 Sep 10

If it looked something like the plane on this page ( http://www.ga.gov.au/minerals/research/methodology/geophysics/aem.jsp )then it is a plane for an airborne EM survey. Could be for GA or one of the Exploration Licence holders nearby in NSW?

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