Originally posted by sb33rd
The lamps were much bigger than this. From the ground, they look like large spots.
Yes, that is exactly how they look at night from the ground. This photograph is taken at dusk, and so it makes the lights seem dimmer then they
actually are. These lights are about 8 inches in diameter and bright enough that you would not want to stare at them or stand near them on the ground
due to their heat.
They are designed to shine through clouds, rain, fog, etc…
Originally posted by sb33rd
If they were land gear lights it doesn't make sense why they would leave them on.
They come on when the aircraft has lowered its gear miles out from the runway. However, the forward light might not have been the nose gear light but
another smaller set of lights that are between the forward door and the forward cargo hold door. This light is visible by the "N" in "Northwest "
in the linked picture above.
Besides this, pilots can change much of the lighting configuration on the aircraft at will.
Originally posted by sb33rd
Now the anti-collision warning light was slow and steady versus the commercial planes have a very fast strobe like effect.
The rotating beacon is a slow turning light unlike the strobes, which are a different style of light. Planes have both of these types of lighting as
they serve different purposes. The rotating beacon is to alert the ground crew when the engine is running, and they are on as long as the engine is
operating, the strobes are faster, flashing, navigational lights.
Rotating beacons work like the old style of police bubble flashers, but they turn slower.
Originally posted by sb33rd
Also the flight path and altitude were not commercial.
Prove it, there is no limit to where ATC may route a commercial airliner outside of restricted areas.
Originally posted by sb33rd
The first time I saw one of these I would feel comfortable of saying 2500 feet.
It is impossible to judge the altitude of an aircraft, especially at night. Even still it does not prove that it was not a commercial airliner. He
could have just been issued a go-around from an airport, he might have blown a landing, or even gotten his airports mixed up. # happens, I have
personally seen it.
Originally posted by sb33rd
Also I am very familar with the flight paths in my area if they are going to NY or Boston and the path these guys were on were just
unorthodox.
Again flight paths change due to weather, wind direction, runway closings, just to name a few things. 99% of the traffic that comes into my airport
approaches from the north, but every now and again they come in from the south due to wind. Lately they have all been coming in from the south as the
airport authority has closed a runway for repaving. There is nothing that stops ATC from routing an aircraft in any certain place as need be, except
restrictions.
Again it could have been any of a number of other emergencies or problems that put him there at low altitude.
Originally posted by mrmonsoon
Try googling "TR3B" and see what pops up.
We used to get military aircraft doing touch-and-goes at our airport all the time, and one distinct thing about their lighting is that it is extremely
small/dim compared to a commercial aircraft. So, if the OP is saying that its too bright to be a commercial airliner, then its certainly too bright to
be military. Remember that military aircraft rely on stealth, not pronouncing their presence or location. Military aircraft can also turn off their
navigational lights and go completely dark when they wish as well.
[edit on 9/29/2006 by defcon5]