Conditions of a fighter escort

Earlier today (1am/9/3/07)i saw a 4 engine jumbo flying over north London with a much smaller plane flying very close to it. they were almost definitely in formation, the planes remained parallel with each other as they turned in the same directions. unfortunately i cannot tell you the model of the main aircraft and because of the height and i cannot tell wether the smaller plane was a fighter or not.

Now i was wondering, under what circumstances would this sort of situation would take place. Keep in mind that these planes where flying over an area high in air traffic. Sometimes i can look out my window and see 5 planes in a line in taxing ready to land.

At first i thought it may have been the result of a hijacking threat, but there was nothing in the news. Now i'm thinking its some kind of training exercise.

under what circumstances would a smaller plane fly in formation with a much larger one in such a high in traffic location.

They may have had a warning light for a landing gear come on, or some
such.

Spotter plane sent to verify.

Just my 2 cent,
Lex

Originally posted by Lexion
Spotter plane sent to verify.

Lex

Not sure about england, but in the US i think the proper procedure would be to tell ATC, They would have you do a go-around for the runway and see with binoculars. I don't think they use spotter planes...but mabye I'm wrong, sorry if I am.

As to the original question:

under what circumstances would a smaller plane fly in formation with a much larger one in such a high in traffic location.

I would imagine it would Most likely be an international dignitary. Though its completely posible it could have been any thing, you never know what the gov.t keep from us for various reasons.

Just kidding! :-)

Are you sure it was a 747? Could it have been a KC135-R? If so it could have been all manner of aircraft refueling?

Cheers

Rob

I couldnt tell you the model, i used the term jumbo as i consider it a pretty generic term for a large passenger jet.

I would imagine it would Most likely be an international dignitary.

I thought that as well, but it seems a bit odd that any would be so insecure about flying in British air space.

Where was the small aircraft in location to the large aircraft, nex to, behind, in front of? If it was behind, I would say in air re-fueling. Other than that, who knows.