are these markings normal?

i587.photobucket.com..." target='_blank' class='tabOff'/>
the above image shows a awac flying over billingham teesside uk they fly from durham-tees-vally airport a few times a year so nothing too unusuall except i dont recognise the markings (there were very few on it) i just am intrested to know if any one can enlighten me the pic was taken a week ago and i have iust learned how to upload it to the site i hope it is of intrest to someone here i usually lurk in the conspiricy and alternative news forums
thanks in advance

reply to post by satire111


just a guess but could be middle eastern

There's no tail number prefix to ID this, at least that I see. I don't recognize the livery, but that's not saying much I suppose.

Try here:

www.aircraft-insignia.com...

I would guess that few if any civilian agencies have the money for an AWACS. (?)

It would surely help if we had the exact name of that plane. AWACs is too generic. I'm looking at pictures but i'm no specialist.

I think it's a E-3 Sentry, they are in service with the RAF so would make sense to see those in Britain. As for the markings, I have no clue.

[edit on 24-3-2009 by grandnic]

Here you go.

www.raf.mod.uk...

reply to post by cbianchi513


thanks tried that intresting link you suggested but couldnt find the emblem though

It's an RAF Sentry.


www.airforce-technology.com...

Here it is at RIAT Fairford last year.

Reply to grandnic

It's an E-3 Sentry.

[edit on 3/24/2009 by Zaphod58]

reply to post by kennethmd


mystery solved thanks kennethmd it never ceases to amaze me how much knowledge there is on ats

which raises the counter-question... Does anybody know what the signifigance of the bird on the tail? No tail number?

Thanks

reply to post by cbianchi513


The tail number is on there, you just can't see it from any distance.

Different bird, but similar style markings:
cdn-www.airliners.net...

Look under the mounting for the dish. The tail number is there, its ZH101.
www.scramble.nl...

The marking on the tail is of 23 Squadron, it's the squadron marking.

www.raf.mod.uk...

Thank you Zaphod58... Next time I've got an aviation question, I'm coming straight to you if I can't find it!

how strange is life? tonight on itv 1 i have just been watching the awacs over afganistan all the same markings and a very informative programe even if i had been told the facts 24 hours before lol thanks everyone here especialy zaphiod58

reply to post by satire111
It has to be a spy plane of some sorts as for the markings find the eagle in Egyptian mythology.

reply to post by Beach Bum


It's not a spy plane at all. It's a radar plane, designed to guide other fighters in to intercept planes.

As for the tail symbol, it's an eagle preying on a falcon. The squadron motto is aggressus, "Having always attacked".

Oh Zaphod, you cant just keep getting in the way of peoples conspiracies

reply to post by Zaphod58

So what makes you think they don't spy that's the operative word even for radar recon jobs.


[edit on 2-4-2009 by Beach Bum]

reply to post by Beach Bum


Because I know their mission. They're set up as radar aircraft, with threat receivers and jamming equipment. They aren't set up as spy aircraft, that's what the RC-135 is for. The AWACS is WAY too valuable an asset to use as a spy/recon aircraft when there's the RC-135 in the US, and the Nimrod in the UK that do that mission.

An AWACS can guide dozens of fighters into engagements, help protect carrier groups, surface groups, have limited ground vehicle detection capability. One of the points of electronic recon is to find SAM/AAA sites and radar sites. You deliberately fly into an area where you think they are and try to get them to bring the site up. Does that sound like something you want to use a radar aircraft like the E-3 for?

The E-3 Sentry is an airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, aircraft with an integrated command and control battle management, or C2BM, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform. The aircraft provides an accurate, real-time picture of the battlespace to the Joint Air Operations Center. AWACS provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile activity, command and control of an area of responsibility, battle management of theater forces, all-altitude and all-weather surveillance of the battle space, and early warning of enemy actions during joint, allied, and coalition operations.

www.af.mil...

reply to post by Zaphod58

I'll give you this Zaphod you do seem to know your aircraft much better than I ever have. I can see your points and concede to your more knowledgeable status.

[edit on 3-4-2009 by Beach Bum]

reply to post by Beach Bum


I don't have enough room to tell you the difference, but if you want to U2U me any questions feel free to. I'm always willing to field questions when it comes to planes.