Almost space. (Mystery aircraft)

[WadeH]

Here is a curly one from left field as they say.

Yesterday (Friday 6th Oct. 06) I saw a large four engine (from the contrails) aircraft fly directly over Perth traveling from the north west to the south east and beyond. It looks something like a 747 shape and is at high altitude.

I have observed this aircraft before at approximately 6.30 am three times over the last couple of years. It flies the same route and altitude each time.

I was wondering if you may have any idea of what it is (e.g.: military) and its purpose (e.g. polar) and were it comes from and destination?

I have also sent this to Perth Observatory.:shrug:

Any suggestions?

[JohnG]

At a guess I would say it is a regular commercial aircraft inbound from Europe and heading to either Melbourne or Sydney.

If you have decent pair of bino's you should be able to makeout the tail colour, thence the airline, it is probably about 38 to 40,000 ft.

You could try the airlines but I doubt they would tell you in today's climate.

Cheers

JohnG

[beren]

I'm pretty sure I see the same aircraft or something similar at high altitude traveling the same direction, more north/south though, in the early evening , Thursday night was the last time .Most commercial jets seem from my vantage point {northern suburbs Perth} to travel a more east/west flight path.Next time I''ll have the binos and see if i can make out a tail colour.

The WA police force has a fixed wing aircraft called Polair62 that circuits the city to in conjunction with Polair61 {chopper}.If you have scanner you might be able to do some eavesdropping http://warsug.info/index.php

[WadeH]

Hello John and Beren. I do not think that it is a commercial aircraft from Europe or elswhere as Perth is not on this kind of high altitude traffic route unlike Sydney or Melbourne. If it isnt landing or leaving they just dont come here!
Wonderful isolation!
You are right about the north/south travell route Beren, I just checked my compass (didnt think of that :screwy: ) which I think tends to uphold my thoughts that it may be a supply aircraft for one of the bases in antartica.

[mickoking]

Its probably the South African Airways flight from Sydney to Johannesburg. Qantas fly from Perth to J'burg but the SAA one is non stop from Sydney.