A definite "wtf" moment today.

[old.user4556]

I was up in high hills of Skirtland today to do some photography with my new camera. Whilst taking a break, my dad pointed out some planes at what looked like close to cruising altitude crossing a flawless blue sky - nothing unusual about that. As I stood watching, it looked like one of the planes had more trails than it should have done. I said to my old man "that looks like two planes" to which he said "naaaaaah can't be". I put on the tele zoom to get a closer look, and was indeed two planes - 747 sized machines flying right beside / below one another. On closer inspection of the shots, it looks like it's getting refuled? But what sort of plane is it, and why is it being refulled in the airspace above the Scottish Highlands? Anyone have any ideas?

First two are 100% crops of an 18 megapixel shot. All are at 200mm.

 

[Shagrat]

heh right place, right time there. Nice photos.

Wonder what was going on there

 

[Aoami]

looks like kc-135 tanker refueling a cargo plane, not really an unusal occurance tbh

 

[JingleBells]

I think that the Grey plane is a USAF KC-135 Stratotanker, no ideas on the plane it's refuelling though

Edit: Gah too slow

 

[Aoami]

My old mans an air traffic controller and used to regale me for hours with information about planes. I'm slightly embarresed that i could just look at that picture and know exactly what the plane was

 

[Ctuchik]

My old mans an air traffic controller

thats one bitching job...

was on a semi-guided tour with a mate of mine some 10 years ago up into one of them towers and fucking hell the people that work there can't be human....

 

[DaGaffer]

Looks like the other one is an E-8 Joint Stars - a command and control plane. Same basic airframe as the KC-135 (the old Boeing 707) but the engine nacelles give it away.

 

[Scouse]

the engine nacelles give it away.

You're talking shit now, captain. The nacelles cannae take it!

Surely?

 

[JingleBells]

Looks like the other one is an E-8 Joint Stars - a command and control plane. Same basic airframe as the KC-135 (the old Boeing 707) but the engine nacelles give it away.

The plane buffs on another forum identified it as an OC-135B Open Skies

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

Some cool pics and great timing/luck. While it may be a common occurance for military aircraft, its not very often groundlubbers get to see it.

My old mans an air traffic controller and used to regale me for hours with information about planes. I'm slightly embarresed that i could just look at that picture and know exactly what the plane was

Nah, thats pretty cool

 

[old.user4556]

Here's the photo I got up to take - taken about 30 minutes previously to those plane shots.

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

Oooh epic

All it needs now is dinousaurs and a grizzled explorer. Or is the grizzled explorer behind the lens?

 

[xane]

The plane buffs on another forum identified it as an OC-135B Open Skies

The article says only 3 exist, so seeing one is unusual in itself.

 

[TdC]

ooh well done on that pic G, not bad at all

 

[Wazzerphuk]

I like a lot, but somehow the foreground is stealing away some of the focus from the mountain. Might be a colour thing, I can't quite pinpoint it.

Like the cloud and tree, good moment.

 

[xane]

A fantastic picture of greatness and overpowering quality, strength from an eternal eye overlooking the world, making one seem small and worthless.

The one with the mountain is quite nice too.

 

[Ch3tan]

The focal point of the shot is the water, and the brighter stones and boulders near it. The mountain and tree and cloud look very faint compared.

 

[caLLous]

Enjoying the 7D then, G?

 

[old.user4556]

Yeah Callous, it's freaking awesome. The autofocus is just brilliant; super fast and accurate.

Also noticed the front page of Digital SLR Photography this month, taken in the summer from exactly the same place - April 2010 issue - Digital SLR Photography - I'll need to get up in June as I quite like the rich greenery of summer.

 

[Tom]

Its not fair that Scotland has such great scenery. I mean, you take all our fucking tax money and you have things like that.

You should pay us back. Bloody porridge wogs.

 

[old.user4556]

Our women are also incredible, it doesn't really get much more Scottish than this, hair colouring 'n all.

Who is also quite like Isla Fisher (perhaps not born and brought up here, but her parents are Scots so I'm claiming her ).

 

[Turamber]

Are we absolutely sure its not aeroplane sex and they thought nobody was watching?

Great pictures btw.

 

[TdC]

no, but i am claiming teh woman

 

[Olgaline]

oi!
share the love...teeds..leave one for me!

 

[TdC]

no

 

[Olgaline]

you shellfish bastard, guess i'll just have to beat you to em then

 

[TdC]

no

 

[Olgaline]

yes!

I'm going there soon for whi...ehm buisness trip...
I'll let you know how it went.........