Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 2406 times:
I need some help identifying some UFO's around Austin,TX. First, there was a 747SP cargo on approach into the airport. Pretty rare bird for Austin! Secondly, there are some high-altitude 747's that go right over my house. This usually occurs at around 5:30, and the plane appears to be at FL~280. He is coming from the north and is heading due-south. I think it is on a climb out of DFW. I don't see it every night, but some nights I see two right after the other. I locked onto it with my telescope, but the angle was wrong and it had evening sun glare on it. Any ideas or guesses would help.
EMBQA From United States, joined Oct 2003, 7206 posts, RR: 10 Reply 1, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days ago) and read 2293 times:
First, there was a 747SP cargo on approach..
I highly doubt it was a 747SP Cargo as there are none...and only a very few SP's actually still flying.
as for your second...I'd say a 747F flying out of DFW or some where close by. With AUS being the home of Dell Computers it's a good bet its a plane from China supplying the computers. I live in BNA and we have the largest Dell Distribution Center here and we see a nightly China Air 747-400F bring in new computers.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2239 times:
I guess that first 747 just caught me off guard. After all, that was my first 747 to see in flight! Where do you think the 747 out of DFW is going? Mexico, South America, or somewhere else? It does seem to be a light-colored craft.
EMBQA From United States, joined Oct 2003, 7206 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2190 times:
I did a quick flight tracker search and saw a Lufthansa 747F and a Eva Air 747F both passing through DFW....plus I'm sure I miss one or two more. My guess would be back to Asia as it is fast become a powerful trade partner.
Isn't the 'Alliance Airport' close by as well....?? My guess is that would be the main cargo point of entry as its a Free Trade Zone.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2158 times:
I think the 747 comes out of DFW, but I live in Austin. I see it fly over at around FL280-300 heading due-south. He is high enough to kick up a contrail usually, depending on the upper-level moisture. It could come out of another airport, but it seems lower than most of the other high-altitude craft. And that is not just because it's bigger. If it was coming out of ORD or something, it would be higher. He is not going the right direction for the IAH descent. Those are usually COA's and they come over my house going due-east. By the way, AFW Alliance does not get any 747's. Just some charter flights and about 12-13 FedEx flights a day. The only other reason for it's existence is it is a maintenance port for AAL and some other airlines.
KAUSpilot From United States, joined Jan 2002, 1657 posts, RR: 33 Reply 5, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2134 times:
Occasionally I see a Kalitta Air 747 on the cargo ramp at Austin. It is definitely not a schedule operator though.
The weirdest things I ever saw at KAUS were a Royal Saudi 747 SP doing about 15 touch and goes on the west runway, and a UAL 747-400 that was chartered by the university of Nebraska Football team in 2002.
what part of town do you live in? The Centex VOR, "CWK", is located about 15 miles north-northeast of the airport. If you live anywhere under that, you would likely be able to see all kinds of traffic climbing out of IAH and DFW.
Just the other day I crossed CWK at about FL 270 on the way up to 320 in an ERJ going from IAH on the Junction Departure to ELP.
Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2116 times:
KAUSpilot:
I live I Round Rock. A friend of mine who saw the 747 on approach with me said it was probably Kalitta. It was last summer if that helps any. I can see just about any COA going to IAH from the west or anything leaving IAH heading west. Also, do you have any idea what a DC-8 heading east over my house would be? He was at or around FL200 I guess. I can see just about any aircraft that is inbound on the SEWZY approach into Austin (except on days when they are using 35L 35R). I really enjoy seeing ABX's DC-8, MES's Avro, and the nightly FDX596 DC-10. Are there any 727's that do the SEWZY approach? I am dying to see one! I know DHL comes in, but it is usually to dark to tell.
KAUSpilot From United States, joined Jan 2002, 1657 posts, RR: 33 Reply 7, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2073 times:
I really couldn't tell you if any 727's do the SEWZY. I think UPS, DHL, and one other cargo carrier with USPS markings flies 727's into AUS, but I'm not sure about what times they arrive.
An eastbound DC8 over Round Rock in the Flight Levels would more than likely be headed to houston. UPS and ABX both fly DC8's in there I believe.
COFreqFlyer From United States, joined Sep 2004, 382 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 2032 times:
Quoting KAUSpilot (Reply 5): Just the other day I crossed CWK at about FL 270 on the way up to 320 in an ERJ going from IAH on the Junction Departure to ELP.
Hehehe, depending on what day/time it was, I may have heard you talking to ZAB on letdown from the flight levels. When I'm not sitting at my office, I'm usually out sitting behind the unicom radio at FST, which we also have scanning to listen to the ZAB low altitudes RCO.
BoeingFever777 From United States, joined Oct 2004, 2057 posts, RR: 57 Reply 10, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1982 times:
I just like being able to indentify all the WN and CO traffic that fly in from the West as they are headin into AUS and I'm able to get a nice view from my apt balcony. Also the 747SP, I also have seen this bird there once last yr and guy I work with who is a p/t at Bestbuy and is a FX ramper and delivery driver told me he sees it once in a blue moon as well.
Wish I'd see some larger a/c though other than the 737NG.
Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1964 times:
BoeingFever777:
Depending on where you live, you can see a 767 and a Dc-10 every night.* On Sunday ABX brings in their DC-8. Really neat plane! On Sunday evening, not only can you see a DC-8, but before that you can see FDX DC-10, and after the DC-8: a FDX MD-10, and then a short-haul 767 from Waco(ABX). If you live south of AUS, then you can catch UPS 757 from Monterrey, and an occasional COA 757 from IAH. I watch the schedules every day for a chance to see something a little larger! I just might post a topic on here to let you know if one is coming!
Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1751 times:
I saw the high-altitude 747 again at around 4:30. It has a white fuselage. That is about all I could tell today because I did not have my binoculars with me.
Pbb152 From United States, joined Feb 2000, 520 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 1648 times:
Skywatch,
Let me try to clear up the mystery for you. Most likely what you are seeing is the late afternoon European heavies headed to MEX. Their are four that will usually fly over within about an hour or two of each other. Obviously they don't all fly the same routings each day, but on a good day here in Houston we'll see Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, and KLM all fly over between 4:00 and 6:00. They will also fly on a more westerly track over Dallas and then Austin on some days depending on winds and weather. You will mainly only see them in the winter as for most of the year they seem to route over the southeast U.S. and then over the Gulf of Mexico.
Obviously if this is the case then the planes are higher than FL280, but I just can't think of any 747's coming out of DFW that head south. I believe the only scheduled 747's into DFW are cargo and they usually fly to ANC, ORD, ATL, etc, but none to Mexico, Central or South America that I know of.
Bartond From United States, joined Jul 2003, 647 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (3 years 6 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1536 times:
Pete is right - there are no 747's that would fly south from DFW and the ones you might see in the Austin area would be going to MEX, more than likely. Maybe making a wide swing around towards IAH but that doesn't sound right.
Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (3 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1382 times:
I think I might have found the flights that have been mentioned. I will tell you if I see them this evening.
FlightID: DLH498 (Commercial, Jet)
Status: Data TIMED OUT from the FAA on the 11th at 1659Z. (What does this mean?)
Company: DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA, A.G.
Country: GERMANY
Radio Call: LUFTHANSA
Ground Spd: 462 kts (Assigned: 005)
Altitude: 350(hundreds of feet) (Assigned: 350)
Type: H/B744/W ((Unknown Type))
Origin Apt: EDDF FRANKFURT MAIN
Dest Apt: MMMX LICENCIADO BENITO JUAREZ INTL
Departed: 1318Z ETA As Filed: (unspecified)
FlightID: AFR438 (Commercial, Jet)
Status: Data TIMED OUT from the FAA on the 11th at 1745Z. (What does this mean?)
Company: AIR FRANCE
Country: FRANCE
Radio Call: AIRFRANS
Ground Spd: 453 kts (Assigned: 005)
Altitude: 320(hundreds of feet) (Assigned: 330)
Type: H/B744/W ((Unknown Type))
Origin Apt: LFPG CHARLES DE GAULLE
Dest Apt: MMMX LICENCIADO BENITO JUAREZ INTL
Departed: 1245Z ETA As Filed: (unspecified)
FlightID: KLM685 (Commercial, Jet)
Status: DEPARTED, ENROUTE
Company: KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES
Country: NETHERLANDS
Radio Call: KLM
Ground Spd: 503 kts (Assigned: 005)
Altitude: 320(hundreds of feet) (Assigned: 310)
Type: H/B744/W ((Unknown Type))
Origin Apt: EHAM SCHIPHOL
Dest Apt: MMMX LICENCIADO BENITO JUAREZ INTL
Departed: 1334Z ETA As Filed: (unspecified)
This aircraft is reporting with oceanic position reports and not radar tracking data. As a result, position reports are only provided every 15 to 20 minutes.
Skywatch From United States, joined Mar 2005, 902 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (3 years 5 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1343 times:
I saw KLM685! Thanks for your help everyone! Now I will be able to find out what time these 747's that I love seeing will be flying over. They fly over Round Rock aprox. 1:30 outside of MEX. Lufthansa and Air France stayed over Burnet though. Oh well. Thanks Again!
BA747400 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 406 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (3 years 5 months 4 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1085 times:
EMBQA,
Quoting EMBQA (Reply 3): I did a quick flight tracker search and saw a Lufthansa 747F and a Eva Air 747F both passing through DFW....plus I'm sure I miss one or two more. My guess would be back to Asia as it is fast become a powerful trade partner.
Just out of curiosity, what flight tracker do you use?
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