Inconvenient hobbies

[pritch]

In Britain there are people who have a hobby trainspotting. Enthusiasts find a spot where they can get the details of every train passing and faithfully record the details. I'm not sure if the hobby is as popular as it was, with the number and variety of trains being much reduced these days, but certainly it still has its followers. People who continue the hobby into later life are thought to be on the autism spectrum. Still, these guys are credited with being instrumental in the term “anorak” being adopted as a colloquialism.

These days there are also 'planespotters. They stand for hours at airports all over Britain, day and night, in all weathers, and record the registration, make and model, time and date of each and every arrival and departure.

Some time back under the Bush administration the subject of torture became a sensitive topic in the USA so the policy of “extreme rendition” was introduced. People that the USA wanted tortured were secretly flown by the CIA to countries with marginally less scruples about such matters.

Not unnaturally some people in the UK were concerned that UK airports were being used to facilitate this traffic. Questions were asked. The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw stated categorically that British airports were not used by the CIA for these flights. Immediately 'plane spotters responded by publishing details of suspected CIA flights arriving and departing British airports. Most were only refueling stops, an hour or two, but others stayed overnight. That was very likely when the politicians first learned about the existence of planespotters.

A variation of the plane spotting hobby might be the infinitely more comfortable hobby of monitoring control tower frequencies. In the small hours this morning our local time there was a report on Twitter that US Air Force 1 was passing over Yorkshire in Britain. It was using a different call sign and ID but it was still believed to be AF1.

One guess at the different c/s was that the passenger might be the Vice President. A more popular guess was that Trump was secretly visiting troops in a war zone The next development was a report that the plane was in Hungarian airspace.

Somebody with the appropriate access reported that there was no Marine at the West Wing door of the Whitehouse. When the president is in, there is always a marine guard outside the door. On the face of it that's not great security on the part of the USMC or the Whitehouse security. If the President is on a secret mission they might conceal the fact that he is not at the Whitehouse by leaving the guard on the door.

Sometime after 7.00AM our time the BBC announced that President Trump was visiting troops in Iraq.

Donald J Trump's first visit to a war zone is only fifty years late, but better late than never?

Coincidentally it's reported in the news today that the daughters of one of the doctors who certified that Trump had heel spurs are convinced that their father was doing Fred Trump a favour. Both he and the other doctor who signed the certificate had premises in buildings owned by Trump's father.

[AllanB]

The English are weird people.

Look how long it took them to build a oil tight engine.

[george formby]

The English are weird people.

Look how long it took them to build a oil tight engine.

Arse.

If we had followed through with our superior technology then we would not have needed an Empire. Leaks were designed in to keep British people employed, enslave the people and resources of other countries (with better food and climate) and provide nice, cheap holiday destinations for our workforce.

Look what happened to the Germans, colonial light weights. Sure, their engines did not leak oil but all that achieved was a national obsession with adventure touring in Poland and Russia. We had Vincent riders in Arabia at least 20 years before they turned a wheel.

Poor buggers did not discover Spain until the late 70's. Even then, if they flew it was a Rolls Royce engine taking them to the beach heads. Admittedly they had the best deck chairs, the inspiration for IKEA IMHO. Some dodgy Swedish backpacker spotted that.

[husaberg]

A variation of the plane spotting hobby might be the infinitely more comfortable hobby of monitoring control tower frequencies. In the small hours this morning our local time there was a report on Twitter that US Air Force 1 was passing over Yorkshire in Britain. It was using a different call sign and ID but it was still believed to be AF1.

One guess at the different c/s was that the passenger might be the Vice President. A more popular guess was that Trump was secretly visiting troops in a war zone The next development was a report that the plane was in Hungarian airspace.



I am not sure but i think there might be up to or more than three AF1's
correction 2

28000 and 29000. The Air Force designation for the aircraft is VC-25A.
I understand the pseudonym he uses when he books into a hotel is MR Puss E Grabber.

[pritch]

I am not sure but i think there might be up to or more than three AF1's
correction 2



I'm told there are three Marine 1 choppers, all three fly together so that anyone with ill intent will have difficulty knowing which one to shoot down.

Before he became prez Trump had a rant about the excessive cost of AF1. Of course he thought it was just an executive jet - if a big one. He didn't know there are two, he didn't know about the in-flight refuelling capability, nor did he know about all the anti missile defences, the communications equipment, and no doubt other even more secret stuff that we don't know about.

Story of his life really.

[husaberg]

I'm told there are three Marine 1 choppers, all three fly together so that anyone with ill intent will have difficulty knowing which one to shoot down.

Before he became prez Trump had a rant about the excessive cost of AF1. Of course he thought it was just an executive jet - if a big one. He didn't know there are two, he didn't know about the in-flight refuelling capability, nor did he know about all the anti missile defences, the communications equipment, and no doubt other even more secret stuff that we don't know about.

Story of his life really.

He ordered a new set as well once he got into power plus it was used for the School run to new york for the Mrd and Kids for the first 6-8 months as well.
The Choppers are all due for replacement as well.
From Memory the vice prez has to travel separate at all times hence the two AF1's

[Kickaha]

I'm told there are three Marine 1 choppers, all three fly together so that anyone with ill intent will have difficulty knowing which one to shoot down.

Easy, just shoot all of them down

[F5 Dave]

Alan Turing has somewhat of an obsession with aeroplanes and their locations. Maybe more fire to the Autism label of such people.
That said maybe the grandfather of the modern computer and shortening the UK war by several months to be sure.

[BMWST?]

why cant they tell what happened at gatwick then ,these control tower frquency monitors

[pritch]

Alan Turing has somewhat of an obsession with aeroplanes and their locations. Maybe more fire to the Autism label of such people.
That said maybe the grandfather of the modern computer and shortening the UK war by several months to be sure.

Turing was a tragic figure, chemically castrated and hounded to suicide by a "grateful nation". It's possible that the Police and judges knew nothing of his war record, but it might not have made much difference if they had.

[pritch]

why cant they tell what happened at gatwick then ,these control tower frquency monitors

Good question, but we have to bear in mind that it has been admitted that there may have been no drones at all - other than those put up by the Police.

The spotters are apparently on the terminal building watching for large aircraft, they are not watching for small drones on the perimeter of the airfield which may be a considerable distance away.

[R650R]

Good question, but we have to bear in mind that it has been admitted that there may have been no drones at all - other than those put up by the Police.

The spotters are apparently on the terminal building watching for large aircraft, they are not watching for small drones on the perimeter of the airfield which may be a considerable distance away.

I find it inconceiveable that this went on for days. Most people find drones annoying and invasive when someone else has one (disclaimer their cool toys and id like one). I don't understand how in such population dense environment one could take off and land without being noticed. I think the plane spotters would photograph them as they would be clued up about how wrong it would be for them to be near airport.
I think it was an anti drone conspiracy by the elite, coporations are terrified of joe blogs filming their shady operations, pollution or unsafe practices etc. The red flag is the military have specific staff and gear that could have ended this hours into the saga but they were ordered to stand down and not allowed to deploy til days later.
And then the prechosen patsies had to be released after they were social enough to have watertight alibis.... and the date 18-12-18.....

[husaberg]

I find it inconceiveable that this went on for days. Most people find drones annoying and invasive when someone else has one (disclaimer their cool toys and id like one). I don't understand how in such population dense environment one could take off and land without being noticed. I think the plane spotters would photograph them as they would be clued up about how wrong it would be for them to be near airport.
I think it was an anti drone conspiracy by the elite, coporations are terrified of joe blogs filming their shady operations, pollution or unsafe practices etc. The red flag is the military have specific staff and gear that could have ended this hours into the saga but they were ordered to stand down and not allowed to deploy til days later.
And then the prechosen patsies had to be released after they were social enough to have watertight alibis.... and the date 18-12-18.....
This covers it all with less words
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAAlDoAtV7Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRWbIoIR04c
haha Katmans on the case he will get to the bottom of it:buggerd:

[Swoop]

why cant they tell what happened at gatwick then ,these control tower frquency monitors
There is a rumour going through aviation, that it was covering up "something else" that was happening...

[Banditbandit]

In Britain there are people who have a hobby trainspotting. Enthusiasts find a spot where they can get the details of every train passing and faithfully record the details.


I've just discovered a 21st century middle class version ..

A popular past time in Tauranga is to take wine and picnic down to the waterfront to watch the Cruise ships come in and leave. A woman I share an office with was looking up the next arrivals so she could plan her activities ..

She did not appreciate me falling about laughing .. and saying it was middle class train spotting ..

I know this is not where the thread is going ... just thought I'd share anyway - largely to see the reaction here ...

[F5 Dave]

Ooh look love! Is that the Pacific Princess? I wonder if Julie the perky activities clerk still works on it? :lol:

[TheDemonLord]

I've just discovered a 21st century middle class version ..

A popular past time in Tauranga is to take wine and picnic down to the waterfront to watch the Cruise ships come in and leave. A woman I share an office with was looking up the next arrivals so she could plan her activities ..

She did not appreciate me falling about laughing .. and saying it was middle class train spotting ..

I know this is not where the thread is going ... just thought I'd share anyway - largely to see the reaction here ...

For some reason - the first thought was of some middle-aged lady in her 40s-50s hoping to have a fling with some 'exotic' patron of said Cruise Ship.

The only reason I post this - is I'm curious as to how close or far from the mark I was...

[Berries]

A popular past time in Tauranga is to take wine and picnic down to the waterfront to watch the Cruise ships come in and leave.
That's hardcore, the boats normally come in before dawn.


Something to do with getting the dead bodies off so I am told.

[Banditbandit]

For some reason - the first thought was of some middle-aged lady in her 40s-50s hoping to have a fling with some 'exotic' patron of said Cruise Ship.

The only reason I post this - is I'm curious as to how close or far from the mark I was...

Way off - takes husband and friends and they all drink wine and watch the ships ..

[husaberg]

Ooh look love! Is that the Pacific Princess? I wonder if Julie the perky activities clerk still works on it? :lol:

i remembered it as two thumbs up.
https://media1.tenor.com/images/80877530b3c06758cbc829aa8257c850/tenor.gif?itemid=4719853
pretty sure they replaced Julie with a lesser version later on

Some things are best left ungoogled
https://metvcdn.metv.com/c423D-1477493693-6338-list_items-one_day.jpg
https://metvcdn.metv.com/uyv75-1477493622-6343-list_items-princess-cruises.gif

[F5 Dave]

Bleuggh

10 char

[Banditbandit]

She came in this morning and showed my pixs of the cruise ship they'd seen over the weekend - how pretty it was - how small it made the tub boats look ...


Oh joy - I can look forward to this once every two or three days until it is winter ..

[Voltaire]

I saw two of them in Auckland one morning, was nearly run over exiting the train station by hordes of clacky clack bag toting retirees.
Next time I'll bring a Kombucha and a note book.:msn-wink:

[husaberg]

340509
A guy down the road from here (not the picture)got ran over getting that perfect shot of a steam train not far fromhere about 4 years ago he was standing in the middle of the track looking through a telescopic lens.
No idea if the camera survived but hes still dead.

[pritch]

340509
A guy down the road from here (not the picture)got ran over getting that perfect shot of a steam train not far fromhere about 4 years ago he was standing in the middle of the track looking through a telescopic lens.
No idea if the camera survived but hes still dead.

You don't need a big lens, a phone will do, death by selfie is a thing now.

[oldrider]

Who's that knocking at my door? :rolleyes: https://twitter.com/TwatBibIe/status/1090304907851296769 - :eek:

[bluninja]

That's hardcore, the boats normally come in before dawn.


Something to do with getting the dead bodies off so I am told.

We used to arrive in port 6-7 am and leave at about 7pm. The 4-8 watch was the busier and more fun watch in the engine room. This allowed the passengers to have breakfast and then off on their trips. They'd return at then end of the day just in time to leave and then have dinner. We had a special freezer for dead bodies, given that on the Mediterranean cruises the average passenger age was 70. Only death we had was placed in the freezer till we returned to home port at the end of the cruise.

Oh how I miss being a young man being chased around around by 40 something year old american spinsters on their holiday of a lifetime thinking they'd find romance with a young English officer :rolleyes:

[Banditbandit]

Oh how I miss being a young man being chased around around by 40 something year old american spinsters on their holiday of a lifetime thinking they'd find romance with a young English officer :rolleyes:


And did they ??

[bluninja]

And did they ??
No I palmed them off to the middle aged barmen. Great fun was had by all, and I got free drinks till they left the ship (grateful ladies, grateful barmen). I was already engaged by then and I ended up marrying said fiance. There was no hope for me even in my early days.