Someone I was talking to in Wellington mentioned a plane flying low between buildings in the CBD with smoke coming out of it. Anyone know what that might have been?

[–] SamC@lemmy.nz 2 points 11 months ago

I heard the plane fly over around 2:50pm... didn't see it though. I guess it was nothing major, nothing on the news about it.

[–] happy_piwakawaka@lemmy.nz 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Wasn't this by any chance? RNZAF farewell flight becomes most tracked in the world

Apparently it was flying low going over Parliament on its way down south.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It would have been near parliament, they said it flew over 50 metres about them but they may have been exaggerating. This is the best guess so far!

Can you track the flight after the fact? (i.e. can I go and see the route closer in?)

[–] happy_piwakawaka@lemmy.nz 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah can see the flight history here: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/nz7004#32fad10f

Looks like it flew over the beehive about 2:49 (I think, site says 1:49 AM UTC) at about 950 ft up.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 2 points 11 months ago

Thanks! Lower, even!

screenshot of flight radar showing plane above beehive at 775 feet altitude

It's remarkably low. From memory, there's a minimum of 1000ft over built up areas. Though this area would be under the control of Wellington Airport so anything they allow would be ok. Still feels unusual to fly so low over Wellington in an aircraft being retired because it's age makes it unsafe 😆