There have been a few reported pilot encounters with UFOs. I bought a book called strange skies few months back, haven't read it yet. It's a collection of stories from pilots and the strange things they have encountered.

The unknown fascinates me.

UFO? Nonesense!!

Did nobody tell them that December is the Haggis migratory season?

Have any of you used Heathrow Terminal 5 yet? If so, what did you think? I am looking forward to when the rebuilt Terminal 2 opens, I believe next May.

Yeah, I've used T5 a number of times. It's nice, as airports go - plenty space. The last couple of times I've flown on business, I've just used business parking, which means you get to use the natty pods which take you to the terminal.

I haven't used T5 yet or even been in it. I do remember the chaos and delays when it first opened though

I've never used terminal 5. Last time I was at heathrow I got lost, it's a lot bigger than Edinburgh.

I wish they would bring back the observation decks, Edinburgh had a fantastic one. My dad used to take us as kids to watch the planes on a saturday afternoon.

It's a crazy airport to get around. I'm flying to London at the end of May for a couple of days. I'm flying Aer Lingus to Heathrow but I'll likely be in Terminal 1. Are Aer Lingus (or Aer Fungus as I used to call them) still in T1 at Heathrow? I haven't flown for ages

Not many UK airports appear to have indoor observation decks any more.

Birmingham had sort of one with the spotty windows.

Aer Lingus do still fly from T1 at Heathrow. I've been in terminal 5 but the view is not so nice when it's night

Thanks, I was wondering about that. I haven't flown for ages. Isn't Terminal 1 also where a lot of the Star Alliance airlines are based now?

12 of them are based in T1 - 8 of them remain in T3.

Ah right. I think a lot of the airlines in T3 are Asian and Middle Eastern ones. It's been like that for years IIRC. Star is the biggest airline alliance though.

Mostly the international airlines.

Ever want to educate young kids about planes/airports? Go here (well, more towards the song): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbTV-FKSswE (it's a guilty pleasure - I watched it myself as a child but it's not exactly how I learnt about planes. Songs rather camp though.)

But back on topic - Air India seem to be now using Delhi as their hub for connecting flights. Seeing as from there, you can connect to most of India whereas from Amritsar, you practically can't. Most of the connecting traffic from Birmingham on Emirates/Turkish is to India so it would make sense for them to start up a direct service again. They served via Moscow in the 80's, and more notably to Toronto from Delhi & Amritsar via Birmingham. But, I'm in the 'believe it when I see it' camp for this one as there have been previous speculation which has gone bust.

Qatar Airways for example - they announced back in July that they were planning to start flights to Birmingham, which would have benefited the airport quite a lot, but seems not to have materialised. American have been planning a new service to Chicago for a while now as well.

I've filmed a few plane videos, some of which are here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paKvDk0lpSU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8mm5wqkdKk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx2n4VI04as (stabilisation actually seemed to help there).

it's just a navy polo shirt with the logo on it. I'm getting all nostalgic for my travel days now!

Still sounds cool though! I'd wear something like that, but I don't know if I'd wear it in public.

Who remembers an advert for 'flight socks' a few years back?

That's interesting! I live just over the water from Glasgow airport, I love living under the flightpath!

Has anyone got the app Flightradar 24 (I think that's what its called)?, just wondering if it's a load of rubbish.

Why do Airplanes have headlights?

So they can see while taxiing and on runways! Also so ground vehicles can see them and other aircraft.

http://www.flightradar24.com/

It's quite good, my wee lad is constantly on it he likes to see what's flying over and where it's going. Annoying though if I'm on the comp.

I use the app on my phone all the time. Interesting to see which aircraft it is flying over my head when i see them!

Was also fun to track our plane when we arrived at the airport to see where it was

Partly correct. Aircraft usually have landing lights and taxi lights positioned at different angles. Landing lights are angled downward to compensate for typical landing angle/approach.

How else are they meant to fly at night?

so why do they have headlights then?

so as they can pass an MOT, the same reason they have seatbelts and a registration number.

They need it to be able to see at night, just like cars do on the ground. Why do you ask?