Buzzed by a 'Parrot'

Living under the flightpath to Warsaw Okęcie's Runway 33, I rarely get excited by the planes that fly over us one after the other. This morning was different - no fewer than eight times did this garishly painted LET L-410 fly over our house, and at low altitude.

This plane, SP-TPA, belongs to Polska Agencja Żeglugi Powietrznej (Polish Air Navigation Services Agency) and is used for calibrating radar and radio equipment at airports, in particular those used for instrument landing (ILS) and VHS omnidirectional ranging (VOR).

Nicknamed 'Papuga' (Parrot) on account of its bright colours, it is seen from time to time at Okęcie. If you see a smallish twin-prop aircraft flying around in circles low over Warsaw, you can be sure it'll be this one.