Ultra-rare RAF ‘radar jet’ spotted over airport as locals scramble for picture

A rare RAF 'radar jet' has been spotted flying over a packed UK airport.

The jet, seen flying over Birmingham, was first identified by local residents who claim they saw the rare aircraft zooming through the sky yesterday (Tuesday, March 8).

The shocked witnesses scrambled to take pictures of the plane, with one saying: "It's not every day you get to see one of these," BirminghamLive reports.

Fortunately, an expert was on hand to identify the aircraft.

Marketing manager and trainee pilot Daniel Clarke took to Twitter with a snap of the plane, explaining: "The aircraft is a Boeing E-3D of the RAF.

"It is the first time I think we’ve had one of those fly over us into BHX."

The Boeing E-3D is an American model and is described as an 'airborne early warning and control aircraft'.

RAF E3s have been slowly phased out in the UK, and the final flight for the doomed aircraft was supposed to be in July 2021, to be replaced by a new aircraft.

He added: "I’m studying to get my private pilot's license so it’s always been something that has had my interest.

"The RAF seem to have been doing it more and more over the last couple of years. They basically perform a ‘touch and go’ manoeuvre on the runway."

This isn't the first time there has been unusual activity in and around Birmingham Airport this month – last week the West Midlands publication reported that a whale-shaped Airbus Beluga had unexpectedly landed at the airport.

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The Airbus Beluga was docked at Birmingham Airport for 96 hours after crew flagged a technical issue in mid-air on March 3.

It was finally returned to the skies on March 7, despite having originally been scheduled to take off again just 24 hours after touching down at the airport.

Airbus UK were ultimately forced to keep the aircraft where it was until all 'technical issues' were resolved.

Plane enthusiasts were eager to get to BHX over the days it was docked there, hoping to catch a glimpse of the whale-like aircraft taking off.

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