What on earth was this aircraft doing?

[offshore171]

The mrs said she heard an aircraft buzzing around repeatedly at something like 3am. This isn't normally a thing in Sydney due to curfews.

When I got up, I took a look at FR24 and found this extremely unusual flight track.

Any ideas what this might have been upto? It looks a bit like a missing person search, but at 3am? They also go about 15 km out to sea, before turning.,

 

[RooFlyer]

Possibly an air photo (EDIT: didn't notice the overnight timing!) or lidar or similar survey.

 

[markis10]

Topographic and Bathymetric LIDAR surveys, or contrail generation if you in that camp

 

[offshore171]

Topographic and Bathymetric LIDAR surveys,

Ah yes, given the 3am aspect, that seems a better explanation than aerial photography.

Airspace would be nice and clear at that time of day. Terrain radar doesn't care that it's in pitch darkness. Impressed that plane can stay aloft that long.

 

[markis10]

Certain 404’s have ten hours endurance

 

[offshore171]

Certain 404’s have ten hours endurance

Impressive

 

[markis10]

When I worked in BWU tower we had a certain prime minsters mum (one with a very sharp tongue and wit) who was quite vocal about noise at night. Don’t think she is with us now but if she was I don’t think she would have appreciated that particular movement.

 

[lovestotravel]

Spraying

 

[Scarlett]

Appropriate rego too: WGS.

Just needed it to be a model four years younger and we could’ve had a WGS-84 map making aircraft!

 

[Wing Nut]

Spraying

Cloud seeding the contrails

 

[Groundfeeder]

It's actually Santa looking for Rudolph after he never returned from the White Horse Inn last year after deliveries.
And you thought Santa had an old Sleigh!!!!