RAF Finningley

[jumpseater]

Well sort of.....

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/folio/_B6O3103.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/folio/_B6O3106.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/folio/_B6O3113.jpg

Dint even stop for a cuppa!

[airborne_artist]

You'd have thought they'd have found a way to make smaller pizzas that could be stored inside, rather than that ugly roofbox.

[Navaleye]

One quick question: Why?

[jumpseater]

Practise approach at civvy airfield, they're not uncommon.

[allan907]

That last pic looks more like Tattershall castle at the end of Coningsby's runway not Finningley

[diginagain]

Yes, wondered about that myself - unless they've re-modelled Maltby Colliery's pithead.

[Colonal Mustard]

Got confused, they thought it was wadders

[Gainesy]

That "castle" is probably the water tower just north of Bawtry on the old A1; I think the other building is Partridge Hill Farm.

[jumpseater]

It's T'Pit Lads, Harworth Colliery, about 6km south of the airfield.

[circle kay]

I think it’s the water tower on the way to Bawtry as well. Didn’t we have to go past it on the ‘Run Swims’? Back in the ‘good old days’,when cost cutting was only laying on MT to get you back from the Baths. Also in that last shot, the taxiway to the right was where the Nimrod AEW3 was parked for Eng training, wasn’t it?

Happy Times, Wednesday evening in Camelot’s to start the night off. I don’t think I ever learnt a thing on Thursday mornings at Finningley:)

[Green Flash]

Jumseater is right, 'tis Harworth; the reason why the (usable) runway is a tad shorter these days!

[JimNich]

Hang on, its all coming back now. Wednesday night in Camelots. That was known as something wasn't it. Grab a ...... something or other, oh I can't remember, I'm sure it did no lasting damage. :eek:

[Glass Half Empty]

"yer dancing" = statement not a question, and that was the women.

[BEagle]

As I've said before, it seems that navigators and Doncaster deserved eachother.....

[Wrathmonk]

BEagle

And of course all the METS / MEXO students only ever stayed in the mess crying into their beer and never enjoyed the delights of down town Donnie ....!

[Maxibon]

I recall watching Top Gun in the mess at which point the Mets chaps laughed heartily when the nav bought it, to be countered with 'at least he got to fly in a fast jet' which promptly shut them up.

Bus to the Salutation, mex in Pancho's then 7th Heaven to return with Donny Slapper to Filton Block, or right hand depending on how good a night it was. Still, as the possessor of the largest amount of porn in said block, I was happy either way.

[allan907]

Bloody place went downhill in a big way once they dispensed with the Vulcans. And I remember the place when there were a couple of Valiant sqns there!

[Gainesy]

I remember the Valiants and Vulcans arriving. :p

[johnfairr]

I had a great time at Finningley in the early 70s, training as a nav. Good rugby for the station and command, strange to relate some good-looking WRAFs and a fantastic posting afterwards. The Blacksmith Arms at Everton served a decent pint, some chums lived nearby so we had no problems driving back and there was the thrill of flying in Pigs, JPs and VC5s:hmm:

jf

[SARREMF]

Oh god .... 7th Heaven. Bird and B%^%£$£D, TACEVAL siren so leg it to the bus by gate house and see if you can get p@@@ed before they caught up with you! Fantastic days!

[jumpseater]

A couple more visitors
28/06/06
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/folio/_B6O3315.jpg


And today 29/06/06 with a turnround time that would have Ryanair and easyJet spitting feathers! :D
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/folio/_B6O3334.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/folio/_B6O3336.jpg

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

The J model was delivering a Comp A, picked up from Heathrow. Call out crew made double quick time, not shutting down at either location, bl@@dy well done chaps:ok:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[allan907]

Nice pic of my old office (ECMSDF 1965-67)

[RAFAT]

Sadly, recently the Mess has been wrecked by gypsies who stripped it of every bit of copper they could find, bar stewards!

Salutation - NAAFI Annexe.
Seventh Heaven - Poseur Palace.
Park Lane - Grab a Gran.
Ritzy - Dance around your pencil case.

[Dan Winterland]

Blimey Maxibon, I was there! I was one of the METS guys though I don't remember shutting up. Seemed to remember it was the start (or continuation!) of some fierce and not so friendly banter. :* :ouch:

Donny. What a great place although still a bit depressed after the miner's strike when I was there. How may Donny lasses are RAF wives now?

Run swims. Aaaaaargh! :ugh:

[Rev I. Tin]

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/folio/_B6O3336.jpg


The J model was delivering a Comp A, picked up from Heathrow. Call out crew made double quick time, not shutting down at either location, bl@@dy well done chaps

The was one of my Comps! I feel quite chuffed seeing the piccy of the plane landing!

Bless the Comp system

[The Gorilla]

Ahh psycho Sigley and some of his motley crew like trevaskus!
Any one know what happened to either of them?
Go on cheer me up!!:}

[circle kay]

Did hear that the 'T' word left the mob and was working for HSBC in Singapore or Hong Kong.

[snapper41]

Prior to Sigley, it was Micky Butler - an officer and a gentleman if ever there was one. Anyone remember George Fair? Al Humphreys? Pete Green? I do know that Colin Reeves is still serving. Ahhh, the ITC - they don't make 'em like they used to! And nostalgia isn't what it used to be, either...

Pint of Old Horizontal, anyone?

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

ITC, brings back some lovely memories but I wander if that little tw@t Pender ever got his just deserts...........feckin stroker:}

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[Yeller_Gait]

Snapper,

I well remember the names you mention, along with Bellis and Lazzari. I can also remember the night we completed ITC with Lazzarri as the Flt Cdr, he took us all down to 7th Heaven, introduced himself to the bouncer on the door, and promptly marched us all in and up the stairs without paying.

For what it is worth, Jon Lazzari is flying with FRA out of Teesside, saw him earlier this year. Got the shock of my life when one of the names you mentioned turned up at Waddington as the new OC Ops. Brought back lots of painful memories.

Y_G

[The Gorilla]

Yellow

I never knew the Waddo person as an ITC Flt Cdr but as a Sqn Cdr within AEELS. He did a fair job there!

I last saw the T word on Sky News over the Christmas period of GW1. He had, I believe been attached to an army unit as a FAC. He was filmed on Christmas day washing out mess hall tins and b*tching about it! What goes around comes around I thought!

As for Sigley I have never come across another 4 ft 2 inch individual with his approach to human kind! Hopefully he was a one off!

Butler was the last Stn Cdr of RAF Finningley which coincided with his retirement from the service. Al Humphreys became a civilian instructor in Basics Flt at Cranwell after the move to NAAS mid/late 90's.

[BEagle]

Had the great pleasure of working with Colin as the AEO on our Vulcan crew in 1977-79. Excellent chap - and a very good operational AEO! Used to tease him mercilessly.

We once diverted to ISK due to snow in Lincolnshire. All we had for the next few days to wear was our goon suits. Col was wearing a section spare upon which was written 'Size (), Sock Size 8'. We grabbed him, pinned him down and altered the latter to read ' Cock Size 8" ' in permanent marker..... Not easy for all those with whom he came into contact to keep a straight face! Including ISK's Stn Cdr!!

Last saw him many years ago - he was a Sqn Ldr and off to do something darkly secret squirrel in Cold War Germany.

Where are you now, you little bugger?

[Griz]

I recall watching Top Gun in the mess at which point the Mets chaps laughed heartily when the nav bought it, to be countered with 'at least he got to fly in a fast jet' which promptly shut them up.
DW is right. It was one of the more entertaining 'discussions' in the bar. I couldn't watch the rest of the film for laughing!
Still, as the possessor of the largest amount of porn in said block, I was happy either way.
So it was you who nicked mine! :}

[sonicstomp]

Beags - Colin is now OC Ops Wg at Waddo -

Flown a few times with him - very professional and likeable chap...

[BEagle]

Is he really? Great - must get up to Waddo soon and say hello to the wizened old git!

[snapper41]

I went back to Finningley (just passing by) some time ago, and called in - it was just before it reopened as Donnie International. Went round to Gatehouse, and was saddened to see it boarded up and derelict. 10 Almond Close was mine - my, the things we got up to on that estate! And the rugby club was so convieniently close; nice touch, I thought.

[RAFAT]

Snapper - bulldozed now I'm afraid - to make way for industrial units.

[snapper41]

Snapper - bulldozed now I'm afraid - to make way for industrial units.


OMG - how dare they!?!? There should have been a preservation order; make them Grade 1 listed!! Mind you, we tried our best to destroy them half the time:ok:

[jumpseater]

Vortex459 ZA684 on 060706, you blokes'll be wanting the airfield back at this rate!, Yer not avin it! :=

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/tests1/_B6O3441.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/tests1/_B6O3450.jpg

[allan907]

JumpseaterIt is OURS I tell ' yer. It's only a question of time!

I suppose that you will be telling me that the wooden hut behind No 1 Hangar which used to house BCDU has been flattened as well? (Mind you it was condemned in 1968).

PS Nice pics!

PPS Is that 737 behind the Chinook one of "Freshair's" fleet:E

[midsomerjambo]

I remember deploying to Finingley from Scampton (35, 80-82) and on arrival taking the p1$$ out of the aircrew 'cos they had to live in portacabins on the dispersal and we had permanent accom. Then we got to our accom - unoccupied AMQs that looked like they'd had the pikeys in. Not an unbroken window in the place, and not much else besides. At least the growbags had cooking facilities. That was when the area was still the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire wasn't it? (Run by some blind guy called Blunkett).

[Specaircrew]

Wasn't that the det where you lot nicked the FOD Man? Anyway the caravans were lovely and even had a built in urinal, I have fond memories of being on the crapper when the scramble klaxon went!!!

[midsomerjambo]

Wasn't that the det where you lot nicked the FOD Man? Anyway the caravans were lovely and even had a built in urinal, I have fond memories of being on the crapper when the scramble klaxon went!!!

Yes, the FOD Man rings a bell, but we fairies were far too well behaved to have dun it guv - must've been the sooties. As for the crapper, well, that's what immersion suits were invented for, isn't it (cue, stories from Frightning QRA boys, methinks - lol).

[jumpseater]

allan, its a Thompson/Tui/Britannia whatever they're called this week airline 737, and an ex GO hanger queen pile of poo! When easyJet took them on they made easyJets YF look good! I'll have a look for the shed tomorrow for you...

[allan907]

Thanks jumps but don't bother going round I rather do think that they removed said shed ages ago - it was left over from WW2 after all. And, whilst the powers that be felt it fit for the cutting edge of Bomber/Strike Command in the late 60s when Training/Support command took over the joint they probably did away with it once the helicopter boys complained about it. Mind you .............it could still be there:E

"Freshair" is the mythical airline portrayed in Mile High. It's just that the delicate shade of powder blue on the tail looked awfully like it. Do I get marks for recognizing it as a 737 with only the tail and wheels showing??

[jumpseater]

Allan, your sheds gone i'm afraid! I still think you blokes are trying to get it back, LEE26 this afternoon came and had a look!:ok:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/9abbd042.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/6e4b1959.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/54aaf0d4.jpg
A bit cross with myself as I wasn't carrying my normal gear:oh:

[navibrator]

One quick question: Why?

Because they can!

[navibrator]

That last pic looks more like Tattershall castle at the end of Coningsby's runway not Finningley

No - that is a house. Tattershall castle is actually square - not rectangular.

[navibrator]

As I've said before, it seems that navigators and Doncaster deserved eachother.....

Bit like pilots and Valley.

[BEagle]

Perhaps - Valley is far too good for half-wing half-brains!

[navibrator]

Perhaps - Valley is far too good for half-wing half-brains!

Yeah - right - oh of course! You are old aren't you....

[Tim McLelland]

Jumseater is right, 'tis Harworth; the reason why the (usable) runway is a tad shorter these days!

Is it? I hadn't heard that before... by how much? and why?

[Wrathmonk]

Navibrator

He's not old - just a bitter and twisted passed over ex-ME pilot who had two bites at the FJ route ....:E

If Valley is that good I'm surprised they didn't move METS there when Finningley closed. After all the FJ nav trg went there for a few years (until they saw the light and moved as close back to Doncaster as they could get!) :ok:

[lez]

Is it? I hadn't heard that before... by how much? and why?

The runway is displaced at the 02 end so its just abit shorter for landing's but still the full length avalable for the take off run.

if you look at Runway 20 it has a abit more added to it like a starter run and large aircraft ie:747,767 etc... can turn so they can backtrack to taxi down the main runway... i hope this info helps and if any of it is incorrect please correct me :}

Quick question for jumpseater

Did you catch XX847 Jaguar at 14.35pm Yesterday (24th July)?? :)

[jumpseater]

lez, no was pickin the kidz up i'm afraid!

[lez]

lez, no was pickin the kidz up i'm afraid!

No worries :)

Thank you for sharing for awesome pics mate :D

[Green Flash]

Tim, Lez

A very ancient WO Armourer (now sadly in the big bomb dump in the sky) told me that the (south?) end of Finningleys runway was suffering from mining subsidence and therefore the end of the track was unusable. Happy to be corrected if this is duff gen.

Remember the Airshows of the 70's? Canberra took shots of the whole shebang and the local rag had it printed and on sale at the end of the day? The bowel-loosening destruction :eek: of the plywood castle during the mass airfield attacks? The cloggy Neptune doing aero's on the jets with the big pistons shut down?! Superb glider aero's too. Ahh ......:ok:

[lez]

Tim, Lez
A very ancient WO Armourer (now sadly in the big bomb dump in the sky) told me that the (south?) end of Finningleys runway was suffering from mining subsidence and therefore the end of the track was unusable. Happy to be corrected if this is duff gen.
Remember the Airshows of the 70's? Canberra took shots of the whole shebang and the local rag had it printed and on sale at the end of the day? The bowl-loosening destruction :eek: of the plywood castle during the mass airfield attacks? The cloggy Neptune doing aero's on the jets with the big pistons shut down?! Superb glider aero's too. Ahh ......:ok:

If the runway was suffering from mining subsidence they must have corrected it coz they have had 747's ,767 etc... turn at 02 end after landing.

The Threshold at 02 is displaced coz of high ground,meaning the a/c come in higher,i know the RAF used 02 up in till they left,i got pics too prove it :} and from what i've been told the airfield is sound regarding "mining subsidence"

[Green Flash]

Fairy nough, corrective footwear is on!

[scroggs]

I think you'll find that the displacement of 02 landing threshold is for civilian obstacle clearance and noise limits. I believe the full length of 20 is available for take-off, which it wouldn't be if the runway had subsided. When the runway was rebuilt, in 1988/89 (IIRC), there was no evidence of subsidence (though there was of WW2 contractors short-changing the Air Ministry on the stated and contracted concrete depth!).

As far as I remember, there was never any mining under the airfield though there may have been under the domestic site. I believe there was a covenant against any mining under the airfield. In the early 80s the NCB kept pushing MoD for a statement about Finningley's future, knowing that, at the time, MoD worked to a 5 year forward plan and they would have to state that 'there were no plans beyond [a date 5 years hence]', which would have allowed the NCB to announce plans to mine under the airfield. This was directly responsible for a change of long-term planning policy at the MoD, which was designed expressly to frustrate the NCB's mining ambitions.

Of course, history changed the future of both the RAF and coal mining before any further plans could be made!

[Green Flash]

Thanks Scroggs et al. I'd hate to see Finners drop down a hole! Had my first trip in a Chipmunk there. :ok: Does anyone have a potted history of it's wartime activities please?

[Roland Pulfrew]

Thanks Scroggs et al. I'd hate to see Finners drop down a hole! Had my first trip in a Chipmunk there. :ok: Does anyone have a potted history of it's wartime activities please?

GF

Try looking for a series of books called "Action Stations". IIRC it is a series of 9 or so books and each one covers a region. They contain potted histories of every airfield's activities from opening to the present day. You want Volume 4 for Fy.

[Noah Zark.]

If anyone is interested, I have some recent aerial piccies of Doncingley if anyone wants a look.
I would have to send them as attachments to e-mails, anyone interested please drop me a P.M. with e-address, and I will send them straight over.

[Tim McLelland]

Hmm, the mining tale goes back a long way. Lots of people keep claiming that mining actually goes under the runway, others that it goes under the approach and so on. I supect the truth is probably less exciting! I assume that the runway remains as it was under RAF control, albeit with a displaced threshold. The only thing that still annoys me is why they saw fit to dig-up the Vulcan ORP. What was that done for? Just an act of spite?

To this day, I maintain the suspicion that the Government thought that they had found a convenient prison site at Finningley, and that was why they were so keen to allow the RAF to leave. They already had a gaggle of prisons in the area and I think they believed they could simply add Finningley without the locals making any fuss. When they did (thus ruining the plan), you get the feeling that a few grey officials might have wished they'd left the RAF where they were, in the first place! Just think - all this trouble with Scampton... the Reds could have just moved west a few miles to Finningley.

[scroggs]

Tim, the truth is as I have said in this (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2740397&postcount=63) post. My Father was the RAF's Director of Forward Policy at the time, and was intimately involved in the negotiations and statements I refer to.

[Tim McLelland]

Not quite with you? As you say, there was no mining as far as you know, and that's what I said, but I've never seen any official word on what mining actually took place, and where. Not with you on the long-term planning either; surely, on the basis of what you say, the MoD would have announced long-term plans? Instead, they pulled-out and the prison plans suddenly appeared...

[Roland Pulfrew]

Tim, the truth is as I have said in this (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2740397&postcount=63) post. My Father was the RAF's Director of Forward Policy at the time, and was intimately involved in the negotiations and statements I refer to.

I'm with Scroggs on this one. The NCB claimed that the RAF's plans only went to a 5 year point therefore at the end of that particular 5 year period they were going under the runway and IIRC that was in the late 80s. Forced a change in RAF/MOD plans to ensure that the mines didn't go under the runway. When the RAF closed the base the mines were already closing thus began the plan to create a civil airport. Displaced 20 threshold is due to the railway line in the undershoot and displaced 02 threshold is due to the public road in the undershoot. Don't know why though, I've never seen an airliner land on the numbers anyway:E :E ;)

Enjoyed my tours at Finningley :E but as an aside has anyone else seen the rediculously large amount of airspace that Donningley are wanting? := Death of GA and low level transits in the area if they are allowed to get it :mad: !!! Protest now whilst you still can!!

[jumpseater]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/_B6O3706-1.jpg

:D

[papajuliet]

A site plan which I have in front of me shows the zone of mining influenceto stretch in five straight lines running [left to right] from -
the aircrew feeder to just beyond the weapons store
from under 1 and 2 hangars to nearly the parallel taxiway
from 3 hangar to almost the runway
from the Dominie pan to just under the runway at about halfway
from further along the pan to almost the intersection of the runway with the
old cross runway
There is also an area under the junior ranks mess running out to the East
The five lines mentioned above run NW-SE

[Tim McLelland]

Interesting stuff... so it looks like all the urban myths about a seam running under the threshold area were indeed untrue - looks like there was a seam pretty-much everywhere else instead!

[jumpseater]

CWL 88 earlier today,
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/_B6O3963.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/_B6O3964.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/_B6O4000.jpg

Now they're even sending ex based aircraft!:suspect:

[DummyRun]

Halfway across the desert, Capt to Eng 'do you remember that fat bird called Tracey that we sp*t roasted in DRI nurses home', indignant nav, 'I'd rather you called her Mrs Wg Cdr OC blah Sqn(24304770) delete as applicable......;) ;)

[snapper41]

Anyone care to join in the Donnie pub crawl nostalgia?

1. 20p bus ride
2. Get off at the Salutation
3. Archives (across the road, under the hotel)
4. Bacchus
5. Camelots
6. Nag's Head
7. 7th Heaven

There are variations, to places that I've destroyed so many brain cells in, that I can't remember their names!:ok: :}

[richlear]

Snapper, we must know each other...118/119 ITC in 1984..Al H as the flight commander, 5 or 6 of us in his dodgy old Citroen on the way back from the chinky?

rich

[GlosMikeP]

Tim, Lez

A very ancient WO Armourer (now sadly in the big bomb dump in the sky) told me that the (south?) end of Finningleys runway was suffering from mining subsidence and therefore the end of the track was unusable. Happy to be corrected if this is duff gen.

There was subsidence on the main while I was there in the late 70s - big waves in it!

[snapper41]

Snapper, we must know each other...118/119 ITC in 1984..Al H as the flight commander, 5 or 6 of us in his dodgy old Citroen on the way back from the chinky?
rich

Rich;

I was a bit later - 131 ITC, Jan 86. Al H was still there then!

[richlear]

He was a great Flt Cdr - a lot of respect for the way he handled the studes.

Did you end up at KSS?

[snapper41]

He was a great Flt Cdr - a lot of respect for the way he handled the studes.
Did you end up at KSS?

Nope - I took a somewhat different path; pm me for details!

[Mighty Norman]

"yer dancing" = statement not a question, and that was the women.

"are ye int RAF lad? Hold us pint' I'm off fer a ****e!"

[Mighty Norman]

Ahh psycho Sigley and some of his motley crew like trevaskus!
Any one know what happened to either of them?
Go on cheer me up!!:}

150 ITC...happy days........"Take it from me, Aircrew to be!!! " Good old Jake!!!

[Mighty Norman]

Prior to Sigley, it was Micky Butler - an officer and a gentleman if ever there was one. Anyone remember George Fair? Al Humphreys? Pete Green? I do know that Colin Reeves is still serving. Ahhh, the ITC - they don't make 'em like they used to! And nostalgia isn't what it used to be, either...

Pint of Old Horizontal, anyone?


In the Halcross for a cheap night out 1,2,3, floor !!:O awesome stuff!!

[Mighty Norman]

ITC, brings back some lovely memories but I wander if that little tw@t Pender ever got his just deserts...........feckin stroker:}

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

Huge Bender!? Didn't he replace 'Blockhead and Mandy' with a Navbag full of concrete........I concur with your summation Broken!!

[Mighty Norman]

Happy Times, Wednesday evening in Camelot’s to start the night off. I don’t think I ever learnt a thing on Thursday mornings at Finningley:)


I think you'll find that was the best way to spend a 'double-morse' session...best cure for a hangover ever...I myself still listen to PWFY most Sunday mornings before church!!

Something strange is indeed afoot.......must have had a great 18 months in Donnie cos I really don't remember a medieval castle on the centre-line!! Would that new fangled silver building be on the hallowed ground that was once Gatehouse?:ok:

[jumpseater]

Two through yesterday
Vortex201
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/_B6O4529.jpg

And Savage01
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/_B6O4541.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/jumpseater/_B6O4543.jpg

Norm, the RAF gatehouse is still extant at the main entrance to the airport. The terminal building is just to the south of 'building 419' which is still there, and is the admin offices. A lot of the accomodation blocks still survive as well.

[richlear]

You don't seem to have PMs enabled. You will have to PM me!

Cheers

rich

[snapper41]

You don't seem to have PMs enabled. You will have to PM me!
Cheers
rich

Done - I think!

[The Gorilla]

Originally posted by MightyNorman
150 ITC...happy days........"Take it from me, Aircrew to be!!! " Good old Jake!!!

Ahh I was 146 ITC but ended up on 147 Air Eng after a maths interface problem on basics! Jake was a star and I bumped into him a couple of years later at Leeming when he was the SWO! He was very helpful to us Lyneham lads at that time. Any one know what happened to him?

I have nil desire to know what happened to huge bender.
:p

[Mark M'Words]

Now we're 106 and we know we're the best
We've had no VS'S not like all the rest
We're proud of our moto, we're proud as can be
Our moto is we shall survive ITC.

there were several other verses but I'm buggered if I can remember them:{

[J.A.F.O.]

144, we are so poor
We can't bull the block and we can't bull the floor
PT's a wheeze
We are the bees knees
And we're all coming back as recoursees

[Chorus]

Course Leader told me
If I was well cool
Then I would end up
Down at the Main School

Anyone remember any more of Richie's words?

Hope Jake's still around "Fer a better word" even if his "little black and white b@stard" has gone to the big kennel in the sky.

[charliegolf]

Snapper

Butler, Hump, Green, and Georgie Porgy.

Worked with that crowd, so if you were a stude then, I may have enjoyed watching you running around Otterburn.

My final posting- enjoyed it.

CG

[snapper41]

Snapper
Butler, Hump, Green, and Georgie Porgy.
Worked with that crowd, so if you were a stude then, I may have enjoyed watching you running around Otterburn.
My final posting- enjoyed it.
CG

CG - check your PMs; I think we know each other!

Snapper

[jumpseater]

Earlier this evening:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/_B6O4596.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/_B6O4614.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/_B6O4637.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/rrjag/_B6O4639.jpg

[Lima Juliet]

FILTON BLOCK R.I.P.

The favourite haunt of the Donny Tart is gone :{

More info on RAF Finningley veterans homepage (http://www.raffinningley.co.uk/news.htm)

LJ

[Maxibon]

RIP Filton Block. All I have are the memories, and some terrible itchings which still haven't cleared up after 18 or so years.:bored:

[classjazz]

I don't have any "concrete" evidence about mining under Finningley but during my time there (1979-1989, with a brief ground tour inserted during this time)the Jetstream simulator was reported to have occasional problems due to subsidence and I remember the hangar doors having closure problems at times. I was told that the Vulcan sim also used to subject to a fairly regular allignment problems.
I was very surprised when the airfield was given to the "civvies". The alignment of a N/S runway was only one of the problems. The crosswind limit on the Dom was sometimes a problem when the wind came from the West - but still it had coped with this problem for many years. However the profusion of gravel pits (birds) and the proximitiy of the civvy airfield just out side the boundary also seemed to make the decsion illogical.
All in all, Finingdonc is our first choice when we make family visits back from our retirement in suthern Europe - so it can't be all bad.

[jumpseater]

A lot of the RAF buildings on the western side have now gone, in particular in the last year.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/dsa/_B6O9971.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/dsa/_B6O9970.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/dsa/_B6O9953.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/dsa/_B6O9992.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/dsa/_B6O9994.jpg

We still see mil stuff come through quite frequently

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c270/2012images/dsa/_B6O1137.jpg

One thing that hasn't gone away are the cross winds and birds! (feathered) dunno bout the others, to scared, read too much on here:ooh:

[c130jtechie]

Ahh happy times, from a techie for once, but memories all similar. First posting from Halton onto HQSARW (82-85) doing Minors and Majors on Sea Kings (One of few SAC Mechs to work on them then). Probably one of the best postings the RAF had in those days. As somebody else said, 20p bus rides, Salutation, Archives, Camelots, Seventh Heaven/Romeo and Juliets, then a curry and get a Taxi home at 3 AM to do it all over again on Saturday followed by Naafi bop sunday lunchtime then get taken home by scalies for Sunday dinner.

HQSARW also used to be excluded Station Exercises as well.

By the way if Chris Thomas is on this site ex SARW or anybody knows him please PM me.

[KonfusedofKinloss]

The pics of the main gate brings back the memory of a Finningley lunchtime.

Finished lunch up in the No2 Mess thinking to myself, very quiet today. Wandered through to look down on chaos at the front gate. A suspect package lying in the road. Dozens of people queuing at the guardroom to get across for food.
Up walks the SWO slahed peak and stick to the fore.
Looks at the package, prods it with his stick then gives it the mightiest kick this side of the ITC.
Shouts all clear and everything returns to normal. Balls of steel that man.

Ah...... happy days

[The Upright Man]

I remember the Gatehouse rockfestival, when we out did the cocktail party at th o's mess, got complaints from a mile and a half away!!

We were made to parade every night for two weeks as punishment, including a bank holiday, although Al H made sure it was in the Harvey Arms, and i remember the dodgy return trip in his citroen, his autopilot would have done the space shuttle proud!

Happy days :)

[Leaky]

Fond memories of Finningley as a stude and later as an instructor. Remember Gatehouse and the rock festival and the 'humps' road signs that had been altered - best 6 years in the RAF. Seemed very strange when we flew from there going on holiday a couple of years ago. RichLear - are you still playing the sax? More great memories of the 'Custom Shed - Blues Brothers' events at KSS.

[chalkie5]

Blimey some of these posts bring back a few memories... 20p bus rides ... Camelots .....7th Heaven, I was on 132 Course 86/87 and shared a house with Micky Wright and Big Nick Richmond - anyone know what happened to Nick?

[Wessex Boy]

Same here, I was on 146 with 'The Gorilla'
there is a great 'Gatehouse' thread around somewhere with some fantastically reminiscent stories.

The good thing about the AAITC fitness regime was that 10 Main street was an easy jog back on a Sunday night, saving on cab fares and using up the lactic acid from the Run-Swim on Friday...

[OHP 15M]

Chalkie5,

Nick R, who assumed Nick Green's old handle BFN (Big Fick Nick), left the RAF some 10 years ago. He wanted to become a gynaecologist but failed the old 'wallpaper the hall through the letterbox' test, so believe it or not went off to become a chriopractor!

[Globemeister]

Great memories of Finningley; in a previous incarnation I took a Wessex there to the Airmen Aircrew School to give some famil rides. Spent the previous night on the hoy in Donny, 7th Heaven comes to mind, had a blast back in the mess with some Donny Bird, then had to fly the studes the next day, on my own up top as the Duty Adult was too hungover to do it. Mind you, unfortunately I was also quite foggy-headed, but of the two of us I was less so. Big surprise was when Donny Bird climbed into the LHS......I even let her hold the pole (again!!!!):E:E:}

[EGXIRIP]

Hi leon, just signed up to PPRUNE like to say thanks for mentioning my web-site, RAF Finningley veterans homepage (http://raffinningley.co.uk) some pictures of the changes on there, also your beloved Filton block is now a pile of building hardcore.
Derek.

[Wessex Boy]

Had a dig around and found my Pictures of 146 AAITC community project to build a Revetment by the river at Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales. Quite a weekend!
The Black Barrows display team arrives:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/scan0002.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/scan0007.jpg
Basically we dug a trench:
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/scan0013.jpg
Collected some rocks:(Me pushing Barrow)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/scan0012.jpg
Mixed some cement: (Me with Shovel)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/scan0008.jpg
and then built a wall: (I seem to have grown ears...)
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/scan0009.jpg
And then played the spoon game in the evening...
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/scan0004.jpg

More pictures here:
atkinsjs/146 AAITC - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting (http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p219/atkinsjs/146%20AAITC/)

[The B Word]

Guess what they have turned the Officers' Mess into...a Public School! I guess I had some of my best "educations" in that place :E

http://www.hillhouse.doncaster.sch.uk/images/SchoolFront.jpg

Hill House School Doncaster Yorkshire Independent School - Lower School, Middle School and Senior School (http://www.hillhouse.doncaster.sch.uk/)

[tridriver]

Great 146 photos-I wonder who's still in the Mob?

This was the project weekend, the lull before the storm I seem to recall!

[BANANASBANANAS]

OMG! That was my home from July 1987 to April 1989 - when I bought a
house in nearby Edenthorpe. I remained at EGXI until 1992.

Posting barrels, Happy Hours, Battle of Britain Open days, followed by a FOD
Plod the following morning, hosting the display pilots on Dominie Sqn,
weekend landaways in Gatow, Stavanger, Gutersloh, borrowing one of Her
Majesty's aircraft for some 'SCT' to Stansted where we just happened to
pick up a CAAFU examiner so that I could do my civil instrument rating!

Memories of good times and bad hangovers!:ok:

I seem to remember we had 'The Tremeloes" there for the summer ball in '88
or '89.

[Gloria Finis]

Snapper,

you forgot the White Bear on the way to Bachuus......happy days pre SDSR!! :)