F3 Mates Do it Style

[No idea]

Just heard today that the F3 mates out in UAE have been knicked by the local police for doing a runner with the UAE Presidents Brother's car!!! Way to go

[junglie-driver]

Thats brilliant. . . . one less friendly nation in the Gulf is what we need. Maybe those F3 mates need to be based closer to the action. There's space at basrah international for them if they fancy a swop!

[Tandemrotor]

Yeah, "Way to go"

Or just tossers with too much time in which to get pissed.

[Pontius Navigator]

Nah, obviously either a politically inspired stunt to deflect attention else where or a military one.:}

[Affirmatron]

Obviously, let's start a discussion about chopping a whole fleet because there's an unconfirmed report that something may have happened somewhere.

This is more like the Unprofessional Pratts' Rumour Network!

I heard that somebody in a Hercules might have done something wrong. Time to sell the whole truckie fleet, surely?

[spectre150]

with the eurofighter now doing Q, what EXACTLY do they do

Doing Q as well.

I should think both the Typhoon and F3 QRA commitments as the Russian flat top comes south.

Not as 'operational' as 'being in the desert' though :ugh:

[The Swinging Monkey]

Its the 'way to go' straight to the slammer!

Bloody stupid - just the kind of publicity we need right now.

Well done to the F3 boys for doing it in such (poor) style

[bowly]

All hail the Bahrain three....!

[Navaleye]

I thought the same thing. Presumably these are ground crew. I can't believe an officer would be that dumb.

[Lytham Lifeboat]

Truly an apt name if ever I saw one

[Safety_Helmut]

I thought the same thing. Presumably these are ground crew. I can't believe an officer would be that dumb.

That's quite some bait you've cast out there navaleye !

S_H

[GPMG]

Crikey, what a boring little bunch of people the RAF has become if you lot are anything to judge by.

I bet the men who helped form the RAF would be very proud of what has become of it, not.

And as for Officers not doing something like this??

I was under the impression that it was mainly the officers that did daft stuff like this? Or at least got away with it.

Rebuilding the CO's car in his office? Riding motorbikes through the officers mess? Mess canons? Nicking station Land Rovers? Rolling a Bristol Bulldog at no more than 5 ft for a dare, flying under low bridges....the list is never ending.

And now a rumour that 3 blokes got up to the same kind of high jinx and suddenly they are pariah's? And calls for cutting the F3 force??

Get a grip.

[harrogate]

I caught my wife kissing a man when I got in from work.

Guess who it was?

Yeah - F3 mates.

Sack them all.

[Ivan Rogov]

How right you are GPMG, it appears that Pprune is infested with the same people who phone Radio 2 to complain about everything, and then complain about the amount of complaints. :rolleyes:
It's nice to see that there is still a bit of time for fun between all the bad stuff we have to do now.
Didn't they get the detco's don't get caught brief?

[Affirmatron]

I'd like to know whether this is gen or not. Has anybody seen a report/article? Maybe there's a video on Youtube.......

[Grey'npointy]

I caught my wife kissing a man when I got in from work.

Guess who it was?

Yeah - F3 mates.


Well, Harrogate, she's not made of wood, is she? It would seem, sadly, that you have no wood left, perhaps?:E

[Navaleye]

Oh you bitch.

[Bob Viking]

Just read this and I was starting to think I was the only one who thought it was quite funny!
Obviously they're a bunch of losers for getting caught, but I hardly think we need to scrap the whole fleet on this basis!
Besides, it's the funniest thing an F3 mate's done for years! (Besides trying to claim they know how to strafe!!)
BV:}

[neilmac]

GPMG/No Idea

Ok I am gonna bite!

21 years ago when I joined I would have said what fun, since we almost had a seemingly endless budget/pick of hotels to stay/120,000 RAF peeps but we have changed so dramatically over the years. SH,AT guys/girls,other trades constantly on det working their socks of in dangerous places, without the help of governrment so for some FJ guys to be fooling around doesnt mean the same anymore. The Forces have changed and if you want a sobering thought maybe you should read the thread above called NO DUFF and donate!

Im going for a ly down now!

NM

[Finger Poking]

3 Aircrew Mates Arrested after attendnace at a 'Justin Timberlake' concert - No less.

Attempted Theft and Drink Driving........

Merry Christmas....... Idiots.........

[maxburner]

I trust they were arrested for attending a Justin Timberlake concert. Nothing to do with drinking or cars.

[Gainesy]

Oh dear, someone's going to throw his teddy...

[Fg Off Max Stout]

What's the name of that teddy?

[advocatusDIABOLI]

Well look on the bright side, all that R2i training won't go to waste! :}

Advo

[Beermonkey]

Why don't we all wait to see what materialises out of this, rather than jumping to any hasty conclusions. After all, in this country, we are innocent until proven guilty.

As to scrapping the F3 fleet, maybe all you hard-working folk screaming to scrap us would care to do all of Northern Q, southern Q at regular intervals and the Falklands with 2 Sqns next year! The F3 boys are working hard as well, although I accept that we're not under fire.

Does that mean the F3 Force is any less committed? No.

Aren't we all supposed to be on the same side? Yes.

Junglie-driver,Is it the F3 Force's fault we're not in a sandy place? No. Just trying to do the job we've been saddled with to the best of our ability.

VinRouge, is everyone so pissed off and twisted that now no-one is allowed to have any fun or go on det? What a sad military that would be. You sound bitter. Maybe it's time for you to leave.

Harrogate, does your wife still do that thing with her tongue? I know your Mum does.:p

[GPMG]

Crikey Beer, Wives and Sister are fair game, but Mums?

Thats fightin talk. :eek:

[harrogate]

It's alright.

He's a bit too dim to notice that my post was actually making a mockery of those who were criticising the F3 boys.

As for Mum's tongue trick - I wouldn't know about all that sissy foreplay fluff.

I just go straight for her arse.

[advocatusDIABOLI]

Harrogate!

Laugh.... I Nearly Sh@t.....


Priceless (You must have a Mastercard)


Advo

[spanners123]

good come back harrogate!:D

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

sissy foreplay fluff

With yer sister?

(We've all done it)

[Gainesy]

That's Norwich, not Harrogate.

[advocatusDIABOLI]

SirPeter, you clearly have never met my sister! :eek: :=

Advo

[Beermonkey]

Harrogate: support, no matter how bizarre, is always greatfully received!

Hope everyone remembers to use vasoline with anyone's mum/sister/wife/pony......widely available within the Arab penal system.

[FFP]

Is there a SOFA with the UAE ?

[FFP]

Boom Boom ! I thank you !!

(I'll keep setting them up AIDU.....you knock em down ;) )

[goudie]

You lot must be a bunch of Groundcrew. Officers would never say such things!

[dropintheoggin]

Not good.......

CAS is "absolutely livid". Glad I'm not in their shoes.... :uhoh::eek:

[TheInquisitor]

Hmm....sounds like "Trial By Media Hype" to me..on closer inspection it would seem that the boys were simply pissed and tried to get into the back of the wrong 'cab'...easy mistake to make.

Unless there's something more to this story not being reported, a bit of a non-event really.

Of course, you can always rely on that 'Forces Friend', The Sun, to get it right, can't you? Can't help thinking how this story may have been penned if it were 'Our Lads' (ie squaddies) involved instead of 'Officer Toffs'...

[SaddamsLoveChild]

It doesnt matter what the facts are, perception is reality and the british public will just see that we have spare capacity to go on the raz whilst on exercises protecting a justin timberlake concert, not that troops and RAF frontline Sqns are involved in close air support to troops in contact in possibly the largest operation in Helmaland.

They were in a foreign country and not upholding the standards expected and have brought the RAF into disrepute for the wrong reasons. I sincerely hope that they are 1021'd at the very least, but they wont because they are fighter pilots- my arse they are bear escorts at best. The crew are from the same Sqn that spent the summer p*issing it up against the wall in Cyprus whilst on bolthole and yet again star whilst on 'exercise'. Monkeys, we have a hard enough time in the joint arena as it is without this distraction, is there a supervision problem or have these kids not just grown up yet.

Bloody funny though if it wasnt so serious..................;)

[Pontius Navigator]

Looks like the ppruned a lot of the story.

Lesson learnt?

[Ewan Whosearmy]

Gota' love the way the The Sun quotes Vin Rouge's post from PPRuNe and states he is a pilot.

He may well be, but how do they know he is?

Lazy, lazy journalism - the hallmark of The Sun.

TheInquisitor:

Yeah, getting into the wrong cab is an easy mistake to make; but since this was a stretched limo, I am wondering whether the mistake is quite as understandable.

[Mad_Mark]

From the Current Bun...

Diplomats believe that the “Abu Dhabi Three” will be given heavy fines rather than imprisonment if convicted — but they face disciplinary action when they come home.They could face a court martial with the possibility of loss of rank or dismissal.

More likely, if they are indeed officers, now they have been noticed they will be quickly promoted and be Air Officers in the future :ugh:

[Training Risky]

Tremblers, Firebirds or Cocks?

Names?! Packdrill?!:E:E:E

[MostlyHarmless]

Bloody holier-than-thou rubbish. What's wrong with you all??! I'd buy them a beer and have a laugh about it.

[cornish-stormrider]

Well if those three make air rank maybe we would have someone with b@lls instead of the spineless yes men we have at the mo.

Everyone knows that you don't get to be a legend without breaking a few laws. Mind you, Never Get Caught.........

Big up to the Lossie Padre who stopped the fun police nicking me for kidnapping and extortion, when he stole all the evidence and explained to the plod about morale and high jinks.

Thanks to my snec for asking plod to leave me in the cells :sad:

[Top Right]

A similar thing happened in Bahrain in '92 (Op JURAL), when some airmen got into the wrong vehicle (not a limo though) when under the influence. They were locked up by Bahraini police, released courtesy of HM Embassy's intervention but then dealt with swiftly through subordinate commander action there in theatre. Job done and duly reported back to Bahraini authorities for transparency.:O

[NST]

Im just waiting for the phrase "high spirits" to be mentioned in connection with this.

First thought was that it had to be Officers .. Lineys would not have got caught.

[Fg Off Max Stout]

The biggest crime here is that they were at a Justin Timberlake concert. Why isn't the media asking that question?

[junglie-driver]

The thing that should be questioned here is what the hell were they doing going to a Justin Trousersnake concert!?!?!?!. Definately wouldn't catch a member of the Senior Service there! JD

[cargosales]

The Mail on Sunday has the same story as The Sun, virtually word for word

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=501220&in_page_id=1811

As for what these three got up to:

That we still have crews up for some hijinks and stress busting fun and games 10/10 :D

That we still have crews who apparantly* don't understand that there is a time and a place for said behaviour 0/10 :ugh:

*if the details of the story as reported are actually correct.


They can only be thankful that they aren't civvies and that the powers that be intervened on their behalf, oherwise they'd still be in jail.

[minigundiplomat]

Bloody Good Jape.

We'd love to follow the example on the SH Force, but most of our time over the isodollar line is spent picking up the dead, maimed and injured.

I can't really imagine what it must be like to get up to this sort of mischief, they are most brave.

Pehaps if we could get Terry Taliban to stop shooting at us, and killing our comrades, we too could upset the apple cart in foriegn climbs. Afterall, the other two services have such a high opinion of us, things like this can only push it skywards, eh?

[philrigger]

NST

Im just waiting for the phrase "high spirits" to be mentioned in connection with this.

There you've done it.

Sounds like a jolly jape to me.





'We knew how to whinge but we kept it in the NAAFI bar.'

[Wader2]

The biggest crime here is that they were at a Justin Timberlake concert. Why isn't the media asking that question?

I THOUGHT it was a lot of fuss about boots and shoes.

[GPMG]

Blimey MiniGunDiplomat you may have got your entry in just in time for next years Oscars, great theatrical post there.

I hope the rest of HM forces read this, no in fact the rest of the worlds forces need to read this as well, just so they can put everything on hold untill you get back.

[earswentpop]

Before we all rush to judgement, ask yourself this: who amongst us hasn't entered the wrong thing by mistake at least once?

I know I have. Not my fault the wife's sister looks so much like her. Then there was that wardrobe in CHOM. At the time I was utterly convinced it was a toilet.

There is, however, no excuse for going to a Justin Timberlake concert.

[Always a Sapper]

Look at it this way, they got pissed and made fools of themselves, wont be the first time it's happened and I'm sure it won't be the last.....

But the facts remain, they were representing the RAF and to some respect HMF as a whole in a Foreign Country... Plus they were, I assume Off Base for the concert and we know Alcohol was present and being drunk........

Basic drills here guys.... basic drills, surely the question is, who was duty 'Sharkwatch' and what the **** was he/she doing???? certainly not looking after the kids!

That is assuming, of course, they managed to gather together enough intelligence between themselves to nominate a duty 'Sharkwatch' before going on the pop in the first place!

[FFP]

Are they even staying on base as part of the exercise ?

The base in that part of the world is pretty busy.

[LowObservable]

My first reaction was "How do they know that a Pprune poster is a pilot"? Maybe the poster will enlighten us as to whether the Sun contacted him/her and verified that information. If I believed that everyone on the Net was who they said they were I'd be sitting on $3 billion of Nigerian government surplus cash today.
My second reaction, like so many other posters: "Justin Timberlake?"
Sorry, guys, there's only one thing for that:
http://www.bluejacket.com/usn/images/oth/flogging_med.jpg

[Bob Viking]

Can we all now stop pretending to be outraged about this!
We are pretty much basing our entire evidence on an article in the currant bun for starters!
Secondly we have all done silly things and, as drunk as they were, I'm sure they didn't mean to steal the Presidents' Brothers' car (I doubt it happened anything like that in reality anyway!).
It was a prank (accident?) that seemed funny at the time. We've all done it, but just didn't get caught! Think of the silliest thing you've ever got away with!!
I can understand that people in hot/dangerous places may feel like the F3 guys are taking the p1ss, but ultimately it is a training exercise, the like of which most of us have been on, and they were on a day off (Timberlake though. Really?!)! Are we really saying they should have been tucked up with a cup of cocoa?!
I can't believe it's come to this.
I've just stuck up for the F3 force!!
BV:eek::{

[Photoplanet]

"Nice to know they have got the time to waste p*ssing it up the wall whilst the rest of us are living in the desert. Time to chop the F3 fleet perhaps? with the eurofighter now doing Q, what EXACTLY do they do?"

Well, as well as covering NORTHERN QRA, with minimal assets and manning, we still find time to go on the paltry dets that the Typhoon boys don't want.

[Mr Rotorvator]

I was a rotary mate, I went to war (after a fashion) and these F3 boys need some form of proper regcognition:D...outstanding behaviour, in the very finest traditions of the RAF. Green Endorsements for each of their logbooks!

[Bob Viking]

Please refer to my previous post!!!
BV:rolleyes:

[goudie]

When did RAF Officers start calling each other mate?

Our Brave Lads have mates, Officers have colleagues or chums surely.

[In With The Fin]

Oh come on chaps, really!

I think some people might be taking it all a bit seriously, delving into personality analysis and defending the stereo type.

It's been only two days since I had to hand back a Land Rover that I purloined and kept for a while. Admittedly, I wasn't drunk, (a G&T is a bit hard to come by here) but I would have been if I could and I am very much a serving officer.

Oh, and no I wasn't arrested, the IMP's put it down to ....... high spirits!

:=

[Op_Twenty]

The Timberlake concert was obviously a mistake, but we've all tried to commandeer a limo post a few lagers (Vegas 04, 06, maybe 07 - don't remember). F3 guys on det are just like the rest of us - a bloody good laugh albeit a bit of a liabilty sometimes. There but for the grace of God etc... Don't pretend you've never done something like that because you have, and if you have not, well then who are you to comment anyway. Good luck to those boys, I only wish I could've been there. (Post concert obviously)

[minigundiplomat]

Blimey MiniGunDiplomat you may have got your entry in just in time for next years Oscars, great theatrical post there.

I hope the rest of HM forces read this, no in fact the rest of the worlds forces need to read this as well, just so they can put everything on hold untill you get back.


I speak collectively. There were over 40 IRT call outs each month over the summer in Helmand. For every death reported on TV, multiply the injured by 5, multiply the ANA/Kids we pick up in all sorts of states by 10.

The military is trying hard to draw public attention to our plight at the moment (some of us are chronically underfunded).
This is not the attention we need. Particularly as it occurred in a Muslim state.

I work bloody hard, I don't wish to be tarred with the same brush as these retards.

[spanners123]

I'm sure that most of us on pprune have been involved in similar events, woke up the next day, realised what you have done, thankful that you haven't been caught and all agree not to discuss the matter again!
These things happen, on det, at home and on leave!
From my experiences, all 3 services are the same!

[TheInquisitor]

I'm sure that, should the need for Air Defence arise in AFG or Iraq, the F3 boys would be working as hard out there as the rest of us. We cannot blame THEM for the fact that they aren't living their lives out in the desert at the moment, so comments along those lines are void I'm afraid.

Also, they weren't there representing ANYONE. They were on downtime and chose (unwisely, of course) to attend a concert for pre-pubescent girls. Their presence there was as private individuals spending their free time as they choose.

So let's cut the crap here chaps. I'm pretty sure the limo DIDN'T have "Property of the Sultan's Brother" emblazoned on the side of it as it was waiting outside the hotel / arena / whatever, probably surrounded by cabs and a myriad of other vehicles waiting to pick folks up. I'd also bet that the lads didn't get into the driver's seat and try to nick it, rather jumped in the back and tried to offer the driver a wad of US$ to take them back to their accommodation.

*NOTE - I'm obviously only guessing here - but then again, so is the d1ckh**d journo who wrote this piece.

Typical Arab state security forces over-reaction to a non-incident here - I'd put money on it.

[Alber Ratman]

TAXI!! Oh, this Limo will do..

The story isn't quite the same scale as 1 Sqn's exceedlingy short stay in Mardrid.

[danieloakworth]

Inquisitor:

Nail on the head.

[insty66]

I am making no judgment on the "UAE 3" except to say Timberlake hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

However Also, they weren't there representing ANYONE. They were on downtime and chose (unwisely, of course) to attend a concert for pre-pubescent girls. Their presence there was as private individuals spending their free time as they choose.

Is never true. Once you're in uniform the standards expected of you never change, why else would anything an individual does in his/her own time be mentioned on an appraisal?

It is naive to expect our professions to be ignored if we do something wrong/stupid and get caught.

[N Joe]

We've had "Bravo Two Zero" and "Tornado Down" so now surely "Foxtrot Three" and "The One That Got Away (2)" must be in the pipeline.

N Joe

[Lamenting Navigator]

Ah, happy days. Pass me another cocktail, my good fellow, I'm in for a long night!!

(If anyone writes my story, or alludes to it in any way, I want royalties!!)

[Double Zero]

I happened to know ( unfortunately, due to the person involved not his service or rank ) a Navy Gunnery Officer who got trollied on an island in the 'Med, took the UK Ambassadors' car - presumably inc. the bootful of Essex chocolates - and comprehensively stuffed it on the way down a steep hill...as does seem the way, he must have had the right chums, as he seemed to get away with it...*

We all know about inter squadron / service rivalries, stealing the Tirpitz bulkhead etc etc, to be commended in my remote view, but this is very different and in a situation requiring a certain amount of professionalism even when local customs do not seem to deserve it.

*That was a long time ago in a different place - as people rightly say, let's not judge by tabloid, but every indication seems we have 3 esteemed pillocks here, - the note about posting a shark-watch, in more boring circles perhaps known as dedicated driver, seems a crucial lack of forethought or friends - 3 who UK Ltd could very well do without...

Yes I am hypocritical to the extent that if anything truly nasty were threatened to happen to them, I'd be up in arms - I suspect the reverse thrust on their careers is more than enough to pay.

[cargosales]

As I said before, there is a time and a place for high spirits.

Getting trashed in a country where it is illegal to be pissed in public isn't a brilliant idea. Add in something unheard of over there (interfering with the personal property of a member of the ruling family) and one is just asking for trouble.

Granted, any expat over there would have taken one look at the number plate and run a mile (VVIPs tend to have very, very! short registration numbers), but to be fair, these jokers probably didn't have that experience.

To look at it a completely different way, I wonder how many of those who have commented here in support of the three would be up in arms if a few pissed foreigners, on a night out in say, London, had made their way into one of our own Royal family's limos?

Would they be complaining that plod had incarcerated said pissed-up foreigners and were going to prosecute them for anything and everything that might just stick? Oh, they're actually foreign military aircrew? Well that's ok then.. lets just release them as it was obviously just high spirits. Hmmmm.

Most likely said complainants would be grumbling at the lack of security afforded to Brenda's family instead. But my point still stands.

[Bob Viking]

Can you honestly see a bunch of p1ssed blokes getting anywhere near a Royal limo in Britain?! Nice analogy but I think you speak b0ll0cks on that one!
This is why I think the whole story sounds like a load of cr@p which has been blown up out of all proportion. Having been to UAE myself quite recently, I would hazard a guess that if the car in question really was so important they wouldn't have been allowed anywhere near it in the first place. Can you honestly see an Arab VIP (with all his cash and resources) leaving his prize motor outside a concert venue with the keys in the ignition and the doors open! In the words of uber-brat Macauley Culkin in Home Alone.....
"IIIIII don't think so!!!"
BV:rolleyes:

[Pontius Navigator]

BV, nice one

OK Chaps, just 3 months to come up with another original jolly jape, see if we can get more coverage, beeb as well?



PS, anyone read the full story in Gulf News the online newspaper? Thought not.

[SaddamsLoveChild]

House arrest in a 4/5 star hotel..........I hope they manage to claim it back on JPA.

[D-IFF_ident]

PN - do you mean this one: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/06/10173101.html ?

Couldn't get to the end of it I'm afraid.

And I used the Gulf News search engine to try to find any other relevant articles - tried 'dum', 'daft', 'stupid', 'drunk', 'high spirits', even 'aircrew' - but couldn't get a hit. Do you have a link? :p

[Mad_Mark]

They were on downtime and chose (unwisely, of course) to attend a concert for pre-pubescent girls.

Maybe that is why they went :\

[Bob Viking]

Don't be silly.
They were F3 mates!
BV:}

[radicalrabit]

Just as a matter of interest regarding their cars, I was in Saudi For a while and happened to be at the Gulf Meridian Hotel during a conference attented by "the manager of the funfair at the end of the pier" and his driver was only too pleased to show me his 1 gallon per mile bullet proof, bomb proof, radar tracked etc etc black limo and the huge engine it had.

[Wader2]

bigbluecar, I see she also has two rabbits. I would have thought one was enough. Unless the other is a spare in case the batteries run out.:}

[cargosales]

"Can you honestly see a bunch of p1ssed blokes getting anywhere near a Royal limo in Britain?!

No of course not. It's a ridiculous thought that Royal security in this country could ever be breached and my friend Michael Fagin thinks so too.


"Can you honestly see an Arab VIP (with all his cash and resources) leaving his prize motor outside a concert venue with the keys in the ignition and the doors open!"

Apart from having the doors open (buggers up the AC), err, yes, that's precisely what can and very often does happens in the UAE, because people there generally know not to touch things that aren't theirs. And it doesn't stop at at the Royal family or VIPs because it's a whole different culture out there.

I remember the time we were admiring a Formula 1 car on display outside a hotel there, protected only by a piece of string around it. It was there for a few days with no guards or security people in sight and guess what? No-one touched it, nicked bits, vandalised it or did anything untoward. Can you see that happening here?


bigbluecar You're probably quite right about it being kept low profile - I can't see it on any of the main news websites out there.

There are lots of things that 'do' and 'don't' happen out there, what is and is not allowed to be reported in the press etc but that's a whole different debate.


Bob Viking I quite agree that the whole thing has probably been blown out of all proportion according to our cultural values and that apart from the hineous crime of attending said concert, the biggest sin these guys committed was getting caught (or more likely, dropping themselves in it)

However, when in Rome ...

[In With The Fin]

I too cannot believe that I am defending F3 spankers but.... has anybody got any real information on this subject or are we going to character assassinate the entire F3 fleet and their (pants) aircraft. Bob Viking summed this up best when he said 'he without sin cast the first stone'. Anybody who has truly been aircrew and on Det will know the score. Lets just wait for some real information before we break out the pitch forks.

Besides.... everybody has commandeered a Limo..... especially in Regina, right Bob Viking! :ok:

[airborne_artist]

'he without sin cast the first stone'

The trick, as always is to obey what my old Dad called the 11th Commandment:

Don't get caught :E

[snapper41]

Anybody who has truly been aircrew and on Det will know the score.
What? You mean no other branches/trades go on det and do 'fun' things??

[Bob Viking]

That kind of narrows down your identity somewhat!
Ah, Regina. The city that rhymes with fun!!
BV:}

[AI24]

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2007/12/11/42790.html

[In With The Fin]

Oh yes, Regina, the city that smells as it sounds.... but it was a good time though! Think I still have that 24 once steak sitting in my guts.

Snapper 41 - no offence intended but considering we were supposedly talking about F3 aircrew and this is Military Aircrew Forum I thought that was a fairly innocuous statement. I have often spent time having 'fun' with the gingers, but, I probably would have had a sensible caption when it came to nicking a car by nature of the fact I was the senior bod there.

However, when amoungst equals I am often the isntigator and generally regret it later. My only saviour has been I never got caught!

....... Amen.

[Gainesy]

You'ld still have to go some to beat the RAFG Hunter(?) mate who nicked a whole train. :uhoh:

1960s I believe.

[In With The Fin]

I suppose somebody with an inferiority complex is going to bitch at me about saying 'when amoungst equals'....... I'm not saying that gingers are inferior but this is the military and we're rarely the same rank when we're drinking with the gingers.

Enough back peddling I think! :ugh:

[brakedwell]

In the 1960's plumbers had MATES, we had Oppos.

[Wader2]

I thought an Oppo was the guy at the opposite end of the slit trench watching your back while you slept.

[Gainesy]

Do you mean plumbers? Check, mate.:)

[brakedwell]

I stand corrected, must be going senile. Still, I hope the "music loving" trio are treated leniently, there isn't much fun left in this Po faced PC world.:p:p

[GPMG]

Why has nobody questioned this so far? What the hell is a member of the UAE royal family doing at a Justin Timberlake concert?

I'm disgusted, how low can people in the Middle East stoop?

[TonkaEngO]

In with the Fin

Least said soonest mended eh mate

[Pontius Navigator]

PN - do you mean this one: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/12/06/10173101.html ?
Couldn't get to the end of it I'm afraid.

And I used the Gulf News search engine to try to find any other relevant articles - tried 'dum', 'daft', 'stupid', 'drunk', 'high spirits', even 'aircrew' - but couldn't get a hit. Do you have a link? :p

Indeed it was, however I see someone has suggested that the news may have been suppressed.

"Presidential Security guards outwitted by drunken Foreigners" would make a catching headline :}

[goudie]

What's all the fuss about a Justin Timberlake? Who is he and what does he do?

Seems to me a fair amount of 'mates' who are in 'shock horror' appear to know him.

[Gainesy]

Just a thought, offer the "Prince" Honorary Membership of the Squadron and a ride in the back; might appease him.

[brakedwell]

Methinks this thread is getting far too "matey" :*:*:*

[dropintheoggin]

Well done to the guys in red! Congrats on another successful season!

:D:D:D:D:ok::ok::ok::ok:

[dropintheoggin]

Are you talking about a football team? The season is only half way through.
Is the kevball season still going then?!
It'd be great if it only lasted one weekend out of the year. In fact, even that would be too much.

Well done to the Red Arrows

[Bob Viking]

Are you just in a bad mood today?!
BV:rolleyes:

[Alber Ratman]

The world is so rosy today.
BV. check out Karls Jag thread...

One last T-shirt going..

[Rod Hugger]

They probably acted like chimps and got caught (I accept that much of this thread is speculation so my point is a general one). One could argue that they are unlucky yes, but they now need to take what comes to them as a result of a miscalculation / moment of drunken Tomfoolery. The 'good old days' are gone, we all know that the power of the media carries huge influence in cases like this (and on more serious issues forward in the field) and should never be underestimated. If you get up to s**t like this, you should no longer expect the chain to blindly support the culprit(s), those days are long gone. Out.

[goudie]

innocent until proven guilty and all that, and wait for the facts to emerge.



Yes, let's not march the 'guilty' mates in just yet.

[mutleyfour]

My view:

Its events like this that I agree at the time you would really like as little news coverage as possible but in a month or so's time its what makes the Armed Forces what we are and always have been. That no matter what the circumstances someone somewhere will always pull off a howler that makes the rest of us giggle and wish we had been there. Its the eccentricities that the rest of the world's Amred Services aliken us too anyway.

I only hope a slap on the wrist followed by a few glasses of port will serve as punishment as this really doesn't deserve much more.

PS I would have loved to have seen the Chauffeur's face!

[goudie]

With the Navy still smarting from the errors made after the Iranian episode, the Army admitting to an increase in drug taking and S.A.S. members accused of stealing funds, the RAF's reputation appears intact.

[navibrator]

As a F3 mate, I must surely respond although I know nothing of this event.

What I read here, is the worst amount of rubbish ever put on a web site. To bitch and moan about fellow officers and groundcrew is just appalling. I suggest those who do offer their resignation and go leave an organisation that has low values, no esprit de corps and no respect.

Whilst the F3 is not in an operational theatre, that is not the crews' fault. They sit on Q all day every day and get little thanks for it. Most woulds wish to be flying in an operational theatre - most over time have to do jobs on the ground instead.

Having flown in both an operational theatre and done most unpleasant work on the ground, I ask all those who have no intellect and npothing of value to add here to SHUT UP and GET OUT and leave the rest of us to get on with the job.

If the 3 have done wrong, then they will have to live with the shame. But let us not blame all with the same.

[Mr Blake]

To bitch and moan about fellow officers and groundcrew is just appalling.

Here here.

Heard from the guys coming back from the same Det, that among the muck is some honour. The 3 guys went to the concert with an American woman, came out and thought it would be nice to get a limo taxi back, as they were with lady so to speak. One of them got in the driver's seat by mistake, and was subsequently arrested. The "lady" then legged it, and the other 2 chaps decided to stay and take the flak with their compratriot. An honourable thing to do I'm sure you'll agree. They were still in clink as of Thursday, and the issue has now been blown out of all proportions.

This tale of woe has come from several guys returning and I have no reason to disbelieve it, subject of course to the usual Chinese whispers.

[Shack37]

A little of "there but for the grace etc" would not go amiss here. I suspect those being most critical are those with the shortest memories.
Let's hope they're home soon, lessons learned and a few quid behind the bar as a fine.
s37:ok:

[r2_unit]

AIDU

Red Arrows? Why what did they do? Fight a nasty war in Afghanistan/Iraq? Help to defend the boys and girls on the ground in Afghanistan/Iraq? No they swanned about the far east doing a couple of displays.

You really really need to get out more fella.

Are you under the impression that the boys go straight from IOT to the Reds or summut? I think you'll find they've all spent their fair share of time on ops in one role or another.

The vast majority of people on this forum have been sausage-side/fought a nasty (sic) war and done their bit to defend the boys and girls on the ground - lets not kick the arse out of it.

About time the RAF got rid of them I think.

If only you'd worked a bit harder instead of flicking bits of eraser at the teacher - what might have been?!!;)

[minigundiplomat]

Right, well 20 years + service in full bullets flying, whites of their eyes ops, and I fail to see the value of the Reds Flying Circus, in an environment when guys fighting for their lives are short of resources.

AIDU raised a fair point, you may disagree, but fortunately some of us are working hard to keep the country a democracy.

Don't tell me, your one of the F3 Timberlake fan club?

Or not. I don't really care. You have your opinion, we will have ours.

[goudie]

but fortunately some of us are working hard to keep the country a democracy.


Which Country are you talking about?

[Lyneham Lad]

Dearie, dearie me. Over a 103 posts, mostly accusing, slagging-off or in-fighting. As I wrote in post 30 of the Shock, horror, drug thread (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=304505&page=2), no-one so far has wondered why, just when the Armed Forces have been getting lots of positive press and the Gov coming under pressure to heal the covenant, stories like this are released...........

Cynical, moi? No, heaven forbid.

What is it our cousins across the water say? "Wake up & smell the coffee"

LL

[r2_unit]

minigundiplomat,

Sorry chap, I don't understand how your point is any more valid than AIDU's??

Or have I missed something?

[frodo_monkey]

Minigundiplomat,

Seeing as how you have been in so long and are so worldly-wise, I was just wondering why its only the Reds you fail to see the value of?

[Sarcasm ON]

I mean, since 2001 I haven't seen the BBMF deploy anywhere! Surely by your rationale these guys should pull their socks up and get out to the 'Stan, or sod off?? Or could it be that, since these aren't FJ's, they are somehow fine to your blinkered rotary eyes? :hmm:

[Sarcasm OFF]

Actually, that would be a sight to see... Spitfires tipping in from a CAS stack with a Hurricane, the Lanc Paveway-ing Taliban compounds, the Dakota dropping a MOAB out of the door :ooh::eek:

[goudie]

I have a 'T' shirt bought for me by my grandson.

Emblazoned back and front with these words:-


'THE OLDER I GET THE BETTER I WAS!'


Now ain't that the truth!

[FgPreventionBch]

Minigun et al,
How can you be so naive to think that whatever it is you’ve done in defence of this country is more important that what anyone else serving in the RAF (or any other service) as done?
The fact that you may actually see bombs and bullets is totally irrelevant, because they don’t (through personal experience) win wars my friend. Defence diplomacy is one of our biggest roles in the modern world, and one we generally do very well. [Sadly ironic considering the thread….lets hope it’s been blown out of proportion] Sales of Typhoon, Hawk, US101 and countless other defence hardware are what keep this nation out of recession.
The Reds, BBMF, display crews etc do an awesome job at keeping the order books, and middle England’s stomachs, full.
The F3 has no high profile role at the moment, but as a nation we have been burnt several times by equipping ourselves for today’s war and not that of tomorrow. Until the Typhoon force stop trying to get themselves promoted and focus on getting some real capability, they are all we have - so be nice!
Flying Prevention.

[minigundiplomat]

I know and openly recognise the role played by the Army, Harrier Force, AT Force, Navy and all involved in Ops, even the AD guys on the occasions they launch to keep Putin at bay.
The Reds doa good job of keeping the orders coming in, good! Let the companies who benefit pay for them, in entirity then.
I'm fed up with crap, bodged aircraft arriving late and over budget just to keep BAe or Wastelands going.
if they can't stand on their own two feet and compete, let them sink. Same goes for the Reds.

[Phochs3]

Sorry minigun, are you describing the Typhoon as a "crap, bodged aircraft"?

[minigundiplomat]

No, it's an extremely capable aircraft by all accounts. But it's not exactly on time, or EXACTLY what cost we agreed.

Nimrod 2000? I see the 2000 has long been dropped.

Merlin? Getting on with the job now, but a long time in the process and the original decision based on fierce lobbying in the SW of England.

A400M .. if we'd of known it would take this long, we should of ordered it 1993 BC

And the Aerospace doesn't keep the country out of recession, freemarket competition does. If a product isn't the best thing for the job, and more expensive then an off the shelf item that is, it should be up to the UK Aerospace industry to compete. Not cobble together something, as it's only the MOD, and then flog it to the Saudi's.

Building the Apache under licence, a good result. Buying something designed by Homer Simpson purely on the basis that it is British, short sighted.

[goudie]

Minigun, from the lofty perch of old age and experience you strike me as a talented and thoughtful guy extremely frustrated by what you see going on around you.
I would say, it was ever thus. The Services rarely get what they want when they want it.
As you well know military harware is an expensive business. Get on with what you've got or get out.

[goudie]

Spoken like a true Politician who doesn't give a damn about the equipment problems of the Armed Forces.

No, spoken as one who lives in the real world.
You should try it some time.

[Affirmatron]

I thought we were supposed to be slagging off the F3 mates!

I heard they only went to the Justin Timberlake concert to see the support act, Bronski Beat. But it is only a rumour.

[No idea]

So then, Drunk and disorderly, car theft and for the one who drove I would imagine drink driving - hardly heroic at all. Heard that the woman they were escorting legged it after being offered to spend the night in Jail - and as for the 2 oppos well they stuck by their man!!! to the extent that the Sqn didn't know that they were in jail - common sense nil!!

4 nights in jail, bail, £1000 fine (by all accounts) and shame to the Sqn and the RAF - hardly drowning themselves in glory.

Everyone can accept high jinks, its great fun, but know you audience and dont get caught - 2 prime sins. Wonder what else will happen to them on their return to blighty - probably nothing I would imgaine, but you never know. Her's to a good Christmas:D

[goudie]

Wonder what else will happen to them on their return to blighty


Be given huge wodges of money by selling their story to the tabloids. Oops sorry, perogative of the Senior Service.

[danieloakworth]

but know you audience and dont get caught

Fair call. Glad it was only £1000, could have been a lot worse. Hard lesson learned no harm done. Time to move on.

[advocatusDIABOLI]

"Caution! Storm Warning! Severe to Strong Severe storms will affect a hot cup of Typhoo near you today. Warning ends after shallow minded killjoys choose to remember that they once did daft stuff!"

"Tomorrow, mild swells and tea state 2 across the the whole pot."

Happy Christmas to ALL Ppruners! Yo Ho Ho! :ok:

Advo

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

"Glad it was only £1000, could have been a lot worse"

UAE.........they probably had that much and more left out of their rates :D

Merry Xmas to the UAE 3:ok:

[D-IFF_ident]

Well, I can only hope that CAS comes down really hard on the whole RAF after this disgraceful episode, and bans everyone from going to Justin Timberlake concerts for the forseeable future.

[Tigs2]

Justin Timberlake:ugh:
However, in 1990, Mrs T expressed a desire to go to a BeeGees concert:( I was mortified. One of the young linies on the squadron had a little business running getting concert tickets etc so i asked him to help out. After he had laughed and taken the p**s he said he would get me two tickets. 10 days later there was a tannoy from eng control. "would Flt Lt Tigs please come to eng control where we have your tickets for the forthcoming BeeGees concert":eek::O
Utterly horrified, and the boys in our crew room now taking the piss relentlessly I walked across the hanger floor, at which point they played 'Stayin Alive' over the Eng control tannoy, accompanied by all the techies in the hanger doing a John Travolta dance. I was the only depressed person on the sqn that day!

Cold War and jolly japes.... those were the days!

[maxburner]

Tigs2 .................if you live by the sword.......
Even now, I have to say that you're a brave man to admit going to see a BeeGees concert. My high tone hearing is so shot I'd miss most of it. Mercifully.:)

[SaddamsLoveChild]

Tigs - great story and a great reminder that the antics of the GC's etc always make Sqn Life that bit more enjoyable than elsewhere on the station. Did you enjoy it?:eek:

[Tigs2]

Twas a brilliant concert:eek::O. I was 50 meters from the stage but every time any of the brothers 3 smiled we were nearly blinded by the whiteness of their teeth.

[olderbloke]

MinigundiplomatI know and openly recognise the role played by the Army, Harrier Force, AT Force, Navy and all involved in Ops,

So the GR4 force is not on Ops then...?

[minigundiplomat]

Yes indeedy, having replaced the Harrier in the Stan, the GR4 is very much on Ops. My aplogies to those that feel without a cuddle, which includes several mates.

[Riskman]

The thing that should be questioned here is what the hell were they doing going to a Justin Trousersnake concert!?!?!?!. Definately wouldn't catch a member of the Senior Service there! JD

No, you'd all dress up as him and have your own concert;)

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

The Senior Sevice are normally only in town when Marc Almond is in concert :eek:

[BEagle]

Who is this Justin Timberland - is he part of some popular beat combo?

[Pontius Navigator]

BEagle, as I said earlier, I thought is was something to do with boots and shoes or some such. I have a rugged wristwatch by Timbersomething.

[goudie]

[
Who is this Justin Timberland - is he part of some popular beat combo?



I asked the same question in an earlier post but for all the scorn heaped upon 'the mates' no one has admitted knowing who this 'Just in Time' chappie is

[insty66]

He's the bloke who has helped stuff our supply system up cos he never is!

[muttywhitedog]

Navaleye: I thought the same thing. Presumably these are ground crew. I can't believe an officer would be that dumb.

It appears that these three were indeed graduates from Sleaford Comprehensive.

I and the rest of the groundcrew you tainted with your high-handed and arrogant assumption await your apology.

[teeteringhead]

BEagle, as I said earlier, I thought is was something to do with boots and shoes or some such. I have a rugged wristwatch by Timbersomething.

....one used to know a chap in the Paras called Timbertool - I wonder if they are by any chance related.... but on second thoughts his name was really Woodcock....


...... or was it Oakhampton ..... memory plays such tricks these days....

[SmilingKnifed]

Well at least now it'll blow over and everyone can get back to

'service in full bullets flying, whites of their eyes ops'

Ever thought of writing novels Minigun?:E

[glad rag]

"I and the rest of the groundcrew you tainted with your high-handed and arrogant assumption await your apology"

+1.

[TonkaEngO]

muttywhitedog

+2....and many many more I suspect.

Pse don't tar us all with the same brush

[ZH875]

muttywhitedog

+3


If it had been groundcrew, they would have succeeded, without getting caught. :p

[Shutup_and_drive]

..and of course, you can tell they were F3 mates, 'cos they were no doubt apprehended heading away from the FLOT... :E

[minigundiplomat]

SmilingKnifed.

Dont have time mate, too busy. Im glad you joined this thread as your experience is much needed.

'Ive just got round to buying James Blunts album, does anyone else think it's top notch?'

Top thread mate. With that under your belt, you may be able to fill us in on this Timberlake dude. You seem to like Male vocalists.

[SmilingKnifed]

Haha, I'll keep my tongue firmly in cheek on that one!;)

[h73kr]

"I thought the same thing. Presumably these are ground crew. I can't believe an officer would be that dumb."

Yeah, natural assumption that someone trained and skilled in diagnosing and rectifying multi-million pound aircraft is bound to be thick as sh#t! :hmm:

****! Just the kind of 'hofficer' mentality that made me depart the RAF (like so many since and before me) in short order.

Sound exactly like officer 'high spirits' to me, well done 'boys'! :ugh: