Pumas Leave NI

[seafuryfan]

Ten Pumas flew into RAF Shawbury today, and I presume on to RAF Benson.

BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Final RAF flight leaves NI base (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8364990.stm)

A mighty fine sight - looking forward to any pics...

[Airborne Aircrew]

That formation has nine aircraft in it... :ugh:

[St Johns Wort]

The picture shows a 'Diamond Nine' leaving NI.
SFF says ten arrived at Shawbury, It seems that they had a spare.

What's your point? Another cheap one?

[seafuryfan]

I really did count ten, one was a bit apart from the rest of them.

Perhaps it was a spare just to make sure the 'Diamond Nine' was not at risk of becoming the 'Epic Eight'...

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

The picture shows a 'Diamond Nine' leaving NI.
SFF says ten arrived at Shawbury, It seems that they had a spare.

What's your point? Another cheap one?

Look forward to seeing you on the 27th and hope to pick your brains about this fella, apparantly about your time so you will have the full gen :ok:

[Airborne Aircrew]

St. John...

No... Not a "cheap one"... I have nothing against SSF, (far from it actually), don't know why you'd care though... The report the he linked to said nothing of the number of kites but had a picture of nine. He said ten... If he'd have gone back and edited his post because it was based on a miscount I'd have deleted my post thus leaving him unembarrassed by miscounting the number of kites in a photograph. As it is he has already stated that he actually witnessed ten kites, (I'll admit to missing the Shawbury/Aldergrove anomoly). I was trying to help...

SFF:

NP mate... I guess I read too quickly and didn't pick up on the fact you were at Shawbury and saw them coming in... I'd delete my post but St. John already took his snipe...



Oh... and now my personal stalker has also piped up...

[diginagain]

Best wishes to all involved over the years, it was (mostly) fun working with you in the Emerald Toilet.

Diginagain, ex Lynx 5/7, 9/10, JATOC.

[taxydual]

Arrived at Shawbury! Hope that doesn't mean storage.

[If all else fails]

Orange whip?

[TEEEJ]

NIMBY takes a dislike to Pumas!

Homes 'buzzed' by Benson helicopters (From Oxford Mail) (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4740523.Homes__buzzed__by_Benson_helicopters/)

TJ

[scarecrow450]

1 Puma arrived early on its own, 10 then left Shawbury, none of them went to storage !!

[Bannsider]

To borrow from Diginagain, some us living under the rim, so to speak, of the Emerald Toilet, in the Bann Valley, will not lose too much sleep over reduced Puma traffic.

That said, safe home, all the same.

[diginagain]

Sorry, that should have read 5/7, 9, 10/11, back in the days when we flew over Counties Armagh and Fermanagh, leaving Monaghan to the Puma fleet.

Pigs-tits for digits/iTouch interface.

[ShyTorque]

NIMBY takes a dislike to Pumas!
Homes 'buzzed' by Benson helicopters (From Oxford Mail)

He's a tree surgeon. Perhaps he thinks it's unfair competition.... ;)

[barnstormer1968]

As for the tree surgeon...What a lucky sod. I never get to see any flying as good as that, let alone regularly enough to video it:(.

That video brought back some really good memories from the mid 1980's, of sitting in the back of a puma and skimming through the trees, getting ready to attack some target or other:ok:

[charliegolf]

Whilst I was always taught not to judge a book by its cover, the bloke does actually look like a tw@t!

CG

and, ok, I should know, save your typing finger:ok:

[BoeingMEL]

another complete kn*b who chose a home by an airfield and was then surprised by the presence of aerial activity. pr:mad:ck!

[101BOY]

There really are some complete muppets in my county I'm ashamed to say. Bought house near airfield and saw aircraft landing there shocker. I can't believe the Oxford Mail print this garbage - oh no my mistake!

[Roger Sofarover]

I have just sent this to the Oxford Mail for publication

Oxford Mail Sunday 15th November 2009

From ...Roger Sofarover.... RAF Puma Pilot (Retired)


Reply to Mr Jeff Clarke “so fed up with the pilots purposefully coming so close to his home” - "Is harassment of residents the role of the military?"

Responding to Jeff Clarke of Dry Sandford who is clearly wondering if the Puma helicopter training flights that pass above his Dry Sandford home are simply to harass residents. I can say that, yes, our mission is to harass residents, specifically Mr Clarke.

We do not train 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide freedom and security to all residents of the United Kingdom. We exist only to annoy the very people we are sworn to protect, against all enemies, foreign and domestic. We spend months and years overseas, away from our families and loved ones, in some cases making less than minimum wage, choosing to live a life in which many qualify for Tax credits, just to have the chance, one day, to annoy people like Mr Clarke.

There is no more sought after position in the military than the Jeff Clarke Annoyance Task Force. As a matter of fact, the servicemen who will spend Christmas dug into fighting positions in Afghanistan and their brothers in the sky, braving anti-aircraft missiles and artillery, are just there training to come back to England and fly missions over Mr Clarke’s house. It has nothing to do with the security of the nation. It has no impact on our ability to carry out missions in Africa, The Middle east and other far reaches of the globe, and it has no bearing on Mr Clarke’s ability to enjoy nature and peaceful quiet living. It certainly was not valuable and necessary training to help sustain the lives of those who assure the nation's freedom, should they ever be sent into harms way just to do that.The strange almost scientific war scene he describes is put on solely to make noise and to destroy his scenic view corridors in Dry Sandford. As for Mr Clarke believing “It’s like a war zone around here” in Dry Sandford, no Mr Clarke, I absolutely assure you it is NOTHING like a war zone, as many young men and women who have returned to this country missing arms and legs will testify.

Next time Mr Clarke may want to look upon those loud machines and think about the men and women who fly, ride in, and maintain them. Ponder the sacrifices they make in providing this nation with the warm blanket of freedom we all enjoy. Maybe he might even imagine how much more disturbing it would be if he were not sure what country the helicopters were from, or whether they were going to attack his beautiful neighbourhood. But he shouldn't worry too much about that, because we will not let it happen.







Do let me know if it gets published. I do hope so:)

[Gainesy]

You might also ask the dumb f*** how quiet his chainsaws are?

Tree Surgeon? Balls, ever see one cure a sick tree?

[ScorpionDriver]

Well, here's an anonymous poll from a local rag where we can all tick the right box.......

RAF reassurance over low-flying copters (From Herald Series) (http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/hsabingdonnews/4741310.RAF_reassurance_over_low_flying_copters/)

[Fortyodd2]

Roger Sofarover,
Top Letter - wish I'd written that!! :ok::D:ok::D:ok::D:ok::D:ok:

[Data-Lynx]

They arrived (http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/RafPumasUnitedAtBenson.htm). Not so sure that the accompanying pic was taken on the same day.
http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B435200B-119D-47C9-AF61-42FBFAC40554/0/BEN09588OUTUNC21_2.jpg

[pr00ne]

Roger Sofarover,

That has to be the most original, funniest and yet poignant riposte that I have ever seen on here, well done and many thanks for sharing.

I SERIOUSLY hope that it is published.

[Diablo Rouge]

All helicopters generally look the same to a fixed wing numpty like me, but there seems to be something odd about the two "Pumas" at the back.
There is; the last one has got an extra landing light. It must be driven by a Chav! I bet he (she) shim? has lowered the ride height to!

[Army Mover]

Re - the picture of Puma/Merlin taxying; how on earth does the pilot of the 2nd, 3rd etc aircraft know when the guy (guyess) in front slows down and needs to brake? Brake lights? :confused:

[CirrusF]

Why has Aldergrove come under the JHC command structure? Surely all that will be left at Aldergrove are AAC fixed-wing aircraft, and some RAF Regiment, neither under JHC?

[airborne_artist]

Brake lights?

Pilot will call "braking, braking" and loady opens door and waves hand up and down :ok:

[Roger Sofarover]

how on earth does the pilot of the 2nd, 3rd etc aircraft know when the guy (guyess) in front slows down and needs to brake?

Big boys rules. Use the Mk1 eyeball, that's all, same as any aircraft following any other aircraft.

[Gainesy]

loady opens door and waves hand up and down

Loady in No 2 then runs up to No 1 shouts: "Who you callin a ******?", fist fight develops on taxi way.

Pic reminds me of fat slags trying to sneak into bar behind nice birds.
Time for me tablets.....

[heights good]

When the Puma in front gets bigger, slow down ;)

HG

[Marly Lite]

Cirrus F,

AAC fixed wing ARE under JHC.

[cornish-stormrider]

Just voted in the poll, 76% in favour - and TorqueoftheDevil's comments made I a happy ex liney...

I have no idea about lat long of our factory but It's the mo0st northerly industrial estate on the tavistock road and we are by some HT power lines. Flyby with extras about 1300 hrs please...

But no arseing about:E unless you can pull if off with panache...

[Roger Sofarover]

Cornish

Is this the right thread:confused:

[dead_pan]

Having v recently re-located to S Oxon, I have been slightly perplexed by some of the antics of boys from Benson, particularly given recent events. Not so long back the fam & I witnessed a Puma climbing to clear a teleraph wire running across a field (50' floor? me arrse). A few days we had a Merlin turning & burning (well, turning at least) directly overhead our house (to be fair we routinely get Tutors doing aeros o/h as well). Its not surprising some of the locals are getting a nad animated.

I'm not complaining BTW - it beats the incessant drone of a/c inbound and departing LHR which we had to put up with in our previous abode.

Roger - I'll keep an eye out for your letter in the local rag :ok:

[TheWizard]

DP,
50 foot is a minimum transit altitude. This does not mean aircraft can't fly lower during certain procedures (not for discussion on here) so what you saw may well have been totally within legal limits.
Helicopters can and do fly under wires (granted not telephone wires hopefully!)

I think you would have been more concerned if the Merlin wasn't turning and burning whilst over your house (which you haven't specifically located apart from S Oxon).:uhoh:
Come outside and wave next time one flies over and you might even get a wave back!:)

[CrabInCab]

Just tell Mr Clarke the next time he sees a low flying helicopter "being a nuisance" to imagine how an 18 year old squaddie who has just had 2 legs and an arm blown off by an IED feels when he sees a low flying helicopter coming to pick him up under sustained enemy fire.

[bast0n]

Roger sofarover

Brilliant letter - you could send a copy to:-

J Clarke
Owlswood
ABINGDON
Oxfordshire
OX13 6JT
01865 730149

That would ensure he got the message!!:ok:

[Airborne Aircrew]

OX13 6JT

Google maps tells me he purchased his house about 300m from the end of RAF Abingdon's main runway... RAF Abingdon was opened in 1932 so he's either waited an awfully long time to complain or he's an idiot... I know where my money is...:rolleyes:

[Sky Sports]

AlderBanana and Pumas......great,great memories.
Tried to jump start one with a Gazelle once......didn't work :eek:

[The Duke of Leinster]

Roger

What an excellent letter...

But rather than bask in all this praise don't you think you should come clean? Plagiarism is such an ugly word.

[Roger Sofarover]

The Duke.

I did come clean, and posted on a separate post on this thread that inspiration and thanks were to a US Marine Captain many years ago. But the comment disappeared/was erased after about 1-2 hours, so I sent it as PMs to people concerned. I assumed that as the purpose of the letter was to shoot down in flames a head up his ar*e tree surgeon then a kind Mod must have considered my public self flagellation unneccesary. I also published on this Forum the original letter about 18 months to two years ago. Happy?:rolleyes:

[The Duke of Leinster]

Agreed - public self-flagellation is not necessary. Just credit where it's due. Explanation accepted.:ok:

[LEFTI]

In response to the earlier posts, 9 Pumas stared up and departed Aldergrove. The 9-ship met a 10th ac at Shawbury, this acted as a spare and had a camera team on it to record the event, hence why there were pictures of all 9 ac in flight. Apparently the ten ac taxying in at RAF Benson was also very impressive. I'm sure pics will end up on here eventually.

[Roger Sofarover]

Just credit where it's due. Explanation accepted

As stated above, credit was given, and under the circumstances, a decent chap on such a forum would neither request nor need an explanation;) Point to ponder.

[SaddamsLoveChild]

Some of the nine may have been from 33....................or is that just a rumour.:\

[Could be the last?]

After the events in the Province this weekend, I am sure that the Puma will be making a guest appearance back there in the not to distant future!!!

You turn your back for a minute.................

[dead_pan]

Puma will be making a guest appearance


Nah, send in a couple of Apaches with Hellfire a la IDF. Lets call it Operation Anachronism.

[Man-on-the-fence]

Roger

Your letter has been published

Oxford Mail Link (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/opinion/letters/4760368.RAF_pilot_training_helps_to_save_lives/)

[Roger Sofarover]

:E:E

Thank you MotF.

[Gainesy]

Well done Roger, I note you gave them a false name. Good PerSec drills. :suspect: