216 Squadron Disbandment Parade
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Despite the many 'Cannonballs', that Dengue Dude alludes to, I can also concur that it's the best flying office that was ever built. A great bunch of people to fly with, and, it's my hope that many 'old hands' will be in attendance at the Hangar Bash on Thursday. I can't say that I'll be looking forward to the Friday morning hangover!
Farewell 'ten-eleven'
TCF
Farewell 'ten-eleven'
TCF
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Have a good party!
Not trying to argue...especially on this nostalgic occasion...but cannot agree with this quote by TheChitterneFlyer...'I can also concur that it's the best flying office that was ever built.'
I was an RAF F/E on Hastings then VC10s; and in civvy life 4 years B707, 2 years L1011 and 10 years B747 (200/300)
The Tristar was my worst experience....it only had 3 engines and the civil version never performed to Lockheed's specs. Also, red alert lights would flash for no apparent reason...new to type pilots would ask "What to
is that Dave?"
My standard response was "Just cancel and wait a couple of seconds" ....they always went out and not return but...scared the crap outta me.
Have a great going-away party.
I was an RAF F/E on Hastings then VC10s; and in civvy life 4 years B707, 2 years L1011 and 10 years B747 (200/300)
The Tristar was my worst experience....it only had 3 engines and the civil version never performed to Lockheed's specs. Also, red alert lights would flash for no apparent reason...new to type pilots would ask "What to
is that Dave?" My standard response was "Just cancel and wait a couple of seconds" ....they always went out and not return but...scared the crap outta me.
Have a great going-away party.
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but cannot agree with this quote by TheChitterneFlyer
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So that's it then. I'm now officially old as every type I worked on has left the service.
Looking at the signed Squadron print just above this PC and I'm taken back to Port and Cheese parties at 08:00 just after arriving in ASI on aforementioned Canonballs. C***s A****'s shark hanging up in the showers. Covered in fuel on the first stop of a 21 day epic ferrying 'stores' between Germany and the Middle East for GW1. Dustbin lid pizzas before night shift in Malpensa. Albert's (the bar not the aeroplane). And many many more happy days.
Looking at the signed Squadron print just above this PC and I'm taken back to Port and Cheese parties at 08:00 just after arriving in ASI on aforementioned Canonballs. C***s A****'s shark hanging up in the showers. Covered in fuel on the first stop of a 21 day epic ferrying 'stores' between Germany and the Middle East for GW1. Dustbin lid pizzas before night shift in Malpensa. Albert's (the bar not the aeroplane). And many many more happy days.
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I personally will always have a very soft spot for this fine aircraft. Years ahead of its time in design and general clevverness.
Hampered by always having to suckle the hind mammary of the VC10 and by those who were completely unaware of its true capabilities.
Hated by Navigators. What a great shame that some much needed money was not forthcoming in the important areas and at the important times.
Bye Bye 216. You gave me the best 20 years of my RAF career.
You are sorely missed.
Hampered by always having to suckle the hind mammary of the VC10 and by those who were completely unaware of its true capabilities.
Hated by Navigators. What a great shame that some much needed money was not forthcoming in the important areas and at the important times.
Bye Bye 216. You gave me the best 20 years of my RAF career.
You are sorely missed.
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My only flight overseas as a UAS cadet was to Akrotiri and back on the jumpseat of a 216 Sqn Tristar when they were "new" ish. 
Thank you. Turned out to be quite prophetic I suppose. Big jets for a living now.
Thank you. Turned out to be quite prophetic I suppose. Big jets for a living now.
Twenty One and Six had no less than 3 different aircraft types during my RAF time:
Comet 4 (until 1975)
Buccaneer (1979-80)
TriStar (1984 - present)
Some very nice video on tonight's local meeja following today's PR flight....
I well recall the day I arrived at Brize in 1983 with all my worldly possessions stuffed in or on my brand new Opel Manta. The station was on Bikini Amber, but fortunately Gate Plod accepted that I was posted in and didn't ask me to unload the car. As I drove around PTS bend and turned left for the OM, this huge blue and white monster appeared in the windscreen - one of the first 2 ex-ba TriStars for 216!!
Was it really over 30 years ago??
Comet 4 (until 1975)
Buccaneer (1979-80)
TriStar (1984 - present)
Some very nice video on tonight's local meeja following today's PR flight....
I well recall the day I arrived at Brize in 1983 with all my worldly possessions stuffed in or on my brand new Opel Manta. The station was on Bikini Amber, but fortunately Gate Plod accepted that I was posted in and didn't ask me to unload the car. As I drove around PTS bend and turned left for the OM, this huge blue and white monster appeared in the windscreen - one of the first 2 ex-ba TriStars for 216!!
Was it really over 30 years ago??
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For those interested ... RAF News has just released the following ...
No timings mentioned ...
Originally Posted by RAF News Twitter Feed
RAF News Reporter: The last 4 RAF Tristars should fly to Bruntingthorpe tomorrow although weather forecast doesn't look promising ...
I confess to know nothing about the RAF Tristar but in its civil role it was not a commercial success.
Lockheed even bribed Comany executives, including my own Co's Director of Flight Operation, to procure the A/C.
We were told it would fly non-stop Hong Kong to Sydney....never happened...we would need to send the pax luggage on another A/C to achieve that range.
It bankrupted Rolls Royce and the UK taxpayer has been bankrolling that purchase ever since. Probably why the RAF ended up with them....and probably why we were given landing rights to Heathrow. politics...politics!
I'm not sure but I think it also caused the demise of Eastern Airlines, and let's not forget the crash in the Everglades. Rumour has it they scavenged the galley equipment from that A/C to one of our leases. Our Flight Attendants (Asian) were scared of ghosts and avoided that A/C like the plague...sickies were prolific.
I flew on the leased Eastern A/C on a USA licence as they were still 'N' registered...it was a stop-gap cheap lease and now most of those L1011s can be found in an A/C parking lot in the desert near Tucson, AZ.
Also, I cannot recall how many times I had to help Flight Attendants in the lower galley when their equipment didn't work, or the elevator would stick!
The DLC was an advanced idea but most of our pilots were hesitant about it...didn't give much confidence as we constantly looked at some Vstall device...long time ago but I remember calling 'Alpha mode'...or something similar, on a few occasions...as this was a preliminary warning.
I'll admit it had advanced electronics which impressed me...but I'd be easily impressed having just spent 4 years on B707-320C which operated like a wheelbarrow...except the nose gear could easily stick-up!
Anyway, as someone said...each to his own. Enjoy the nostalgia.
Lockheed even bribed Comany executives, including my own Co's Director of Flight Operation, to procure the A/C.
We were told it would fly non-stop Hong Kong to Sydney....never happened...we would need to send the pax luggage on another A/C to achieve that range.
It bankrupted Rolls Royce and the UK taxpayer has been bankrolling that purchase ever since. Probably why the RAF ended up with them....and probably why we were given landing rights to Heathrow. politics...politics!
I'm not sure but I think it also caused the demise of Eastern Airlines, and let's not forget the crash in the Everglades. Rumour has it they scavenged the galley equipment from that A/C to one of our leases. Our Flight Attendants (Asian) were scared of ghosts and avoided that A/C like the plague...sickies were prolific.
I flew on the leased Eastern A/C on a USA licence as they were still 'N' registered...it was a stop-gap cheap lease and now most of those L1011s can be found in an A/C parking lot in the desert near Tucson, AZ.
Also, I cannot recall how many times I had to help Flight Attendants in the lower galley when their equipment didn't work, or the elevator would stick!
The DLC was an advanced idea but most of our pilots were hesitant about it...didn't give much confidence as we constantly looked at some Vstall device...long time ago but I remember calling 'Alpha mode'...or something similar, on a few occasions...as this was a preliminary warning.
I'll admit it had advanced electronics which impressed me...but I'd be easily impressed having just spent 4 years on B707-320C which operated like a wheelbarrow...except the nose gear could easily stick-up!
Anyway, as someone said...each to his own. Enjoy the nostalgia.