Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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OK ... Enough for today 
Still more to come ...
So just to close off ... here is a little competition clue to an Air Clues article yet to come. Who can guess what the subject is ?
'Why was Carlsberg important to these Gentlemen in the early Summer of 1977 ... probably'
Coff.
Still more to come ...
So just to close off ... here is a little competition clue to an Air Clues article yet to come. Who can guess what the subject is ?
'Why was Carlsberg important to these Gentlemen in the early Summer of 1977 ... probably'
Coff.
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I took this whilst flying another (former) RAF four turboprop queen of the skies
Yep stayed there
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Not nearly enough snow! Remember walking from Sinbads to Reflections one night for a Caribbean evening, free beer if you turned up in Caribbean kit. Crew did the walk in shorts and flip flops, OAT - 18 ho hum. Beer was free. Taxi back tho!
When I was on Hastings we once walked back to Widenrath from Wassenberg after a Rosenmontag festival. Only the anti freeze properties of the alcohol in the system prevemted mass hypothermia !
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Newfie mentality
Being on HCS, I got to Glander quite regularly - year round.
In the Albert Ross, I asked for a Moose Steak (Seasonal), during every season, including a Menu reprint.
Eventually I asked the Manager why I could never get one and he replied that they'd not got it on the menu as it was disapproved of. When I pointed out it was on the 'new' menu, he just looked at me . . .
Did anyone manage a Moose Steak in Glander (anywhere)?
In the Albert Ross, I asked for a Moose Steak (Seasonal), during every season, including a Menu reprint.
Eventually I asked the Manager why I could never get one and he replied that they'd not got it on the menu as it was disapproved of. When I pointed out it was on the 'new' menu, he just looked at me . . .
Did anyone manage a Moose Steak in Glander (anywhere)?
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I hope you don't mind ... But I just couldn't resist looking Sinbad's and the Albatross up on Trip Advisor ...
Sinbad's Hotel and Suites Gander
Albatross Motel-Gander
Coff.
Sinbad's Hotel and Suites Gander
Albatross Motel-Gander
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 27th Feb 2015 at 13:23.
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Herky accidents.
Ref Post 2558. Interesting article in Air Clues about other peoples troubles. The paragraph describing the loss of the forward cargo door I think happened to an Australian aircraft commanded by one of our Captains on exchange. It was over 40 years ago when my then boss at Colerne (Air Test) told me the story and I believe that the Captain received the AFC or something similar.
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Please excuse the thread drift, but the pictures of 181 sitting on the grass and the mention of doors falling off reminded me of an earlier incident at Thorney Island.
Co-pilot training sortie early in the Bev course. Fg Off B***** makes a landing and all the tyres on the port side burst. Bits of wheel and fixed undercarriage and sponsons are strewn down the runway and we come to a halt across the intersection not only closing the Master Diversion, but blocking the road to the Mess so that the chaps are late for their lunch.
Bemused silence on board the aircraft. Staff captain yells at the student crew to move their asses and get out. Co-pilot is first down the stairs, he has never opened the door before as that is usually done by the Loady but he is doing something more important (?). Co-pilot sees a yellow and black striped handle and pulls it - jettisoning the door just as the first of the firemen arrives 10 foot below it. Co-pilot hurt pride, fireman hurt all over!
In spite of his heart rending denials, Co-pilot gets the blame as he 'obviously' landed with his toes on the brakes. Whole thing would have gone down as pilot error except the same thing happens to Fg Off S******* a few days later on another co-pilot training sortie. Bit too much of a coincidence so Eng Wg do a proper investigation this time and discover a faulty batch of maxarets had recently been delivered from the MU. Two very relieved co-pilots.
Co-pilot training sortie early in the Bev course. Fg Off B***** makes a landing and all the tyres on the port side burst. Bits of wheel and fixed undercarriage and sponsons are strewn down the runway and we come to a halt across the intersection not only closing the Master Diversion, but blocking the road to the Mess so that the chaps are late for their lunch.
Bemused silence on board the aircraft. Staff captain yells at the student crew to move their asses and get out. Co-pilot is first down the stairs, he has never opened the door before as that is usually done by the Loady but he is doing something more important (?). Co-pilot sees a yellow and black striped handle and pulls it - jettisoning the door just as the first of the firemen arrives 10 foot below it. Co-pilot hurt pride, fireman hurt all over!
In spite of his heart rending denials, Co-pilot gets the blame as he 'obviously' landed with his toes on the brakes. Whole thing would have gone down as pilot error except the same thing happens to Fg Off S******* a few days later on another co-pilot training sortie. Bit too much of a coincidence so Eng Wg do a proper investigation this time and discover a faulty batch of maxarets had recently been delivered from the MU. Two very relieved co-pilots.
Sinbads, my first ever night stop as a GE after completing the course. My "minder" explained the pervasive smell of cooking coming from the room corridors as Air Cubana trying to save money on crew meals. I was introduced to Aunty Vera, Pizza Delight, stretchy soup and a pizza with extra anchovies. Ksimboy, I have a vague memory of doing a night out in flip flops and shorts in about 8 feet of minus 15 snow. Was I your GE ? The best night was the dance night at the Albert Ross, a local band and local ladies with a sense of humour. I well remember being an Australian sheep purchaser on a buying tour, attracting attention from a couple of "local ladies" as something that was not the "usual" Herk crew. Happy days, and always a good night stop.
From a GE point of view, I do remember arriving back at Lyneham around 1800 local one evening, after a night stop Gander, to find that I was down for an 0600 departure the next morning for a refuel Prestwick, night stop Gander. On the way over I was enjoying a coffee and chat on the flight deck, our Captain said he was looking forward to the trip as he hadn't been across the pond for three months. I had a laugh explaining that from my cross oddled brain I had left there only a few hours before. The screech and coke was the first drink the barman poured that night, before anyone ordered a drink. Happy daze.
Smudge
From a GE point of view, I do remember arriving back at Lyneham around 1800 local one evening, after a night stop Gander, to find that I was down for an 0600 departure the next morning for a refuel Prestwick, night stop Gander. On the way over I was enjoying a coffee and chat on the flight deck, our Captain said he was looking forward to the trip as he hadn't been across the pond for three months. I had a laugh explaining that from my cross oddled brain I had left there only a few hours before. The screech and coke was the first drink the barman poured that night, before anyone ordered a drink. Happy daze.
Smudge
Just picking up on the RAAF/RAF article in Air Clues. When I was the ALM leader on 30 we had an RAAF loadmaster (from 36 Sqn I think) attached to us for six months.
This was part of a scheme called Ex Airwave whereby they sent one to us and we sent one to them. I wonder if the scheme still exists as I believe it included groundcrew as well.
Originally the system wanted him to do the full RAF ALM Herc course as our rules etc are totally different to anyone elses. This would have left him with about two months on a squadron. I talked them into letting him doing just two weeks on the OCU and getting the EU to sign him up as 'Proficient'. The quid pro quo was that he could not operate as the sole ALM on a crew. This was no hardship to me as at the time the one ALM per 33 pax rule was being enforced. As I was always under establishment I could and did use him as the number two on such trips. I also sent him to places he would not normally get to go. He was not allowed to do standby, or go to NI or the FI.
So 'Tommo T' enjoyed his time with 30 and presented us with a plaque and some pics when he left.
By right we should have been allotted the 'return' leg but that went to an ALM from the OCU despite my protests. I was not best pleased at this turn of events but the chap they sent was the I would have chosen if I had still been the CALMI.
This was part of a scheme called Ex Airwave whereby they sent one to us and we sent one to them. I wonder if the scheme still exists as I believe it included groundcrew as well.
Originally the system wanted him to do the full RAF ALM Herc course as our rules etc are totally different to anyone elses. This would have left him with about two months on a squadron. I talked them into letting him doing just two weeks on the OCU and getting the EU to sign him up as 'Proficient'. The quid pro quo was that he could not operate as the sole ALM on a crew. This was no hardship to me as at the time the one ALM per 33 pax rule was being enforced. As I was always under establishment I could and did use him as the number two on such trips. I also sent him to places he would not normally get to go. He was not allowed to do standby, or go to NI or the FI.
So 'Tommo T' enjoyed his time with 30 and presented us with a plaque and some pics when he left.
By right we should have been allotted the 'return' leg but that went to an ALM from the OCU despite my protests. I was not best pleased at this turn of events but the chap they sent was the I would have chosen if I had still been the CALMI.
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One awkward night in Gander! The Gander Hotel was being used but was also in use by the Newfoundland Ladies Darts Association who were having their annual convention, some of them were quite aggressive. 
Standby for broadcast, this is a broadcast from the apothecral story centre....
Remember the days when certain locations were on 'actuals'? There was a team from command accounts who travelled around the world checking that the 'rate' for locations was correct, and in this instance, checking the 'actuals' claimed by crews were reasonable.
Some bright spark had declared Gander as an 'actuals' location, heaven knows why. The command accounts team noted that it was costing them more than rates had been, so hotfooted it across the pond (with some glee no doubt).
Having carefully analysed the returns from the crews, they set off to the premier restaurant in town, as used by all crews evidenced by the receipts, called 'Reflections'....
Upon taking their appointed table, they ordered the same as all of the receipts - The Chateaubriand. The waitress asked 'You guys Air Force, right?', which they confirmed and she disappeared to the kitchen, only to return a few minutes later with 2 pitchers of Beer and a basket of chips (fries). The accountants were surprised by this and pointed out to the girl that this was not what they had ordered......whereupon she said 'Yeah, that's right, you guys ask for the chateaubriand, I bring beer and fries'.
Gander went back to rates shortly thereafter.....
End of broadcast!
I don't know of this story is true, or even factually correct but hey!
Remember the days when certain locations were on 'actuals'? There was a team from command accounts who travelled around the world checking that the 'rate' for locations was correct, and in this instance, checking the 'actuals' claimed by crews were reasonable.
Some bright spark had declared Gander as an 'actuals' location, heaven knows why. The command accounts team noted that it was costing them more than rates had been, so hotfooted it across the pond (with some glee no doubt).
Having carefully analysed the returns from the crews, they set off to the premier restaurant in town, as used by all crews evidenced by the receipts, called 'Reflections'....
Upon taking their appointed table, they ordered the same as all of the receipts - The Chateaubriand. The waitress asked 'You guys Air Force, right?', which they confirmed and she disappeared to the kitchen, only to return a few minutes later with 2 pitchers of Beer and a basket of chips (fries). The accountants were surprised by this and pointed out to the girl that this was not what they had ordered......whereupon she said 'Yeah, that's right, you guys ask for the chateaubriand, I bring beer and fries'.
Gander went back to rates shortly thereafter.....
End of broadcast!
I don't know of this story is true, or even factually correct but hey!
DC,
I have heard a version of those events but whether it was Gander I cannot remember. When I was on 48 at Changi we had the ludicrous situation whereby the officers were on rates and the NCO aircrew on actuals.
It did not take the genius of Einstein to ensure that this cost the RAF far more than would have been the case if all had been on rates.
I did a trip out to Hong Kong and back and we took an accountant officer who ran the imprest. She was still trying to reconcile it weeks after we got back !
I have heard a version of those events but whether it was Gander I cannot remember. When I was on 48 at Changi we had the ludicrous situation whereby the officers were on rates and the NCO aircrew on actuals.
It did not take the genius of Einstein to ensure that this cost the RAF far more than would have been the case if all had been on rates.
I did a trip out to Hong Kong and back and we took an accountant officer who ran the imprest. She was still trying to reconcile it weeks after we got back !