Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Grand Canyon Arrivals
Back in the days of Buccs at Nellis we were on a support resupply for Wet Rag and Captain says to crew how about we cancel flight plan and go VFR to Nellis ,this followed by round of applause all round. No sooner done than chat carried out with ATC somewhere to get clearance for flight down the canyon and I mean down the canyon, very scenic and impressive, even more so for the light aircraft coming the other way some fair height below us as this big green machine comes round the corner going the other way! In the end we popped out of the canyon and legged it to Nellis.
Another Red Flag linked occasion was when I was the RAF Det at Scott AFB to cover any Red Flag resupply that couldn't make Gander direct and would drop in for a splash and a dash as Formula I would put it. On entering base Ops for the first time I was having a chat as you do and this lady came up to me and asked me if I knew Chalky White, a G/E who was one of the originals and was in fact still around when I started as a G/E as he was a very good friend of hers! If you knew Chalky a less likely bloke to have " good friends " down route you would think but the same thing happened to me twice more when I was there.
Another Red Flag linked occasion was when I was the RAF Det at Scott AFB to cover any Red Flag resupply that couldn't make Gander direct and would drop in for a splash and a dash as Formula I would put it. On entering base Ops for the first time I was having a chat as you do and this lady came up to me and asked me if I knew Chalky White, a G/E who was one of the originals and was in fact still around when I started as a G/E as he was a very good friend of hers! If you knew Chalky a less likely bloke to have " good friends " down route you would think but the same thing happened to me twice more when I was there.
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1066 ... Welcome 
We have a fine group of members contributing to this thread ... I'm sure you will know many of the Characters ... please feel free to join in and share your stories.
If you have some pics you might like to share ... I'll be only too pleased to help ... Just give me a shout on here.
Best ...
Coff.
We have a fine group of members contributing to this thread ... I'm sure you will know many of the Characters ... please feel free to join in and share your stories.
If you have some pics you might like to share ... I'll be only too pleased to help ... Just give me a shout on here.
Best ...
Coff.
XV193
On the day the accident happened I was arriving with a fellow GE and a team of Linies to see the aircraft through Edmonton as I recall. Could that have been DISTANT THUNDER ExAscoteer ? Whatever, some very fine people lost their lives that day, many people we have shared routes and beers with. I'll be raising one to all of them tonight. RIP All.
Smudge
Smudge
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Indeed it was Smudge, DISTANT FRONTIER. It was the recovery of Tornados from Eilson AFB in Alaska.
I was running the Slip Pattern in Goose Bay.
I was running the Slip Pattern in Goose Bay.
ExAscoteer,
Then you will certainly remember M*** G***** (previously mentioned) and the other GE who were the two GEs at Goose for the duration, as I recall. Not sure if you recovered on the sweeper aircraft with the rest of the deployed Lynehamites, but we had a few problems with the aircraft on its return from Eilson. With both a mainwheel change, and a rear GITZ replacement. I think the lads did very well with around a six hour delay in our return to Lyneham overall. It was a good deployment, overshadowed by the sad news we received on arrival at Edmonton.
Smudge
Then you will certainly remember M*** G***** (previously mentioned) and the other GE who were the two GEs at Goose for the duration, as I recall. Not sure if you recovered on the sweeper aircraft with the rest of the deployed Lynehamites, but we had a few problems with the aircraft on its return from Eilson. With both a mainwheel change, and a rear GITZ replacement. I think the lads did very well with around a six hour delay in our return to Lyneham overall. It was a good deployment, overshadowed by the sad news we received on arrival at Edmonton.
Smudge
Snatch
Sorry to revisit posts a long time back. I've just got past page 100 before I joined in. Many smiles along the way. Thank you all.
There was a question re what was the "string" used for the snatch?
Glider tow rope is what I was told. I can claim to be the first "gash squadron pilot" to have carried out a snatch. On 9 June 1982 we were on the east strip at Deptford Down doing our day strip qual prior to fighter affil and AAR for deployment to ASI. JATE were on the west strip doing the snatch trials. They were concerned that they had become so used to flying the snatch that they were not sure how difficult it would be for "gash sqn pilots". Their exact words! When they came across to ask for one I was the one available. I hesitate to say selected or chosen. If you were used to free drop it wasn't too difficult as long as the pitch inputs were kept to a minimum and small as it was easy to set up an oscillation in the cable and the grappling hook would fly up and over the loop to be hooked.
The nylon ropes were only used for a limited number of snatches, three I think and I was given mine as a thanks for my contribution. It has proved to be a great tow rope for the car.
HTC
There was a question re what was the "string" used for the snatch?
Glider tow rope is what I was told. I can claim to be the first "gash squadron pilot" to have carried out a snatch. On 9 June 1982 we were on the east strip at Deptford Down doing our day strip qual prior to fighter affil and AAR for deployment to ASI. JATE were on the west strip doing the snatch trials. They were concerned that they had become so used to flying the snatch that they were not sure how difficult it would be for "gash sqn pilots". Their exact words! When they came across to ask for one I was the one available. I hesitate to say selected or chosen. If you were used to free drop it wasn't too difficult as long as the pitch inputs were kept to a minimum and small as it was easy to set up an oscillation in the cable and the grappling hook would fly up and over the loop to be hooked.
The nylon ropes were only used for a limited number of snatches, three I think and I was given mine as a thanks for my contribution. It has proved to be a great tow rope for the car.
HTC
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Snatch Rope
Hastings
IIRC the rope used for the surface to air mail recovery trial was that used by the target tugs for their banners. As you say they were lifed for 3 uses then discarded. My car tow rope is of such material.
IIRC the rope used for the surface to air mail recovery trial was that used by the target tugs for their banners. As you say they were lifed for 3 uses then discarded. My car tow rope is of such material.
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Dougie,
I'm shocked to hear of the misuse of service equipment (u/s of course). Next you will be saying your washing line is a transfer release cable from a double MSP !!!
I'm shocked to hear of the misuse of service equipment (u/s of course). Next you will be saying your washing line is a transfer release cable from a double MSP !!!
Washing Line
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I found this in my garage this evening
Any good to you Dougie or KSim or do you already have one.
It was left over from a fault report (760) investigation following a handful of failures. Metric cable with English size ferules 6mm is not quite a 1/4"
note the application of black gaffer tape. Universal for all things airdrop.
Sorry I don't have a George Rogers satchel for it.
I always made do with a bit of 303 cord for a washing line on detachments.
CADS suspension bridles made better tow ropes. unpick the stitching and make 4 (3 for your rigger mates) the snap hooks on the end fit nicely over the loops on most modern cars.
Now then guys; can we call an amnesty and have you all return the heavy canvas parachute recovery bags to stores
Snatch was before my time but XV275 may have info from his Beverley days. I believe the concept was first used in reverse for pulling ULLA loads out rather than picking stuff up.
Any good to you Dougie or KSim or do you already have one.
It was left over from a fault report (760) investigation following a handful of failures. Metric cable with English size ferules 6mm is not quite a 1/4"
note the application of black gaffer tape. Universal for all things airdrop.
Sorry I don't have a George Rogers satchel for it.
I always made do with a bit of 303 cord for a washing line on detachments.
CADS suspension bridles made better tow ropes. unpick the stitching and make 4 (3 for your rigger mates) the snap hooks on the end fit nicely over the loops on most modern cars.
Now then guys; can we call an amnesty and have you all return the heavy canvas parachute recovery bags to stores
Snatch was before my time but XV275 may have info from his Beverley days. I believe the concept was first used in reverse for pulling ULLA loads out rather than picking stuff up.
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Gaffer tape . . . . GAFFER TAPE?
That sir is BODGE TAPE!!! and accompanied everything in the boot of anyones' car that had ANYTHING to do with airdrop in any of its guises (apart from SEACs probably).
I love this thread . . . I've still got some of the 400 lb thin nylon line in my shed - after SOoo many years - and a Wilkie knife . . . and the fishing kit . . . and the . . . (oops, time for my pills)
That sir is BODGE TAPE!!! and accompanied everything in the boot of anyones' car that had ANYTHING to do with airdrop in any of its guises (apart from SEACs probably).
I love this thread . . . I've still got some of the 400 lb thin nylon line in my shed - after SOoo many years - and a Wilkie knife . . . and the fishing kit . . . and the . . . (oops, time for my pills)
dragartist,
so the failures were due to the Imperial/Metric interface ! I believe the USA lost a satellite due to such a combination. I do not recall any transfer release cable failures as such but in the early reefed main days they could whip and interfere with the forward load extraction. Had tie down failures (stretching and breaking) with the 38 cwt break cables !
I am sure the para bags are far more use in the garden than mouldering in some store.
so the failures were due to the Imperial/Metric interface ! I believe the USA lost a satellite due to such a combination. I do not recall any transfer release cable failures as such but in the early reefed main days they could whip and interfere with the forward load extraction. Had tie down failures (stretching and breaking) with the 38 cwt break cables !
I am sure the para bags are far more use in the garden than mouldering in some store.
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Drag,thanks for the offer but my trc is still doing sterling service, having successfully transferred the forward platform and supported washing since 19995 lol. Fantastic workmanship. 
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Ah TT,
C size is the ones used on the anchor cable.
When SBAC stopped sponsoring the AGS standards that threw us into a spin. There was two post pallets full at South Cerney (almost two tons of them) that went in the skip
I never saw one but the latest lanyard recovery lanyards were made from Kevlar. IIRC three different lengths in three colours, for long and short aircraft and where following loads. they were brought into service under a PURIBAD Mod on the J when we started doing double load split sticks. The Load lowering ropes from HAPES were being misused with no maintenance policy as they became more or less personal issue and never had a bay inspection.
I hope things are getting a little easier down your way TT.
BR
Drag
C size is the ones used on the anchor cable.
When SBAC stopped sponsoring the AGS standards that threw us into a spin. There was two post pallets full at South Cerney (almost two tons of them) that went in the skip
I never saw one but the latest lanyard recovery lanyards were made from Kevlar. IIRC three different lengths in three colours, for long and short aircraft and where following loads. they were brought into service under a PURIBAD Mod on the J when we started doing double load split sticks. The Load lowering ropes from HAPES were being misused with no maintenance policy as they became more or less personal issue and never had a bay inspection.
I hope things are getting a little easier down your way TT.
BR
Drag