Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Hopefully he's just taking advantage of the ALMs 6 months annual leave Coff. Come on AA62, lets be hearing from you, no doubt you've thrown the Falcs off the back in your time !!!
Smudge
Smudge
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Let's hope so Smudge
Just thought I'd have a look for any interesting pics involving Albert and the Falcons. This image caught my eye ... Looks somewhere hot, possibly late 60's/early 70' (which could be wildly wrong) and looks to be XV214. Anyone able to tie it down ... or even admit to 'crewing in' on the sortie ?
Coff.
Just thought I'd have a look for any interesting pics involving Albert and the Falcons. This image caught my eye ... Looks somewhere hot, possibly late 60's/early 70' (which could be wildly wrong) and looks to be XV214. Anyone able to tie it down ... or even admit to 'crewing in' on the sortie ?
Coff.
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Erewhon
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We had gloss crud and custard with a white top originally (for me from 1971) and black underneath.
We then went to semi matt crud and custard without the white top.
Much later we then went to the European grey, green and light grey (which is my personal favourite).
We then went to semi matt crud and custard without the white top.
Much later we then went to the European grey, green and light grey (which is my personal favourite).
Oh dear Coff,
Crud and Custard indeed. As a member of a base 3 team from 1971-73 I can confirm that the beast was painted in a two tone colour scheme on the upper surfaces. Light Stone and Dark Earth were the colours supplied by Titanine (my memory can't recall the DTD number I'm afraid, DTD 515 (possibly DTD 585 lingers in my head though). My Morris Oxford looked great after our spray bay had a go at it. The under surfaces were finished in a Titanine gloss black and overall the aircraft looked stunning ;
What a beauty !
The white reflective flight deck top was a sop to the aircrew, who believed it kept them cooler. As always, from the mid 1970s the trend was toward tone down finishes, which, whilst being more practical, did take away our obvious recognition as Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft. As a side note, I was always led to believe that the White was removed from the roundel on Albert when some civil servant got the idea that it gave the IRA snipers a target to aim for ?
Smudge
Crud and Custard indeed. As a member of a base 3 team from 1971-73 I can confirm that the beast was painted in a two tone colour scheme on the upper surfaces. Light Stone and Dark Earth were the colours supplied by Titanine (my memory can't recall the DTD number I'm afraid, DTD 515 (possibly DTD 585 lingers in my head though). My Morris Oxford looked great after our spray bay had a go at it. The under surfaces were finished in a Titanine gloss black and overall the aircraft looked stunning ;
What a beauty !
The white reflective flight deck top was a sop to the aircrew, who believed it kept them cooler. As always, from the mid 1970s the trend was toward tone down finishes, which, whilst being more practical, did take away our obvious recognition as Royal Air Force Hercules aircraft. As a side note, I was always led to believe that the White was removed from the roundel on Albert when some civil servant got the idea that it gave the IRA snipers a target to aim for ?
Smudge
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Back from the sandpit
Age: 63
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Coff
Def not the Falcons, these are the Red Freds. Recognise several faces, and would place the time as the early Eighties for sure. Prob El Centro. Still in touch with a couple of them.
Def not the Falcons, these are the Red Freds. Recognise several faces, and would place the time as the early Eighties for sure. Prob El Centro. Still in touch with a couple of them.
Agree with TBT,
Not sure what "Red Fred's" are, maybe Pathfinders rather than Falcs, the airframe has the later colour scheme we have been discussing, and all that's missing are the Navy Blue Angels to confirm El Centro. Maybe early 80s, the trend for moustaches seems to have been at its height in those days. I refer back to a previous post of mine re pathfinders, HALO and a near miss.
Smudge
Not sure what "Red Fred's" are, maybe Pathfinders rather than Falcs, the airframe has the later colour scheme we have been discussing, and all that's missing are the Navy Blue Angels to confirm El Centro. Maybe early 80s, the trend for moustaches seems to have been at its height in those days. I refer back to a previous post of mine re pathfinders, HALO and a near miss.
Smudge
Sorry TBT, did the Red Devils do El Centro then ? MFF ? No reason not to I assume, the Falcs used it as a winter warm up, we used to drop them in the climb to do the HALO, before we went on O2,. Certainly looks like El Centro, but didn't they all. Thanks for enlarging my limited knowledge of army units (red Fred's indeed) I have to admit that in 6 years as a GE I never, ever met a Red Devil, whilst I certainly met a good few "Falcons". As an aside, I always thought they jumped out of a Skyvan, or some such workhorse, seems a lot of them to get in one of those ? Is that both shifts of Red Devils ?
Smudge
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 20th Aug 2015 at 22:27.
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Back from the sandpit
Age: 63
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They used to have their own BN2T Islander for domestic use but would often tag on to Falcons exercises for work up training. The team used to be a lot bigger than it is now. I arranged for them to do Lyneham Families day in 1991 as the Coons decided they'd double booked at the last minute, they were suppose to bring one of their spare cleared rigs with them for me to jump but they failed. When I saw who the PJI dispatcher was I realised I could have jumped my own rig but it was in my locker at WOTG. Was not a happy bear when I had to land with the Herc. Maybe aircrew shouldn't jump Hercs 
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Thanks chaps ... Glad that's sorted
Red Devils early 80's at El Centro
Any more stories/pics involving RAF Albert with the Falcs and/or the Devils ?
There's something in the back of my mind, from my 'short trousers' days, that John Noakes of Blue Peter fame jumped with the Devils from a Herc late 60's/early 70's ... or have I drifted off track ?
Cheers ...
Coff.
Red Devils early 80's at El Centro
Any more stories/pics involving RAF Albert with the Falcs and/or the Devils ?
There's something in the back of my mind, from my 'short trousers' days, that John Noakes of Blue Peter fame jumped with the Devils from a Herc late 60's/early 70's ... or have I drifted off track ?
Cheers ...
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 21st Aug 2015 at 07:57.
Hello all I am still alive and well it is that if I have nothing to say then I do not say it ! Yes I was once the ALM on a squadron display team for a season. I have mentioned a couple of trips in the earlier posts. The problem with the Falcons was that sometimes they thought they owned the a/c. As I pointed out to one team leader they only 'control' the a/c in the last few minutes before the drop. As Alcazares has said they had developed some very bad habits including setting off their smoke canisters well before the drop. Not only was it toxic but it stained the inside of the a/c and I was told was not aluminiums best friend.
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Back from the sandpit
Age: 63
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Coff
Close, John Noakes' early jumps in the late sixties were with the Red Devils were he progressed onto free fall delays but not out of a Herc. In the seventies, JN jumped with No 1 PTS and the Falcons. For many years JN held the record for the highest civilian skydive. It was out of a Herc and some of those PJIs are still around, abeit retired now.
Pages 28-29
http://www.bpa-archive.org.uk/mag_ar...017-1968-2.pdf
Pages 4-5
http://www.bpa-archive.org.uk/mag_ar...041-1974-2.pdf
Close, John Noakes' early jumps in the late sixties were with the Red Devils were he progressed onto free fall delays but not out of a Herc. In the seventies, JN jumped with No 1 PTS and the Falcons. For many years JN held the record for the highest civilian skydive. It was out of a Herc and some of those PJIs are still around, abeit retired now.
Pages 28-29
http://www.bpa-archive.org.uk/mag_ar...017-1968-2.pdf
Pages 4-5
http://www.bpa-archive.org.uk/mag_ar...041-1974-2.pdf
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Glad you're OK AA62
Many thanks TBT ... That's my reading sorted today once I've completed Mrs Coff's Friday Task List (yes ... 500 PSI !)
Must be some more stories/pics out there ... I still can't believe our 'Happy Band' is approaching 3,600 Contributions with 0.5 Million Hits over nearly Sixteen Months on the Thread
Best ...
Coff.
Many thanks TBT ... That's my reading sorted today once I've completed Mrs Coff's Friday Task List (yes ... 500 PSI !)
Must be some more stories/pics out there ... I still can't believe our 'Happy Band' is approaching 3,600 Contributions with 0.5 Million Hits over nearly Sixteen Months on the Thread
Best ...
Coff.
Just to pick up on the inflight meals. I was in the Inflight Catering Section one day when the SNCO I/C showed me the latest batch of frozen meals after a contract change. They were a good deal smaller than the previous ones ! He defrosted one and put it on a standard RAF dinnerplate. It might have made an adequate starter ! I phoned up the Command Caterer who knew nothing about the change. All organised by MOD and given to the lowest tender irrespective of quantity and quality. As always typical of decisions made by people far removed from the coal face who never have to live with the realities of those decisions.
AA62,
Welcome back, and thanks for the post on the "improved due to privatisation" in flight catering. Now, I, along with a very good mate (ex GE) have a love of Lyneham in flights ACC of the late 80/90s. No better meal was ever more welcome at "top of drop" after a 10 hour "hammock session" and looking forward to a -20 degree A/F followed by rectification of goodness knows what. Young Tucker T managed to get the recipe for the ACC from in flight, prior to his departure as a GE, and therefore continues to supply the said meal, on our days of meet, greet and reminisce. Unfortunately, he got the recipe for a full batch, we are still working through his 2013 attempt ! There's GEs for you. Nice to hear you are still loitering AA62, somehow the thread seemed a bit quiet without you.
Smudge
Welcome back, and thanks for the post on the "improved due to privatisation" in flight catering. Now, I, along with a very good mate (ex GE) have a love of Lyneham in flights ACC of the late 80/90s. No better meal was ever more welcome at "top of drop" after a 10 hour "hammock session" and looking forward to a -20 degree A/F followed by rectification of goodness knows what. Young Tucker T managed to get the recipe for the ACC from in flight, prior to his departure as a GE, and therefore continues to supply the said meal, on our days of meet, greet and reminisce. Unfortunately, he got the recipe for a full batch, we are still working through his 2013 attempt ! There's GEs for you. Nice to hear you are still loitering AA62, somehow the thread seemed a bit quiet without you.
Smudge
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Gents ... I think our good friend Vasco Sodcat needs a bit of encouragement
He's had the 'Coff Gen Sheet' on pic posting ... Since then radio silence
Coff.
PS. I'm sure Doug has a few more interesting pics in his Nav Bag !
He's had the 'Coff Gen Sheet' on pic posting ... Since then radio silence
Coff.
PS. I'm sure Doug has a few more interesting pics in his Nav Bag !
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK East Anglia
Age: 66
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Fred with the head in front of the 1 looks like J*** R** I think he is now with BCP. He went on to do stunt work including Lara Croft and ))&.
I am sure TBT will confirm. Loved his curries and had a curry house in Llannsomethingorother.
I missed you too AA62.
Drag
I am sure TBT will confirm. Loved his curries and had a curry house in Llannsomethingorother.
I missed you too AA62.
Drag