Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Ex Ascoteer,
Having done that detachment looks like you just got me a new low altitude record. I notice that the Holtville strip we used for dropping during the day is listed at -11 feet, no wonder we had to climb to do HALOs
Smudge
Having done that detachment looks like you just got me a new low altitude record. I notice that the Holtville strip we used for dropping during the day is listed at -11 feet, no wonder we had to climb to do HALOs
Smudge
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I'm pretty sure we did El Centro together Smudge. 
Sadly my LogBook only records who the other pilot was and not who the crew were.
Sadly my LogBook only records who the other pilot was and not who the crew were.
Ahh ExAscoteer, this is the wrong forum, so I will just say, If we shared that trip, it was my pleasure, one of the best I took part in. Perhaps you will remember that we borrowed a "Huffer" from the Blue Angels, as our GTC was causing problems at the Holtville strip. We decided to leave it on the ground at Holtville and the next day it had disappeared. Despite an air search for the "Huffer" we never found it. I hope you didn't get a bill for it, I signed for it and never did. The golf was also exceptional. Happy Days.
Smudge
Smudge
Last in this series of airdrop pics (more later). This is the ultimate nightmare for the DZ party. Parachutes snagged in trees. At first glance looks like the Nav has miscalculated the CARP (Computed Air Release Point) calculation. But all may not be as it seems. All large airdrop loads had a mechanical disconnect on the riser line between the load and the parachute. Once the load was safely on the DZ the parachute could then drift off in the breeze without dragging the load with it. Or in the case of the heavy drop without turning the platform over.
As Brian the Nav and his colleagues would not have made such a mistake this is obviously what has happened here !
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El-Centro ...
Now that looks an interesting neighbourhood to fly in
I've also included a link below for those who might like a wider look around the LFA ... it might prompt a few more stories and pics
Where were the DZ's shown in the pics above ... I assume they were "off" airfield ?
VFRMAP - Digital Aeronautical Charts
San Diego ... What a marvellous place to visit and stay a while
Now that looks an interesting neighbourhood to fly in
I've also included a link below for those who might like a wider look around the LFA ... it might prompt a few more stories and pics
Where were the DZ's shown in the pics above ... I assume they were "off" airfield ?
VFRMAP - Digital Aeronautical Charts
San Diego ... What a marvellous place to visit and stay a while
Diego Garcia and R.N. catering
In ten years as a GE I only suffered three bouts of food poisoning, one as related in another thread was on a JACIG to Kiev, the second was some dodgy liver from the Sergeants mess at Lyn and the third was the result of an invitation to a Barbie with the R.N. at Diego on a Nav Trainer that went Middle East and Indian Ocean. Not that the Navy were satisfied with nobbling the GE they had an attempt at the whole crew and it was only that, as a trainer we had some spare bods on board that after due deliberation a crew was cobbled together and we departed for the next stop which was Bahrain and even then the better of the two Navs, (better in his state of health that was ) spent most of the leg stretched on the Para seats wishing for death as a relief!
And on the subject of Bahrain the supremacy of the Hercules world was demonstrated in yet another example of its organisation and nous when , at the commencement of GW1, a small party of GEs and Svc were detached to Bahrain as a handling party for Hercs passing through. By having the RAFLO already in situ the Herc Det was accommodated in flats in downtown Manama together with transport already organised, all this being operated from outside the remit of RAF Bahrain ( whose CO by coincidence , Gp Capt Rocky Goodall was my boss on 16 at Laarbruch ), until a bid for control was made which started with a request from O.C. MT at Bahrain for us to change our transport, a very nice air conditioned saloon, as our car was bigger and better than the one they could get for OC Bahrain and it was felt not to be fitting for the Herc techies to be seen to be outdoing the Boss. One up for Albert!
And on the subject of Bahrain the supremacy of the Hercules world was demonstrated in yet another example of its organisation and nous when , at the commencement of GW1, a small party of GEs and Svc were detached to Bahrain as a handling party for Hercs passing through. By having the RAFLO already in situ the Herc Det was accommodated in flats in downtown Manama together with transport already organised, all this being operated from outside the remit of RAF Bahrain ( whose CO by coincidence , Gp Capt Rocky Goodall was my boss on 16 at Laarbruch ), until a bid for control was made which started with a request from O.C. MT at Bahrain for us to change our transport, a very nice air conditioned saloon, as our car was bigger and better than the one they could get for OC Bahrain and it was felt not to be fitting for the Herc techies to be seen to be outdoing the Boss. One up for Albert!
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Coff
The drops were nearly always done at Holtville strip-just to the east of NAF El-C, apart from the odd one at the San Diego Chargers Stadium
I'll try and get some more up over the weekend.
The drops were nearly always done at Holtville strip-just to the east of NAF El-C, apart from the odd one at the San Diego Chargers Stadium
I'll try and get some more up over the weekend.
I suspect that chickenlovers shot was taken at Holtville (due East of El Centro). With Blue Angel training and other important stuff I believe Holtville became the "DZ of choice" for the RAF dets. I also suspect that the chaps in the foreground are Falcons, on a pre season work up. The "El Centro " I did had the Falcs, and as I remember a bunch of Pathfinders doing HALO training and a few Hooligans. We got airborne, the Falcs got out on the way up, around 10k, then we continued upwards for the HALO. Not too sure what the drop altitude was, Ex Ascoteer would have more knowledge on that. I remember one day when I opted to stay on the ground watching a Pathfinder chap have a malfunction. I was stood right next to one of the Falcs who said, "don't look Smudge, it's not nice", so I watched as the bloke struggled to cut away the primary chute that had wrapped around him, and eventually deployed his reserve. As I remember a pop, one swing and he landed. He strained his ankle, but was back jumping the next day. Had that been me I suspect I would have PVR'd just after landing.
Gopher01. Why does your post sound familiar to me ? I suspect it reflects the way that Albert (and its people) always "sorted" themselves out, and often to the chagrin of the local reps.
On the subject of "US dets", I remember doing a det with 47SF where we spent part of the month away operating from 29 Palms Marine Corps Air base. Landing on what seemed like PSP on loose sand was interesting, and as we were a bit heavier than the incumbent F18 s, we were asked to alternate our landing directions, so as not to move the PSP too far. I remember watching a bow wave of PSP/decking lift and move in front of us when I stood on the flight deck for landing a couple of times. The accomodation was off base at a hotel that had a number of themed cabins, the crew were very gracious in allocating me a cabin next to a swamp, which had a front porch fully equipped with hammock, an essential for GE rest.
Smudge
Gopher01. Why does your post sound familiar to me ? I suspect it reflects the way that Albert (and its people) always "sorted" themselves out, and often to the chagrin of the local reps.
On the subject of "US dets", I remember doing a det with 47SF where we spent part of the month away operating from 29 Palms Marine Corps Air base. Landing on what seemed like PSP on loose sand was interesting, and as we were a bit heavier than the incumbent F18 s, we were asked to alternate our landing directions, so as not to move the PSP too far. I remember watching a bow wave of PSP/decking lift and move in front of us when I stood on the flight deck for landing a couple of times. The accomodation was off base at a hotel that had a number of themed cabins, the crew were very gracious in allocating me a cabin next to a swamp, which had a front porch fully equipped with hammock, an essential for GE rest.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 27th Jun 2014 at 18:45.
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I shall pass on your kind comments on to the 'taker'
A few more before hitting the Rioja
Again, not my handiwork, but taken on my trusty wet film canon.
Have a good weekend all
A few more before hitting the Rioja
Again, not my handiwork, but taken on my trusty wet film canon.
Have a good weekend all
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Oh, A-10s on the Wing.
We had them 'riding shotgun' for us during the Kurdish Resupply (post GW1) armed to the teeth with 9 Limas.
I need to get into my roof space, somewhere I have some cracking shots of A-10s 'in close'.
We had them 'riding shotgun' for us during the Kurdish Resupply (post GW1) armed to the teeth with 9 Limas.
I need to get into my roof space, somewhere I have some cracking shots of A-10s 'in close'.
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Generally speaking it was FL310 max.
Sitting at altitude on Oxygen with the ramp open was a lot of fun. NOT!