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Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules

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Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules

Old 9th Oct 2014, 06:54
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GN121 ... Right couple of oddities there ...

Are there any other prodding oddities involving RAF Albert we have missed
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Old 10th Oct 2014, 19:29
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Just for you Coff
The last of my ' tailgating ' shots....








This last one was a fun day - Vulcan out of service shoot - we got to fill the A/C with families of crew and ground crew so they could all get a nice view of the Vulcan air to air. Albert really was a good photo platform.

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Old 10th Oct 2014, 19:32
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Fantastic ! ... Much appreciated Chickenlover old chap
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Old 10th Oct 2014, 19:38
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And one for you Smuj- a reminder of early morning winter starts and de-icing before heading off to sunny climes

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Old 10th Oct 2014, 20:31
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Chickenlover,

If it was with your mob, it was just as often to colder climes. Norway for instance. Great shots and confirmation of Albert as a premier photographic platform. That sky is fantastic.

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Old 10th Oct 2014, 22:01
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The de-icing pic . . . is that looking towards the Bund Road, it looks like the old QRA bays.
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Old 11th Oct 2014, 12:01
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Morning all-trying to catch up and keep up with this thread - apologies if some of these have been posted before. Finishing off my collection of AAR shots







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Old 11th Oct 2014, 14:06
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Nice pics Chickenlover ... you continue to exceed expectations

Dougie must have been up early this morning as he dropped me an eMail with a few more pics to share. I'm sure it won't be too long before he's on frequency to add the narrative ... especially about the Turdis

All I will say is that he thought we needed a few pics of RAF Albert 'Receiving'

Just helping resize and host the pics for Dougie ... I believe they are all South Atlantic










Over to you Dougie ...

Best ...

Coff.

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Old 11th Oct 2014, 15:59
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Tanking at 30deg South

The weather wasn't always as good as this. I have sometimes broken cloud not very high above the sea still toboganning to get the last drop before being told to poke off by the tanker. The Turdis came in quite handy for the post flight easing of springs. Although tho Co said "...and relax!" I never did.
Great photos Chickenlover!
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Old 11th Oct 2014, 19:38
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How sad to see the Turdis in such a dishevelled state. That's what comes of letting Airbridge Navigators use it to "ease springs" before heading off downtown to their 5 start hotel - hey Dougie? It was designed for the aircrew and groundcrew who had to spend the night on Q down at the airhead where the only alternative was the Sapper Crapper.

The Turdis was built by our groundcrew around April 1983. The blue light was from the taxiway and had been damaged by a passing Albert and had been replaced. Inside we had a standard RAF torch in the ceiling, a jerry can, stirrup pump and hose for flushing purposes. The business part was the bowl of a VC10 toilet. They found the part number and demanded one through official channels. Nobody asked why a Herc Det in the South Atlantic would want one of those, but they sent it.

I have a photo of the opening ceremony. The Brigadier from HQ BFFI did the official opening and signed the visitors book but declined to "perform" so it was left to OC Herc Det (me) to christen the facility.

The Turdis became famous and so popular that eventually we had to keep it locked to stop every airbridge passenger from using it before 12 hours in the back of Albert.

I have no idea how to post photos but have one or 2 from those times that might be of interest if anybody fancies doing the difficult bit for me.
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Old 11th Oct 2014, 19:44
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WIDN62 ... I'll willingly help you ... Check your PM's
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Old 12th Oct 2014, 09:42
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Good morning Chaps ...

Here are the pics from WIDN62 ... I'm sure it won't be too long before he pops up on frequency to add the narrative.

Just to help ... I believe the first three pics are from the South Atlantic ... leading off with the Official Opening Ceremony of the Turdis ...







I'll leave WIDN62 to tell us more on this one ... another cracking image of Albert



Happy to help if anyone else has pics but not sure how to post them ...

Coff.
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Old 12th Oct 2014, 09:56
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I've deliberately posted this image separately given the solemnity of the occasion.



The image is of Royal Navy relatives over the war grave sites taken a year after the end of the Falklands war. The ALM can be seen laying wreaths off the ramp.

Still a very poignant image ...

Coff.

PS. WIDN62 ... I hope you don't mind that I added the above text as I felt I just couldn't post the image on it's own without explanation.
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Old 12th Oct 2014, 11:20
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Here's a pic seen recently by our good friend Dragartist. Apparently this is thought to be the last ever Vulcan-Victor formation. The picture was taken from a Hercules in 1991 by the Co-Pilot. Any takers on who took the pic (PPRuNe Call Signs only)



Coff.
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Old 12th Oct 2014, 12:10
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This link may only work for those with f@rcebook accounts-but it discusses the above pic and there are more of the Vulcan press shoot for those interested.
https://www.facebook.com/VulcanXH558...type=3&theater
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Old 12th Oct 2014, 12:25
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Taken by NATO Reporting Name 'Bonny Lad' - a most excellent chap who caused significant breathing difficulties for the RAF contingent at his wedding by selecting a hymn with the line 'the purple headed mountain'.
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Old 12th Oct 2014, 19:51
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Thanks to Coff for posting my photos. Nothing else to add about the Falklands air-to-air photos and I am not sure of the occasion for the UK one – maybe one of the Green Barrows events. One more snippet about the Turdis – it was constructed over the old airport cesspit vent hole, and as far as I know we did not fill it up!
Flying the relatives of those killed during the war was the most emotional I have been whilst flying Albert. We had on board the father of one of the Harrier pilots killed down there. He was the only RAF relative who had made the journey down so we looked after him on the flight deck. At one stage I put him in the right hand seat and during our conversation, I told him we knew where to fly for the Navy war graves but nobody could really tell us where his son had been lost. He said that the only thing that mattered was that somebody had made the effort to get him down there. When we landed every passenger thanked us for the flight – not often that happens!
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Old 13th Oct 2014, 14:49
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I came across this little gem this afternoon ... and thought I'd share the link

British Pathé Sep 1967 : The Hercules for the RAF ... The first of the initial 66 ...

Hercules For RAF - British Pathé

Starring 36 Squadron and XV194 ... I think 194 suffered damage deemed 'uneconomic to repair' in Tromsø Norway in 1972 ... thankfully no crew injuries.
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Old 13th Oct 2014, 15:29
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Nice spot Coff,

Here's one for Doug M, I reckon the J/T is carrying an F or C comp in that clip, did Albert have Doppler in those days ? If not as I've guessed anyone any ideas ?

I found this one today, and no prizes for naming the "cast list":

BRITISH RAF C130 OVER SARAJEVO WITH SNIPER FIRE 1992--JON DUNCANSON - YouTube

But, the interview with the soldier at the end of the clip is quite revealing. I suppose it can be put down to " need to know". I know I saw quite a bit of that place in my time as a GE.


Smudge

Last edited by smujsmith; 13th Oct 2014 at 15:44.
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Old 16th Oct 2014, 08:17
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Welcome back AA62 ... I'll guess you'll need at least 24 hrs for your blood to work the right way up ... see you soon
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