Originally Posted by
teeteringhead
I did say old ....... clearly changed post Wessex.
And for Shy, the Shawbury Mk 5s were ex-FAA cabs. And of course 72 briefly flew some Mk 5s in Operation HEADLESS CHICKEN in '82........
Yes, if you looked down the fuselage sides in the correct light you could still see the profile of the words "Royal Navy" under the RAF paint. They were obviously a bit short of sand paper when they resprayed them.
I'll bet the RN were glad to get shot of them. I was scheduled five times to do my first solo on type; only got a serviceable one at the sixth attempt! Then during my first night sortie with Ivan C-T we had a hydraulic failure as I turned downwind for the first circuit.
I transmitted "PAN, PAN, PAN, Wessex downwind, hydraulic failure, request immediate landing on the runway!"
ATC replied: "Practice Pan aircraft downwind, Negative! Standby, there is an aircraft about to rejoin from the west who will be requesting a practice single engine landing!"
Ivan C-T: "He didn't say
practice, it's a real hydraulic failure!"
ATC: "Ooer... er roger, Wessex clear to land on the runway..."