Two tales from a Hastings FE
I trained on 707s with an ex Hastings FE who told me a few tales.
He was doing a trip having just returned from leave, and they got to the TOD/Pre Landing(?) checks. At some point in the list the Captain asked for ‘Minus 4’, Derek dutifully reduced power, the next call followed immediately, ‘Minus 2’. Power is reset. Next an annoyed call from Captain “What’s going on with the power Eng?”
”You asked for minus 4 then minus 2” says our hero.
“I did not, I was responding to the (new) checklist item: ‘seats and harness(?)’ with ‘mines secure’ to which the co replied ‘mine is too’.
Note to self, must read FM/checklist amendments when returning from leave.
Another Captain was fond of saying at the flare, “Yours is the power Engineer, but mine is the glory.”
Apropos nothing at all, Derek’s son is now a training Captain with Virgin.