Sounds like you have had some really interesting experiences. I can't wait to join, in fact I'd start tomorrow but have to consider the wife and kids..
I will definitely take your advice but its the kind of thing I would do anyway. When I was younger I would do anything just to hang around an airfield and I even did my work experience at RAF Cosford just so I could get to play with the Harriers and Jaguars they have there (even if they wouldnt let me start the engine).
So driving tractors, pulling cables, manouvering gliders into position.... it all sounds like heaven to me!
Thanks for all the input from everyone on here, seems like a really friendly community!