Q. Fastest aircraft from brakes off to 10,000 feet in the RAF?
A. Will probably suprise you, but it has been scientificly proven under rigourous test conditions to be the........Chinook!
Some years ago, there was a lot of bar banter between the Tornado F3 pilots and all the other pilots in the Falklands - the F3 pilots defending the frequent allegations that their aircraft was cr@p. A Chinook pilot pointed out that his aircraft had a better rate of climb than the F3. This obviously was a slur of the highest level which needed settling.
The challenge was set and a test agreed on where OC 78 Sqn (the helicopter boss) was to sit in the back of an F3 and time record the climb from brakes off to 10,000'. OC 1435Flt (the F3s) was to sit in a Chinook and record the same.
The day came, OC 78 sat in the back of the F3 as OC1435 applied full burner against brakes, released and roared up to ten grand. OC 78, being duly impressed recorded the time with no comment, then took OC1435 flying. He got airborne into the hover with the parking brake on, flew up to 9,900', released the parking brake and told OC1435 to start timing while he climbed the last 100'.
78 Sqn drank a lot of beer bought by 1435 Flt that night.
Now I know that us Hercules and VC10 pilots on 1312 Flt are supposed to be a bit dull, but we did see that one coming!