thanks so Far
yes the more i think about it the more naff it all seems 25 years on- it was of course day VFR only so my thinking now was despite it being a force multiplyer- did we in effect actually dilute the F3/FGR2 capability?- I do recall that it was actually quite a pain in bad weather taking the Hawks/Hunters to CAP. They had no INAS, etc so were pretty amazing at finding us back on cap and indeed finding their way home!- I feel again ( happy to be corrected) that where it worked best was in 2 ATAF when the F16s had pulse only radars - early 1980s. Sitting in an FGR2 ( normally limited to no 4gs!) it was a nice feeling getting to the merge with a brand new 9g F16 on the wing. I guess as the F3 became more capable , NVGs / JTIDS, Link 16 then the Hawk concept was all a bit difficult. My recollections are being deployed to Leeming with 234 Squadron and having a laugh ( pre F3 days) and also discovering how nice it was to be SDO for two weeks. I was in charge of the crypto as a spotty little Flying Officer- every day i had to issue TAD cards etc and collect them up post exc. The nice part came when i had to go back to Brawdy end of get ( elder Forrest) not a quick 1.10 in a Hawk oh no OC 234 decided i could drive his Mini back with the safe and all the old crypto. rule 1 never listen to the senior pilot who told me the best thing you can do "mate" is burn it then you can stop off on the way home. So being young free and gay in the carefree sense of the word once OC 234 departed i had a nice little bonfire near where the ATC building at Leeming is now. On my return feeling very pleased with myself the Sqn adj asked me where the Crypto was- ah i burnt it!!! - and his reply was so who witnessed that then??? - so 14 days of SDOs and no naked Phillipino dancing girls later i decided the senior pilot was actually not an amusing chap !
Thanks so far on the MFFO gen - can anyone recall the silent procedures...Wing waggle, bunt for contact, Fox 1 launch etc?? i think i burnt all my memories in 1986!