Navstar,
Yes, there was a slight overlap with the TwinPins and 84 had a full complement of a/c by Dec '67. The tour was 13 months including a months leave near the middle.
The Andover C1 worked pretty well in the desert, certainly better than any other employment the RAF found for it over the years. Compared to other 748 models it was 'overpowered' with water meth used as a selectable power boost rather than just as a power restoration system. The 14' 6'' prop was fully reversable and the flap extensions at 27 and 30 deg allowed a STOL rotate speed of 76kts (I think) with a general V2 of 96kts. This all meant that we generally looked at 2000ft+ as OK. Certainly Mirfa/Manama etc. were 'routine' with payloads around 4-5000lbs available. Cruising at 210 kts and trips like Salalah - Muharraq etc direct as an option, it was all great fun. I'll dig out some more photos, now I've hacked the technology.
Last edited by friendlypelican 2; 19th Feb 2013 at 18:43.