Whilst I've never flown Albert (nor served in the military), I've been hooked since i was around 7 years old. I have a vivid memory of being given a tour of the RAFAT support Herc', as a youngster, during a families day somewhere during the early 80's (Can't remember the airfield but I could pick the crew from a line-up). I grew up around bases with Phantoms, Tornadoes, Sea-kings, Nimrods... you name it, but Albert was all I ever wanted to fly.
Sadly, military flying and I were never meant to be - I'm fortunate, now, to earn my living in the pointy end of civvy flying. But my first and last love will always be Albert.
This is a superb thread and I give my thanks to those who contribute - who knows, perhaps there is someone out there who remembers being at (Leeming???) around 1983 and pretending to be impressed when a 9 year old explained to them what turbo-props and reverse thrust were all about! ;-)
Respect to those the have been there and done it!
OH