LOMCEVAK wrote:
The Buccaneer, overall, was a magnificent aircraft for its role in the S2 variants which comprised the majority of the production run (although it did have the some of the worst handling qualities in the landing pattern that I have ever experienced!).
And yet there was no 2-sticker! A night formation VRIAB was probably one of the riskiest aspects I recall from my brief struggle at the OCU. Various checks to be completed as the thing decelerated, including swapping hands to pull up the aileron gear change and select the autostabs to low speed, peering around the cockpit for the various blow gauges and aileron/flap/tailplane indicators as you went from 0/0/0 to 15/10/10 ("Move together, stop together"...I can hear it now) to 30/20/20 to 45/25/25, not forgetting the undercarriage and correct airbrake angle....all whilst keeping a look out for the aircraft ahead...and an ear on the ADD audio...and looking for the RW.
But above 300KIAS, it was magnificent!