Centaurus, Jimmy the Tread, natures gentleman and great entertainment at dining in nights. Served with him, 3Sqn, Sabres, Butterworth, mid '60's.
Regarding your Mirage pax ride, I had never thought much about the sort of experience it was for those accustomed to more gentile aircraft types.
Looking back, being in the circuit in a Mirage could be a fairly unnerving experience.
From early downwind there was heavy airframe buffet which intensified as the speed was reduced around base turn. Base turn was 60 degrees AOB, could be more if one underestimated the wind - in this case it may be necessary to light the afterburner just to maintain base speed. The airconditioning was always noisy, but in the circuit this was drowned out by all sorts of intake noises from rapidly changing airflow noises to the loud bangs as the auxulliary air intakes cycled. Great fun, wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Last edited by zzuf; 29th Aug 2016 at 06:43.
Reason: typo