Sorry John, you've got it wrong. There was no attempted SE takeoff... black night, no horizon, too bloody dangerous to try! Yes cutting the sonar body loose made the aircraft lively, so did losing the AFCS, and all other electrical equipment gradually dropped offline but when the intercom went too I decided it was time to vacate and not risk the crew further. Not quite as you remember, but still very clear in my memory ... not the sort of personal experience one forgets!
PM sent.
Last edited by 76fan; 6th May 2017 at 11:47.