RAF Hercules beach Landing -Training

[mary_hinge]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007130845,00.html

THIS is a sight to put the wind up sunbathers — a giant RAF Hercules landing on a sandy holiday beach.

Pilots are honing their skills for conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan deserts at a cordoned off stretch of Saunton Sands, Devon.

The beach is popular with holidaymakers and locals alike and the spectacle of the massive military planes landing provides an eye-catching scene for guests at the four star Saunton Sands Hotel.

The pictures were grabbed by former RAF officer Mark Fowler, 41, who was given special permission to take them.

He said: “The Hercules doesn’t need a great deal of runway to land and take off from.”

[ZH875]

Are you sure it is practising for sunnier climes, or maybe, the overworked herc guys have managed to get a couple of hours off duty and have gone to the beach to relax.

They would have gone for a pizza, but didn't have a helicopter or a police car:)

[MadAxeMan]

Because they can.:)

[brakedwell]

Just imagine the salt water corrosion. The landing gear will need a good hosing down after the crew smooth on the Ambre Soleil and finish their ice lollies!

[Wycombe]

Thought Pendine was the usual location for this type of activity?

[Razor61]

Its been busy at Saunton the last few weeks!

[Ken Scott]

During the winter most of the strips used for training are too waterlogged for use, so the beaches are used. There's no particular significance in the sand. And yes, the aircraft need a good wash down afterwards!

[BA283]

It was probably the bird that writes for the times being dropped off for some R and R with her delsey! :}

[haltonapp]

I do remember in the seventies, while on exercise with the boys from Hereford, being asked by them if we would consider landing on a frozen Norwegian lake. In the absence of any information regarding minimum ice depth required and the thickness of the ice on the lake we referred them to those higher up the command chain!

[Talking Radalt]

The pictures were grabbed by former RAF officer Mark Fowler, 41, who was given special permission to take them.

What about all the random punters who witnessed it too? We don't have that many black Omegas do we?:uhoh:

:hmm:

[eastern wiseguy]

Sure it isn't Luftwaffe?







coat

hat

suncream:)

[Two's in]

At least some military standards are being maintained...

for guests at the four star Saunton Sands Hotel.

...thank heavens it wasn't a B&B.

[BEagle]

Not 'Foul Up', by any chance?

[Pontius Navigator]

Just imagine the salt water corrosion. The landing gear will need a good hosing down after the crew smooth on the Ambre Soleil and finish their ice lollies!

This has not been overlooked. You use one aircraft as much as you can, as quickly as you can, get all the training and then put it through the car wash.

[Green Flash]

No need to do it in public - try here! (http://www.hial.co.uk/barra-airport.html)

[allan907]

It's probably all part of Gordon "The Thief" Brown's plan to offset the defence budget - they're replacing the beach donkeys for trips up and down the bay.

[DME MILOS]

THIS is a sight to put the wind up sunbathers — a giant RAF Hercules landing on a sandy holiday beach.
Would they be less 'upwinded' if it was a normal sized Hercules?
He said: “The Hercules doesn’t need a great deal of runway to land and take off from.”
Or indeed any runway...just a decent CBR ( California Bearing Ratio before anybody asks )
Dontcha love the Currant Bun... :)

[Mal Drop]

Former RAF Officer Mark Fowler... a.k.a Foul Marker after a nocturnal micturation incident during the "rest and recuperation" of some ex-hostages at a secret military airbase in Wiltshire. I'd wondered what happened to him after some fairly dark allegations were leveled several years back...

Back on thread, landing Albert on sand. Hours of endless fun as I recall from my days at Rompers Green (East) in '91. We even had ice cream (beautifully organised by MCSU) but we never managed to get the donkey rides we were promised.

[DME MILOS]

It would appear that he is now an "expert". :)

[StopStart]

Beach landings are a bit old hat nowadays. Pretty much the only landings we do it seems. Strangely the tide seems to be a long way out though - usually about 450 miles......

:cool:

[2port]

Mal Drop
Ashamed to say I had to look up "micturation", had forgotten that story, most amusing.
thanks.
2P

[Lionel Lion]

He also disappeared rather quickly from a certain 4 jet OCU some time ago......

:confused:

[Blacksheep]

This has not been overlooked. You use one aircraft as much as you can, as quickly as you can, get all the training and then put it through the car wash.A good spraying with Boeshield ™ or similar before departure would be a great help too. Flushing down after exposure can wash salt into some nasty inaccessible places.