The flight of the Olympic Flame

[mickjoebill]

BBC News - Olympic torch: Top pilot's 'most precious cargo' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18006750)


AThe flame is in four lanterns which sit in two specially-made metal cradles secured to the chair by a seatbelt and a Velcro strap.

In seat 1C will be the fire warden - a Metropolitan Police officer trained in firefighting - who will monitor the flame for the duration of the 1,500-mile flight.

Shame one of the airport fireman can't be on board...

[oldchina]

I hope he's also trained not to sneeze or spill his beer on it.

"More than me job's worth ....."

[BEagle]

I hope the fire warden didn't try to sneak more than 100ml of water on board, in case the flame decides to escape.....??

What utter nonsense this expensive spectacle of a few sweaty oafs running, jumping, splashing about and throwing things really is.

[Mike-Bracknell]

I hope the fire warden didn't try to sneak more than 100ml of water on board, in case the flame decides to escape.....??

What utter nonsense this expensive spectacle of a few sweaty oafs running, jumping, splashing about and throwing things really is.

I must say, none of this ever happened for my school sports day.

[sangiovese.]

A top pilot..........love the journos. Have they reviewed his lastest line check or LPC or something?

[flyingtincan]

Does anyone know what the call sign will be?

[Alsacienne]

'Spose the flame isn't travelling on board Olympic Airways!:D

[ACCMan]

BAW2012 - 'Speedbird Twenty Twelve'

-ADEP LGAV
-ADES EGDR
-EOBT 1400
-ARCID BAW2012
-ARCTYP A319
-REG GEUPC

[JAKL]

So, how big is the average Olympians carbon foot print?

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Having recently had my nearly empty lighter confiscated by the security Gauleiters, how did the tame fire get through Security? :*

[AndoniP]

So, how big is the average Olympians carbon foot print?

I'd say about size 7... :E

[dc9-32]

Utter waste of tax payers money and in a country that can't afford it :mad:

[brit bus driver]

But enough about Greece....

A top pilot..........love the journos. Have they reviewed his lastest line check or LPC or something?

The 'top pilot' is the company's Chief Training Pilot; that doesn't necessarily make him the best, but he is the most senior qualified on type.

As for the other captain, you decide:

Joined the Royal Navy in 1979 and served on 845 and 846 Squadrons as a Commando Helicopter pilot. Attended Central Flying School in 1985 and served on 705 Squadron as a Qualified Helicopter Instructor gaining an A1(H) QHI qualification. Trained at the Empire Test Pilots’ School in1989 before serving with Rotary Wing Test Squadron, Boscombe Down as test pilot. Responsibilities as test pilot included the introduction of the Lynx HAS Mk8 into Royal Naval Service; Sea King, Wessex and Gazelle project duties: icing project pilot, NVG project pilot and SHOL project pilot.
Returned to operational service in 1992 with 846 Squadron including duties as Senior Pilot before returning to the Empire Test Pilots’ School as a tutor. In 1995 became Staff Aviation Officer to the Commodore Amphibious Warfare responsible for all aspects of amphibious aviation for the Royal Navy and Marines. Saw operational service in Northern Ireland, the South Atlantic, Lebanon and Bosnia. Completed three seasons as display pilot on Gazelle, both solo and as team leader in formation team, and competed in both the World and British Helicopter Championships winning eleven national and international trophies, including twice British Helicopter Champion on two occasions. Awarded the Air Force Cross in 1989.

Left the Royal Navy in 1996 to become an airline pilot, currently flying....the Airbus as a training captain.

And he's the most unassuming chap you'd care to fly with.

[oxenos]

"how did the tame fire get through Security? "

With any luck it won't.

[jubilee]

Is this a designated smoking flight.
J

[aterpster]

Hope they don’t CFIT into Mt. Olympus doing a demonstration. How would the first responders separate outthe flame from the other flames?

[Crabman]

Couldn't they just send it as an e-mail attachment?

[merlinxx]

Would have to turn your firewall off first :ugh:

[320DRIVER]

Here it is...


Flightradar24.com - Live Flight Tracker! (http://www.flightradar24.com/BAW2012)

[brakedwell]

If the flame goes out will they have to turn back and get it relit?

The whole self serving exercise is a complete waste of money and time :sad:

[oldchina]

I wonder if they put the job out to tender. Greasyjet would have done it cheaper.

[1859sqn]

A firetender would seem appropriate

[LessThanSte]

The BBC is starting to get boring with its talk of it about to arrive in '10 minutes'.

Happily theyve let the poor pilots out of the hold and they are on final. Plane looks very nice though, bright yellow, i approve!

Plane Finder ? Flight Radar | Aircraft Tracker | Live Flight Tracking (http://planefinder.net/flight/BAW2012)

[LessThanSte]

And even then the BBC nearly missed the landing lol!

[Sir George Cayley]

So a management pilot who doesn't fly the line is better than a line pilot with 'good hands'?

[PPRuNeUser0171]

It's a damn candle and people are getting so excited about it.

I just wish that this was a case of the CAA or someone stepping in and saying 'no flames on any aircraft - put that out NOW'.

Bloody Olympics.

[Flying Wild]

Hope they kept that cockpit door locked...

[Shanewhite]

Awwww come on, chaps, the money's been spent so we might as well enjoy it. Shame they couldn't have revived an earlier and pointier Speedbird though. Just trying to visualise Concorde in that livery...

[ballyctid]

You lot really are a load of misery's!

Yes the country is in a mess, yes we could spend money on something better.

But at least the Olymoics will give feel a good factor to lots of depressed people in the country this summer.

Chill out, relax and enjoy!!!

And yes I do understand sporting euphoria after the 92nd and 94th minute at the Etihad stadium last week. :D

[TZ350]

[quote]
"Yes the country is in a mess, yes we could spend money on something better.

But at least the Olymoics will give feel a good factor to lots of depressed people in the country this summer. "


What are you smoking ?

No, it will just add to it. You obviously aren't one who will have to deal with the ( even worse ) clusterfcuk that driving in London will become.........:hmm:

Or have a missile battery on top of your abode..............

[maliyahsdad2]

No, it will just add to it. You obviously aren't one who will have to deal with the ( even worse ) clusterfcuk that driving in London will become ????
I am going to try to enjoy it and the Jubilee.

[Alber Ratman]

Cluster muck driving in London? Why would any sane man do that?:E

Is your middle name Nimby too?

I look forward to the Games and the Jubilee too, will be in London for the last 2 days of Jubilee events with my wife and kids.. Going to enjoy it..

[Loose rivets]

We've got one . . . ney, two of our best pilots on the job. But . . .


Just what if they, in all their accumulated wisdom, couldn't agree on which way to enter the hold. One turns left, while the other turns right. Then, due to a bizarre line of code - lost for years in the ship's computer - the dual input is accepted and the aircraft splits down the middle.

Then, the flame box falls out, right into the middle of a dry forest. There's a stiff breeze and the flames reach the coast and set light to an old wooden barge. Its rope burns and the barge drifts to the UK . . .

Now the :mad: Olympic flame would become interesting. :*

[1859sqn]

Loose rivets.....whatever you're on, can i please have some too? lol

[Milo Minderbinder]

That would then be the Plight of the Olympic Flame

[mini]

Flame needs to be flown.

Senior pilot selected, job planned.

Media looking for a saleable angle.

Article re flame carrying flight, all normal SOP's blown up to make a story.

PPrune posters take shots at those entrusted.

Sigh... :rolleyes:

[MATELO]

Shame one of the airport fireman can't be on board... They are not qualified to fight flames "in the air" :confused:

Having recently had my nearly empty lighter confiscated by the security Gauleiters, how did the tame fire get through Security? By Royal Command... you can only dream. :eek:

So a management pilot who doesn't fly the line is better than a line pilot with 'good hands'?
Well he is the best, all the others are just imposters. :mad:

It's a damn candle and people are getting so excited about it.

I just wish that this was a case of the CAA or someone stepping in and saying 'no flames on any aircraft - put that out NOW'.

Bloody Olympics. Guess you are still hung over from not being able to smoke on the flight deck.:E

You lot really are a load of misery's!

Yes the country is in a mess, yes we could spend money on something better.

But at least the Olymoics will give feel a good factor to lots of depressed people in the country this summer.

Chill out, relax and enjoy!!!

And yes I do understand sporting euphoria after the 92nd and 94th minute at the Etihad stadium last week.

BASINGA :D :D People are only happy whilst complaining these days.

[EEngr]

They used four lanterns. But they put them all on the same plane?:confused:

[Loose rivets]

Better than using forkandles. :}

[Gulfstreamaviator]

Diverting to rescue a beach ball, off the cornish cost...... (then I woke up)...

[fc101]

dc9-32 wrote:

Utter waste of tax payers money and in a country that can't afford it

Are you talking about Greece or the UK? ;-)

[beamer]

Whole ghastly business only started in 1936 apparently at 'Hitler's Olympics' - BBC overkill as usual :cool:

[Hobo]

What a bunch of cynics.

Who on here is prepared to say that they haven't got the largescale map of the UK up on the wall, and are sticking coloured flags in to follow the flame's progress?

Chez Hobo, everything else, including Ppruning, will have to take a back seat for the next 70 days I'm afraid.

[Alber Ratman]

All the thousands of people who see the reason for it are on the streets today and a several million will be out over the next 69 days to see that candle flame.. And will not think its humbug..:E

[DX Wombat]

Who on here is prepared to say that they haven't got the largescale map of the UK up on the wall, and are sticking coloured flags in to follow the flame's progress?I am. The flame was said to have been transported in a specially designed lantern a Davy Lamp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_lamp) - invented in 1815! It may have been titivated a little but the basic design is almost 200 years old and has served miners well since it came into use.
http://images.denhams.com/429/429lot440.jpg

The Olympic Flame Transport Lantern en route to the UK.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article839533.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/LOCOG+handout+photo+of+the+Olympic+Flame+after+it+was+secure d+into+seat+1a+and+1b+for+the+flight+back+to+the+UK+from+Gre ece

Those lanterns look almost exactly the same to me - so much for specially designed, the only real difference appears to be the badge.

[cwatters]

I wonder if they put the job out to tender. Greasyjet would have done it cheaper.

You obviously don't have a good head for business :-)

I'm sure airlines were bidding to PAY to carry the flame. Sponsorship is everything for the olympics. You can't buy tickets with a Mastercard because Visa is the official credit card sponsor. You can't take your own soft drinks into events because ... well you can guess who is the official drinks supplier.

Looks like it cost BA £40m..

Olympics: British Airways signs as official airline for 2012 | Sport | The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/feb/06/Olympics2012.politics)

BA's deal gives it marketing rights to the 2012 brand and the airline will undertake community projects around the Games as well as providing travel bursaries to aspiring athletes. BA fought off competition for the airline slot from Virgin, which has a commercial arrangement with UK Sport, the body that funds elite athletes.

[Bengerman]

Gotta say! This forum is populated by the most miserable, grumpy f*ckwits it has been my displeasure to come across.

[PPRuNeUser0171]

Who on here is prepared to say that they haven't got the largescale map of the UK up on the wall, and are sticking coloured flags in to follow the flame's progress?


Along with several other enthusiasts posts your are deleted and most
banned from the forum. You are the worst type - an accident
junkie/ghoul

Rob PPRuNe Admin

[mickjoebill]

Be ashamed dear reader of the spiritless mode of transport it takes once on the ground! A tarted up white van transports it between towns!
McCLaren (best of British) could have built something tasty... driven by the stig.



Live coverage
BBC - Olympic Torch Relay - Land's End to Plymouth (http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day1)


Mickjoebill

[beamer]

Yeah, we will all watch odd bits when its actually on but this whole thing was a product of Blair's vanity. The day after the venue was announced - look what happened. Earlier this year one prat is able to disrupt the boatrace - what price four weeks of the Olympics and associated events. Public service unions and fuel delivery drivers are already flexing their muscles. Hotel prices go through the roof under the guise of 'event pricing', thousands of corporate tickets unsold through the licensed touts. Sure it will be a great event but the cost will be substantial.

Much as I love sport - today in London we have Championship play-off final at Wembley, Heineken Final at Twickenham, test match at Lords not to mention the Euro Wendyball final in Munich - the Olympics/Paralympics too big, too expensive and if they get through without some disruption.................Warships on the Thames, snipers on roofs, Typhoons at Northolt, Missiles on top of office blocks !