CAA Flying Unit

[Mooncrest]

Does anyone have any memories of this unit to share ? I'm 46 now but I wasn't aware the CAAFU even existed until I was about 15. However, unbeknownst to me, I had come across HS748 AVXI several times already, doing the ILS checks at Leeds Bradford. I don't know if XJ ever visited LBA or the HS125.

I was always intrigued as to the identity and purpose of this mysterious 748, seemingly flying round in circles for hours but not landing. Once I knew what it was all about it was interesting to watch and listen on the airbands. Nowadays it's just not the same with the tiny twin prop machines doing the calibration, although some of the manoeuvres are quite a sight.

[TCU]

My first ever flight was in HS748 G-ATMJ as part of a program the CAA ran for Essex school children....At the time I attended the Junior school in the village of Stansted.

It is the only flight in my log without a date and think it was 1974

There was a 3rd 748, G-ATMI and this was also used for calibration work

[G-ARZG]

Dunno about 'TMI flying for CAFU ? CAA records show Dan Air taking it in 1976 after Court Line/Autair, then ending up with Emerald.

'TMJ was CAFU '72 to '78 though.

[Mooncrest]

Was ATMJ the aircraft that the CAA 'shared' with Dan-Air ?

When I saw XI taxi in and park at LBA after a calibration run, it struck me how independent its operation was. No obvious handling agent, no steps or refuelling. One of the crew chocked the nosewheel having come down the internal steps. The only persons who met the crew were the Tels engineers.

[Planemike]

Records I have checked show G-AVXI and XJ as purchased new by the Board of Trade. G-ATMJ was purchased second hand from Autair (Court Line) then sold to Danair in 1978.

[happybiker]

Mooncrest, you may find a lot more information and memories about CAFU here CAFU History - Home (http://www.cafuhistory.com/)

[Double Hydco]

In the early eighties, as a local (to Stansted) air cadet, I did a fair bit of flying with CAFU, as our next door neighbour was one of the units flight ops inspectors. I was lucky enough to fly in G-AVDX, plus it's replacement G-CCAA, and the units Navajo.

Sorry about the image quality, it was taken with my brownie camera.

http://i.imgur.com/vjafVAC.jpg

[chevvron]

The Doves were often employed at the College of Air Traffic Control at Bournemouth to provide 'live' training for NATCS controllers. ATCO Cadet trainees were required to fly in the right hand seat during the training flights.
I vaguely remember we were in groups of 3, one flying the others 'controlling'.

[treadigraph]

Several Doves met their end at Biggin Hill, presumably having first been picked over for spares by Fairflight Charters. I can recall G-ALFT and G-ALFU which probably ended up on the fire dump. I think another one is preserved at Duxford?

I recall the 748s doing circuits at Gatwick, also BAA had a Shrike Commander they used for some sort of calibration duties I think?

[Double Hydco]

I can recall G-ALFT and G-ALFU which probably ended up on the fire dump. I think another one is preserved at Duxford?


Foxtrot Uniform is the one hanging from the ceiling at Duxford....

[scotbill]

Let's not forget all the poor nervous souls who had to fly the Doves to get an Instrument Rating

[Mooncrest]

happybiker. I've just read the extract from the CAFU book. I don't doubt incidents such as those were far from ordinary and most of the calibration missions were routine multiple approaches and monitoring monitors. Was a strong stomach needed I wonder - something of a rollercoaster ride.

[surely not]

The Dove photo was taken by my father and is G-ANUU, DH104 Dove Mk 6, CAA Calibration Unit, LGW, 1966 Jul 01

The 748 photo is my photo of G-AVXJ, HS748 srs 2, CAA, GCI, 13 May 1986.


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[Helen49]

I spent a month at Stansted in the mid-60s on a Met. Observers course. Apart from various airlines carrying out mainly circuit training.......constellations, vanguards 707s etc [what a mix!] the majority of movements were the Civil Aviation Flying Unit. At that time Doves and Princes in the 'Minair' red and black livery. Off they all went to carry out flight checks on en-route and airfield navaids and of course the ATC college at Bournemouth being a 'CAA' college in those days had some use of Minair aircraft for training airfield radar controllers.

The Manual of ATC stated that CAA flight calibrations had priority over most other aircraft and the 'calibrators' of the past twenty years have been far more cooperative than the Minair guys in this respect. The latter certainly demanded priority and in the days of the HS 748 calibrations made it very difficult to expedite and maintain an orderly flow of the other traffic, particularly when they failed to communicate their next intention!

It was a good day when 'regulation' and 'operations' were segregated!
H49

[GAZIN]

I clearly remember seeing the first 748 departing Staverton after having some work performed by Smiths Instruments, I think it was on delivery to STN. Upon arrival at the Smiths hangar I found the second 748 in work. I was about 8 years old, my Fathers was an engineer at Smiths.
In 1970 we moved as a family to Essex when my Father took a job at CAAFU, I remember lots of Doves and the President in the hangar.
In the 80's whilst working for ATEL at STN I spent some time on secondment to CAAFU, there was 1 Dove left, a 125, Navajo and the 2 748's.

[TCU]

G-ARGZ, you have corrected me appropriately, was of course VXI not TMI

[treadigraph]

Foxtrot Uniform is the one hanging from the ceiling at Duxford....

Indeed it is - NUT and NUU at Biggin? 40 years ago...

[chevvron]

Indeed it is - NUT and NUU at Biggin? 40 years ago...

My logbook shows I flew two flights each in 'NUW and 'NUT from Bournemouth in Feb 1974 whilst on my Approach Radar course at the College of ATC.

[treadigraph]

This page on the Air Britain site (https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/model/De%20Havilland%20DH.104%20Dove%206/30/?f=&sort=photographer&order=asc) shows 'NUT and 'NUU at Biggin in '77, latterly on the fire dump.

'NUW ended up with Aces High and is now at the East Midlands Aeropark. Bit tatty unless they've been able to restore her.

'NOV is with the Museum of flight at East Fortune.

[TCAS FAN]

What were their Chipmunks used for and when did they dispose of them? Remember seeing one at Stansted in the 60's.

[eckhard]

I think the Chipmunks were used for initial CPL GFTs.

GFT 1 - Navigation
GFT 2 - General Handling
GFT 3 - Instrument Flying
GFT 4 - Night Flying

The Doves were used for initial Instrument Rating tests.

Initially all 4 GFTs were done in the Chippy but then something happened to make them rethink and after that only twins (Doves?) were flown at night.

[DaveReidUK]

What were their Chipmunks used for and when did they dispose of them?

Both happily survive.

G-AMMA went to Denmark via the Luton Flying CLub and the College of Air Training. It currently flies there in pseudo RCAF markings:

http://www.chip-chaps.dk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/OY-DHJ.jpg

G-ANWB lives at Blackpool, though I don't think it flies much now, if at all:

http://www.airport-data.com/images/aircraft/small/000/421/421823.jpg

[Saint-Ex]

Chipmunks were used for CPL flight check. Doves for instrument ratings. That was a challenge if you had not flown either types before. Both thorough and fair. Unusual attitudes on basic instruments only was always interesting.

[nohold]

Jump seated on G-UKCA an HS125 back in the nineties, Luton-Tessside-Inverness-Luton.

Great crew, great days.

She is still flying with a Russian registration.