ATC History
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Originally Posted by arearadar
I remember we used the Three Maggies after work at SATCC (on the North Side) prior to LATCC. After the move to West Drayton we used, firstly the King William IV at Langley, and later the Crown at Harmondsworth.
MPN11, some familiar Sopley faces, powers of recall not working very well. '66? Do I see Rod Wilde and Duncan MacPherson in that pic?
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type 84/85
Hi hyperborean,
I can confirm that Border Radar had Type 84 and Type 85. Well at least it did when I was there in 1969/70.
Dave
I can confirm that Border Radar had Type 84 and Type 85. Well at least it did when I was there in 1969/70.
Dave
Last edited by arearadar; 22nd Oct 2010 at 23:27. Reason: wrong date
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MPN11, some familiar Sopley faces, powers of recall not working very well. '66? Do I see Rod Wilde and Duncan MacPherson in that pic?
Don't forget Frank Rittmeyer, later DD/LATCC or whatever the terminology was then!
Ah!!! Arnold Field. There`s a name from the past.
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I can confirm that Border Radar had Type 84 and Type 85. Well at least it did when I was there in 1669/70.
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radarboards
Hello talkdownman,
I remember my checkout on the radar boards at SATCC back in 1966.
It was part of the test to continue operating whilst your eyes were streaming from the smoke from the wastebins (WPB`s).
Happy days !!!?
Dave
I remember my checkout on the radar boards at SATCC back in 1966.
It was part of the test to continue operating whilst your eyes were streaming from the smoke from the wastebins (WPB`s).
Happy days !!!?
Dave
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Oh! happy days and then the Cadets arrived, whats worse I married one of them!!!!!!!!!! The early 60s at the airport, mini skirts everywhere and our Watch Super. discovered in the void under the VCR looking up through the cracks at the nether regions of the assistants. Norman Whitelock doing my PAR validation and what does he pick for me, an Aeroflot TU 104 followed by a Spantax 990, always did have a sense of humour. I used to take my dog in on night duties and he would lay at my feet which was fine until one night when it was a case of monitoring each approach with PAR and each time he moved he would lean on the pedals and the aerial would go to full deflection. Then LATCC and the delights of Fag Ash Lil and the two cleaners. Yes Bren I am still around but don't look at the ATC threads very much 'cos I do not understand them now. If xpz67 is around I think if I said to you radio controlled submarine you may know who I am. Jack
Last edited by shack; 23rd Oct 2010 at 13:55. Reason: old age
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quill
Hi MPN11,
Sure did use those implements, along with strange, hard, bakelite, one eared conch shells through which we communicated with the flying machines.
Dave
Sure did use those implements, along with strange, hard, bakelite, one eared conch shells through which we communicated with the flying machines.
Dave
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Great - a proper controller! 
I'll upload some nostalgia tomorrow. UHF on the headset, VHF on the HMT ...
I'll upload some nostalgia tomorrow. UHF on the headset, VHF on the HMT ...
Shack
Did it last? Marriage to one of the cadets - obviously a girl. I think her name began with T.
When I was on C Watch (74-80) we used to spin with you on mornings. I can remember during the ATCA strike in '77 doing CLN wings,solo of course, struggling to keep up with all the hand written strips you the CSC kept passing to me, for aircraft that were calling out of the blue having circumvented the inbound flow restrictions. What a laugh!
I guess from your moniker you were on the Shackleton - with your good looks and charm you had obviously been a Nav.
Where do you live in France? We recently returned from living in Gers.
All the best, Brian Wildey
When I was on C Watch (74-80) we used to spin with you on mornings. I can remember during the ATCA strike in '77 doing CLN wings,solo of course, struggling to keep up with all the hand written strips you the CSC kept passing to me, for aircraft that were calling out of the blue having circumvented the inbound flow restrictions. What a laugh!
I guess from your moniker you were on the Shackleton - with your good looks and charm you had obviously been a Nav.
Where do you live in France? We recently returned from living in Gers.
All the best, Brian Wildey
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I can confirm that Border Radar had Type 84 and Type 85. Well at least it did when I was there in 1669/70.
One fine day the aeroflot was southbound, but still outside radar, when the military switched from the 84 to the 85. Not 10 seconds later the aeroflot pops up on radar and at the same time calls on the freq to confirm he was now in radar contact as we had switched to the 85. Bl**dy cheek!
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@ ex-EGLL ... for similar reasons [one suspects] all the Sov flights out of Singapore used to do a very wide turn from the 20 departure at Changi [unlike everyone else] heading for the Jahore Baru beacon to ensure they overflew RAF Tengah. We used to turn on the undercarriage check-lights so they knew we had noticed.
There was always a great temptation to arrange a Lightning F6 'vertical departure' at the same time, but common sense prevailed.
There was always a great temptation to arrange a Lightning F6 'vertical departure' at the same time, but common sense prevailed.
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Nice photos ... but how big was the 'overhead' that day?
@ airpolice ... sorry, never did NRD. Nearly 8 years at ERD, as I was sent back to the premier ATCRU as 'management'
I could do you an RAF Strubby in 65, or Tengah in 67-70.
MPN11 - ERD and Bar
(PMG)
@ airpolice ... sorry, never did NRD. Nearly 8 years at ERD, as I was sent back to the premier ATCRU as 'management'
I could do you an RAF Strubby in 65, or Tengah in 67-70.
MPN11 - ERD and Bar
(PMG)
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newbie!
However, I hope you made a good career choice.
However, I hope you made a good career choice.
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Great pics from North Luffenham. Familiar kit! I was at Northern Radar in '70.
Am therefore interested in any pictures from Lindholme.....
Regarding SATCC, Whit also used to take his dog in. It chewed thro' his headset lead mid-transmission.
Regarding miniskirts I only wear mine indoors on a Friday night...with the fluffy mules...
Mildred Hucklegruber III
(This topic should be in the Aviation History and Nostalgia)
(Nostalgia ain't what it used to be....)
Am therefore interested in any pictures from Lindholme.....
Regarding SATCC, Whit also used to take his dog in. It chewed thro' his headset lead mid-transmission.
Regarding miniskirts I only wear mine indoors on a Friday night...with the fluffy mules...
Mildred Hucklegruber III
(This topic should be in the Aviation History and Nostalgia)
(Nostalgia ain't what it used to be....)
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(Nostalgia ain't what it used to be....)
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I recall another "doggie" story. Bev brought one in for a night duty and it sat in Approach quietly. Unfortunately, the animal had a cry of nature which was duly found by Geoff Large's shoe as he walked out of the north door.... (Was that your bow-wow Jack?)
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OMG ... pets in the Tower [is this a deviation?].
1. EGXW ... exercise called for V-Force, and you can't arrange kennels at that sort of notice. "OK, bring the dogs and keep them in the Crew Room/Coffee Bar." The Tower was dog city for a few days, but they were VERY well behaved.
2. EGXW ... again on exercise, Cpl Lorna brought her gerbil to work. The expression on the TACEVAL man's face when we used her gerbil to do the CBW 'sniff test' was perfect! I don't think Lorna ever forgave me for that!!
1. EGXW ... exercise called for V-Force, and you can't arrange kennels at that sort of notice. "OK, bring the dogs and keep them in the Crew Room/Coffee Bar." The Tower was dog city for a few days, but they were VERY well behaved.
2. EGXW ... again on exercise, Cpl Lorna brought her gerbil to work. The expression on the TACEVAL man's face when we used her gerbil to do the CBW 'sniff test' was perfect! I don't think Lorna ever forgave me for that!!