Did You Fly The Vulcan?? (Merged)
Thread Starter
It was always good to take folk flying in the Tin Triangle. But due to the hazards associated with rear crew escape, this was normally only allowed during high level transits or MRR boat-spotting trips.
Certainly, whenever we carried passengers, they went through the Crew Escape Trainer. The only exception was during Giant Voice, when we had a one-off approval to take a USAF Colonel on a high level trip - he was given a thorough brief at the aircraft and practised the rapid egress as best as could be achieved without knackering the kit.
There were only a few problems really with pax. One was the lad who'd flown over to Goose with us and had chundered in the ration box without having told anyone; it was only a few days later that we discovered what was causing the awful smell in the block lounge....
The other was with a WRAF who came on an MRR trip with us. Unlike most large aircraft, V-bombers didn't have 'relief facilities' except for that horrid pee-tube. Which was clearly designed for men only....
So various proposals were suggested. These varied from a fire bucket in the visual bomb aiming position to a funnel connected to the normal pee-tube. Which required 2 hands, so would have required a delicate balancing act -tricky in a one-piece immersion suit. In the end we decided on the bucket. "What's that for?", she asked. "Err, well, it's the ladies' loo"
...... " After working out how on earth she was going to struggle out of a life preserver, immersion suit and bunny suit, then perch over the fire bucket she announced that there wouldn't be any problem - but she might want to nip off smartish after landing! Anyway, she enjoyed her trip (she'd come all the way from an Area Radar Unit as she was a very keen 'passenger' and had flown in most RAF aircraft) - and the bucket wasn't needed!
I flew in the back of a Shacklebomber once from Lossie to Leuchars, courtesy of 8 Sqn. Together with a very nervous young WRAF Fighter Controller flying down to meet her boyfriend on one of the F-4 squadrons. After we landed at Leuchars, the Air Engineer told her that he needed the flying suit and boots back. "But I'm not wearing anything underneath", she announced. "No problem to me, dear", he replied, "Get on with it". Wonderful chaps, Air Engineers...
Being a bit Sir Galahad, I asked if she could send the kit back via R&D. With a "You miserable git" expression from the Air Engineer (quite understandable), this was accepted as they hadn't time to wait for her to get changed in the locker room before pottering off on their AEW trip. "Just keep the silly b*tch away fom the props when you get out though, would you", he asked. So I sent her boots and suit on as promised - she didn't even have the manners either to thank me or thank 8 Sqn for having flown her. Oh well, not all non-flying passengers were quite so ungrateful.
Certainly, whenever we carried passengers, they went through the Crew Escape Trainer. The only exception was during Giant Voice, when we had a one-off approval to take a USAF Colonel on a high level trip - he was given a thorough brief at the aircraft and practised the rapid egress as best as could be achieved without knackering the kit.
There were only a few problems really with pax. One was the lad who'd flown over to Goose with us and had chundered in the ration box without having told anyone; it was only a few days later that we discovered what was causing the awful smell in the block lounge....
The other was with a WRAF who came on an MRR trip with us. Unlike most large aircraft, V-bombers didn't have 'relief facilities' except for that horrid pee-tube. Which was clearly designed for men only....
So various proposals were suggested. These varied from a fire bucket in the visual bomb aiming position to a funnel connected to the normal pee-tube. Which required 2 hands, so would have required a delicate balancing act -tricky in a one-piece immersion suit. In the end we decided on the bucket. "What's that for?", she asked. "Err, well, it's the ladies' loo"
...... " After working out how on earth she was going to struggle out of a life preserver, immersion suit and bunny suit, then perch over the fire bucket she announced that there wouldn't be any problem - but she might want to nip off smartish after landing! Anyway, she enjoyed her trip (she'd come all the way from an Area Radar Unit as she was a very keen 'passenger' and had flown in most RAF aircraft) - and the bucket wasn't needed!I flew in the back of a Shacklebomber once from Lossie to Leuchars, courtesy of 8 Sqn. Together with a very nervous young WRAF Fighter Controller flying down to meet her boyfriend on one of the F-4 squadrons. After we landed at Leuchars, the Air Engineer told her that he needed the flying suit and boots back. "But I'm not wearing anything underneath", she announced. "No problem to me, dear", he replied, "Get on with it". Wonderful chaps, Air Engineers...
Being a bit Sir Galahad, I asked if she could send the kit back via R&D. With a "You miserable git" expression from the Air Engineer (quite understandable), this was accepted as they hadn't time to wait for her to get changed in the locker room before pottering off on their AEW trip. "Just keep the silly b*tch away fom the props when you get out though, would you", he asked. So I sent her boots and suit on as promised - she didn't even have the manners either to thank me or thank 8 Sqn for having flown her. Oh well, not all non-flying passengers were quite so ungrateful.
Last edited by BEagle; 9th Mar 2009 at 14:04.
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Ah, BEags, your post reminded me of that tale of the WRAF ATC lady that was flown as pax in one of Coningsberg's F-4s, by none other than Maj D-y. After the trip, the lady and the Maj were in Flying Clothing handing back the kit, when she said to the Maj "What shall I do with this flying suit I borrowed?" He replied in deadpan manner (as only the Maj could) "Just throw it in the corner - I'll sniff it later..."
Thread Starter
Yes, indeed - that's just the sort of thing The Major might say!
A fine chap indeed!
Ah - the days of the pre-PC air force. That'd probably be 'harrassment' in 2009!
A fine chap indeed!
Ah - the days of the pre-PC air force. That'd probably be 'harrassment' in 2009!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
There was of course the space cadet at Scampton who, when the aircraft blew up, evacuated the aircraft with his parachute and static line still connected. The chute deployed as he departed stage left.
I guess thinbgs tightened up considerably as gravity took its inevitable toll. When first on the beast we often flew unstraped and bone domes off, even at low level. Just 5 years later I wore a Mk 2 hat all the time and also parachute, even when going down tot he prone position. I would only remove it for high level astro or where I had to get into awkward spaces for fuse changing.
I guess thinbgs tightened up considerably as gravity took its inevitable toll. When first on the beast we often flew unstraped and bone domes off, even at low level. Just 5 years later I wore a Mk 2 hat all the time and also parachute, even when going down tot he prone position. I would only remove it for high level astro or where I had to get into awkward spaces for fuse changing.
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In my day we always did a dedicated evacuation trainer session before going away on a Ranger, with the Crew Chief(s). That generally covered us for the BTR requirements.
I well remember the comment of the late Al White when he was instructing in the OCU Groundschool that 'his rear crew never actually volunteered for one, or asked for one, even though they were the ones who had to do the gymnastics to get out'.
I did a Goose trip on 7th seat myself once, and certainly went through the escape trainer!
I well remember the comment of the late Al White when he was instructing in the OCU Groundschool that 'his rear crew never actually volunteered for one, or asked for one, even though they were the ones who had to do the gymnastics to get out'.
I did a Goose trip on 7th seat myself once, and certainly went through the escape trainer!
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Whoever thought of calling those thinly padded platforms "seats" had a strange sense of humour and little knowledge of furniture. On long multi-leg transits to the Pacific, I was soft hearted enough to give up part of the time from my comfy Nav Rad seat to the two crew chiefs who were required to keep the beast moving (unless a fault developed in Hickalulu of course). Saved trampling all over them when taking sun shots through the roof.
We invariably did an escape drill with the two crew chiefs prior to deploying - they soon learned to be quick off the mark to avoid 14 stone of high speed nav trying to overtake them.
As for changing fuses, I confined myself to 28v; no way I was crawling over the entrance/exit door to grope around among the 400v b*ggers. Hard hats and straps were usually worn only for take off to TOC and from TOD to landing (and on the rare occasions when we left our lofty perch to do a "self-probe on a surface contact - yes, alright, it was 27 MRR and the other role).
We invariably did an escape drill with the two crew chiefs prior to deploying - they soon learned to be quick off the mark to avoid 14 stone of high speed nav trying to overtake them.
As for changing fuses, I confined myself to 28v; no way I was crawling over the entrance/exit door to grope around among the 400v b*ggers. Hard hats and straps were usually worn only for take off to TOC and from TOD to landing (and on the rare occasions when we left our lofty perch to do a "self-probe on a surface contact - yes, alright, it was 27 MRR and the other role).
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Are these guys still around
Wonder if you guys know anything about the crew that signed this old Eric Day limited edition print I bought. XH560, 50 Sqn Tankers flying over Lincoln Cathedral.. I've found some history on the aircraft, it was even at Marham when I was until it was despatched. The crews names are Bill Burnett, Roger Daneford, Hugh Davis, Ken Dennison, Dennis Cheetham and the late Eric Day has signed it too. Appreciate any info ref the crew.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Bill Burnett, IIRC, made at least wg cdr. Hugh Davis was very much in to the bare knuckle stuff - combat survival - some years before your print he was involved in rear crew drogue gun operated parachutes.
He was at Akrotiri throwing dummies out of a Shacklebomber flying at about 300 kts. I believe the drogue guns worked perfectly but in the end the idea was abandoned as it would have led to the rear crew moving aroung the cabin with a live drogue gun.
He was at Akrotiri throwing dummies out of a Shacklebomber flying at about 300 kts. I believe the drogue guns worked perfectly but in the end the idea was abandoned as it would have led to the rear crew moving aroung the cabin with a live drogue gun.
Thread Starter
Not sure if it's the same chap, Pontius....
Swingwing2, if you PM me with your e-mail address, I will pass it on to one of the crew members mentioned in your post.
Quite a rogues' gallery you've got there!
Swingwing2, if you PM me with your e-mail address, I will pass it on to one of the crew members mentioned in your post.
Quite a rogues' gallery you've got there!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
BEagle, may be not, but if Hugh was a small welshman with a dry SOH and possibly a black moustache?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
AB, not at all. It was in a power dive over the Akrotiri Salt Lake. Did a small number of drops, RTB UK and I believe scraped. Of course it just might have been converted to AEW 
It was about 1971 with the Nimrod ramping up.
PS, I have done over 250 kts IAS in the Lancaster in level flight.
It was about 1971 with the Nimrod ramping up.
PS, I have done over 250 kts IAS in the Lancaster in level flight.
More bang for your buck
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Did a highly unoficial ride in a victor while it was on a trial at Scampton that I was involved in (the nav rad wasn't flying) I asked "how do it get out in an emergency" the reply from the AEO was "don't worry I'll throw you out as soon as the door is open and the parachute will open automatically"
Yea ok.
Yea ok.
Hello,
Hope you dont mind a lurker butting in, but I found these in the back of a scrapbook, from the NZ Evening Post , Oct 26th, 1959.
May be of interest
Incident hapened at Ohakea New Zealand; pilot reported to be Sqd Ldr
A A Smalles. XH 498
Hope you dont mind a lurker butting in, but I found these in the back of a scrapbook, from the NZ Evening Post , Oct 26th, 1959.
May be of interest
Incident hapened at Ohakea New Zealand; pilot reported to be Sqd Ldr
A A Smalles. XH 498
B**ger, seemed to have cocked that up.
Anybody know how to attach scanned photo's?
Anybody know how to attach scanned photo's?
http://tinyurl.com/cm4zvj
I recommend the www.tinypic.com route, it's pretty foolproof (not implying anything, you understand).
More bang for your buck
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Pontious - forgive the scepticism. It results from a 20nm climb to 3000' in a Mk3 Phase 3 out of Sharjah!
Managed to get myself a trip on "the bomber" during the rehearsal for the 75th at Marham. Fabulous, fabulous and never to be forgotten.
Managed to get myself a trip on "the bomber" during the rehearsal for the 75th at Marham. Fabulous, fabulous and never to be forgotten.
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