Vickers Varsity
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Did my navigators course at Hullavington in1964, we flew in the Varsity, Valetta and Valetta flying classroom. When it came to the Advanced stage the Iraqis who had joined our course carried on to Stradishall, whereas we completed the Advanced course at Hullavington. However we did go to
Stradishall for 12 hours on the Meteor NF14. Many of the pilots at Hullavington were Master Pilots and a fountain of knowledge.
They were happy days.
Stradishall for 12 hours on the Meteor NF14. Many of the pilots at Hullavington were Master Pilots and a fountain of knowledge.
They were happy days.
Did my navigator's course at Gaydon in '66 on the Varsity plus some trips in the Valetta 'flying classroom'. Followed by advanced course at Stradishall in early '67, not the new-fangled Dominie for me - still the sturdy old Varsity.
Gee was still the principal fixing aid - very handy for a third position line for exercises involving Astro, Consol,NDBs etc.
Gee was still the principal fixing aid - very handy for a third position line for exercises involving Astro, Consol,NDBs etc.
Last edited by chevvron; 27th Apr 2017 at 14:46.
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Others Flown on 97 Course
Many thanks to 'CC' who directed me to this thread.
Flew WJ947 at 5FTS RAF Oakington Oct-Dec 1973 (97course)
Other aircraft we flew in various colour schemes
WF326 WF329 WF331 WF371 WF375 WF389(which were older than we the studes)
WF409, WF418, WF419, WF422, WF429
WJ892, WJ902, WJ912, WJ920, WJ941, WJ942, WJ947
WL628, WL629, WL634, WL670, WL671, WL676
Flew WJ947 at 5FTS RAF Oakington Oct-Dec 1973 (97course)
Other aircraft we flew in various colour schemes
WF326 WF329 WF331 WF371 WF375 WF389(which were older than we the studes)
WF409, WF418, WF419, WF422, WF429
WJ892, WJ902, WJ912, WJ920, WJ941, WJ942, WJ947
WL628, WL629, WL634, WL670, WL671, WL676
11th Oct 73 WF409
14th Nov 73 WL629 Weather recall PAR U/S Landed off SRA.
More on gee. It was still being used on the Varsity nav trainers at 2 ANS Gaydon in 1969, and I believe the system finally shut down in 1970. I remember a photo of some nav (maybe a student at Finningley) taking the very last Gee fix. I believe it appeared in the RAF News.
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Question about Vickers Varsity and BAe Jetstream
Hello friends, I am an aviation history enthusiast and I am doing an extended research about military advanced multi engine pilot trainers .
Talking about the venerable Vickers Varsity... Was it the trainer for fiture heavy bombers pilots (Vulcan, Victor, Valiant, Canberra...) or were they selected from the fast jet pipeline?
I know that the Varsity was withdrawn from multi engine pilot training with the RAF in 1976, and replaced by the Jetstream.
In the other hand, the also venerable Avro Vulcan was withdrawn from service in 1982... Did the new Vulcan pilots from 1976 to 1982 received theis advanced multi engine training in the Jetstream?
Sorry for my english and thank you very much in advance!
Sincerely,
Peter.
Talking about the venerable Vickers Varsity... Was it the trainer for fiture heavy bombers pilots (Vulcan, Victor, Valiant, Canberra...) or were they selected from the fast jet pipeline?
I know that the Varsity was withdrawn from multi engine pilot training with the RAF in 1976, and replaced by the Jetstream.
In the other hand, the also venerable Avro Vulcan was withdrawn from service in 1982... Did the new Vulcan pilots from 1976 to 1982 received theis advanced multi engine training in the Jetstream?
Sorry for my english and thank you very much in advance!
Sincerely,
Peter.
Peter,
Welcome to PPRuNe. There is no need to apologize for your English - it is very good!
I can't answer your questions other than to tell you the Varsity was sometimes called the Pig and that when taxying, there was so much smoke from the engines, that ATC would sometimes think it was on fire! I had a ride in one once. Good memories.
Welcome to PPRuNe. There is no need to apologize for your English - it is very good!
I can't answer your questions other than to tell you the Varsity was sometimes called the Pig and that when taxying, there was so much smoke from the engines, that ATC would sometimes think it was on fire! I had a ride in one once. Good memories.
India 42 - close, but no banana The Pig was specifically applied to the Valetta Nav trainer. While the two aircraft had similar porcine outlines (ignoring u/c), the Nav trainer had a row of astrodomes along the upper surface giving the appearance of a line of teats as per nursing sows. The soubriquet additionally became more associated with the Valetta C Mk 1 rather than the Varsity.
They're gradually restoring a Varsity Nav trainer at Brooklands - well worth a visit- https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/exp...rcraft/varsity
https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/exp...rcraft/varsity
they're gradually restoring it - well worth a visit
they're gradually restoring it - well worth a visit
Was it the trainer for fiture heavy bombers pilots (Vulcan, Victor, Valiant, Canberra...) or were they selected from the fast jet pipeline?
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A56
Thanks for the pictures.
That Nav's position is very different to the Varsity's that worked on at Lindholme c1954-6.
Of course Green Satin hadn't been invented then!
Thanks for the pictures.
That Nav's position is very different to the Varsity's that worked on at Lindholme c1954-6.
Of course Green Satin hadn't been invented then!
There where 2-3 guys working away - obviously a labour of love
Was it the trainer for fiture heavy bombers pilots (Vulcan, Victor, Valiant, Canberra...) or were they selected from the fast jet pipeline?
By the mid 60s, when I went through the system, streaming from BFTS was done as follows:
Fast jet (Lightning, Hunter and occasional Canberra) to AFTS at Valley primarily on the Gnat or the Hunter if you couldn't fit into a Gnat.
Heavies (V force, Maritime & Transport/AAR) to Oakington on the Varsity
Rotary to Shawbury on the Whirlwind? - not sure after so many years!
At the end of the 60s Fast Jet also included Harrier, Buccaneer and Jaguar.
By the mid 60s, when I went through the system, streaming from BFTS was done as follows:
Fast jet (Lightning, Hunter and occasional Canberra) to AFTS at Valley primarily on the Gnat or the Hunter if you couldn't fit into a Gnat.
Heavies (V force, Maritime & Transport/AAR) to Oakington on the Varsity
Rotary to Shawbury on the Whirlwind? - not sure after so many years!
At the end of the 60s Fast Jet also included Harrier, Buccaneer and Jaguar.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
nipva: excuse a similarly-aged aviator, but in the sixties rotary was still at Tern Hill. I was there in '66. Sioux (Bell 47) and Whirlwind. I believe it wasn't transferred to Shawbury until the mid-seventies
Herod beat me too it. When I was at Shawbury in the late 60s, most traffic was UBAS/8AEF Chipmunks, and Marshall's Vampires and Piston Provosts that were providing targets for ATC students, There were also the occasional Valley Hunters and Gnats doing practice diversions and sometimes we would get Tern Hill Whirlwinds that would come over for a PAR. Reputedly they would occasionally come to a hover and then climb back out along the glideslope, much to the consternation of the radar students!
nipva
A school friend and I ( both the same age as you ) joined the RAF in '65 - after
Leeming he went on to Valley. 'Whoopee' he thought ' Lightnings here I come ' . Mightily disappointed to be posted to Vulcans as a co-pilot - then to rub salt in the wound after his first tour he didn't get a skipper's slot and had a ground tour instead.
A school friend and I ( both the same age as you ) joined the RAF in '65 - after
Leeming he went on to Valley. 'Whoopee' he thought ' Lightnings here I come ' . Mightily disappointed to be posted to Vulcans as a co-pilot - then to rub salt in the wound after his first tour he didn't get a skipper's slot and had a ground tour instead.
Gentleman Aviator
nipva: excuse a similarly-aged aviator, but in the sixties rotary was still at Tern Hill. I was there in '66. Sioux (Bell 47) and Whirlwind.
Sycamores were still used up to the mid-60s I think, but had gone before I got there in '69.
[Edited to add:
a quick Google suggests Sycamores were still at TH in '65/'66, so looks as if Herod just missed it.]