RAF Oakington visual recovery

[FL575]

Thinking about the time when Varsities flew out of RAF Oakington. Can anyone remember details of the visual recovery from the North. As I remember, a particular route and height had to be flown in order to go under any possible instrument traffic to RAF Wyton. I can remember coming down the Twin Canals to be at 500ft and call at the(railway)'VIADUCT', then I seem to remember 'BLACK BANK'. But I cannot remember where that was, or the rest of the route. The Viaduct is still there, but I think the Black Bank is now possibly an industrial estate.

Thanks

[Fly380]

Over Over - over.

[forget]

Black Bank was a railway station. Confirmation below, but no further info.

GeoHack - Black Bank railway station

Black Bank railway station - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[oxenos]

I was on the course at Oakington in 64. I recall a Standard Visual Departure via Witchford, Mepal,and the twin canals, but don't recall a Standard Visual Arrival. Seems I'm down to half of my memory cells.

[aw ditor]

Black Bank' was indeed on the outbound visual departure. Viaduct' inbound thence to Over then join visually to fit in with other traffic. Every Course called "Over Over Over" and thought they were the first to do so until they were disabused by the (then) senior course! It was all a bit long winded but it did the job.

[Neptunus Rex]

By '65 it had changed. "Over Over" was the call and adding a third "over" cost the miscreant a few bob (shillings to you youngsters) "voluntary donation" to the Flight beer fund.

[JW411]

We moved our Varsities from 4 FTS Valley to 5 FTS Oakington in March 1962. (I got there on my 21st birthday and they shut the bar just after I arrived).

As best as I can recall, we went out via Mepal and came back via Witchford.

[oxenos]

We all seem to be remembering different things. Or forgetting different things. It's old age.
Perhaps this should be renamed Aviation Mystery and Neuralgia

[Shackman]

Tell the lads of today that we did it at 500ft solo and they (particularly today's breed of supervisor/authoriser) wouldn't believe you. Seriously though, landed at Waterbeach last week - seems difficult to believe I went solo there in the Varsity over 40 years ago - and still recognised parts of the route (but of course you can't use the twin canals now - bird sanctuary!), then departed via Oakington (which looks even sadder). However routing at 100ft was much easier!

Was it Black Bank railway station? - I seem to remember the Black Shed(s) which regularly had a course number painted on the roof which was the northern end of the route along the canals.

[On the beach]

I seem to remember "Black Bank, round the houses" being a departure routeing. Not sure if it was a transit call to the Waterbeach circuit or something else.

[Yellow Sun]

IIRC the departure via the Waterbeach circuit ended at a point called "boat yard"

Anyone else remember this?

YS

[ColinB]

Seems like Goodbye

BBC - Oakington immigration centre's future plans

[Dan Winterland]

Goodbye, but not forgotten. The local historic society is running a petition to save some of the buildings including the Officer's and Airman's messes, and a couple of the barrack blocks for use as a small business park, they also want to use some space for a museum decicated to the airfield.

They are also campaigning to have some of the new town's roads named after some of the aircrew who didn't return from missions.


The e-petition is at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saverafoakington/ I urge anyone with a connection to Oakington to sign. Even if you have no connection, please log on and sign if you value the country's disapperaing aviation heritage.