The "Whistling wheelbarrow"
I can remember getting a ride from Akrotiri to Kingsfield in a 70 Sqn Argosy during the summer of 1974. I think 70 Sqn at that time still had two, one of which was normally a VIP aircraft, but it was pressed into service because of the Cyprus troubles and restrictions on surface movement.
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70 Sqn used to operate an Argosy on the Akrotiri to Luqa run in 1974, later replaced by a C130, I remember a couple of trips, also the Argosy used to do the water drops for the parachute rescue team up to the disbandment in March 1975.
I have dim memories of fitting a domestic fridge into the 70 Sqn VIP aircraft, this was in late 1973 if I remember.
An Argosy into Kingsfield must have been interesting, I was up there shortly after the invasion, but the shuttle to Akrotiri with the evacuees was completed and it was to deactivate the strip and retrieve the equipment.
In 1972 (or 73) a C130 ran into the hangar at Kingsfield and was repaired by 103MU, on completion of the repair a warranty for one trip only was placed inside the F700.
I have dim memories of fitting a domestic fridge into the 70 Sqn VIP aircraft, this was in late 1973 if I remember.
An Argosy into Kingsfield must have been interesting, I was up there shortly after the invasion, but the shuttle to Akrotiri with the evacuees was completed and it was to deactivate the strip and retrieve the equipment.
In 1972 (or 73) a C130 ran into the hangar at Kingsfield and was repaired by 103MU, on completion of the repair a warranty for one trip only was placed inside the F700.
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Thanks for that link, I knew Dave Osborne on the MU, he was engines and I was a rigger, but I didn't work on that repair, but remember the event.
I applied to join the rescue team, there were several fitters on the MU who had completed the parachute course, ( mainly to relieve the boredom of sitting around the MU waiting for a crash to repair), I did the last parachute training course in November 1974, on completion the whole thing was folded, and the team was disbanded.
This is the last course carried out, I had rather more hair then.
I applied to join the rescue team, there were several fitters on the MU who had completed the parachute course, ( mainly to relieve the boredom of sitting around the MU waiting for a crash to repair), I did the last parachute training course in November 1974, on completion the whole thing was folded, and the team was disbanded.
This is the last course carried out, I had rather more hair then.
Last edited by om15; 20th May 2015 at 08:41. Reason: wrong date
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Really ?......
I did the last parachute training course in November 2014
I did the last parachute training course in November 2014
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115 Sqn and Argosy Service.
AWA ARGOSY
Ref duration of Argosy service on 115 Sqn, this link says changed to Andovers in 1978. I left 115 in 72 and I knew they continued well after that, but not sure when the end date was.
AWA ARGOSY
Ref duration of Argosy service on 115 Sqn, this link says changed to Andovers in 1978. I left 115 in 72 and I knew they continued well after that, but not sure when the end date was.
AWA ARGOSY