Tiger in the dark-ish
Thread Starter
Tiger in the dark-ish
5 December 1976,`Under the Moon of Love`-`Showaddywaddy`, was No1 on TOTP in UK,and `Tonight`s the Night(It`ll be alright)` was No1 in USA( Rod Stewart)....
I was Duty Check Pilot at the Tiger CLUB that day,and had spent half an hour doing a check ride in Tiger`DC` with CB,and was freezing..it was ` ffffing cold`,getting late-ish,and `we` decided `time to quit,closed -up the hangar,and adjourned ,up the hill to the `pub` for some warmth ,food and `refreshers`.There were about 6-8 of us ,so lots of `war stories`,so we soon warmed up in typical waving arms in aerobatic` fashion`.About an hour or so later,it was time to `disperse` to our various homes, outside where it was now very quiet,no wind and a full Moon,rising in the East,when a voice was heard to say` What a lovely night for flying`,,,as it was,no cloud...and so,another voice chimed in...`I`ve still got the keys`, there is a load of `goose-necks`in the hangar,`,,another,,there`s a set of nav-lights there as well`...`Who is current `night rated...?, to which I had to admit I was,as a current TP at Boscombe, had been night flying in a Lynx ,a couple of weeks before...And so a `plot` was formed...!! SLAGIATT..!!!
Shortly after,we had arrived back at RH,the hangar was opened,`DC` was dragged out onto the now frosted grass,someone had got the goose-necks and was driving out to lay them and light them alongside the E-W runway,and the `nav-light` equipment had been found,a `triangular box` with red/green/white `windows` housing a battery-powered light,and fitted to the top of the Tiger`s fuel tank,with an ON/OFF switch and cable in the front cockpit....AND IT WORKED...and so did the `flarepath`...The whole airfield was illuminated by now with the Moon having risen higher and as there was a `faint` wind from the W , it would be better to t/o into the `dark` and as there were no landing lights on the Tiger,land by Moonlight...it was still only about 6pm...
To be a bit more `legal` ,one should carry a torch,as there`s no cockpit lights,and I think `someone` may have had one..I think I had one,but the Tigers`instruments were pretty luminous ,given the moonlight,anyway ,you fly a Tiger `by `feel and the draught around the cockpit....
After the usual briefing to those assembled,and as Duty Check Pilot,I was going to check out Brian Smith,and take a couple of others on a `night famil` around the area,then let BS (a TC check pilot) do the rest..
And so,now we had to start-up and get going,which went surprisingly easy,flames out of the exhaust,yellow to start,then diminishing changing to bluish red as one did a run-up,back to yellow at idle as we taxiied out to the r/way,and lined up,about a w/span away from the `flares,then full power,and off down the runway,and into the `wide black yonder`..Once airborne,one could see the lights of all the little villages,and brighter lights of Gatport Airwick,a few turns,here and there,and then back to` downwind` for my first night f/wing landing for a few years..Now with the Moon behind and above the airfield looked like a white `lake ,as it was totally frost covered,with the flarepath easily visible,easy to set-up the correct approach angle ,and one could read the ASI,altimeter and T&S quite easily,and once below about 100ft,the aircraft`s shadow could be seen on the ground,so it was a bit `magical` to judge the touchdown ,onto a 3-pointer,(the only way),and roll out,turn off,back-track,and do another quick circuit..After that I let BS have his turn for a couple of ccts,he then got out,and I then flew a couple more guys,TR,and ? J,,taxiied back,and I then handed over front seat to BS continue the flights.That had been a bit of a `magical`hour of flying at night,not only `the ` flying ,sightseeing in the ffffreezing cold,but the way that the` plot` had happened with a bunch of diverse guys,gelling together,and not `losing the moment`...
I was reminded of this event back then as I drove home from the Family Boxing Day bunfight at my Son`s house,as my car was covered in frost(before I started it)...) and a full Moon tonight...
Anyway,the reference at the top to the two No 1s is also appropriate in retrospect.....You can find them ,if so inclined,on U-Tube..I just checked the back date for `interesting things on this day`..
SLAGIATT....Seemed like a good idea at the time...as it was..!!
Merry Christmas,etc,etc to you all..
Syc..
I make no comment on `whose voice ` it was who started all this...
I was Duty Check Pilot at the Tiger CLUB that day,and had spent half an hour doing a check ride in Tiger`DC` with CB,and was freezing..it was ` ffffing cold`,getting late-ish,and `we` decided `time to quit,closed -up the hangar,and adjourned ,up the hill to the `pub` for some warmth ,food and `refreshers`.There were about 6-8 of us ,so lots of `war stories`,so we soon warmed up in typical waving arms in aerobatic` fashion`.About an hour or so later,it was time to `disperse` to our various homes, outside where it was now very quiet,no wind and a full Moon,rising in the East,when a voice was heard to say` What a lovely night for flying`,,,as it was,no cloud...and so,another voice chimed in...`I`ve still got the keys`, there is a load of `goose-necks`in the hangar,`,,another,,there`s a set of nav-lights there as well`...`Who is current `night rated...?, to which I had to admit I was,as a current TP at Boscombe, had been night flying in a Lynx ,a couple of weeks before...And so a `plot` was formed...!! SLAGIATT..!!!
Shortly after,we had arrived back at RH,the hangar was opened,`DC` was dragged out onto the now frosted grass,someone had got the goose-necks and was driving out to lay them and light them alongside the E-W runway,and the `nav-light` equipment had been found,a `triangular box` with red/green/white `windows` housing a battery-powered light,and fitted to the top of the Tiger`s fuel tank,with an ON/OFF switch and cable in the front cockpit....AND IT WORKED...and so did the `flarepath`...The whole airfield was illuminated by now with the Moon having risen higher and as there was a `faint` wind from the W , it would be better to t/o into the `dark` and as there were no landing lights on the Tiger,land by Moonlight...it was still only about 6pm...
To be a bit more `legal` ,one should carry a torch,as there`s no cockpit lights,and I think `someone` may have had one..I think I had one,but the Tigers`instruments were pretty luminous ,given the moonlight,anyway ,you fly a Tiger `by `feel and the draught around the cockpit....
After the usual briefing to those assembled,and as Duty Check Pilot,I was going to check out Brian Smith,and take a couple of others on a `night famil` around the area,then let BS (a TC check pilot) do the rest..
And so,now we had to start-up and get going,which went surprisingly easy,flames out of the exhaust,yellow to start,then diminishing changing to bluish red as one did a run-up,back to yellow at idle as we taxiied out to the r/way,and lined up,about a w/span away from the `flares,then full power,and off down the runway,and into the `wide black yonder`..Once airborne,one could see the lights of all the little villages,and brighter lights of Gatport Airwick,a few turns,here and there,and then back to` downwind` for my first night f/wing landing for a few years..Now with the Moon behind and above the airfield looked like a white `lake ,as it was totally frost covered,with the flarepath easily visible,easy to set-up the correct approach angle ,and one could read the ASI,altimeter and T&S quite easily,and once below about 100ft,the aircraft`s shadow could be seen on the ground,so it was a bit `magical` to judge the touchdown ,onto a 3-pointer,(the only way),and roll out,turn off,back-track,and do another quick circuit..After that I let BS have his turn for a couple of ccts,he then got out,and I then flew a couple more guys,TR,and ? J,,taxiied back,and I then handed over front seat to BS continue the flights.That had been a bit of a `magical`hour of flying at night,not only `the ` flying ,sightseeing in the ffffreezing cold,but the way that the` plot` had happened with a bunch of diverse guys,gelling together,and not `losing the moment`...
I was reminded of this event back then as I drove home from the Family Boxing Day bunfight at my Son`s house,as my car was covered in frost(before I started it)...) and a full Moon tonight...
Anyway,the reference at the top to the two No 1s is also appropriate in retrospect.....You can find them ,if so inclined,on U-Tube..I just checked the back date for `interesting things on this day`..
SLAGIATT....Seemed like a good idea at the time...as it was..!!
Merry Christmas,etc,etc to you all..
Syc..
I make no comment on `whose voice ` it was who started all this...
Last edited by sycamore; 27th Dec 2023 at 12:17. Reason: spelink
The following 4 users liked this post by sycamore:
sycamore,
brilliant ! So well told I felt I was in the Tiger with you. If only ! Best wishes.
Bill
brilliant ! So well told I felt I was in the Tiger with you. If only ! Best wishes.
Bill
Thread Starter
aa62,PM for you....
Wonderful tale, and so good to hear of BS, a man I hugely admired and for whom I worked briefly in his aircraft spares business who enthusiastically encouraged and inspired his temp warehouse-boy's entry into the FAA which founded my entire career. One of nature's true gentlemen and one of the most delightful, charming and charismatic larger-than-life people (for a shorthouse) I've ever met.
I too flew the iconic DC later on though not in such spectacular circumstances. Oh! to bring back the Tiger Club!
I can imagine pilots of this uptight age boggling in disbelief at the notion of returning from the pub to do a bit of ad-hoc night flying - but the style of doing it properly nonetheless and with attention to the legal niceties of nav-lights and carrying out proper famils for those not so qualified is such a lovely picture of the relaxed though soundly well-formed discipline from another age that was the Tiger Club.
Aviation is all the poorer for its passing.
I too flew the iconic DC later on though not in such spectacular circumstances. Oh! to bring back the Tiger Club!
I can imagine pilots of this uptight age boggling in disbelief at the notion of returning from the pub to do a bit of ad-hoc night flying - but the style of doing it properly nonetheless and with attention to the legal niceties of nav-lights and carrying out proper famils for those not so qualified is such a lovely picture of the relaxed though soundly well-formed discipline from another age that was the Tiger Club.
Aviation is all the poorer for its passing.
Great story, sycamore.
I flew once at night at Redhill, with Don L in his Ambassadeur, about 12 years before. your story. Don flew a couple of circuits, then let me have a go. At 400ft on finals all our nav and instrument lights went out - it transpired a fuse had blown. Don took back control, went round again, and landed safely, while I held a torch to illuminate the instruments. Fairly trivial, but quite exciting at the time!
Incidentally, my kids bought me a ride in 'CDC at Damyns Hall for my 80th birthday a couple of years ago, 58 years after I'd done my initial test to join the Club in the same aircraft.
--Tim L
I flew once at night at Redhill, with Don L in his Ambassadeur, about 12 years before. your story. Don flew a couple of circuits, then let me have a go. At 400ft on finals all our nav and instrument lights went out - it transpired a fuse had blown. Don took back control, went round again, and landed safely, while I held a torch to illuminate the instruments. Fairly trivial, but quite exciting at the time!
Incidentally, my kids bought me a ride in 'CDC at Damyns Hall for my 80th birthday a couple of years ago, 58 years after I'd done my initial test to join the Club in the same aircraft.
--Tim L
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