Buccaneer Low level
smartman - you weren't OC 12 then, were you?
I did like Bruce's comment "When you get used to the strength of this thing at low level, you start looking for things to ram!"
No chip - simply a comment on a thoroughly dreadful organisation. But I did hear that a lot of shaking up went on there a couple of years later....
I did like Bruce's comment "When you get used to the strength of this thing at low level, you start looking for things to ram!"
No chip - simply a comment on a thoroughly dreadful organisation. But I did hear that a lot of shaking up went on there a couple of years later....
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BEagle, I know what you mean about the OCU, it was my intro to the RAF.
Bruce gave us groundcrew a hard time as well. On the long lead during a Fam1 you would often hear, "unplug, as what I am about to say is unsuitable for delicate ears" or words to that effect.
He did give me my first fast jet trip though, in one of our Hunters, now at Kemble I believe, the Hunter, not Bruce.
Bruce gave us groundcrew a hard time as well. On the long lead during a Fam1 you would often hear, "unplug, as what I am about to say is unsuitable for delicate ears" or words to that effect.
He did give me my first fast jet trip though, in one of our Hunters, now at Kemble I believe, the Hunter, not Bruce.
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a good link for the Buccaneer is
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co...eer/index.html
Did anyone serve on the Bucc dets that covered British Forces in Lebanon?
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co...eer/index.html
Did anyone serve on the Bucc dets that covered British Forces in Lebanon?
Thanks for clearing that up, chum!
Not the most popular boss of the Basil Brush outfit, was he?
Re. the Buccs at low level on Flag, you should have seen some of the 'private' Telford camera film from the strike sight which were shown behind locked doors. Ever seen the look on a prairie dog's face when it looks up at 540 knots of Bucc at ultra low level? I saw it on the film!!
Not the most popular boss of the Basil Brush outfit, was he?
Re. the Buccs at low level on Flag, you should have seen some of the 'private' Telford camera film from the strike sight which were shown behind locked doors. Ever seen the look on a prairie dog's face when it looks up at 540 knots of Bucc at ultra low level? I saw it on the film!!
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BEagle, couldn't agree with you more. 237 OCU at that time was the pits. Fortunately didn't put me off flying and the Sqns proved to be a welcome relief and provided outstanding fun.
Sad thing was that too many of the OCU Staff believed they had a fighter and not the outstanding bomber that it was.
Keep smiling.
Maxburner check your personal mail.
Sad thing was that too many of the OCU Staff believed they had a fighter and not the outstanding bomber that it was.
Keep smiling.Maxburner check your personal mail.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
can't remember the name but the F4 driver said the bucc was great at fighter evasion. 500+ on the deck, F4 creaming in behind, wing down 60 deg bank.
Quick as a flash Biggles would role his F4 and pull like a bastard. After about 20 deg look up for the shot. No Bucc.
Bastard still flying 500+ S&L but with 60 AOB. Got 'em every time.
Quick as a flash Biggles would role his F4 and pull like a bastard. After about 20 deg look up for the shot. No Bucc.
Bastard still flying 500+ S&L but with 60 AOB. Got 'em every time.
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PN absolutely right.We were great at evading which perhaps meant we could reach and hit our target.However we couldn't shoot anyone down.
Mind you we could get him in our 6, open the brakes and fill his intakes with the chaff taped within.
Notwithstanding that, fighter afill (or bomber afill if you were a real fighter) was great training for both camps and not without its fun.
Mind you we could get him in our 6, open the brakes and fill his intakes with the chaff taped within.
Notwithstanding that, fighter afill (or bomber afill if you were a real fighter) was great training for both camps and not without its fun.
Sadly never got to fly the Bucc, but had a good look in the cockpit of one once - just South of LFA 9. However, I was at 100ft in a Gazelle coming round the side of a hill, when said beast came round the other way - underneath us! 
PS For NURSE - I wasn't on the "Did anyone serve on the Bucc dets that covered British Forces in Lebanon?" - but we did take the press over on a Chinook so they could then film, photo and report on 'The First RAF Aircraft over Beirut'. Quite where they thought we came from I never did learn. But at least we bought some 'Beirut Rock' back for the detachment later (I think it came from a shell hole next to the University HLS).
PS For NURSE - I wasn't on the "Did anyone serve on the Bucc dets that covered British Forces in Lebanon?" - but we did take the press over on a Chinook so they could then film, photo and report on 'The First RAF Aircraft over Beirut'. Quite where they thought we came from I never did learn. But at least we bought some 'Beirut Rock' back for the detachment later (I think it came from a shell hole next to the University HLS).
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There are loads of ex-Bucc chappies out there with gem-stories to tell. Each year there is an horrendous get-together of those aircrew who can be bothered to pitch-up, near the Tower of London, and imbibe. I forget the last one - even though it was only a coupla weeks ago! And the well-recalled Bruce was amongst them - amazingly he is PC non-literate (or so he claims), and is therefore unable to join our banter. I don't believe him ---
Oh - and roghead, why didn't you come?? Or did I miss you in my haze?
Oh - and roghead, why didn't you come?? Or did I miss you in my haze?
There are a few photos of RN Buccaneers from Ark & Eagle on my website, here . Click on "Gallery", there's one for the Bucc + one for the Phantom 
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I did the Red Flag (Flatiron) when the bucc film of the wingtip duststorm was taken. Also the film of the Bucc flying over the caravan, where the last frame was the entire starboard intake filling the screen. They lost the vhf whip aerial from the caravan. 'Stipstream' they said; scratches on the leading edge said another...
Also, one enterprising nav used to unstrap en-route to the ex area and kneel on his bang seat - then he could be the eyes looking to the rear for the opposition. His view was that his chances of survival at LL were virtually zero, therefore it didn't really matter... Don't think his boss was overly impressed when it came to light.
Also, one enterprising nav used to unstrap en-route to the ex area and kneel on his bang seat - then he could be the eyes looking to the rear for the opposition. His view was that his chances of survival at LL were virtually zero, therefore it didn't really matter... Don't think his boss was overly impressed when it came to light.
Nurse,
Lebanon 1983/4. Still got the 'T' shirt - "Real men fly through Beirut not over it"! Probably the most exciting couple of minutes flying I have ever done (No 2 of the second pair around the city if anyone has the video). We set the Pave Spike to a fixed 2 degree depression and filmed the whole trip around the city. Got in the mire from the USN for flying under the bows of one of their boats on the way back to Akrotiri, and then again for being too low on the break into the circuit! Great fun!
As for speeds, I can get accurate numbers when I get back to work in the New Year, but from memory the clean aircraft limit was 580 KIAS/0.95M but with most stores, such as underwing tanks, was 560 KIAS/0.86M. However, I have seen 605 KIAS (even with underwing tanks on) and 0.96M in winter at Goose Bay (in my pre-tp days, of course!). At these speeds it did put monstrous loads on the ailerons and a few rivets often disappeared. Also, above about 550 KIAS directional stability was poor and the slip ball was firmly pegged on the stops. I never flew with 4 Sea Eagles, but with 4 Paveway LGBs on the wings you could comfortably maintain 550 KIAS in close formation and then through a 4g toss manoeuvre.
As for 237 OCU, by 1979 it was much better and I had a ball. There were some great guys there.
Overall, the Bucc was the best aeroplane that I have ever flown for high speed at low level, although you did leave a wake below about 40 feet! However, it also had the worst flying qualities of anything that I have experienced in the landing pattern. The F4 was considerably easier.
ROGHEAD, glad to see that you have popped up again. Will send you a PM.
Thanks for starting this thread - happy memories.
Lebanon 1983/4. Still got the 'T' shirt - "Real men fly through Beirut not over it"! Probably the most exciting couple of minutes flying I have ever done (No 2 of the second pair around the city if anyone has the video). We set the Pave Spike to a fixed 2 degree depression and filmed the whole trip around the city. Got in the mire from the USN for flying under the bows of one of their boats on the way back to Akrotiri, and then again for being too low on the break into the circuit! Great fun!
As for speeds, I can get accurate numbers when I get back to work in the New Year, but from memory the clean aircraft limit was 580 KIAS/0.95M but with most stores, such as underwing tanks, was 560 KIAS/0.86M. However, I have seen 605 KIAS (even with underwing tanks on) and 0.96M in winter at Goose Bay (in my pre-tp days, of course!). At these speeds it did put monstrous loads on the ailerons and a few rivets often disappeared. Also, above about 550 KIAS directional stability was poor and the slip ball was firmly pegged on the stops. I never flew with 4 Sea Eagles, but with 4 Paveway LGBs on the wings you could comfortably maintain 550 KIAS in close formation and then through a 4g toss manoeuvre.
As for 237 OCU, by 1979 it was much better and I had a ball. There were some great guys there.
Overall, the Bucc was the best aeroplane that I have ever flown for high speed at low level, although you did leave a wake below about 40 feet! However, it also had the worst flying qualities of anything that I have experienced in the landing pattern. The F4 was considerably easier.
ROGHEAD, glad to see that you have popped up again. Will send you a PM.
Thanks for starting this thread - happy memories.
However, it also had the worst flying qualities of anything that I have experienced in the landing pattern.
I also recall reading a fascinating post some time ago (by BEagle I think) that described in some considerable detail all the various knobs and taps that had to be constantly adjusted to configure a Buccaneer for landing; mind-boggling.
Princess Alexandra, 19 Jun 79
So, which one were you in?