RN Gazelle XW895
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Cornwall
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I flew this aircraft to Shawbury on its last ever RN flight and the last ever 705 NAS sortie! Also had the pleasure of displaying in it as part of the Sharks on my first 705 tour and as solo on Field Gun diplays at Culdrose on my second time around. Fantastic fun, fantastic aircraft and a terrible shame about the DHFS mularkey, still convinced it was a step in the wrong direction. 
Not sure if I ever flew that side number but agree strongly about the DHFS malarkey. Culdrose 705 produced just what the FAA needed at significantly lower cost..... and while I'm having a little rant (!), it was the 'beginning of the end' to disband the Sharks. Typical RN; canning something special to save pennies...crabs would never have done the same under the circumstances.
f2n
You are not alone, the AAC now has a system that takes nearly two years to produce a pilot when it it used to take under one. Putting people on long periods of hold is a waste of money, demoralising for the individual and labour intensive as they need an element of re-teaching as they suffer skill fade and don't have the experience to fall back on. We were conned.
You are not alone, the AAC now has a system that takes nearly two years to produce a pilot when it it used to take under one. Putting people on long periods of hold is a waste of money, demoralising for the individual and labour intensive as they need an element of re-teaching as they suffer skill fade and don't have the experience to fall back on. We were conned.
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Feels like a 705 NAS reunion in here.
Still there is no question that we did it cheaper than the rest and we could have saved the dosh by just changing aircraft types and staying at Culdrose.
I was lucky enough to keep flying Gazelles up until last year at BD.
EOLs are always more fun when you can't open the throttle and overshoot (well you can but not legally).
Still there is no question that we did it cheaper than the rest and we could have saved the dosh by just changing aircraft types and staying at Culdrose.
I was lucky enough to keep flying Gazelles up until last year at BD.
EOLs are always more fun when you can't open the throttle and overshoot (well you can but not legally).
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
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I didn't know the Sharks had been disbanded. It explains why I couldn't find a website. Sad.
The diamond logo on the tailfin says 1936-1996. I suppose it must be right, but were the Sharks really founded in 1936?
Anyone know what they flew in 1936?
And what they flew between then and the Gazelle?
The diamond logo on the tailfin says 1936-1996. I suppose it must be right, but were the Sharks really founded in 1936?
Anyone know what they flew in 1936?
And what they flew between then and the Gazelle?
Join Date: May 2004
Location: warsash
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RN Gazelle XW895
I flew my first solo in this aircraft in Feb 1977, and flew it a lot during the RNPC, and later on the IRI course, and later still as a Trapper - what is the special interest in this cab?
Sharks
The 2* Grim Reaper took them after our '92 season in payment for someone's brass hat. On paper it saved 450 display hours (that's a saving of a whole aircraftsworth Admiral).
In reality we saved nothing; the display hours continued to be flown the following years, as two pairs and two solos, occasionally displaying at the same venues at the same time but making sure they didn't call themselves 'The SHARKS'.
When the Admiral asked why the SHARKS logo was still on the tail the following year he was advised that the Sqn couldn't afford to paint them out - he seemed happy with that.
The final justice? The 2* himself was taken by the light blue Grim Reaper last year.
The moral? 'The SHARKS' were the essence of the FAA, if you want to re-invent the FAA, you might start by re-inventing 'The SHARKS', not the 2*.
In reality we saved nothing; the display hours continued to be flown the following years, as two pairs and two solos, occasionally displaying at the same venues at the same time but making sure they didn't call themselves 'The SHARKS'.
When the Admiral asked why the SHARKS logo was still on the tail the following year he was advised that the Sqn couldn't afford to paint them out - he seemed happy with that.
The final justice? The 2* himself was taken by the light blue Grim Reaper last year.
The moral? 'The SHARKS' were the essence of the FAA, if you want to re-invent the FAA, you might start by re-inventing 'The SHARKS', not the 2*.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: UK
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I have to say that I agree with all that has been posted so far....However, the essence of 705 NAS versus DHFS was that it was bloody good fun and because it was single service you felt as though you belonged to the FAA at an earlier stage of your career. This is not to mention the fact that a Gazelle with no DAS and IFF etc etc ie a slick was great fun to fly, although I did nearly get chopped on my FHT when I scared Bob Hubble senseless by nearly jackstalling on I quote " a jacky boy wingover..." Heh ho!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: UK
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So many voices all spot on the button. Demise of 705 (OK.. and maybe the pongo and crab equivalents) was a crazy decision. Cost more not less to do it 'joint', takes longer and the product is worse (stand by for a party-line-tower to claim the opposite!). I happen to know that the FONA of the time (Big Tell) pulled every trick in the book to try and save 705 but he was shouted down by others who a) didn't give a fig for the Fleet Air Arm and its ethos and b) saw a slavish adherence to joitery as being a pathway to promotion in the new (Labour), post cold-war order.
sad sad sad
sad sad sad
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Interesting quotes about the standard of students.
As one of the "I did both" team I don't think finite flying standards were or even are lower.
The real problem is the disjointed nature of flying training across all three services at present with huge holds and very poor course spirit (the boys and girls keep getting moved around).
Additionally getting things changed at 705 if the likes of 702/848/706 were unhappy was a darn sight easier.
All too contractural and 'costly' these days.
As one of the "I did both" team I don't think finite flying standards were or even are lower.
The real problem is the disjointed nature of flying training across all three services at present with huge holds and very poor course spirit (the boys and girls keep getting moved around).
Additionally getting things changed at 705 if the likes of 702/848/706 were unhappy was a darn sight easier.
All too contractural and 'costly' these days.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Kernow
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Hey Dakotaman, Me too! First solo, all the way round NT Predannack, although a bit after you.
Ah, the EOLs. It was only on beefers course that I discovered you had to move the sticks - they always seemed to move on their own during training!
Ah, the EOLs. It was only on beefers course that I discovered you had to move the sticks - they always seemed to move on their own during training!
Passed my FHT on 705 NAS in XW895 in '77 to earn "Wings of Gold" lovingly stitched into dyed-in-the-wool dark blue barathea - a special day
Believe the unit is the post-IHC phase of a tri-Service light helicopter course now.
Believe the unit is the post-IHC phase of a tri-Service light helicopter course now.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Join Date: Oct 2000
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Cobaltfrog
It was so scary i dont remember it !!
but if you are the chap who went jungly and lived in SC's house near Dorcheter the FHT cab was ZB647!!
Cheers
(Now I shall have to change my handle)
It was so scary i dont remember it !!
but if you are the chap who went jungly and lived in SC's house near Dorcheter the FHT cab was ZB647!!
Cheers
(Now I shall have to change my handle)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Oz
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Oldpinger, D16 was advanced autos (part 2). The best trip I managed in it was the 50th anniversary of Taranto formation at Portland. An excellent formation and a good Taranto night.....I think!!!!!!