2 Gp Star yet again!
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: UK
Well, I wouldn't like to suggest that it's ever possible to get a lift somewhere on a heavy... but I managed to hitch-hike from Fairford to Coltishall on a Nimrod in 2002...
And if the RAF can afford to task F3s from Leuchars, a Nimrod from Kinloss, the Dead Sparrows, BBMF and a couple of Hawks to do half-hour flying displays at a families day at Boulmer in 2003, I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible for a Herc to take a few rugby players to Lossie for a match. It supports sports and "force development", and takes a darn sight less fuel than flypasts which look nice but achieve rather less.
I don't know whether this means I agree with Ivor or anyone else. But I've just got back from a productive (=debauched) evening in the bar, and it sounded good.
And if the RAF can afford to task F3s from Leuchars, a Nimrod from Kinloss, the Dead Sparrows, BBMF and a couple of Hawks to do half-hour flying displays at a families day at Boulmer in 2003, I see no reason why it shouldn't be possible for a Herc to take a few rugby players to Lossie for a match. It supports sports and "force development", and takes a darn sight less fuel than flypasts which look nice but achieve rather less.
I don't know whether this means I agree with Ivor or anyone else. But I've just got back from a productive (=debauched) evening in the bar, and it sounded good.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: wilts
I remember a few years back the Kinloss rugby team had a nimrod taxi all the way to Marham and back. Didn't help them win though, guess it's easier to relax in albert. If the resources are there and there is some good to be gained then I say why not, it makes a change from getting shafted from all directions as normal.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 55
From: Under a recently defunct flight path.
Slight bit of thread drift........1969, Coningsby. One of our Phantom's loses a canopy in flight and diverts to Lossie (RNAS!). I'm a JT rigger and am one of the team sent to repair/recover the aircraft. Won't go into the strange practices evident during our weeks stay there.
Having fixed the aircraft, a flight crew arrive (Friday afternoon) in a Devon. We groundcrew are told that the Devon does not have enough room for all the groundcrew - one will have to find another way home. I suggested various fair selection methods but the Scalies ganged-up together and voted that the obvious solution was for the only Singlie (me) to be the one to enjoy another night of Navy hospitality followed by an exceedingly long, boring train ride. Didn't fancy this, entreaties to the Devon Capt only elicited the suggestion that I ring ATC and see if there was anything going south from the Bomber dispersal on t'other side of the airfield. Nothing venture, nothing gained so made the call to be told that a Varsity was taxying around and would be passing the hangar any minute. Fortune favours the brave, so quick dash onto the taxiway, kitbag in hand. Sure enough, here come a Varsity so stepping into the taxi way I made a "this marshaller" signal, then a stop signal followed by a "please can I have a lift" signal. The Varsity came to a stop and after a pause the DV window opened and a thumbs-up signal appeared.
Another pause, then the fuseleage door opened and I was beckoned on-board. A lovely, smooth trundle to Scampton ensued. One very grateful erk! (Even more anazing, I managed to persuade MT to give me a ride back to base). Ah, happy days.
Having fixed the aircraft, a flight crew arrive (Friday afternoon) in a Devon. We groundcrew are told that the Devon does not have enough room for all the groundcrew - one will have to find another way home. I suggested various fair selection methods but the Scalies ganged-up together and voted that the obvious solution was for the only Singlie (me) to be the one to enjoy another night of Navy hospitality followed by an exceedingly long, boring train ride. Didn't fancy this, entreaties to the Devon Capt only elicited the suggestion that I ring ATC and see if there was anything going south from the Bomber dispersal on t'other side of the airfield. Nothing venture, nothing gained so made the call to be told that a Varsity was taxying around and would be passing the hangar any minute. Fortune favours the brave, so quick dash onto the taxiway, kitbag in hand. Sure enough, here come a Varsity so stepping into the taxi way I made a "this marshaller" signal, then a stop signal followed by a "please can I have a lift" signal. The Varsity came to a stop and after a pause the DV window opened and a thumbs-up signal appeared.
Another pause, then the fuseleage door opened and I was beckoned on-board. A lovely, smooth trundle to Scampton ensued. One very grateful erk! (Even more anazing, I managed to persuade MT to give me a ride back to base). Ah, happy days.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: uk
Plenty of room
Add Falklands and ASI to your fixture lists.Air Atlanta Iceland B747s have got the charter and with the amount of foreigners they employ you might be able to persuade the odd SA or Aussie to play for you as a guest.Plenty of room for sports travel.
