Yeovilton or Culdrose
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I've was based at Yeolvilton and at Culdrose (for a short while.)
If you don't originate from the extreme south, Culdrose is a nightmare. One road, in and out, constant traffic problems. It's surprising just how far away it is.
Yeovilton is nice and central. It depends what your priorities are.
If you don't originate from the extreme south, Culdrose is a nightmare. One road, in and out, constant traffic problems. It's surprising just how far away it is.
Yeovilton is nice and central. It depends what your priorities are.
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mlc.
Why the assumption that you have to go somewhere?
If you are going to sign up for 16 years, why not actually live and enjoy life in cornwall?
The sheer number of tourists who come down in the summer cannot all be wrong.
Incidentally, you can get to london quicker and cheaper from Cornwall than from Yeovilton.
Why the assumption that you have to go somewhere?
If you are going to sign up for 16 years, why not actually live and enjoy life in cornwall?
The sheer number of tourists who come down in the summer cannot all be wrong.
Incidentally, you can get to london quicker and cheaper from Cornwall than from Yeovilton.
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You have a point there Tourist. If you remember back to the Channel 4 TV show "Treasure Hunt", the guys who flew the two helicopters (Keth and Mike) were both ex- Culdrose pilots, and after leaving the FAA they went to Castle Air at Liskeard, where they remain to this day doing TV/film work. They always said that they fell in love with the area and never wanted to leave it.
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Airborne - I'm not digging any holes at all - naturally I'm not even interested in the comments made by people who can't even conduct an adult conversation. As for digging-out numbers to throw-about, I'm sure you could find them for yourself if you're really that keen to get them (those lowly spotters are very good at compilng lists!), although I'm not quite sure what the allocations to each individual units would serve to illustrate?
Getting back on topic
The worst thing about Cornwall is the Cornish. They want the money but aren't willing to put up with the tourists. Compare Corwall with Brittany and you know what I mean.
Other reasons.
1. No-one goes past Helston on their way somewhere "Oh we were just passing and we thought we would popin!"
2. The weather is awful. 2 glorious days in spring and two glorious days in autumn. In the summer when the rest of the country is basking in 30 degree heat, Cornwall is in fog with a very chilly breeze coming off the channel.
3. Yes you can get back in in red conditions if you are 771 but you will also get lots of practice as well.
4. Going backwards on PAR.
5. After April, not being able to get anywhere. I note the comments about the M5 but, you have go to get there first!
6. Falmouth, could be fantastic....but then the Cornish!
7. They don't call it Hells Town for nothing. Once you go to Cornwall, say goodbye because the only way you will escape is by Sea. You can look forward to a Helston (Lady Street) Girl as a wife as well.
Other reasons.
1. No-one goes past Helston on their way somewhere "Oh we were just passing and we thought we would popin!"
2. The weather is awful. 2 glorious days in spring and two glorious days in autumn. In the summer when the rest of the country is basking in 30 degree heat, Cornwall is in fog with a very chilly breeze coming off the channel.
3. Yes you can get back in in red conditions if you are 771 but you will also get lots of practice as well.
4. Going backwards on PAR.
5. After April, not being able to get anywhere. I note the comments about the M5 but, you have go to get there first!
6. Falmouth, could be fantastic....but then the Cornish!
7. They don't call it Hells Town for nothing. Once you go to Cornwall, say goodbye because the only way you will escape is by Sea. You can look forward to a Helston (Lady Street) Girl as a wife as well.
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Widger.
As I am sure you are aware, Cornish people haven't been able to afford Falmouth for a long time.
Helston is truly horrible as you say, but there is no need to go there. Yeovil is equally horrible however.
Weather today is glorious with less wind than yeovs.
Cheap flight from Newquay is the way out if you have to.
Simple fact is that I am currently Yeovs based, but since I am on leave, I am back on the beach in Cornwall today chtching some sun.
As I am sure you are aware, Cornish people haven't been able to afford Falmouth for a long time.
Helston is truly horrible as you say, but there is no need to go there. Yeovil is equally horrible however.
Weather today is glorious with less wind than yeovs.
Cheap flight from Newquay is the way out if you have to.
Simple fact is that I am currently Yeovs based, but since I am on leave, I am back on the beach in Cornwall today chtching some sun.
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Originally Posted by Tourist
mlc.
Incidentally, you can get to london quicker and cheaper from Cornwall than from Yeovilton.
Incidentally, you can get to london quicker and cheaper from Cornwall than from Yeovilton.
Yeovs on the other had is 20 mins to castle cary, 1hr 45 on the train to paddington. 2hrs total.
Weasle. I do agree Yeovil is the biggest hole in the world, and if you're single has nothing going for it. I've spent little time in Culdrose but it was during the summer. The weather was great and the locals far move attractive. Never spent a winter there but have been assured the summer is far better.
Basically i would say Yeovs is the better location for getting places at the weekend (yes everyone bombbursts so you have to get away), but Culdrose is the nicer part of the country (if remote).
Finally, the junglies are based at Yeovs so that should really make the decision for you!!
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Thanks for your thoughts gents, all much appreciated. Just fishing for good gen to tell the wife to show her that culdrose IS an option (weve just had 3 1/2 years at lossie, a lot further than culdrose is from civilisation). The lynx job sure does look like the bee' s knees though. Keep the coments coming and thanks again.
The weasel
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Forget the rubbish about which base is going to remain open or not. Logic has never come into the bean counters' equation anyway.
Ask yourself this question, and answer it truthfully...
Do you want to do a job for real or do you just want to play at it for the rest of your career??
If the answer is 'for real', then go JUNGLIE, and count how many medals you will have after your first tour.
Simple as that.
Ask yourself this question, and answer it truthfully...
Do you want to do a job for real or do you just want to play at it for the rest of your career??
If the answer is 'for real', then go JUNGLIE, and count how many medals you will have after your first tour.
Simple as that.
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Culdrose is chokka with a/c, likewise Yeov's but it's not just an issue of space. The Chinny's couldn't move to Somerset because the local infrastructure was unable to absorb such an influx of folks, as well as the base. TM, you really need to wake up and smell the java if you think St.M is remotely on the cards.
As for Jungly being the way ahead?! Get (save) a life! SAR is the best flying you'll ever consistently get, you'll just have to accept that the RN don't tend to crow like the RAF and the medal count is much lower. However, SAR(H) may well shoot us all in the foot in 6-10 years, it may not be a long-term prospect for an ab-initio.
Traditionally chopped-FJ mates have all gone Jungly - however, get through the Captaincy phase at 705 first, then see where the mop flops.
Which reminds me...why are so many Jungly's so freakin' arrogant? I've flown with many and with the odd exception, they were average joes. (No I honestly wasn't a Mk4 "re-tread"!!!)
Standing by for the influx which I shall counter with tail rotor strimming/dynamic rollover/hoist vs SACRU jettison switches/power cable snapping/landing in the sea not the beach/flybys into the ship - not past it gags etc etc etc. JunglyAEO et al?!
As for Jungly being the way ahead?! Get (save) a life! SAR is the best flying you'll ever consistently get, you'll just have to accept that the RN don't tend to crow like the RAF and the medal count is much lower. However, SAR(H) may well shoot us all in the foot in 6-10 years, it may not be a long-term prospect for an ab-initio.
Traditionally chopped-FJ mates have all gone Jungly - however, get through the Captaincy phase at 705 first, then see where the mop flops.
Which reminds me...why are so many Jungly's so freakin' arrogant? I've flown with many and with the odd exception, they were average joes. (No I honestly wasn't a Mk4 "re-tread"!!!)
Standing by for the influx which I shall counter with tail rotor strimming/dynamic rollover/hoist vs SACRU jettison switches/power cable snapping/landing in the sea not the beach/flybys into the ship - not past it gags etc etc etc. JunglyAEO et al?!
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Totally agree scottish beefer about Jungly arrogance.
Seems to be the same quality of people across the board to me. A minority of cr@p, a vast majority of great flyers, and a few stars. Each has their strong points.
Pingers cannot map read, but are gods of IF.
Junglies cannot fly IF, but are great in the weeds.
Zoomies cannot maintain humility, but grow great sideburns.
Many medals are worn by many RN aircrew at the moment, but how many are for anything other than turning up and living with nause.
I have ultimate respect for any Jungly involved in the first night trooplift into Al Faw, but how many of your other medals put into that comparison compare with that event?
Seems to be the same quality of people across the board to me. A minority of cr@p, a vast majority of great flyers, and a few stars. Each has their strong points.
Pingers cannot map read, but are gods of IF.
Junglies cannot fly IF, but are great in the weeds.
Zoomies cannot maintain humility, but grow great sideburns.
Many medals are worn by many RN aircrew at the moment, but how many are for anything other than turning up and living with nause.
I have ultimate respect for any Jungly involved in the first night trooplift into Al Faw, but how many of your other medals put into that comparison compare with that event?
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The clag at Helston can sit there for days, and the highlight of the social scene was the first Sat on the month grab a gronk at the Truro hospital nurse's home party
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The real point is do you want to live amongst Pointy Heads or Johnny Hayseeds?????
Having served at both Establishments.......with a split of 90%/10% time wise I may be a tad biased towards wonderful Somerset.
Cornwall is a beautiful county....but fills up quicker than a Tony Blair driven immigration centre in the warmer months. Whereas VL is the home of the Junglies.................I rest my case your honour............
Or you could try both................
Having served at both Establishments.......with a split of 90%/10% time wise I may be a tad biased towards wonderful Somerset.
Cornwall is a beautiful county....but fills up quicker than a Tony Blair driven immigration centre in the warmer months. Whereas VL is the home of the Junglies.................I rest my case your honour............
Or you could try both................
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why is it that only the junglies are bigging themselves up? lynx/merlin.... where are you? Thanks for the gen chaps but i do think its a grey cab for me. From my end, oo eer, if I was mad for the weeds, I would have crossed over to the GR4 after my tour and joined the boys in denim. I fancy something different. So my preference at the mo is a small ships flight either merlin / lynx. However, i may yet live to regret or eat these badly chosen words!!!!!!!!! Be careful what you wish for...
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Blowing one's own?
Weasel,
You're right. Not many "we're 'kin great" stories from us grey helicopter guys. But we know. And that's all you need to know. It's a need to know thing!
Seriously, the job doesn't get much better than having your own small ship's Flight. There is no "Wheel of Fortune" when there is a good sortie to be had. There is just you and your wingman to go and fly it. Has its downsides too. 24H SAR cover for 3 weeks at a time whilst you watch the MEO and WEO drink their way through the Wardroom wine stocks isn't that funny!
Yes, Yeovil is a dump, but there are many fine villages in the surrounding area. Sharing an airbase with the RW branch of Pickfords (845/846) can be a drag as well!
BL
You're right. Not many "we're 'kin great" stories from us grey helicopter guys. But we know. And that's all you need to know. It's a need to know thing!
Seriously, the job doesn't get much better than having your own small ship's Flight. There is no "Wheel of Fortune" when there is a good sortie to be had. There is just you and your wingman to go and fly it. Has its downsides too. 24H SAR cover for 3 weeks at a time whilst you watch the MEO and WEO drink their way through the Wardroom wine stocks isn't that funny!
Yes, Yeovil is a dump, but there are many fine villages in the surrounding area. Sharing an airbase with the RW branch of Pickfords (845/846) can be a drag as well!
BL
Drifting well off the thread, but hell why not. While we're talking about hover taxying/drifting into trouble, can anyone recall how many jungly Wessex 5's went up and then rolled over in the FI snow trying to fetch some troops off the mountain before a lowly Wessex HAS Mk3 went up there and brought them all off the mountain? Don't think any of the Junglies got a medal for their less than Clockwork efforts, Ian Stanley did of course.
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While we're talking about hover taxying/drifting into trouble, can anyone recall how many jungly Wessex 5's went up and then rolled over in the FI snow trying to fetch some troops off the mountain
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Kernow or Zummerzet?
At the end of the day, both Yeovil and Helston are a bit of a dump (and over an hour or two from any decent sized city for good night-life, bars, restaurants etc), but the surrounding villages can be pretty good for the traditional village pub night out and there are some hoofing restaurants if you know where to look.
Yeovil is slightly closer to the rest of UK civilisation, but Cornwall can be great in the summer, especially if you're into surfing or just loafing on the beach. I've managed to enjoy both, but it's your choice.
Depending on your lifestyle preferences, there are pro's and con's for both locations. Personally, I'd be more swayed by what sort of flying I wanted to be involved in and what the job offers. This would also need to be influenced by what parts of the course I enjoyed at DHFS. If you're into general handling of the cab and a bit of IF
, but low level nav just isn't your bag, have a look at the Pinger, SAR or Lynx worlds, particularly if you want to be the pilot on board. Loads of responsibility and I'm sure that being a HOD on board is good fun as the Flt Cdr, but don't forget Bruiser's comment about the SAR cover! If, however, you get hooked on having to climb to go over the hedgerows and fancy trying to dodge trees at night, you'll probably enjoy life more as a Jungly.
Unfortunately, this means that you'll be spending more than a little time in the sandpit at the moment - Eagle VCP's anyone?
We're all working bloody hard, so it's just whatever takes your fancy and whatever sort of recommend you get from DHFS (do they still do that?)
Best of luck with the course!
Yeovil is slightly closer to the rest of UK civilisation, but Cornwall can be great in the summer, especially if you're into surfing or just loafing on the beach. I've managed to enjoy both, but it's your choice.
Depending on your lifestyle preferences, there are pro's and con's for both locations. Personally, I'd be more swayed by what sort of flying I wanted to be involved in and what the job offers. This would also need to be influenced by what parts of the course I enjoyed at DHFS. If you're into general handling of the cab and a bit of IF
, but low level nav just isn't your bag, have a look at the Pinger, SAR or Lynx worlds, particularly if you want to be the pilot on board. Loads of responsibility and I'm sure that being a HOD on board is good fun as the Flt Cdr, but don't forget Bruiser's comment about the SAR cover! If, however, you get hooked on having to climb to go over the hedgerows and fancy trying to dodge trees at night, you'll probably enjoy life more as a Jungly. Unfortunately, this means that you'll be spending more than a little time in the sandpit at the moment - Eagle VCP's anyone? We're all working bloody hard, so it's just whatever takes your fancy and whatever sort of recommend you get from DHFS (do they still do that?)
Best of luck with the course!
Widger, (in your professional opinion) wouldnt you say that wherever WeaselRN gets appointed, these days he's (or she's) got a good chance of having a rewarding flying career in an aircraft type/role/programme/equipment fit guaranteed not to be the same in 2 years time as it is now ? At the end of the day he/she wont have much choice straight off anyway. If the key question is about location I have served at both (and a few now closed) and enjoyed every one in my time in the Fleet Air Arm. I reckon that you and your squadron mates make your own fun wherever you serve, as long as your attitude is right. Thats the nature of the beast, no point being narrow minded about it. Any chance of you listing the brilliant characteristics (listed 1-7 if you like) of the county you came from ?
OK, OK
Yeovilton.
1. Beautiful part of the world.
2. Cider.
3. Some great pubs, like the Lamb and Lark
4. Some excellent flying right on your doorstep..Gay meadows..Dartmoor, Exmor and the Somerset Levels. Easy access to South Wales.
5. Castle Cary Station.
6. Trying to get to work through the floods.
7. Glastonbury
8. Met my wife there.
Culdrose.
1. Beautiful part of the world...some orrible bits too (4 lanes, Redruth, Cambourne). On your flying pay you can aford to live somewhere nice.
2. Spingo down the Blue Anchor (Careful how you say that).
3. Some of the best mess life you will have shoreside (Because no-one can escape).
4. Mullion Golf course (I don't play golf, I still have sex!)
5. Some great pubs, like the Helzephron (The cliffs of hell)
6. Truro, The Isles of Scilly, Porthleven, the Helford River.
7. Some great flying on your doorstep ( Dartmoor, Predannack, Exmor)
8. Trying to get to work through the tourists.
Both places are fine and far better than some of the RAF messes I have lived in! (Not been to many Scottish ones...heard Lossie is pretty good!)
Yeovilton.
1. Beautiful part of the world.
2. Cider.
3. Some great pubs, like the Lamb and Lark
4. Some excellent flying right on your doorstep..Gay meadows..Dartmoor, Exmor and the Somerset Levels. Easy access to South Wales.
5. Castle Cary Station.
6. Trying to get to work through the floods.
7. Glastonbury
8. Met my wife there.
Culdrose.
1. Beautiful part of the world...some orrible bits too (4 lanes, Redruth, Cambourne). On your flying pay you can aford to live somewhere nice.
2. Spingo down the Blue Anchor (Careful how you say that).
3. Some of the best mess life you will have shoreside (Because no-one can escape).
4. Mullion Golf course (I don't play golf, I still have sex!)
5. Some great pubs, like the Helzephron (The cliffs of hell)
6. Truro, The Isles of Scilly, Porthleven, the Helford River.
7. Some great flying on your doorstep ( Dartmoor, Predannack, Exmor)
8. Trying to get to work through the tourists.
Both places are fine and far better than some of the RAF messes I have lived in! (Not been to many Scottish ones...heard Lossie is pretty good!)