Extreme low level operations/exercises
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I think you'll find that Fiery Crosses are still very much enjoyed by 1435 at MPA
Join Date: Dec 2004
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And Smokey Crosses for 1312flt - although the MSD rules tend to be adhered to nowadays!
For those who've never been an inmate of HMP MPA, Ex FIERY CROSS is a simulated airfield attack - it's main benefit is practice for the Rapier batteries. Ex SMOKEY CROSS is the Herc version.
For those who've never been an inmate of HMP MPA, Ex FIERY CROSS is a simulated airfield attack - it's main benefit is practice for the Rapier batteries. Ex SMOKEY CROSS is the Herc version.
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Smokey Cross
Was in the MPA tower the other day and saw that they had scrubbed off all the flypast markings from the VCR window frame, something to do with encouraging low flying?
Can still just see Alberts mark at the bottom though. One way to get short toured (How are you doing Fish?
).
Can still just see Alberts mark at the bottom though. One way to get short toured (How are you doing Fish?
).
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Been discussed several times on here.
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I was stood on a stool in the garden last week, adjusting the washing line.
NEEAAARRGGGHHHH!!!
The bloody Mrs zips under the line in her Piper Cherokee.
Just thought I'd add my bit to the p*ssing contest!
NEEAAARRGGGHHHH!!!
The bloody Mrs zips under the line in her Piper Cherokee.
Just thought I'd add my bit to the p*ssing contest!
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What about those "A5 pass" bashes we used to fly with our Hawks on the way to Valley, great fun
But beeing on the A5 once when a Phantom performed, was even greater.
But beeing on the A5 once when a Phantom performed, was even greater.
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Ther's a photo around of H**** De C****** beating up the airfield at Belize at nought feet in a GR3. I mean nought feet. Like if he had dropped his undercarriage it would have dug in. I was standing next to the guy who was taking the photo. We were standing on top of a portacabin looking down.
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I'll never forget the DetCO (Rocky Goodall) reading the contents of a "signal from Strike Command" 
to the gathered Marham and Bruggen crews in the old Bahraini F16 crewroom at Muharraq on 27 Aug '90. Went along the lines of "...and in order to prepare, clearance has been granted to operate down to zero feet MSD..." Three and a half months of ultra-OLF later, popped home for Xmas before re-joining the fun.
Ahhhh, those were the days...
to the gathered Marham and Bruggen crews in the old Bahraini F16 crewroom at Muharraq on 27 Aug '90. Went along the lines of "...and in order to prepare, clearance has been granted to operate down to zero feet MSD..." Three and a half months of ultra-OLF later, popped home for Xmas before re-joining the fun.Ahhhh, those were the days...
Since the thread title is about exercise/operations, I recall a Red Flag at Nellis where we were refuelling RAF Harriers (can't recall which Mk) and where they were cleared down to some crazy height for the 'war'. Once again, don't recall the exact height but I think it was something like 50ft? 100ft? The experts will correct me on that one. Certainly substantially below the normal 250 MSD
Anyway, the simulated weapons sites out on the ranges had video cameras to 'track' their targets. I clearly recall seeling one of these vids at a debrief at the end of a days flying - extremely low level Harrier jinking his way across the desert floor, frightening the rattlesnakes and gophers, with the camera operator shouting into the mike "Oh my God, oh my God". He'd never seen aircraft operate this low! Certainly impressed our transatlantic cousins as I don't think they often , if at all, operate that low.
Dangers became apparent but days later when the dreaded "Stop, stop" was yelled across the airwaves because one of said Harrier mates, refuelled only moments earlier, 'clipped' a ridge and his ride disintergrated around him. Seat deployed but he hit the deck very quickly and very hard and, amongst other injuries, broke both his arms. Great training for the CSAR helos but frightening nevertheless.
Massive piss up in the o-club that night to celebrate his survival. The tanker crew visited him in hospital and presented him with a cast resin statuette of a a WW2 pilot, replete with leather helmet and goggles, doing a fighting-hands-in-the-bar thing. Only additional adornment was a couple of white napkins, from the tanker galley, fixed up as slings around both arms! Harrier mate saw the funny side.
There but for the Grace of God .....
Anyway, the simulated weapons sites out on the ranges had video cameras to 'track' their targets. I clearly recall seeling one of these vids at a debrief at the end of a days flying - extremely low level Harrier jinking his way across the desert floor, frightening the rattlesnakes and gophers, with the camera operator shouting into the mike "Oh my God, oh my God". He'd never seen aircraft operate this low! Certainly impressed our transatlantic cousins as I don't think they often , if at all, operate that low.
Dangers became apparent but days later when the dreaded "Stop, stop" was yelled across the airwaves because one of said Harrier mates, refuelled only moments earlier, 'clipped' a ridge and his ride disintergrated around him. Seat deployed but he hit the deck very quickly and very hard and, amongst other injuries, broke both his arms. Great training for the CSAR helos but frightening nevertheless.
Massive piss up in the o-club that night to celebrate his survival. The tanker crew visited him in hospital and presented him with a cast resin statuette of a a WW2 pilot, replete with leather helmet and goggles, doing a fighting-hands-in-the-bar thing. Only additional adornment was a couple of white napkins, from the tanker galley, fixed up as slings around both arms! Harrier mate saw the funny side.
There but for the Grace of God .....
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Recon the clip is mistaken in terms of "RAF". Looks more like a 3-ship beat up at Solenzara FAF base in Corsica ("Corse") by these guys:
Guy on the tape sounds more Belgian/Dutch than French.
Guy on the tape sounds more Belgian/Dutch than French.
Last edited by rab-k; 20th Sep 2006 at 08:46.
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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Since the thread title is about exercise/operations, I recall a Red Flag at Nellis where we were refuelling RAF Harriers (can't recall which Mk) and where they were cleared down to some crazy height for the 'war'. Once again, don't recall the exact height but I think it was something like 50ft? 100ft? The experts will correct me on that one. Certainly substantially below the normal 250 MSD
Anyway, the simulated weapons sites out on the ranges had video cameras to 'track' their targets. I clearly recall seeling one of these vids at a debrief at the end of a days flying - extremely low level Harrier jinking his way across the desert floor, frightening the rattlesnakes and gophers, with the camera operator shouting into the mike "Oh my God, oh my God". He'd never seen aircraft operate this low! Certainly impressed our transatlantic cousins as I don't think they often , if at all, operate that low.
Dangers became apparent but days later when the dreaded "Stop, stop" was yelled across the airwaves because one of said Harrier mates, refuelled only moments earlier, 'clipped' a ridge and his ride disintergrated around him. Seat deployed but he hit the deck very quickly and very hard and, amongst other injuries, broke both his arms. Great training for the CSAR helos but frightening nevertheless.
Massive piss up in the o-club that night to celebrate his survival. The tanker crew visited him in hospital and presented him with a cast resin statuette of a a WW2 pilot, replete with leather helmet and goggles, doing a fighting-hands-in-the-bar thing. Only additional adornment was a couple of white napkins, from the tanker galley, fixed up as slings around both arms! Harrier mate saw the funny side.
There but for the Grace of God .....
Anyway, the simulated weapons sites out on the ranges had video cameras to 'track' their targets. I clearly recall seeling one of these vids at a debrief at the end of a days flying - extremely low level Harrier jinking his way across the desert floor, frightening the rattlesnakes and gophers, with the camera operator shouting into the mike "Oh my God, oh my God". He'd never seen aircraft operate this low! Certainly impressed our transatlantic cousins as I don't think they often , if at all, operate that low.
Dangers became apparent but days later when the dreaded "Stop, stop" was yelled across the airwaves because one of said Harrier mates, refuelled only moments earlier, 'clipped' a ridge and his ride disintergrated around him. Seat deployed but he hit the deck very quickly and very hard and, amongst other injuries, broke both his arms. Great training for the CSAR helos but frightening nevertheless.
Massive piss up in the o-club that night to celebrate his survival. The tanker crew visited him in hospital and presented him with a cast resin statuette of a a WW2 pilot, replete with leather helmet and goggles, doing a fighting-hands-in-the-bar thing. Only additional adornment was a couple of white napkins, from the tanker galley, fixed up as slings around both arms! Harrier mate saw the funny side.
There but for the Grace of God .....
The SAM 'operators' regularly 'whoop' at the Brits (and a few others) as they jink to avoid being targetted...and you get paid to do it too...
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Caught this one yesterday in Devon.... surprised me as i couldn't hear it due to the wind!
This was amongst the Chinook(s) landing nearby during the day in a field site just south of Tiverton and a load more Hercs rumbling about.
Hand shake in order to Mr. Batman 1 and Mr. Gauntlet 22...too!
This was amongst the Chinook(s) landing nearby during the day in a field site just south of Tiverton and a load more Hercs rumbling about.
Hand shake in order to Mr. Batman 1 and Mr. Gauntlet 22...too!
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F4!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApM_f-jBlP0
Typhoon and the need for new underpants
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re0KJ...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApM_f-jBlP0
Typhoon and the need for new underpants
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re0KJ...elated&search=
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I'll never forget the DetCO (Rocky Goodall) reading the contents of a "signal from Strike Command" to the gathered Marham and Bruggen crews in the old Bahraini F16 crewroom at Muharraq on 27 Aug '90. Went along the lines of "...and in order to prepare, clearance has been granted to operate down to zero feet MSD..." Three and a half months of ultra-OLF later, popped home for Xmas before re-joining the fun.
Ahhhh, those were the days.
Sadly, taken literally by the 14 Sqn crew (from over the causeway IIRC) who flew into the desert just before the shooting started in january. The nav was taking a phot of the ac shadow...........
Ahhhh, those were the days.
Sadly, taken literally by the 14 Sqn crew (from over the causeway IIRC) who flew into the desert just before the shooting started in january. The nav was taking a phot of the ac shadow...........