Infamous Instructors! Best / Worst
Apache for HEMS - Strafe those Survivors!
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Dick Schuster (hope I spelt it right), I was one of the fortunate to be instructed by Dick when I was not having a particularly fun time at BFTS. As a direct result of many "wise words" and some excellent instruction I survived, and continue to do so. Wherever Dick is now, I will always be grateful to him.
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Respect to the man schuster................
Top bloke, even at the ripe old age at which he was teaching many of the new school...
Often wondered what it would be like to know even 10% of what he knew about airmanship.............
Before 9/11, found myself on the flight deck of a 747 out to the USA and all of the crew knew the good man and regailed in stories of how he had helped them out many years before..
Only wish i had witnessed his party trick of getting chairs, tables, pianos balanced on one leg.............
Top bloke, even at the ripe old age at which he was teaching many of the new school...
Often wondered what it would be like to know even 10% of what he knew about airmanship.............
Before 9/11, found myself on the flight deck of a 747 out to the USA and all of the crew knew the good man and regailed in stories of how he had helped them out many years before..
Only wish i had witnessed his party trick of getting chairs, tables, pianos balanced on one leg.............
Last edited by iccarus; 2nd Dec 2007 at 08:18.
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Before my first instructional fight in a Vampire, my instuctor's brief included this gem: "If we suffer an engine failure, I will call: 'Eject, eject, eject!' - and if you hear the third 'Eject!', it will only be because I've got a ***ing long mike/tel lead!"
Are you still out there, Plock?
Are you still out there, Plock?
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Dick was awarded an AFC while flying PR7s in the Far East. The device which cut the elevator controls and let a spring pull the control column and yoke forward into the instrument panel (to prevent the loss of knees on ejection) fired and left him with only the elevator trim to control the pitch. I think he was in some sort of poo from a aeronatical escapade some days earlier but this feat of daring cleared the decks and all was well!
Last edited by A2QFI; 2nd Dec 2007 at 13:45.
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TykePilot said:
Still around. on the lecture circuit now, Battles in Iceland!
Still around. on the lecture circuit now, Battles in Iceland!
Battles in Iceland?? Que (i.e. not still on Tucano at Linton?)
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'Darth Vader' & 'Barking Mad' Nick Cl***on
Anyone remember these two stalwarts of Linton fame in the late 80s/early 90s on the venerable JP?
Once got smacked round the head (hard) with a nav rule by Darth during my IRT, for porking up some mvr. Concentrated the mind somewhat!
Dear old Nick (Vulcan vintage) was one of the most eccentric chaps I ever met, and able to witheringly dismantle students in a single sentence. Once made the mistake of trying to make conversation with him during a recovery: "Nice day, isn't it, Sir"? "Yes, GnP, explain to me the meterological situation that makes it so nice, then". For all his moments, though, he was a great teacher and certainly, without his help, I'd have ended up in some ground job. If you're out there, Nick - hope you are well.
Once got smacked round the head (hard) with a nav rule by Darth during my IRT, for porking up some mvr. Concentrated the mind somewhat!
Dear old Nick (Vulcan vintage) was one of the most eccentric chaps I ever met, and able to witheringly dismantle students in a single sentence. Once made the mistake of trying to make conversation with him during a recovery: "Nice day, isn't it, Sir"? "Yes, GnP, explain to me the meterological situation that makes it so nice, then". For all his moments, though, he was a great teacher and certainly, without his help, I'd have ended up in some ground job. If you're out there, Nick - hope you are well.
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I'll second on Mad Dog. Eccentric but could really teach, and boy did I need it! I suspect my illustrious flying "down hill out of control" would have been short lived without a few weeks under his tutelage.
I'd also like to single out Ted H from the Chipmunk. Definitely old school and hit me over the back of the head a few times but didn't seem to mind my ham fisted, agricultural handling: "Well done on finding all of the control stop limits of the Chippy whilst performing that slow roll, now lets try a loopdeloop!" .....or something like that
I'd also like to single out Ted H from the Chipmunk. Definitely old school and hit me over the back of the head a few times but didn't seem to mind my ham fisted, agricultural handling: "Well done on finding all of the control stop limits of the Chippy whilst performing that slow roll, now lets try a loopdeloop!" .....or something like that
F***ing B*ll Fer***l at EGDL was priceless: "you f***ing flare too early again you w*nker (copilot) and I'll thump you with the nav's ruler". This was after 3 teeth jarring 2.5 G rollers previous. Poor Co did of course flare too early again and Bill said "Nav, please be so kind as to pass me your ruler". Poor Co then got a heafty belt round his earole as promised.
He didn't flare too early on the next circuit mind.
Never happen today would it?
He didn't flare too early on the next circuit mind.
Never happen today would it?
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EM no longer the grim reaper at Linton
, now discourses on the merits of the Fairey Battle, particularly with respect to a certain example extracted from a glacier in Iceland. Apologies my original post being so cryptic
, now discourses on the merits of the Fairey Battle, particularly with respect to a certain example extracted from a glacier in Iceland. Apologies my original post being so cryptic
blaireau, perhaps you're thinking of Dave 'Diddy' Wheeler...
IIRC, one of the few pilots to go from the Shacklebomber to.....the Lightning! Via a few years QFI-ing on the JP.
IIRC, one of the few pilots to go from the Shacklebomber to.....the Lightning! Via a few years QFI-ing on the JP.
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Best of the best - Bob Wheetman at Fenton RFS...superb bloke, funny as hell. In fact, it was a great little unit, and a fountain of knowledge. I wish them all well for their patience and care.
Worst, and most un-professional: an un-mentionable CFS checker from Scampton who, bored 'cos I'd completed the sortie with his knee-pad empty, decided to give me a PFL in a 125...I flew it the Hawk way and we made it, but I'll never forget him guarding the throttles so I couldn't push them forward on short finals after it was obvious we were going to make it just fine with normal touchdown sinkrate...a$$ - save the experimental sh1te for the sim...or the JP5 or the bar. I'll also never forget the CO intercepting said QFI on the pad after getting a call from the tower to the effect of: "do you know what one of your jets just did??"...we could hear the shouting down the hall...
How we laughed...
Worst, and most un-professional: an un-mentionable CFS checker from Scampton who, bored 'cos I'd completed the sortie with his knee-pad empty, decided to give me a PFL in a 125...I flew it the Hawk way and we made it, but I'll never forget him guarding the throttles so I couldn't push them forward on short finals after it was obvious we were going to make it just fine with normal touchdown sinkrate...a$$ - save the experimental sh1te for the sim...or the JP5 or the bar. I'll also never forget the CO intercepting said QFI on the pad after getting a call from the tower to the effect of: "do you know what one of your jets just did??"...we could hear the shouting down the hall...
How we laughed...
Gliding:
Andy Gough. Inspirational.
Air Commodore Bernard Brownlow (Commandant at A&AEE). Patient and thorough, and encouraging.
Fixed wing:
Don Merriman. All of the above in a single instructor, with quiet authority and leadership and charisma by the bucketload. It was said that he'd once been the RAF's youngest squadron leaders, and the youngest CO of the Canberra OCU, and I never understood why he wasn't Air Commodore Merriman by the time I knew him.
Andy Gough. Inspirational.
Air Commodore Bernard Brownlow (Commandant at A&AEE). Patient and thorough, and encouraging.
Fixed wing:
Don Merriman. All of the above in a single instructor, with quiet authority and leadership and charisma by the bucketload. It was said that he'd once been the RAF's youngest squadron leaders, and the youngest CO of the Canberra OCU, and I never understood why he wasn't Air Commodore Merriman by the time I knew him.
Avoid imitations
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RRAAmjet, I agree a fine bunch of chaps!
I regret to inform you that Bob Weetman passed away in 1988.
The rest during my time there (Jet refresher) were
Flt Lts
Al McDonald
Bill Cambell
Rod Bell (who nodded off during my IRT, on the ILS - I passed, after selecting 100% oxygen for him as I thought he was simulating hypoxia)
Sqn Ldr Beau ????? (sorry, can't recall, not in my logbook).
Wg Cdr Bayliss, who was kind enough to pass me on my FHT, despite highly dank weather coming in.
I regret to inform you that Bob Weetman passed away in 1988.
The rest during my time there (Jet refresher) were
Flt Lts
Al McDonald
Bill Cambell
Rod Bell (who nodded off during my IRT, on the ILS - I passed, after selecting 100% oxygen for him as I thought he was simulating hypoxia)
Sqn Ldr Beau ????? (sorry, can't recall, not in my logbook).
Wg Cdr Bayliss, who was kind enough to pass me on my FHT, despite highly dank weather coming in.
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Mike Vickers Did my final Ride on my flying schol, quite a legend.
My primary, however, was Ken Fillingham, an ex-lancaster pilot.
Used to refer to me as 'you scrote'
His technique for teaching me to land on my first ever trip was:
"You have control, Aim at the numbers. If you F*** up we die. Any questions?"
A true character.
My primary, however, was Ken Fillingham, an ex-lancaster pilot.
Used to refer to me as 'you scrote'
His technique for teaching me to land on my first ever trip was:
"You have control, Aim at the numbers. If you F*** up we die. Any questions?"
A true character.