ASCOT Callsign...
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Join Date: Feb 2003
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ASCOT Callsign...
A question for the old sweats.
Where does the origin of the ASCOT callsign come from.. ??
I'm lead to believe its from Air Support Command Overseas Transport....
Can anyone confirm this.... few beers riding on it...
Where does the origin of the ASCOT callsign come from.. ??
I'm lead to believe its from Air Support Command Overseas Transport....
Can anyone confirm this.... few beers riding on it...
Retro has it as I remember. Perhaps worth adding that it was a play on words as "Ascot" was the propriety name of a ubiquitous gas fired hot water boiler, wall mounted over the kitchen sink. Probably a case of Grannies and Eggs, but it was a long time ago! 
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I concur, Air Support Command Operational Task..after many years spent in various Flight Watch postings (Upavon/Cyprus/Gan/Singapore) I recall seeing the ASCOT Acronym regularly, with its meaning listed.
Sad to say (donning anorak) even got to know most of the Selcal codes associated with the H/F SSB fitted aircraft.
Sad to say (donning anorak) even got to know most of the Selcal codes associated with the H/F SSB fitted aircraft.
I think there's another explanation. Several of the Very Highly Paid Help at the top of Air Support Command and 38 Gp were keen on the nags. So it tickled their fancy, if you'll pardon the phrase, M'lud, to have 'their' aircraft going under an international callsign that reflected the Great British Social Occasion which none of them would want to miss. I'm a bit surprised they didn't insist on 'Royal Ascot'.
I think the exact meaning of the 'OT' came later, in post-event justification.
All very British, and redolent of a different era.....
airsound
I think the exact meaning of the 'OT' came later, in post-event justification.
All very British, and redolent of a different era.....
airsound
I'm a bit surprised they didn't insist on 'Royal Ascot'
As to the MRT lot at Wootton Lynestoke, the sink heater was far more appropriate. We were the great unwashed after all, and proud of it!
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airsound
Go to the top of the class!!
US Civil Air Traffic Controllers used insist on putting "Royal" before "Ascot" in the late 60's. Of course I was only a young Co-Pilot then!!
Go to the top of the class!!
US Civil Air Traffic Controllers used insist on putting "Royal" before "Ascot" in the late 60's. Of course I was only a young Co-Pilot then!!
Ah, Wootton Lynestoke, a name to conjure with. My feeble brain can't remember the name of the excellent cartoon strip where all those magical places existed. And the only staging post I can come up with at the mo is KhorMate.
Tangentially, and forgive a teensy thread-creep, ASC's predecessor was of course the fabled Transport Command, whose motto was Ferio Ferendo, which being properly translated means 'My job is carrying stuff', but which we all knew really meant '**** off, we're full up'.
Retires to await incoming, which might not get here because of an AOG or somesuch.
airsound
Tangentially, and forgive a teensy thread-creep, ASC's predecessor was of course the fabled Transport Command, whose motto was Ferio Ferendo, which being properly translated means 'My job is carrying stuff', but which we all knew really meant '**** off, we're full up'.
Retires to await incoming, which might not get here because of an AOG or somesuch.
airsound
I remember a US trip in the late sixties when our callsign was Ascot 6555. After the first VHF contact with US ATC we were Ascot six triple nickel from then on.
Ah, Wootton Lynestoke, a name to conjure with. My feeble brain can't remember the name of the excellent cartoon strip where all those magical places existed. And the only staging post I can come up with at the mo is KhorMate.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
And the rest of th eplebs used to use RAFAIR except for the V-Force that chose to use RAFJet. After quite some time this was squashed and we had to use RAFAIR like everyone else.