The varying standard of RAF landies
Yes, Him
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The varying standard of RAF landies
Used to have a really good brand new SII Lightweight at Wittering, but the SIII at Honington was a real basketcase. Leaked everything, everywhere. Still, better than the mini van whose gearstick fell off, halfway to Colt.
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Now there was this RAF metro that used to get airborne regularly on the drive from Linton to Topcliffe each morning with the duty student driving and a terrified Met/ATC person on board.
Heard someone on a later course put it in a ditch......
Also had a RN landy break down on me on a Florida freeway (on a PX run from the ship of course)- bit scary really, a couple of blokes in whites standing around waiting for a tow in a Very rough (we thought) part of downtown Miami
OK, I bit- fair cop, just realized the origin of this thread maybe this one will last more than three pages...
Heard someone on a later course put it in a ditch......
Also had a RN landy break down on me on a Florida freeway (on a PX run from the ship of course)- bit scary really, a couple of blokes in whites standing around waiting for a tow in a Very rough (we thought) part of downtown Miami
OK, I bit- fair cop, just realized the origin of this thread maybe this one will last more than three pages...
Last edited by oldpinger; 16th Feb 2008 at 10:38. Reason: Just read the 'other' thread
Wasn't that the one about the one-eyed fish gutter that someone locked?
In RAFG in the late 60s my Dad's staff car was a rather natty Mini Cooper, with external door hinges and vertically split sliding front windows.
In RAFG in the late 60s my Dad's staff car was a rather natty Mini Cooper, with external door hinges and vertically split sliding front windows.
When I was S/L Air at Base Aerea Gringo, Islas Malvinas, I was determined NOT to perpetutate the myth that 'the staff always get the best LRs'....
So my dear old heap was the worst there was - you could see daylight through the door hinges. After coaxing the old pig into life, it had to run for a couple of minutes before it would move off without stalling. It would do about 40 flat out - but if you changed up it couldn't cope with any sort of a headwind, but actually slowed down.
But then again, who needs to go anywhere in a hurry in Bennyland?
Some utter fool negotiated a contract which said that for the first 3 years of the contract period, any 'new' LRs were only allowed to be used on-road. A LandRover which couldn't go off road - that's almost as daft as the Harrier GR5 which was the only bomber not allowed to drop bombs!
So my dear old heap was the worst there was - you could see daylight through the door hinges. After coaxing the old pig into life, it had to run for a couple of minutes before it would move off without stalling. It would do about 40 flat out - but if you changed up it couldn't cope with any sort of a headwind, but actually slowed down.
But then again, who needs to go anywhere in a hurry in Bennyland?
Some utter fool negotiated a contract which said that for the first 3 years of the contract period, any 'new' LRs were only allowed to be used on-road. A LandRover which couldn't go off road - that's almost as daft as the Harrier GR5 which was the only bomber not allowed to drop bombs!
Who needs to go fast in Bennyland? This guy though he had to!
It's OC1312's 'rover embedded in the accommodation block after he foolishly lent it to a Guards rupert called Giles (of course!). Giles had to miss his Timmy home while the BOI was convened. When it appeared he might miss another, he went into MT control and wrote a cheque for a new one. He could afford it as he owned most of Berkshire!
For some reason, the 1312 QRA 'rover was the crappiest on the island, whereas OC Admin had the best. That was until OC Ops had to explain to CFBFFI that the QRA launch was delayed one day because the VC10 crew had to call out MT to jump start their 'rover before they could scramble. Then we got OC Admin's!
It's OC1312's 'rover embedded in the accommodation block after he foolishly lent it to a Guards rupert called Giles (of course!). Giles had to miss his Timmy home while the BOI was convened. When it appeared he might miss another, he went into MT control and wrote a cheque for a new one. He could afford it as he owned most of Berkshire!
For some reason, the 1312 QRA 'rover was the crappiest on the island, whereas OC Admin had the best. That was until OC Ops had to explain to CFBFFI that the QRA launch was delayed one day because the VC10 crew had to call out MT to jump start their 'rover before they could scramble. Then we got OC Admin's!
Last edited by Dan Winterland; 16th Feb 2008 at 14:58.
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When I was down south in 02/03 there was a proposal to replace all Land Rovers with Citreon Berlingos. Apparently the bean counters back in the UK decided Land Rovers were too expensive and the Berlingo was a cost effective solution to driving in the FI. Obviously the beanies had never been to the FIs and driven there as the cars would have been shaken to bits on the first run to Stanley. Can anyone confirm this proposal was consigned to File 13?
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I found that with the Landies, the later models weren't as good at negotiating rough terrain - something about problems with the chassis as I recall. Also, the fact they didn't require so regular servicing meant they tended to stay all together in the garage and not as inclined to be used as intended.
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....and here is me thinking this would be a stealth version of the recently closed thread on RAF Ladies
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ScapegoatisaSolution
The real plus with the Berlingos is that on the really windy days (most of the time!), when opening a normal car door could be virtually fatal, you can open the sliding back door without risking having your arm ripped out its socket and climb over the front seats!
The real plus with the Berlingos is that on the really windy days (most of the time!), when opening a normal car door could be virtually fatal, you can open the sliding back door without risking having your arm ripped out its socket and climb over the front seats!
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There are few things worse than having a rusty flange. Indeed, one could find oneself loaded onto a landie and then possibly lorded over by a lardy lady loadie whilst travelling back to la la land.
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Smokey Jo
Coningsby Dumpies SWB Petrol - 1987-91.
Heading for the Dump on the Langrick Road just after the old level crossing with 3 in front and 6 squashed in the back - overtaken by a Reliant Robin. I was in the back, can't remember who the driver was but I don't think he ever lived it down.
Heading for the Dump on the Langrick Road just after the old level crossing with 3 in front and 6 squashed in the back - overtaken by a Reliant Robin. I was in the back, can't remember who the driver was but I don't think he ever lived it down.
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Can remember a Flt.Sgnt slowing me down on runway inspection at Odiham (1969) by pulling on handbrake, oops another half shaft gone,he was Irish tho` won`t comment on `three BELLS pub` at crash gate three after said inspection,ah Steve Creagh I think 
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I remember shandy idiot trying to move an 11 sqn has with the line armourers 90. bent the chassis. we went on a course to cott and he was pulled out with a "now is a time to come to Jesus conversation" with the wobbly. said rover would crab down the road at about 30 degrees.
