Hunter XL573
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XL 573
8 sorties during May/June/July 1980 during the major Buccaneer grounding following the wing failure at Nellis. I was one of the very fortunate first tourists checked out on the Hunter during this time - we used the 2-seaters to keep the navs in practice and just had fun in the F6s. One particular sortie sticks in mind in 573 - just checked the logbook - 11 June 1980, Lo nav/GH, Flt Lt (name redacted to avoid libel proceedings, very experienced). Plan was to takeoff from Honington, lo nav round E Anglia/Lincs, pull up for some aeros, back home. Vis was surprisingly poor (but must have been at least 5 km, mustn't it?). Unlike on other 2-seat types, navs did the navigating on the Bucc, so I didn't have a map - but with an experienced directional consultant what could go wrong? Things stated to get a bit uncertain in the RHS as we headed southeast towards Ely from the Norfolk coast - never actually saw the cathedral, but vis was pretty poor, so turned on time to head towards Peterborough. By now great cloud of uncertainty almost blanking out right side of cockpit, so I was more tense than usual. Unexpectedly, we fly over some lakes, then what appears to be a large scrapyard, might be a car park, couldn't see much - then came the very large piece of concrete, about 9000 ft wide and 300 ft long, which was definitely not supposed to be anywhere near our track. Pulled 6 G, levelled at 6000 ft, explained to directional consultant my theory that his headings were all f****d up and we had just flown over Alconbury. DC offers stout rebuttals, but did give me Alconbury TACAN channel - needle whizzing round, distance indicates 1 nm - pretty good clue. I got the tower frequency out of him with a little elbow work, called up and apologised for the unplanned overflight , saying we'd had a nav equipment failure!
I learned about checking understanding of mag/true headings from that! Rest of the sortie was uneventful but quiet!
I learned about checking understanding of mag/true headings from that! Rest of the sortie was uneventful but quiet!
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Now here's a turn up for the logbook!
It seems that XL573 did operate out of Laarbruch as she appears in my logbook on 18 May 1982 when D2 and I flew her as 'bounce' against a 4-ship of Buccs in the Ardennes - I was Wpns Ldr on 16 at the time! I recall that the LLK Hunters belonged to Station Flight and were available to both XV & 16 as and when programmed.
Working backwards, I also flew another Bounce sortie in her on 11 Feb 82 with N*** B******* polling it, and another on 23 Jul 81 with D** F****** at the helm!
Strangely, didn't fly her at all during our Bucc downtime in 1980 when I was OCU staff.
So, it seems 573 was at LLK throughout 1981/82
See! We navigators have our uses!
Thankfully, 573 was not the one we managed to overstress (that was XF995) whilst I was following the OCU's US Exchange pilot's demands that I show him my aeros! Well, he told me to just pull back on the stick!
Now with some 40 hours Hunter under my belt (all RH Seat) during 4 Bucc Tours!
Arrabest and good luck with the article
Foldie
It seems that XL573 did operate out of Laarbruch as she appears in my logbook on 18 May 1982 when D2 and I flew her as 'bounce' against a 4-ship of Buccs in the Ardennes - I was Wpns Ldr on 16 at the time! I recall that the LLK Hunters belonged to Station Flight and were available to both XV & 16 as and when programmed.
Working backwards, I also flew another Bounce sortie in her on 11 Feb 82 with N*** B******* polling it, and another on 23 Jul 81 with D** F****** at the helm!
Strangely, didn't fly her at all during our Bucc downtime in 1980 when I was OCU staff.
So, it seems 573 was at LLK throughout 1981/82
See! We navigators have our uses!
Thankfully, 573 was not the one we managed to overstress (that was XF995) whilst I was following the OCU's US Exchange pilot's demands that I show him my aeros! Well, he told me to just pull back on the stick!
Now with some 40 hours Hunter under my belt (all RH Seat) during 4 Bucc Tours!
Arrabest and good luck with the article
Foldie
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Hunter T7 XL573
I was OC 237 OCU, 1984 -87, when 573 was one of our Hunter T7s on strength. We used the T7 to familiarise graduates from TWU (who had no Hunter experience) with the Hunter before they moved on to the IFIS equipped T7As and 8Bs for their pre Buccaneer flying. The T7s were also great bounce aircraft and squadron transports. I did a solo aeros season in 1986 in 573, displaying at Lossie, Leuchars, StMawgan, St Athan, Abingdon and one or two other locations I dont recall. Corgi have produced a very good model of 573 in 237 OCU colours.
Happy 50th birthday !
Happy 50th birthday !
Foldie "Whirlywind - Shouldn't that be CI 237 OCU? Tsk Tsk!"
Foldie, you really are a pedant. By the time we moved up to Lossie we were more operational than your time on the unit. We had a war role, so "OC" was far more appropriate than "CI". But we did keep the "SNI" job title - that did seem appropriate in a lot of cases!!
Oops thread drift - back to XL573. I did not fly her at XV Laarbruch over 81-83, and if Foldie and cuddly old PP did, I would suggest she was kept on your side of the airfield? While I do remember going to Sation Flight on some occasions, I am sure we flew most Hunter sorties from the squadron. Therefore I suggest that over 81 to 83, 573 was on 16.
Re OCU use from WHIRLWIND f.1 (from a chap with a passion for flying I think you have adopted your Dad's callsign?) - I have it logged at Lossie only over 85-86. Perhaps after Laarbruch it went to servicing and storage to be reissued to Lossie in 1985? I note we did have it at Leeuwarden for the Sqn Exchange in Oct 85. No mention after 1986.
Now to Rhino's fine picture in 1986 of 573 with the OCU code "WC". Most uncomplimentary!! Here is a bit of Bucc historical trivia that not even Foldie and PP know.
When the wing formed at Lossie, the units (12, 208 and 237) adopted the then standard RAF squadron two-letter codes. Ie, lead squadron had AA, AB, AC, next sqn had BA, BB, BC. Get it? (You can see it say with the Jags, F-4s and electric jets, each adopting series starting AA, BA, etc).
Now the Buccs (and Hunters) went one better, just to confuse the Russians of course (gee, I hope this isn't secret). The first letter of the squadron badge was adopted as the 2nd letter, with the individual aircraft lettered as A, B, C as the 1st letter. 12 Sqn had the Fox, so its aircraft were AF, BF, CF, etc. 208 had the Sphinx and a/c AS, BS, CS. 237 had the Cutlasses, so Buccs were AC, BC, CC, etc, and I think Hunters counted backwards to be ZC, YC, XC and hence 573 as WC.
For you Foldie
Foldie, you really are a pedant. By the time we moved up to Lossie we were more operational than your time on the unit. We had a war role, so "OC" was far more appropriate than "CI". But we did keep the "SNI" job title - that did seem appropriate in a lot of cases!!
Oops thread drift - back to XL573. I did not fly her at XV Laarbruch over 81-83, and if Foldie and cuddly old PP did, I would suggest she was kept on your side of the airfield? While I do remember going to Sation Flight on some occasions, I am sure we flew most Hunter sorties from the squadron. Therefore I suggest that over 81 to 83, 573 was on 16.
Re OCU use from WHIRLWIND f.1 (from a chap with a passion for flying I think you have adopted your Dad's callsign?) - I have it logged at Lossie only over 85-86. Perhaps after Laarbruch it went to servicing and storage to be reissued to Lossie in 1985? I note we did have it at Leeuwarden for the Sqn Exchange in Oct 85. No mention after 1986.
Now to Rhino's fine picture in 1986 of 573 with the OCU code "WC". Most uncomplimentary!! Here is a bit of Bucc historical trivia that not even Foldie and PP know.
When the wing formed at Lossie, the units (12, 208 and 237) adopted the then standard RAF squadron two-letter codes. Ie, lead squadron had AA, AB, AC, next sqn had BA, BB, BC. Get it? (You can see it say with the Jags, F-4s and electric jets, each adopting series starting AA, BA, etc).
Now the Buccs (and Hunters) went one better, just to confuse the Russians of course (gee, I hope this isn't secret). The first letter of the squadron badge was adopted as the 2nd letter, with the individual aircraft lettered as A, B, C as the 1st letter. 12 Sqn had the Fox, so its aircraft were AF, BF, CF, etc. 208 had the Sphinx and a/c AS, BS, CS. 237 had the Cutlasses, so Buccs were AC, BC, CC, etc, and I think Hunters counted backwards to be ZC, YC, XC and hence 573 as WC.
For you Foldie
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573 - Small but significant progress
Xl 573 went into the hangar yesterday for a major service. All panels to be removed, and fin, tailplane and ailerons taken off for corrosion checks and lubrication etc. Low hours engine will be re-fitted and ejector seats serviced. All functionals such as flaps, speedbrake and undercarrige to be testedand adjusted.
I am keen to keep her in authentic colours but would like something different to her current wrap aroung grey/green which is now faded and drab.
The 4FTS colours look bright, but what did she look like when allocated to the DFLS at West Raynham or with 229 OCU at Chivenor? Does anyone remember?
I shall not be painting her in drinks company colours unless I am desperate for the sponsorship!
I am keen to keep her in authentic colours but would like something different to her current wrap aroung grey/green which is now faded and drab.
The 4FTS colours look bright, but what did she look like when allocated to the DFLS at West Raynham or with 229 OCU at Chivenor? Does anyone remember?
I shall not be painting her in drinks company colours unless I am desperate for the sponsorship!
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BBadanov, You are such a darling but so far away from me too!
I was, as you state, unaware of the lettering protocol at Lossie as I only ever got mindlessly drunk on detachments there - never served north of the border despite my heritage!
Good to know that 573 is still trucking! Can anybody (BBadanov) tell me when it was repainted from Raspberry Ripple into the more operational camouflaged version.
Foldie
I was, as you state, unaware of the lettering protocol at Lossie as I only ever got mindlessly drunk on detachments there - never served north of the border despite my heritage!
Good to know that 573 is still trucking! Can anybody (BBadanov) tell me when it was repainted from Raspberry Ripple into the more operational camouflaged version.
Foldie
Last edited by foldingwings; 3rd Apr 2011 at 10:54.
what did she look like when allocated to the DFLS at West Raynham or with 229 OCU at Chivenor?
Foldie: Can anybody (BBadanov) tell me when it was repainted from Raspberry Ripple into the more operational camouflaged version.
Hmmm. Now if it was Laarbruch (I suggest 16) over 1981-83, it would have been cam.
With grounding of the Bucc over 79/80, the Bucc units received rasberry ripples from the training units. If there is no record of it at Laarbruch prior to 1981, and I don't have it at OCU Honington over 1980, then perhaps it was one of the surge Hunters in 1980 and may have been painted about that time??
Hmmm. Now if it was Laarbruch (I suggest 16) over 1981-83, it would have been cam.
With grounding of the Bucc over 79/80, the Bucc units received rasberry ripples from the training units. If there is no record of it at Laarbruch prior to 1981, and I don't have it at OCU Honington over 1980, then perhaps it was one of the surge Hunters in 1980 and may have been painted about that time??
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Logbook Trawl
I have been following the thread while on holiday & since returning & checking my logbook I have found the following info re 573.
First flew it on 16 Sqn at Laarbruch on 4 Feb 81 with Dickie A & subsequently for a further 22 sorties, during 81, 82 (last flt 31 Mar 82).
My next encounter with WC was on 12 Sqn at Lossie on 11 Feb 85 (with USAF exchange nav) but suspect it may have been "borrowed" from 237 as it was the only time I flew 573 during my 3 years there.
Then flew her regularly on 237 between 19 Aug 85 & 2 Jun 86 (22 sorties) before a long gap (major servicing at Abingdon??/St Athan?? + assigned to another Lossie Sqn??) to 11 & 12 Oct 88 when I flew her 5 times in 2 days. That was to be my final airborne encounter with WC!
Hope this info may be of use to you.
First flew it on 16 Sqn at Laarbruch on 4 Feb 81 with Dickie A & subsequently for a further 22 sorties, during 81, 82 (last flt 31 Mar 82).
My next encounter with WC was on 12 Sqn at Lossie on 11 Feb 85 (with USAF exchange nav) but suspect it may have been "borrowed" from 237 as it was the only time I flew 573 during my 3 years there.
Then flew her regularly on 237 between 19 Aug 85 & 2 Jun 86 (22 sorties) before a long gap (major servicing at Abingdon??/St Athan?? + assigned to another Lossie Sqn??) to 11 & 12 Oct 88 when I flew her 5 times in 2 days. That was to be my final airborne encounter with WC!
Hope this info may be of use to you.
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I think while at 229 OCU at Chiv. she was painted Light Aircraft Grey with Day-glo stripes on nose , tail & wing tips rather than Silver/Dayglo prior to Grey/Green/Lt. a/c grey camo . Good Luck !!
The 4FTS colours look bright, but what did she look like when allocated to the DFLS at West Raynham or with 229 OCU at Chivenor? Does anyone remember?
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Just looking thru my log book ,did a total of 42hrs on 573 while on 12 mid to late 80's and had the pleasure of taking it to such exotic spots as Aalborg, Vandel,Furstenfeldbruck,Kliene-brogel and many, not quite so exotic, spots in the UK