SNCO Aircrew
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There's no contest mate.
If you were bullied at school then you'd be better off amongst your own kind at Kinloss.
They'll fit you out with a new anorak.
If you used to do the bullying then come and join us in the job with all the fun and none of the responsibility! Become a loadmaster and you'll never have to distinguish a blib from a blob.
If you were bullied at school then you'd be better off amongst your own kind at Kinloss.
They'll fit you out with a new anorak.
If you used to do the bullying then come and join us in the job with all the fun and none of the responsibility! Become a loadmaster and you'll never have to distinguish a blib from a blob.
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had a few years on the mighty hunter (a while ago I admit),
Kinloss - same sort of deal as Lossie really, you either love the place, or, in my experience, you grow to love it. Unfortunately, Scotland merely offers, to the vast majority, a vision of insurmountable distance from 'civilisation'. Firstly, it is often quicker to fly to any destination in England from Inverness/Aberdeen than it is to commute there from London, if thats your thing. More importantly, the Highlands of Scotland provide are far more interesting backdrop to life than most places I've experienced in England - granted if you are not the outdoor type it may not appeal, but for unspoilt wilderness, friendly people, biking, running, skiing, walking, sailing, climbing, mountaineering, canoeing etc etc on your doorstep it is unbeatable. And yes, that rumour you heard about there being more sunshine in the lee of the highands than anywhere else in the UK is true.
The job then - rose tinted glasses aside, I found it offered, as with a lot of jobs, some moments of intense excitement, in company with a fair chunk of mundanity. Sadly, the halcyon days of the sub-hunters have long gone. Saying that, although I cant speak for the current cadre, even a decade ago there were still opportunities for the odd trip 'up north', and the sheer thrill of being the one who picks up the first sign of a Russian sub, who doesn't want to be found, is not something I have found before or since in any discipline. SAR offers the same. The thrill of the chase is still the AEOps life-blood, whatever the prey might be.
Big Norm's task has changed considerably over the last 15 years, mostly out of self-preservation since the collapse of the Russian Navy, but, as far as I can tell from correspondence from old crew-mates, the detachments are still good, and there are newly established roles. The MRA4 also represents a technological leap (forget threads about the airframe/crew comp/engines, its the siggies that will benefit from world class avionics - and the Searchwater/Yellowgate set-up was world class anyway). Aaaaaaaaaah, Fincastle.
One MAJOR aspect is CRM. The Nimrod crew environment is not for everyone, and can be vicious. I joke not. Thirteen of Her Majesty's finest, (virtually) permanently constituted, cooped up in a tube and dispatched around the globe to do their thing can produce personality clashes, which can spiral out of control under poor leadership. On the flip-side, a good crew, as I experienced, can take on the world, and offer life-long friendships.
Other aspects -
Sickness, many (but not all) suffer: low level, turbulent environment, mixed stench of hydraulic fluid and curry, your mate is puking 3 feet away from you, you feel like **** , you dont have a window and there are 5 more hours on task.
Food - a Korean rules DCS eating contest was possibly the finest culinary moment of my career.
Landing at the same place after a trip: one of the greatest benefits I thought - go flying, go home. Save the landaways for decent detachments.
As I said, rose tinted spectacles, but I have a lot of good memories.
Good luck.
[This message has been edited by milligan (edited 03 March 2001).]
Kinloss - same sort of deal as Lossie really, you either love the place, or, in my experience, you grow to love it. Unfortunately, Scotland merely offers, to the vast majority, a vision of insurmountable distance from 'civilisation'. Firstly, it is often quicker to fly to any destination in England from Inverness/Aberdeen than it is to commute there from London, if thats your thing. More importantly, the Highlands of Scotland provide are far more interesting backdrop to life than most places I've experienced in England - granted if you are not the outdoor type it may not appeal, but for unspoilt wilderness, friendly people, biking, running, skiing, walking, sailing, climbing, mountaineering, canoeing etc etc on your doorstep it is unbeatable. And yes, that rumour you heard about there being more sunshine in the lee of the highands than anywhere else in the UK is true.
The job then - rose tinted glasses aside, I found it offered, as with a lot of jobs, some moments of intense excitement, in company with a fair chunk of mundanity. Sadly, the halcyon days of the sub-hunters have long gone. Saying that, although I cant speak for the current cadre, even a decade ago there were still opportunities for the odd trip 'up north', and the sheer thrill of being the one who picks up the first sign of a Russian sub, who doesn't want to be found, is not something I have found before or since in any discipline. SAR offers the same. The thrill of the chase is still the AEOps life-blood, whatever the prey might be.
Big Norm's task has changed considerably over the last 15 years, mostly out of self-preservation since the collapse of the Russian Navy, but, as far as I can tell from correspondence from old crew-mates, the detachments are still good, and there are newly established roles. The MRA4 also represents a technological leap (forget threads about the airframe/crew comp/engines, its the siggies that will benefit from world class avionics - and the Searchwater/Yellowgate set-up was world class anyway). Aaaaaaaaaah, Fincastle.
One MAJOR aspect is CRM. The Nimrod crew environment is not for everyone, and can be vicious. I joke not. Thirteen of Her Majesty's finest, (virtually) permanently constituted, cooped up in a tube and dispatched around the globe to do their thing can produce personality clashes, which can spiral out of control under poor leadership. On the flip-side, a good crew, as I experienced, can take on the world, and offer life-long friendships.
Other aspects -
Sickness, many (but not all) suffer: low level, turbulent environment, mixed stench of hydraulic fluid and curry, your mate is puking 3 feet away from you, you feel like **** , you dont have a window and there are 5 more hours on task.
Food - a Korean rules DCS eating contest was possibly the finest culinary moment of my career.
Landing at the same place after a trip: one of the greatest benefits I thought - go flying, go home. Save the landaways for decent detachments.
As I said, rose tinted spectacles, but I have a lot of good memories.
Good luck.
[This message has been edited by milligan (edited 03 March 2001).]
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cheap seat
nice little summary of the airmanship side of being a winchie but what about the main bit? lifesaving, clattered into trawlers at night in a force 8 (by AEOP's!!) spacewalking on the Ben, recovery of mangled bodies, arse deep in bodily fluids etc etc ???? don't you do that? you must be at wattisham!!!
nice little summary of the airmanship side of being a winchie but what about the main bit? lifesaving, clattered into trawlers at night in a force 8 (by AEOP's!!) spacewalking on the Ben, recovery of mangled bodies, arse deep in bodily fluids etc etc ???? don't you do that? you must be at wattisham!!!
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Total agreement with TM, TimC. Many sympathies and the very best of luck in your future endeavours.
If you're interested in becoming a civil pilot at some stage, perhaps you might wish to research the Air League website for information regarding some of their scholarship schemes?
Best wishes,
BEagle
If you're interested in becoming a civil pilot at some stage, perhaps you might wish to research the Air League website for information regarding some of their scholarship schemes?
Best wishes,
BEagle
. Yes I know I must be mad! 
