OK, what's changed?
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So you've been away?
I think you'll find that things have changed a great deal...
Firstly, we never do more than an 8 hour day, oh and there's no 'face-time' anymore. You just get into your luxury vehicle (which doesn't have to be parked 25m from buildings anymore) and cruise home to your beautiful house.
We've upgraded with all the latest kit like .833Mhz radios and TCAS, so you never have to say 'unable to comply' anymore. You'll find friendly, helpful engineers at your service and you won't have to interrupt them playing pool to get a see-off.
The best bit is that your salary is now generous and it goes up a bit every month. If you find that another bunch of pilots are getting paid more than you, politely ask the union to sort things out.
Oooops I forgot. I work in civvy street now.
Sorry, Irrelevant post.
I think you'll find that things have changed a great deal...
Firstly, we never do more than an 8 hour day, oh and there's no 'face-time' anymore. You just get into your luxury vehicle (which doesn't have to be parked 25m from buildings anymore) and cruise home to your beautiful house.
We've upgraded with all the latest kit like .833Mhz radios and TCAS, so you never have to say 'unable to comply' anymore. You'll find friendly, helpful engineers at your service and you won't have to interrupt them playing pool to get a see-off.
The best bit is that your salary is now generous and it goes up a bit every month. If you find that another bunch of pilots are getting paid more than you, politely ask the union to sort things out.
Oooops I forgot. I work in civvy street now.
Sorry, Irrelevant post.
Thread Starter
Back on topic:
Who are: Ali G? Nigella Lawson? Why do the chattering classes seem fascinated by either/both?
Ta
Who are: Ali G? Nigella Lawson? Why do the chattering classes seem fascinated by either/both?
Ta
I can't allocate who has the ownership of these photos, as I picked them up two years ago from a similar thread. No pics of trains... 
Anyone with details of the original site that posted these shots, please advise and I will allocate credit, rather than offending someone.
T & B, just remember to have a pint or three for me. Cheers!
Anyone with details of the original site that posted these shots, please advise and I will allocate credit, rather than offending someone.
T & B, just remember to have a pint or three for me. Cheers!
Join Date: Jan 2001
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Exactly as I described it, and I wasn't even there! That's the Capt.with his best foot forward.Superb!
As for ownership of the pics, the incident was filmed , but the last two are definately RNZAF Official.
[ 07 September 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]
As for ownership of the pics, the incident was filmed , but the last two are definately RNZAF Official.
[ 07 September 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]
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Well, I WAS there and what a show it was. The Sunderland that scraped its keel on the runway had to be beached on its return to Hobsonville. A USAF Voodoo deliberately broke the sound barrier to great enjoyment of those present and no complaint from those not present. In spooling up to full power the Vulcan deposited a fair ammount of unburnt fuel over the crowds - it took a fair few washes to rid my clothes of the whiff of AVTUR. Wonderful! This event probably lead me to the RAF a fair few years later!
Call me a stickler, but, while I admire the skill in landing the Vulcan at OH after the event, I'm not sure landing-short deserves an AFC!
Call me a stickler, but, while I admire the skill in landing the Vulcan at OH after the event, I'm not sure landing-short deserves an AFC!
Thread Starter
John,
Incredible pictures - I like the details, like the Series 1 LandRover (knowing NZ, it's probably still on the road...). Don't think I could manage 3 pints of Diet Coke in 1 sitting thanks, but I'll try anyway. Did the snow situation improve?
I hadn't realised USAF fighters had made it all the way down to Godzone. Wonder how welcome they'd be now?
Incredible pictures - I like the details, like the Series 1 LandRover (knowing NZ, it's probably still on the road...). Don't think I could manage 3 pints of Diet Coke in 1 sitting thanks, but I'll try anyway. Did the snow situation improve?
I hadn't realised USAF fighters had made it all the way down to Godzone. Wonder how welcome they'd be now?
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T&B
To answer one of your above questions:
http://members.madasafish.com/~thing...lawson/015.jpg
As good looking as the aircraft? I'll let you red blooded males be the judge of that
To answer one of your above questions:
http://members.madasafish.com/~thing...lawson/015.jpg
As good looking as the aircraft? I'll let you red blooded males be the judge of that
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Prior to yet another Labour Govt. taking us out of Anzus, the USAF were regular visitors to air shows in Godzown. They usually came from units at Kadena in Japan. There were F105's, and F4's at various times, plus the RAF contingent, usually a Victor (we had two "Tatty Ton" Victors once) or Vulcan.We even had a 20 Sqn Harrier, brought out in an Antonov! Now, if you want to see real Thud and Blunder you have to do what I'm doing at the end of the month and fly to Ameberly!
http://www.airshow.net.au/amberley/index.html
[ 07 September 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]
http://www.airshow.net.au/amberley/index.html
[ 07 September 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]
FV - actually the Matron herself at my prep school was a real honey and was definitely the subject of many schoolboy lustings.....!!
There was the day she woke me up by.....no, even I couldn't possibly divulge that secret. It still brings a smile to the parts after err, 38 years....
There was the day she woke me up by.....no, even I couldn't possibly divulge that secret. It still brings a smile to the parts after err, 38 years....
Thread Starter
Mistress,
Thanks - I also stumbled across the thread on JB where you and others explained the lady's rise to fame. Cooking, eh? Nah, I'll continue to burn the water while boiling-in-the-bag, thanks. Eating's just another bodily function...
Now, must find out what catchphrases from the last 3 years my lad has to learn to maintain survivability at his new school.
Thanks - I also stumbled across the thread on JB where you and others explained the lady's rise to fame. Cooking, eh? Nah, I'll continue to burn the water while boiling-in-the-bag, thanks. Eating's just another bodily function...
Now, must find out what catchphrases from the last 3 years my lad has to learn to maintain survivability at his new school.
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Samuel
The captain the Vulcan was a top bloke with a honey of a wife, possibly with connections in NZ? I doubt whether the AFC was awarded for the Rongotai incident; more likely for previous meritorious and arduous service, including being my boss at Middleton St George. The Management of the Great White Detergent fleet was unforgiving of those who scratched their precious aeroplanes. Sir Byng Cross imported much of the SAC culture imbued by its founder Gen Curt LeMay. Curt leMay it was who pointed his cigar at a poor sod on his mat saying "So you think you are an unlucky Wing Commander ? Well, I don't employ unlucky Wing Commanders. You're fired!"
I don't think our friend's career prospered after Rongotai. In fact I believe he retired early.
BEagle. You lucky old sod! Mine was a cross-eyed old battleaxe who had reputedly served in first aid posts in the trenches in WW1. She was as hard as nails, but probably had a heart of gold.
The captain the Vulcan was a top bloke with a honey of a wife, possibly with connections in NZ? I doubt whether the AFC was awarded for the Rongotai incident; more likely for previous meritorious and arduous service, including being my boss at Middleton St George. The Management of the Great White Detergent fleet was unforgiving of those who scratched their precious aeroplanes. Sir Byng Cross imported much of the SAC culture imbued by its founder Gen Curt LeMay. Curt leMay it was who pointed his cigar at a poor sod on his mat saying "So you think you are an unlucky Wing Commander ? Well, I don't employ unlucky Wing Commanders. You're fired!"
I don't think our friend's career prospered after Rongotai. In fact I believe he retired early.
BEagle. You lucky old sod! Mine was a cross-eyed old battleaxe who had reputedly served in first aid posts in the trenches in WW1. She was as hard as nails, but probably had a heart of gold.
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Well, it has to be said FV, that Wellington Airport, then and now, has more in common with with an aircraft carrier than a runway. There is sea at both ends, and no overshoot area, and in a southerly, short finals can be very interesting. That first photo of the Vulvan is full of detail, including the port aileron position! While rare, the wind can be outside the limits for all users, though the air force of course can opt to land. I came back from Oz in an Andover once, in the back as usual, and got a full side-on view of the numbers just before a firm touch-down. Having been in the same aircraft on the fringe of a thunderstorm near Nowra, I was impressed!Aren't Mil. pilots wonderful!
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Flatus
Regarding you comments on the V force, (and I note that Beagle also flew Vulcans at one stage)I spent my last two years in the UK at Cottesmore when occupied by 10 and 15 Sqns, and often wondered if any of those Mickey Finn's had been for real, how many of those crews would bave made it back.
It has now been confirmed, for me at least, that Bing Cross once held a briefing for all "V" crews which, according to one 9 Sqn Captain, left them in no doubt they were on a one-way ticket and they should get used to the idea.He consoled them with the thought that there wouldn't be a lot worth coming back for!
Regarding you comments on the V force, (and I note that Beagle also flew Vulcans at one stage)I spent my last two years in the UK at Cottesmore when occupied by 10 and 15 Sqns, and often wondered if any of those Mickey Finn's had been for real, how many of those crews would bave made it back.
It has now been confirmed, for me at least, that Bing Cross once held a briefing for all "V" crews which, according to one 9 Sqn Captain, left them in no doubt they were on a one-way ticket and they should get used to the idea.He consoled them with the thought that there wouldn't be a lot worth coming back for!
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Samuel,
I see an interesting detail in the second Vulcan photo. The airbrakes are extended (or just beginning to retract). Was this normal at this stage of a GA or had the crew forgotten in all the excitement?
Perhap BEagle could enlighten us?
And as a further digression on this marvellously eclectic thread - I grew up near White Waltham and the GWR main line in the 60s. Did anyone else notice that the Fairey Rotodyne (4 tip jets) sounded exactly like a King or Castle (4 cylinders) going flat out or was it just me?
I see an interesting detail in the second Vulcan photo. The airbrakes are extended (or just beginning to retract). Was this normal at this stage of a GA or had the crew forgotten in all the excitement?
Perhap BEagle could enlighten us?
And as a further digression on this marvellously eclectic thread - I grew up near White Waltham and the GWR main line in the 60s. Did anyone else notice that the Fairey Rotodyne (4 tip jets) sounded exactly like a King or Castle (4 cylinders) going flat out or was it just me?
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Well that particular example of aerospace engineering was very agricultural, and would have sounded like anything but the purpose for which it was built.
Thud and Blunder; as an absentee for some 38 years who has visited very three of four years,(most recently in March this year, and had lunch at Lyneham, after a look at a 130J), there are many changes I have noted, not all of them good! As an outsider looking in; The privatisation of what was once a good public transport system has failed;
Britain is much, much more diverse than it used to be, and is sadly no longer unique;People obviously join the armed services for different reasons these days(sic); Politicians are even more scheming than they ever were; Management of foot and mouth was a complete cock-up;Political Correctness has indeed gone mad; Bath on a sunny day is still stunning;The Randolph Hotel in Oxford does a superb silver service breakfast;Motorway Service is anything but;The best Cornish pasties in the world are sold in a shop behind Wells Cathedral, and I still hit my head on entering the bar of the Sun Inn at Cottesmore.
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]
Thud and Blunder; as an absentee for some 38 years who has visited very three of four years,(most recently in March this year, and had lunch at Lyneham, after a look at a 130J), there are many changes I have noted, not all of them good! As an outsider looking in; The privatisation of what was once a good public transport system has failed;
Britain is much, much more diverse than it used to be, and is sadly no longer unique;People obviously join the armed services for different reasons these days(sic); Politicians are even more scheming than they ever were; Management of foot and mouth was a complete cock-up;Political Correctness has indeed gone mad; Bath on a sunny day is still stunning;The Randolph Hotel in Oxford does a superb silver service breakfast;Motorway Service is anything but;The best Cornish pasties in the world are sold in a shop behind Wells Cathedral, and I still hit my head on entering the bar of the Sun Inn at Cottesmore.
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]