SHFNI Stories!
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As for the pi$$ing contest:
Highest mark on the wall goes to Dundiggin - cos he's the tallest.
Lowest mark on the wall goes to Plasic Cab Driver - as he is too portly to reach the tap so he just lets it run on to the floor
Highest mark on the wall goes to Dundiggin - cos he's the tallest.
Lowest mark on the wall goes to Plasic Cab Driver - as he is too portly to reach the tap so he just lets it run on to the floor
lsh
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St Angelo / Lough Erne / Grosvenor
Two shots, the first taken shortly before the Wessex / Puma line moved from Angelo to Grosvenor.
XV728 ‘A’ on 27:08:1995 with JJ C****, Si C*********** and J****n W****y. XT607‘P’ is just visible on the helipad below and slightly ahead of ‘Alpha’s’ nose, with the rest of the camp extending to the right of the frame and Ballycassidy sawmills beyond. The newly-surfaced RWY 33 of the civil airport points towards the wartime seaplane base at Castle Archdale some six miles to the north-west amongst the inlets and islands of Lower Lough Erne. Not the best Fermanagh weather for what could have been a much more scenic view. Within ten minutes the sun was shining.
Just as it was for this view of XW223 over a closed and deserted Grosvenor Barracks at Coles Hill, Enniskillen fourteen years later.
Landmarks are Rossorry Church, Drummee limestone quarry, now a landfill site, Coles Hill / Lough Shore Road housing developments, Navar Viewpoint, Lower Lough Erne and the hills of Donegal, beyond on the distant horizon. Might post a couple more from that area.
XV728 ‘A’ on 27:08:1995 with JJ C****, Si C*********** and J****n W****y. XT607‘P’ is just visible on the helipad below and slightly ahead of ‘Alpha’s’ nose, with the rest of the camp extending to the right of the frame and Ballycassidy sawmills beyond. The newly-surfaced RWY 33 of the civil airport points towards the wartime seaplane base at Castle Archdale some six miles to the north-west amongst the inlets and islands of Lower Lough Erne. Not the best Fermanagh weather for what could have been a much more scenic view. Within ten minutes the sun was shining.
Just as it was for this view of XW223 over a closed and deserted Grosvenor Barracks at Coles Hill, Enniskillen fourteen years later.
Landmarks are Rossorry Church, Drummee limestone quarry, now a landfill site, Coles Hill / Lough Shore Road housing developments, Navar Viewpoint, Lower Lough Erne and the hills of Donegal, beyond on the distant horizon. Might post a couple more from that area.
Last edited by PhamousPhotographer; 2nd May 2011 at 14:52. Reason: Fairly Obvious!?
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I suppose the great thing about taking pictures of the RAF cabs is you can guarantee the good weather. Must have to crack the aperture down a bit to counter all that sunshine though 
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Fair-Weather Flyers?
Re the Angelo / Grosvenor dates; just testing, Shackman! 10/10 for observation. As for apertures/shutter speeds, nope; have flown in shabby weather with both RAF & TWA, but the photo results are rarely worth showing. Another one from that 2009 set for the navs – where’s this location?
PS 1:200 @ f8 here with 1:200 / f11 for the Grosvenor one.
PS 1:200 @ f8 here with 1:200 / f11 for the Grosvenor one.
it's here on G-maps. Flew just past Belleek only yesterday afternoon, but must check if the HLS is still there the next time out.
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Green 205
The site is / was G205, the PVCP at Rosscor Viaduct. That’s Slavin Parish Church on the main EKN - Belleek road. Just west of it a roadside PVCP compound controlled the T junction leading to the viaduct and, apart from the helipad, the sole remaining reminder of the military presence is a single Bailey span at the north end of Rosscor.
Still in use and a tribute to the Royal Engineers who erected it to re-open the route in the early 1980s, I think they’d explosively demolished the pre-cast concrete original a few years earlier as it was regarded as a PIRA rat-run, but others can possibly confirm that? I did see a pair of 72 Sqn Wessex on the Angelo – Rosscor resupply tasking in July 1986. That's why I'd wondered if Dundiggin knew it?
Still in use and a tribute to the Royal Engineers who erected it to re-open the route in the early 1980s, I think they’d explosively demolished the pre-cast concrete original a few years earlier as it was regarded as a PIRA rat-run, but others can possibly confirm that? I did see a pair of 72 Sqn Wessex on the Angelo – Rosscor resupply tasking in July 1986. That's why I'd wondered if Dundiggin knew it?
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Had a nice 4 hour wait on that little spot around 1999 with a sickly Puma that had a bit of blade missing. RUC/troops provided cordon and we had a visit from the occupants of the house by the church. They bought tea and biscuits which was very friendly!!
I think it was J***A D******Y and crew who arrived with the 'rescue party' unannounced at low level causing a few expletives and sarcastic comments from the troops!
Memories......
I think it was J***A D******Y and crew who arrived with the 'rescue party' unannounced at low level causing a few expletives and sarcastic comments from the troops!
Memories......
Avoid imitations
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Cor - 223 with a 230 door on... that ties it to a particular time.
I flew XW223 in Belize in January 1980 and Jan 1981.
I also flew it in Germany in May 1981, now a 230 Sqn aircraft.
On 14th August 1981 I flew it on task with "lsh", again on the strength of 230. Lsh, where did we go? I only recorded the task number in my log book.
On 21st August I did my IRT in it with the late George Blackie as my IRE.
Nov 22nd 1983 I flew her again, still in Germany.
Next and last time for me was 22 Feb 1991, back at Odiham during a refresher course check ride. IIRC, back then 240 OCU were sharing airframes with 33 Sqn due to a severe shortage (GW1).
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Green 205 Farewell.
To my knowledge this was the last Op Banner visitor to land on that helipad.
The lough is just visible with the Donegal Hills beyond as I'm told to board.
As in Now, or you can walk. Door Gunner Al D******* losing patience with Phamous. The green area on the ridge line marks the former site of the compound and OP tower. Could this ever beat time spent in Red Lips? Next stop?