Do We Still Do PAX Trips in the RAF

[SRENNAPS]

The link below is a video of my back seat trip in a Tornado GR1. The flight took place on 2nd July 1996 when I was on 14 Sqn, RAF Bruggen. My aircraft was AG - ZD720 and the 2nd aircraft was BM - ZD745

We flew from Germany across the North Sea to UK. We did some low level and flew back out to sea (low level), to drop some bombs. We then recovered as a pair in close formation back to Bruggen. It was fantastic and I still remember it like it was yesterday.

So I was wondering whether pax trips still occur in the RAF or has it been knocked on the head to save money in this current climate of “cuts, cuts, cuts”.

The value in sending a member of the ground crew (or anybody else that on a station or supporting a detachment) is not measurable in terms of morale and satisfaction for the individual.

Anyway here is my video and it is something I will remember till the day I die.

YouTube - My Tornado Back Seat Trip.avi

PS. You dont have to watch it if you dont want to, but I am well proud of it

[Spacer]

I'm sure a few fleets still do! Although, maybe not to Germany and back

[vecvechookattack]

Still happens in the RN as well although nowadays you won't get to fly Low Level and nor will you be allowed to drop weapons.

[tiki4]

SRENNAPS,

WOW!!! I am ever so slightly envious I would give anything for a PAX trip in an F3 Tornado.

Any Civvies ever get them????

Thanks for posting the link, awesome!

Tiki

[c130jbloke]

Did a back seat trip in a hawk for 2 v 1 against Albert as part of a Red Flag work up in 1994. Same gig, remember it like yesterday

Thanks to " Buster " the pilot.

[STANDTO]

That is a great memory. Back in 1988 whilst holding at St Athan, due to a med cock up, I missed a run out in a Hawk from Chivenor. Despite working the Ramsey Red Arrows display every year with Red Ten, I still haven't been able to rearrange it.

And I just cant justify the price for Thunder City. And then what do you do? the low level in the Bucc, or the supersonic in the Lightning. Or maybe the Hunter.

Too many decisions, too little money, too little time.

I think it would make a great ITV3 documentary - Standto - return to Arms. Cue voiceovers, dramatic music, first five minutes after each ad break going over what they have already just told you before the ad breaks.

And then I could do a bit with Jodie Kidd and Katie Hill comparing notes about our back seat rides.................

Come on - its a winner!

[tmmorris]

Occasional cadets, if they meet the size/weight restrictions.

Tim

[STANDTO]

that might be the answer.

I'll get my shorts

[LogieBear]

LogieBear

SRENNAPS, You are a most fortunate man who's PAX trip was obviously,well deserved and I thank you for your photographic contribution. PAX flights in "Fast Jets" are indeed rare. However, Yes, they still occur.

[tiki4]

shorts? how about my 'remove before flight' T-shirt too???

[im from uranus]

I had 2 back seaters in the Phantom. I was a liney on 19 Sqn, Wildenrath 88-92. 1st was in Cyprus where I went supersonic (mach 1.1), the second over Germany in the Sqn's only twin sticker, where I was allowed a little 'play'. Fantastic. The memory of both trips stay with me to this day and made me appreciate what the aircrew actually do for a living. It certainly boosted my morale and those of my work mates who were also afforded the luxury.

To this day I still feel honoured!

[Pure Pursuit]

c130J bloke...

I too flew with Buster on 100 although I think it was in 95. My first ever experience flight and one I'll never forget. He's some character!

Had the luxury of a F3 trip down south in 96 & a Reds trip in 08 with another tons trip in 09. Not entirely sure how I ended up doing so well on the pax trip front but hey, I ain't complaining!

Best 50 mins in a cockpit was with a J crew Bastion - KAF mind you. Chilled water, nice banter & no vomiting!

[Flying Serpent]

I did some epic trips with 1312 Sqn down south in 94 & 96. South Georgia airdrops were excellent and I even got a bit of stick time in the RHS. Struggled to keep the bugger straight and level mind! Air to air refuelling trip was superb although the hour or so low level after became uncomfortable after 40 mins whence I chundered and all was well again.

Happy days

[Aerouk]

What about relatives of aircrew, do they ever get a flight? (Just curious)

[Geezers of Nazareth]

Excellent video - 'green with envy' doesn't even begin to cover it!

I've never had the chance of a 'fast-jet' trip, but I did manage to get a trip in a C-130 from Lyneham. It was meant to be a flypast over London, but by the time we all got to the RV in the Thames estuary the weather had clagged-in and they went with 'plan B' which didn't include the C130s in the flypast!
No videos, but did take some pics/slides. Fantastic memories though!

[im from uranus]

What about relatives of aircrew, do they ever get a flight? (Just curious)

I wish! My bro is on the F3, I would have had a trip in one by now if that was the case. Maybe he's just pi**ed off that a lowly SAC Rigger Mech broke the speed of sound before he did.

The phone call from 19 Sqn Line to 100 Sqn Ops in Cyprus back in 89 went something like this..
'Hi bro, I got a medical tomorrow..'
'Great, you wanna come flying with me again tomorrow?'
'No! I've a trip in a tomb'
'Wan*er'

[peppermint_jam]

Had a trip in the back of a GR4 a couple of years ago. Luckily for me it was a twin sticker too. The pilot didn't take to well to my claims of "You could teach a monkey to fly a plane but you couldn't teach one to fix it!"

So when we were over the north sea somewhere "OK, you're flying" from the front seat soon had me eating my words! Just trying to keep the damn thing straight and level was nails!

Credit where it's due, that flying lark ain't quite so easy after all! The only downer was that I forgot my camera, however a few begging posts on some of the spotters websites and I had some great photos in my hands!

I had seen the dayglo jackets half way up various hills in the lakes, so assumed they must be spotters and threw them a wave! Consequently my desktop is now a photo of my trip taken as we passed through Dunmail! (Sp?)

Won't forget the trip in a hurry, thanks Si W for driving me and the spotters for spotting me!

Good times.

Pax rides always used to be on a Friday afternoon, and usually a medic/adminer with rather large lady lumps! Still, flying on an Friday afternoon was never popular with us groundcrew!

[Evalu8ter]

Benson and Odiham both try to conduct families flying as part of their Families Day events. Of course, this small measure of "thank you" to long suffering relatives was leapt upon by the gutter press last year in a screechingly self-indulgent and ill-informed diatribe ("helicopters needed in Afghanistan giving joy rides" etc). No doubt some spin-meister in MoD is weighing up the PR value of continuing with them....I've flown families flying a number of times and it's enormously satisfying to see the grins and smiles on their faces.

Well done with all of those FJ back seats - I'm cursed...every time I get one sorted it goes tits up somehow!

[vecvechookattack]

What about relatives of aircrew, do they ever get a flight?

Yep - Thats allowed... I've flown with my Missus, Son, Daughter, Bro and his wife and their cousins. The rules changed recently and nowadays both parents are not allowed to fly.

[Rigger1]

Being a lowly techie I was very lucky in my career fast jet wise – 30+ Hawk trips (and I wasn’t even on the display team) and one F3 trip out of Akrotiri . On that det the Boss insisted the Sqn spent an entire day just trying to fly as many groundcrew as possible. Clean jet, twin sticker, supersonic, people would pay good money for that.

I think they still do the early morning Hawk pax trips at Valley for anyone on the station; as long as you pass the medical etc, please correct me if I am wrong.