Finningley and Filton Block
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Doncaster and navigators....somehow they deserved each other.
Being neither two wing or "N", but having spent the best part of 23 years flying in the RAF, it is not difficult to conclude that I could not have done it without the pilots, but the crews I were on would have been just as successful without the "N".
Still, things could be worse, just wait till the RAF go the way of the RAAF and start giving the FC brigade a brevet and flying pay.
Y_G
but the crews I were on would have been just as successful without the "N".
Also, if you believe your time on E-3D and MR2 could have been done without a Nav then you are massively mistaken (IMHO
). Maybe you should've gone and seen what they were up to instead of staring at the Y-G "ring of death" for hours on end and loafing in the galley.Furthermore, I'm surprised no-one has started the "AEOp/AEOs should have been allowed to fly Tornado" debate again
.The B Word
Actually, I believe that a trial was conducted using a Buccaneer - but pretty soon the AEO announced that neither he nor his brethren would want to fly such aircraft.
So that was that.
Reminds me of watching some F-15 or similar at an air show doing its high-G thing. An aged Air Engineer ('Lightning' L*o) announced "It's a good job those things don't have Air Engineers!". To which I replied "I'm sure the pilot would agree, L*o!".
So that was that.
Reminds me of watching some F-15 or similar at an air show doing its high-G thing. An aged Air Engineer ('Lightning' L*o) announced "It's a good job those things don't have Air Engineers!". To which I replied "I'm sure the pilot would agree, L*o!".
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South of Penge
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I attended a multi-disciplinary RPV workshop near Bristol in the late 70's.
The industry engineers announced that the state of the software art was indicating that there would soon be no further need for the then Pilot/Nav combination in a strike/ attack aircraft. The cockpit workload could in future be reduced sufficiently for it be handled by one crew member.
The pilots smirked.
The engineers' spokesman then continued by pointing out that the fundamental question now to be addressed was as to which individual was to be removed.
The navigators smirked briefly; then, as the implications gradually sunk in, started looking somewhat uneasy ..................
The industry engineers announced that the state of the software art was indicating that there would soon be no further need for the then Pilot/Nav combination in a strike/ attack aircraft. The cockpit workload could in future be reduced sufficiently for it be handled by one crew member.
The pilots smirked.
The engineers' spokesman then continued by pointing out that the fundamental question now to be addressed was as to which individual was to be removed.
The navigators smirked briefly; then, as the implications gradually sunk in, started looking somewhat uneasy ..................
Filton Block should have been made a listed building. To hear it has been knocked down is bad news. I vaguely remember all those p1ss ups after streamings, postings and of course graduations. Not to mention Friday night happy hours in the days they were worth going to.
Then again, the Rose tinted specs could be on and the memory has faded!
Then again, the Rose tinted specs could be on and the memory has faded!
Here's a link to a pic of the Filton Block rubble (I wonder if they found any dead Donny birds under the patio!!!):
Domestic Site. Officers Mess Building 69 & 70) (Drg No 570/37 & 941-2/37) - 27th May 2008 :: OMess.jpg
Very sad indeed - at least I managed to say goodbye to my old room about 4 years ago (the combination on the door was still 2-4-3 !!!). Also, Donny was still a cracking night out with my old course
.
The B Word
Domestic Site. Officers Mess Building 69 & 70) (Drg No 570/37 & 941-2/37) - 27th May 2008 :: OMess.jpg
Very sad indeed - at least I managed to say goodbye to my old room about 4 years ago (the combination on the door was still 2-4-3 !!!). Also, Donny was still a cracking night out with my old course
.The B Word
Gentlemen (and ladies!), there is only one (very hazy) memory to be had of Finningley and that is CAMELOTS (or came lots!)...
Here is the shrine empty...
Here it is full up...
and the "delights of Donny" in full...
Here is the shrine empty...
Here it is full up...
and the "delights of Donny" in full...
Last edited by Lima Juliet; 13th Feb 2010 at 13:01.
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Leon - oh bugger didn't I marry one of those...?
Oops it's ok, memory is not what it used to be - I only told her I would marry her!
Aah, Filton Block - the sound of RAFPs banging on the dorrs of colonial students who had re-imbursed their Donny lassies!
Skid
Oops it's ok, memory is not what it used to be - I only told her I would marry her!
Aah, Filton Block - the sound of RAFPs banging on the dorrs of colonial students who had re-imbursed their Donny lassies!
Skid
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Just had a squiz at Finningley on Google Earth. Are they the original hangars? They seem to be in the right place. Mind you I am going back to '63-'65, so they may have moved when I wasn't looking. 
'Are they the original hangars?'
Both taken Aug08. Most of the MOD buildings behind the hangers have recently been taken down.
hangar 1 is the cargo shed
hangar 2 now has a brand new paint shop and is home to a few biz jets, and likely to be a few more in the near future.
hangar 3 is Directions Finningley with BAe apprentices going through it working on a couple of Hawks.
The other Hangers aren't used for aviation type business at the moment. The old ops building is the airports admin offices.
20 Approach with CATIII lighting. On the eastern side of the field the old fire station is now engineering, ATC in the original tower, and a new fire station 300m to the south. 'T' pit on't tha horizon, is mothballed, and currently undergoing review for viability, not looking good for restarting in the near future.
Both taken Aug08. Most of the MOD buildings behind the hangers have recently been taken down.
hangar 1 is the cargo shed
hangar 2 now has a brand new paint shop and is home to a few biz jets, and likely to be a few more in the near future.
hangar 3 is Directions Finningley with BAe apprentices going through it working on a couple of Hawks.
The other Hangers aren't used for aviation type business at the moment. The old ops building is the airports admin offices.
20 Approach with CATIII lighting. On the eastern side of the field the old fire station is now engineering, ATC in the original tower, and a new fire station 300m to the south. 'T' pit on't tha horizon, is mothballed, and currently undergoing review for viability, not looking good for restarting in the near future.
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oxford
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Aah Filton Block and FY in the mid 80s!
The 2 Alisons staking out the Sally Inn every 6(?) weeks looking for fresh meat (and getting it, to the tune of 30% of Filton's occupants it was estimated through a straw poll at the time -not guilty!).
Donny lasses who could tell your progress through 6 FTS by your watch.
DRI student nurses with the simplex code to the gate behind the Mess meant every night was potluck in the bar with many a week night an unexpected result!
Free entry to 7th Heaven on presentation of your 1250,straight to the front of the queue ahead of the ex-miners (and this a mere year after the end of the Miners' Strike- what were we thinking?!)
Quiz night in the Stirrup outside Rossington pit gates (closed) and winning easily, barely getting out with our lives - Thank you C*l P**t!
Camelots and Bacchus' Wine Bar - the epitome of Doncaster sophistication.
Beat the proverbial out of Holyhead, Haverforwest and Barnstaple - apart maybe from the Thatch at Croyde Bay and the surf chicks? Discuss....apart from the obvious civvy job opportunities.
The 2 Alisons staking out the Sally Inn every 6(?) weeks looking for fresh meat (and getting it, to the tune of 30% of Filton's occupants it was estimated through a straw poll at the time -not guilty!).
Donny lasses who could tell your progress through 6 FTS by your watch.
DRI student nurses with the simplex code to the gate behind the Mess meant every night was potluck in the bar with many a week night an unexpected result!
Free entry to 7th Heaven on presentation of your 1250,straight to the front of the queue ahead of the ex-miners (and this a mere year after the end of the Miners' Strike- what were we thinking?!)
Quiz night in the Stirrup outside Rossington pit gates (closed) and winning easily, barely getting out with our lives - Thank you C*l P**t!
Camelots and Bacchus' Wine Bar - the epitome of Doncaster sophistication.
Beat the proverbial out of Holyhead, Haverforwest and Barnstaple - apart maybe from the Thatch at Croyde Bay and the surf chicks? Discuss....apart from the obvious civvy job opportunities.
Quiz night in the Stirrup
Bacchus Wine Bar now long gone. It is now this joint "The Purple Door" MySpace - The Purple Door - 21 - Female - UK - myspace.com/thepurpledoor
Not sure it's that much different as I remember it
Not sure it's that much different as I remember it
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Rossington Colliery Working Mens Club. Sunday lunchtime strippers. Circa 1975. The arbitary Gestapo Girl vs Poor French Peasant Girl scenario. Mit whips.......
The whip 'errantly' lashing the thigh of the Gestapo Girl who collapsed on stage in agony amidst the gales of laughter from the 3 of us.
It's amazing how the glares of 100+ miners accelerates the sobering up process.
The whip 'errantly' lashing the thigh of the Gestapo Girl who collapsed on stage in agony amidst the gales of laughter from the 3 of us.
It's amazing how the glares of 100+ miners accelerates the sobering up process.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Wrathmonk, that's the night! Although the conversation went:
CP: "Well that was a good night, we ought to do it again"
The Butcher of Rossington (a so-called 6'5" local hero because he'd been on ITN News during the strike chasing coppers with a meat cleaver):
"aye we play darts on a Tuesday"
CP: " Well we'll put a team up for Tuesday then"
BoR: " Aye you do that, but you'll find it difficult playing darts with no f***ing fingers!"
Me: " oo, er is that our taxi just pulling up outside? Time we were leaving, early start and all."
Quality nights out in The People's (Nuclear Free) Republic of South Yorkshire.
CP: "Well that was a good night, we ought to do it again"
The Butcher of Rossington (a so-called 6'5" local hero because he'd been on ITN News during the strike chasing coppers with a meat cleaver):
"aye we play darts on a Tuesday"
CP: " Well we'll put a team up for Tuesday then"
BoR: " Aye you do that, but you'll find it difficult playing darts with no f***ing fingers!"
Me: " oo, er is that our taxi just pulling up outside? Time we were leaving, early start and all."
Quality nights out in The People's (Nuclear Free) Republic of South Yorkshire.