Harrier engine change on the beach in Belize
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Harrier engine change on the beach in Belize
Does anyone remember a harrier needing an engine change on the beach of a caye off Belize. I think it was from Flt 1417. It would of been in the late seventies. I can't find anything about it online. I think the pilot stopped on the beach, then got sand in the engine trying to start the engine, they flew out a crane, built a pad and changed the engine on the beach. It was just a small caye, but there were tourists watching. I thought it would be fun to see some photos?
The aircraft landed on the island's runway, which was made of rolled coral. Ingestion of some of the loose surface jammed the nozzle mechanism. The debris was cleaned out, and the aircraft flown back to Airport Camp (Belize International).
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Does not ring any bells with me, I was there 80 and 81. Landing on a beach sounds like a plan to get to the mess Caye barbi early? I would have expected the 'story' to be legend if it happened.
EDIT: Yes - that one does!
EDIT: Yes - that one does!
The area seems to have gone a bit more upmarket since then. See
Caye Chapel Private Island Estates - Private Island Community, Private Island, Caribbean Property for sale, belize golf, caribbean vacation home, golf course property for sale, Belize Island Properties, beach front property, caribbean beach front pro for pictures including the runway.
Caye Chapel Private Island Estates - Private Island Community, Private Island, Caribbean Property for sale, belize golf, caribbean vacation home, golf course property for sale, Belize Island Properties, beach front property, caribbean beach front pro for pictures including the runway.
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I remember a story that my old man told me a few years ago, can't remember any specifics though except that he would have been there in the late 70's early 80's I think(!) - BOAC you may know better than me actually.
Apparently a Harrier had got bogged down in the beach/runway and the pilot, against the SOPs(?) then selected the nozzles down and tried to lift out of the muck. This, as you can imagine, filled the engine up with lots of beach/runway non-lubricating stuff.
Might have something to do with. Sorry for sticking me nose in.
Apparently a Harrier had got bogged down in the beach/runway and the pilot, against the SOPs(?) then selected the nozzles down and tried to lift out of the muck. This, as you can imagine, filled the engine up with lots of beach/runway non-lubricating stuff.
Might have something to do with. Sorry for sticking me nose in.
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Chesty,
A certain Harrier pilot once melted a big figure of eight into the western end of the Airport Camp / Belize International runway during engine runs, closing it for almost 24 hours as the hole was burned right down to the base limestone (I flew over it and landed beyond shortly after).
Quite funny because it was a tuesday, which was personnel changeover day and the VC10, already en route, had to turn back to Dulles. Even funnier because I wasn't due to go home but my mate was and he really wouldn't believe me that he was staying on for a while.
Was that the episode you're thinking of?
A certain Harrier pilot once melted a big figure of eight into the western end of the Airport Camp / Belize International runway during engine runs, closing it for almost 24 hours as the hole was burned right down to the base limestone (I flew over it and landed beyond shortly after).
Quite funny because it was a tuesday, which was personnel changeover day and the VC10, already en route, had to turn back to Dulles. Even funnier because I wasn't due to go home but my mate was and he really wouldn't believe me that he was staying on for a while.
Was that the episode you're thinking of?
Last edited by ShyTorque; 7th Sep 2010 at 23:02.
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Shy, that doesn't ring any bells I'm afraid.
Although it has been awhile since I've heard a good war/drinking story from my Dad I think it definitely involved the engine eating a lot of dust. I think he said it was the same pilot (he swears it wasn't him btw!) who became temporarily unaware of his position and wound up the Guatemalans a bit by "nearly" crossing the border if that's any kind of clue.
If the photos of the "dingy drill" I've seen are anything to go by an extra day or two in Belize doesn't seem that bad!
Although it has been awhile since I've heard a good war/drinking story from my Dad I think it definitely involved the engine eating a lot of dust. I think he said it was the same pilot (he swears it wasn't him btw!) who became temporarily unaware of his position and wound up the Guatemalans a bit by "nearly" crossing the border if that's any kind of clue.
If the photos of the "dingy drill" I've seen are anything to go by an extra day or two in Belize doesn't seem that bad!
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Not quite the same but
I was present on the 230 Sqn Det in 1981 when most of the aircrew and groundcrew had flown to a deserted caye for the Det BBQ. After said BBQ, one engine failed to start and all the groundcrew had to get off so that the puma and operating crew could transit back to (the delightfully named) airport camp on one engine, pick up a replacement aircraft, return to the caye and pick up groundcrew. I can't speak for the others but I was really glad to see the aircraft returning.
Fred
P.S. Brought to mind fond memories of 230, Gutersloh and Belize.
to see the aircraft returning.Fred
P.S. Brought to mind fond memories of 230, Gutersloh and Belize.
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Freddie,
I was duty pilot on that day. The AOC and the Air Commander were also stranded on the Caye. The AOC wasn't slow in authorising a single engined transit.
"Oh yes, we'll organise some landing lights for your return" said the Det Cdr.
He forgot and went to the bar. We had to use the bar lights to find the Caye and let down onto the airstrip.
I was duty pilot on that day. The AOC and the Air Commander were also stranded on the Caye. The AOC wasn't slow in authorising a single engined transit.
"Oh yes, we'll organise some landing lights for your return" said the Det Cdr.
He forgot and went to the bar. We had to use the bar lights to find the Caye and let down onto the airstrip.
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I was a controller at Butcher Radar when the incident that Speedbird is talking about happened – I was there from Jul/Aug 78 to Feb 79.
As I remember, the RAF was doing a promotional film and shooting bits and pieces around Belize (Join the RAF and see the world – that sort of stuff). Someone had the bright idea of filming a Harrier landing on a ‘desert island’ – great recruitment stuff - and one of the Cayes was chosen (St Georges or maybe Ambergris come to mind – both had landing strips then, though I don’t think that there is one on St Georges now). The whole episode was to be filmed by a camera crew on board an accompanying Puma.
Again, as I recall, things weren’t really planned and it was a ‘back of a fag pack’ scenario – for example, no one had properly recce’d the landing strip to see if it was suitable (I think the accompanying Puma did a landing and someone assessed it from that as OK). Anyway, it was decided to go ahead with the promotional shooting and the Harrier duly did the approach and hover – to disappear into a sandstorm and subsequent crater that was nearly akin to the Icelandic volcano (Some of us managed to get to see the film – bloody, bloody funny, particularly as no-one was hurt). Obviously, the aircraft was stranded and all hell broke loose.
Ground crew were ferried to the island (had a great time with some American tourists by all accounts!) to sort it out. Major exercise as I recall which nearly resulted in the aircraft being scrapped. The whole recovery and repair took about a week. In the end, numerous rectification was carried out (including an engine change), the landing strip was matted to allow the aircraft to depart and a stripped down and very light Harrier was flown (by same pilot) wheels down, on a hop back to APC. It was subsequently replaced and shipped back to the UK for major remedial work (I think).
There were a couple of postscripts. The whole saga cost a lot of money. Not least because there was a US businessman stranded on the island for some days (couldn’t get airborne in his Twin-Beech 18) – as a result, he couldn’t get back to the States during an unexpected financial crisis in his business and he lost a fortune as a result – at which he duly sued the MOD!
In addition, the incident was just one of a number of varying degrees of ‘pigs’ that the RAF suffered over a short period of time. Three others that I can remember were a Harrier wheels up (Wg Cdr RAF Commander at APC); Puma (adorned in ‘Merry Xmas) landing on wrong side of Belize/Guat border and starting to unload Gurkhas – that caused a bit of a stir; and Bomb dropped from Harrier in trial not exploding and disappearing into jungle – that also caused a stir. There were some other incidents – not least the amazing story of the Pumas when they were evacuated to Mexico when ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Greta – but that is a story in its own right! And I won't relate my my 'pigs' with a Scout on a GCA that ended up with him being half-way back to blighty before I remembered about him (OK, slight exaggeration)
We RAF seemed to collect the 'Prick of the Week' award every bloody Happy Hour (any ex-Belize guys remember that carving - talk about feeling inadequate)
As I remember, the RAF was doing a promotional film and shooting bits and pieces around Belize (Join the RAF and see the world – that sort of stuff). Someone had the bright idea of filming a Harrier landing on a ‘desert island’ – great recruitment stuff - and one of the Cayes was chosen (St Georges or maybe Ambergris come to mind – both had landing strips then, though I don’t think that there is one on St Georges now). The whole episode was to be filmed by a camera crew on board an accompanying Puma.
Again, as I recall, things weren’t really planned and it was a ‘back of a fag pack’ scenario – for example, no one had properly recce’d the landing strip to see if it was suitable (I think the accompanying Puma did a landing and someone assessed it from that as OK). Anyway, it was decided to go ahead with the promotional shooting and the Harrier duly did the approach and hover – to disappear into a sandstorm and subsequent crater that was nearly akin to the Icelandic volcano (Some of us managed to get to see the film – bloody, bloody funny, particularly as no-one was hurt). Obviously, the aircraft was stranded and all hell broke loose.
Ground crew were ferried to the island (had a great time with some American tourists by all accounts!) to sort it out. Major exercise as I recall which nearly resulted in the aircraft being scrapped. The whole recovery and repair took about a week. In the end, numerous rectification was carried out (including an engine change), the landing strip was matted to allow the aircraft to depart and a stripped down and very light Harrier was flown (by same pilot) wheels down, on a hop back to APC. It was subsequently replaced and shipped back to the UK for major remedial work (I think).
There were a couple of postscripts. The whole saga cost a lot of money. Not least because there was a US businessman stranded on the island for some days (couldn’t get airborne in his Twin-Beech 18) – as a result, he couldn’t get back to the States during an unexpected financial crisis in his business and he lost a fortune as a result – at which he duly sued the MOD!
In addition, the incident was just one of a number of varying degrees of ‘pigs’ that the RAF suffered over a short period of time. Three others that I can remember were a Harrier wheels up (Wg Cdr RAF Commander at APC); Puma (adorned in ‘Merry Xmas) landing on wrong side of Belize/Guat border and starting to unload Gurkhas – that caused a bit of a stir; and Bomb dropped from Harrier in trial not exploding and disappearing into jungle – that also caused a stir. There were some other incidents – not least the amazing story of the Pumas when they were evacuated to Mexico when ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Greta – but that is a story in its own right! And I won't relate my my 'pigs' with a Scout on a GCA that ended up with him being half-way back to blighty before I remembered about him (OK, slight exaggeration)
We RAF seemed to collect the 'Prick of the Week' award every bloody Happy Hour (any ex-Belize guys remember that carving - talk about feeling inadequate)
Caye Chapel
I think this was in either 1978 or 79 - I'm away from my logbooks so can't fix it accurately.
RAFG had sent out a PR team to shoot a film in Belize and the detachment commander KM decided to have a bit of the film shot over Caye Chapel's runway. This was a powdered coral strip with a hardened surface. A Puma was positioned off to one side for the film crew. KM came to a hover over the runway but rather low and the jet efflux ate through the surface and released the powdered coral, which was promptly hoovered up and jammed the reaction controls. A ' forced RVL' took place. Now there was a jet stuck on a coral atoll, stuffed with talcum powder, miles from help. OC ENG from Gutersloh was sent out with a very, very large local purchase order to try and solve the problem. A barge and crane was rented and the engine eventually lifted and changed plus the tubes blown out. Time was of an essence as the salt in the coral powder was not appreciated by the internals of the jet. A couple of weeks later, PH, one of the wing unit test pilots, flew the aircraft out.
The film crew had also filmed some of the spirited flying back at Belize airport, which caused some other problems back in RAFG.
The detachment commander had a difficult time in Belize, as he'd been leading a pair on FAC that misidentified a village on the Guatemalan border and orbited one inside enemy territory by mistake. The section of troops there panicked and deserted leading to an eventual diplomatic complaint.
An interesting detachment.
RAFG had sent out a PR team to shoot a film in Belize and the detachment commander KM decided to have a bit of the film shot over Caye Chapel's runway. This was a powdered coral strip with a hardened surface. A Puma was positioned off to one side for the film crew. KM came to a hover over the runway but rather low and the jet efflux ate through the surface and released the powdered coral, which was promptly hoovered up and jammed the reaction controls. A ' forced RVL' took place. Now there was a jet stuck on a coral atoll, stuffed with talcum powder, miles from help. OC ENG from Gutersloh was sent out with a very, very large local purchase order to try and solve the problem. A barge and crane was rented and the engine eventually lifted and changed plus the tubes blown out. Time was of an essence as the salt in the coral powder was not appreciated by the internals of the jet. A couple of weeks later, PH, one of the wing unit test pilots, flew the aircraft out.
The film crew had also filmed some of the spirited flying back at Belize airport, which caused some other problems back in RAFG.
The detachment commander had a difficult time in Belize, as he'd been leading a pair on FAC that misidentified a village on the Guatemalan border and orbited one inside enemy territory by mistake. The section of troops there panicked and deserted leading to an eventual diplomatic complaint.
An interesting detachment.
Last edited by bonajet; 9th Sep 2010 at 14:06. Reason: spelling
bonajet, wasn't the film crew over to make an SSVC flight safety film? I seem to remember having seen it, complete with Loader getting some walking-on part. After a bird strike and surge, some mate nearly stoofs in because he's forgotten his rocket pin, but then the engine recovers itself or something?
A V-force chum had been asked to go and play the 'Ops Officer' and generally baby-sit the film luvvies. Amongst whom was rather a camp producer; this wasn't awfully popular in the RAF of some 20 years before Pink Wednesday....
One scene called for some Rocks to patrol a river, festooned with guns and bullets and all manner of warry stuff. It seems that the producer did actually have quite a dry sense of humour; after the Rocks had done a few takes getting progressively wetter and wetter, not to mention more and more pissed-off, he squealed "Oooh, that was ever so lovely, dears. But could you try to make it just a teensy bit more butch next time?"
A V-force chum had been asked to go and play the 'Ops Officer' and generally baby-sit the film luvvies. Amongst whom was rather a camp producer; this wasn't awfully popular in the RAF of some 20 years before Pink Wednesday....
One scene called for some Rocks to patrol a river, festooned with guns and bullets and all manner of warry stuff. It seems that the producer did actually have quite a dry sense of humour; after the Rocks had done a few takes getting progressively wetter and wetter, not to mention more and more pissed-off, he squealed "Oooh, that was ever so lovely, dears. But could you try to make it just a teensy bit more butch next time?"
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– not least the amazing story of the Pumas when they were evacuated to Mexico when ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Greta – but that is a story in its own right!
Notice that Henry de Courcier (ex Reds) is credited with the pic. Was on a flight from Manila to HK about 8 or 9 years ago with him at the controls.
Last edited by larssnowpharter; 10th Sep 2010 at 10:06.