Whats your longest flight ?
Whats your longest flight ?
Without the use of AAR, what is the longest flight you have had to endure.
My guess is that in recent times it will come from the Kipper fleet (Nimrod) but some older Shackleton crew members or even Hastings on Op Helitrope may come up trumps.
I will start off with 4 Mar 2000 Nimrod Mk2 10hr 35 Mins on a Link 11 trial flying off the SWAPPS at a constant FL120.
My guess is that in recent times it will come from the Kipper fleet (Nimrod) but some older Shackleton crew members or even Hastings on Op Helitrope may come up trumps.
I will start off with 4 Mar 2000 Nimrod Mk2 10hr 35 Mins on a Link 11 trial flying off the SWAPPS at a constant FL120.
Normal time for E-3D WAD to LSV (Nellis) is 10hrs 50mins direct for RF.
My longest unrefuelled Tornado is 3hrs 05mins and 11hrs-dead on E-3D, although both still had "some" fuel to go. I seem to remember an F3 in the 80s flying transatlantic unrefuelled West to East with 2x 2250l and 2x 1500l tanks ("ferry fit") - don't know how long that was but must be 5-6 hours??!!
Did 10hrs and 5mins in a Tornado with AAR once - very uncomfortable!
iRaven
My longest unrefuelled Tornado is 3hrs 05mins and 11hrs-dead on E-3D, although both still had "some" fuel to go. I seem to remember an F3 in the 80s flying transatlantic unrefuelled West to East with 2x 2250l and 2x 1500l tanks ("ferry fit") - don't know how long that was but must be 5-6 hours??!!
Did 10hrs and 5mins in a Tornado with AAR once - very uncomfortable!
iRaven
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Jacksonville NAS to Lyneham, October 1995, Hercules CMk3 XV209. 10 hours 55 minutes. Remember it well, OCU trainer with a particularly unpleaseant trainee captain. It's funny what sticks in your mind after all these years. Happy days.
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Did 10hrs and 5mins in a Tornado with AAR once - very uncomfortable!
At a Farnborough airshow many years ago, the RAF kept a Shackleton airborne for the whole show. Wasn't the same one of course - a Shack took off as the show started, the next one started it's take off roll as the previous one was on finals 24 hours later. So one can presume the Shack actually remained airborne for 24 hours at a time - assuming the crew didn't think ''Sod this'' - landed somewhere and went down the pub.
What the point was, I've no idea!
What the point was, I've no idea!
Last edited by Dan Winterland; 16th Dec 2010 at 02:53.
Stanley - Ascension 4 Aug 83 Hercules C1 XV187 11 hrs 30 mins as a rear PAX. A long flight, but a lot quicker way to RTB than my deployment in the SS Uganda which took 15 days !
TBM-L, I remember your overflight of BNE in Dec 83, I was on leave back out from Europe. No GPS!!! (I am glad I never took your offer of many years before of being a nav on your future planned trips 
)
R, All the best
)R, All the best
.ok ok you meant manned aircraft..!
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That gives a slightly misleading answer for fast jet operators. Even having suffered long sorties down the back of a C130, it doesn't compare to being stuck in a bang seat for hours on end.
Without AAR it was 3.05 in a Tornado F3 with big tanks. We were doing endurance checks on oil useage behind a Tristar tanker. Twice around UK IIRC.
With AAR it was 10.15 (4,45 night and 5.30 day) from UK to Oman for the first Saif Sareea. We needed special dispensation to exceed the GASOs regulations. My lasting impression was someone in the Tristar waving something appetising as the dawn broke over the Middle East. My sausage roll wasn't quite as attractive.
Sounds like iraven was on the same trip!
I have quite a few 7.00 tanked QRA sorties in F4s.
Without AAR it was 3.05 in a Tornado F3 with big tanks. We were doing endurance checks on oil useage behind a Tristar tanker. Twice around UK IIRC.
With AAR it was 10.15 (4,45 night and 5.30 day) from UK to Oman for the first Saif Sareea. We needed special dispensation to exceed the GASOs regulations. My lasting impression was someone in the Tristar waving something appetising as the dawn broke over the Middle East. My sausage roll wasn't quite as attractive.
Sounds like iraven was on the same trip!
I have quite a few 7.00 tanked QRA sorties in F4s.
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2/6/68 C130E A97-181 12.55 Gatwick to Mcguire AFB
7/9/68 C130E A97-159 13.15 Butterworth to Laverton
8/10/68 C130E A97-172 13.35 Butterworth to Richmond
14/11/68 C130E A97-180 14.05 Butterworth to Richmond
The last three were medavacs for Australian army with Vietnam wounded.
Never heard anyone complain they were going home.
Regards
Col
7/9/68 C130E A97-159 13.15 Butterworth to Laverton
8/10/68 C130E A97-172 13.35 Butterworth to Richmond
14/11/68 C130E A97-180 14.05 Butterworth to Richmond
The last three were medavacs for Australian army with Vietnam wounded.
Never heard anyone complain they were going home.
Regards
Col
5 Sqn RNZAF - P3B
IIRC, the kiwis kept a P3B airborne for c 20 hours in the late 60s, when the aircraft were new and state-of-the-art (now they are 44 years old and...state-of-the-art!).
Perhaps a fishead from 5 Sqn could confirm this stat? There used to be a plaque up in the crew room from Lockheed.
Perhaps a fishead from 5 Sqn could confirm this stat? There used to be a plaque up in the crew room from Lockheed.