Whats your shortest flight ?
Whats your shortest flight ?
Just to stop the FJ crews from being left out (although some Tornado`s crew have done uncomfortably long flights strapped to the seat with AAR), What is the shortest flight you have completed? Only one rule, Martin Baker did not do the landing.
I will start with 10 minutes on a Nimrod doing a pilots solo on the Nimrod, why it was called solo with 17 crew strapped in down the back was beyond me !
I will start with 10 minutes on a Nimrod doing a pilots solo on the Nimrod, why it was called solo with 17 crew strapped in down the back was beyond me !
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19 Minutes
In the days of the F4 in 2ATAF the standard northerly departure from Wildenrath was via JHQ Rheindahlen, through the SAM sites to the POL at The Wesel. It took about 10 minutes at low level. On an exercise sortie we found an 8 ship coming the other way. After some (simulated) head-on shots and a bit of turning and burning (yes I was on 92 Sqn so beware) we fired out and RTB'd. A total of 19 minutes from wheels off to chute popped and not much fuel left.
The other notable day was when we had to demonstrate maximum sortie rate during APCs in Malta. The only way to do it was to fly ACT sorties just off the coast. As I climbed out of an F4 at 1030 AM after my 6th 20 minute trip (special dispensation from GASOs), SENGO asked me if I'd had a rough night on the pop because I looked tired.
The other notable day was when we had to demonstrate maximum sortie rate during APCs in Malta. The only way to do it was to fly ACT sorties just off the coast. As I climbed out of an F4 at 1030 AM after my 6th 20 minute trip (special dispensation from GASOs), SENGO asked me if I'd had a rough night on the pop because I looked tired.
Last edited by Geehovah; 16th Dec 2010 at 17:00.
10 mins in the (very plush) back of a Gulfstream 5 positioning from FFD to BZN during RIAT a few years back - much better than RTB'ing in a Sherpa!
Lyneham - Keevil, TALO'ing with Albert
Lyneham - Keevil, TALO'ing with Albert
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Kinloss and Lossie RW are aligned such that with the wind from the east you can just take off, left hand down a bit, and land.
In the 80's Kin bolthole to Lossie meant movement of ac happened at weekend so no danger of FJ in your way. Our illustrious pilot, always one to try the unusual, tried to do it in less than 5 mins so he could put 0 mins in his log book and be correct. I think we failed and 5 it was.
In the 80's Kin bolthole to Lossie meant movement of ac happened at weekend so no danger of FJ in your way. Our illustrious pilot, always one to try the unusual, tried to do it in less than 5 mins so he could put 0 mins in his log book and be correct. I think we failed and 5 it was.
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Shortest Flight
Less than 5 seconds carrying out my quarterly SCT with one of my instructors who clearly hadn't read the Flying Order Book etc. In a Viking he pulled the cable release on me just after the wheels left the ground - not allowed to do that until 100'. P1llock!
ACW
ACW
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I recall a long standing competition for Dishforth (RLG) -> Linton in JPs after a detached day, with the results coming in about 3:30? Not too sure about the time, but sure someone will remember...
NoD
NoD
Having had another look...
....nipped in to Deci at the end of an exercise sortie to replenish LOX; then gear down Deci to Elmas, 2mins cracking on a bit.
The Ancient Mariner
The Ancient Mariner
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Shortest Flight(s)
After reading previous posts I wouldn't claim the shortest. However, I did 3 seasons of display flying (1 on Lightning F1A & 2 on the Phantom) and have quite a number of 10 minute sorties logged, and at least one 5 minute sortie on each of those types. But one claim I will make is that of taking the greatest number of sorties to achieve 1,000 hours on the Phantom.
But you may be interested in the story of 2 junior pilots on 92 Sqn, who were scheduled for a 1v1 combat sortie on the first wave of the day (0830 take-off) in F2As (big ventral). The Boss, a gruff Scot, arrived in the Ops Room after morning met brief (also 0830) to see the 2 JPs busy filling in the auth sheets. Said Boss inquired none too gently why the .... they hadn't walked yet, to be met with the sheepish response that they were signing in! Since the Boss was hot on getting the monthly hours as well as a stickler for punctuality, the resulting conversation was decidedly one-sided.
But you may be interested in the story of 2 junior pilots on 92 Sqn, who were scheduled for a 1v1 combat sortie on the first wave of the day (0830 take-off) in F2As (big ventral). The Boss, a gruff Scot, arrived in the Ops Room after morning met brief (also 0830) to see the 2 JPs busy filling in the auth sheets. Said Boss inquired none too gently why the .... they hadn't walked yet, to be met with the sheepish response that they were signing in! Since the Boss was hot on getting the monthly hours as well as a stickler for punctuality, the resulting conversation was decidedly one-sided.