RAF Hercules' final trip from Wiltshire to Staffordshire.
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RAF Hercules' final trip from Wiltshire to Staffordshire.
BBC News - RAF Hercules' final trip from Wiltshire to Staffordshire
I assume it was an old, clapped out one - always sad to see though.
I assume it was an old, clapped out one - always sad to see though.
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I am assuming that the airframe was already unairworthy before begin dismantled. Having looked at Hixon (the frame's final destination) on Google maps, the old airfield looks good enough for a Herc to land on, saving a lot of low-loader time and giving a crew, TacATC and the Fire Det another TLZ tick.
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saving a lot of low-loader time and giving a crew, TacATC and the Fire Det another TLZ tick
I'm happy that the current op tempo has crews, TacATC and fire well versed in procedures - we don't need the expense of reverse engineering the delivery of scrap.
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I did assume that the airframe was unairworthy beforehand.
Conversely, if it were flyable, why not fly it into Hixton and asset-strip it there? The job is being done anyway and I am sure that 1 artic full of salvagable parts being trucked back to Lyneham would be cheaper than 3 or 4 low-loaders taking the airframe away. Just a thought, not worth losing sleep over.
Conversely, if it were flyable, why not fly it into Hixton and asset-strip it there? The job is being done anyway and I am sure that 1 artic full of salvagable parts being trucked back to Lyneham would be cheaper than 3 or 4 low-loaders taking the airframe away. Just a thought, not worth losing sleep over.
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why not fly it into Hixton
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Think you'll find Hixon is unusable to land aircraft, apart from the the raised tarmac road section and roundabout on the main runway both the remaining bits of the runways are very rutted and have major potholes in them. Anyone landing there may have the aircraft reduced to "parts" within a very short space of time!
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Just a question here, as I have no idea how the MOD/RAF thinks, but, would they have considered making the aircraft a dedicated parachute training aircraft, no pressurised cycles etc. just to clear the backlog of paras who have yet to do their qualifying jumps? Or will this be a case of time expired components that cannot be re-furbished etc.?
A Wiltshire Police spokesman said the load was one of the largest to have been transported on the county's roads.
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Sad to see!
I note XV305 is my log-book a number of times, the last occasion into Afghanistan.
It makes one feel rather old and past-it! (No sarcastic replies necc, tvm)
flipster
I note XV305 is my log-book a number of times, the last occasion into Afghanistan.
It makes one feel rather old and past-it! (No sarcastic replies necc, tvm)
flipster
XV 305 in my log book for the first time in Nov 68 ! I really do feel ancient !
Are there plans to donate a 'K' to the RAF Museum ? I would hope so even in this money grabbing age.
Are there plans to donate a 'K' to the RAF Museum ? I would hope so even in this money grabbing age.
My last trip in 305 was Souda Bay - Odiham on 18 Jul 2001.....the month before to Sierra Leone and back too....
No such variety for today's generation.....
On another tack - first time in 305 was a CPT (that dates me) in Feb 1986
No such variety for today's generation.....
On another tack - first time in 305 was a CPT (that dates me) in Feb 1986
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