British Aviation in Belize??
Ziggy. I was there Mar to Sep 85. There was an airframes Cpl who I wrote up for a commission. This he got, did a pilots course, then an instructors course. Ended up on CFS before leaving to fly civvy. There's hope for us all!
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Ziggy,
The deadline is late june, and those pics would be terrific. esp the wheel change.
any dits to go with them would be greatly appreciated!
cheers in advance
Red
The deadline is late june, and those pics would be terrific. esp the wheel change.
any dits to go with them would be greatly appreciated!
cheers in advance
Red
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Hi Red
I have the wheel change saved as a jpeg for you, but currently unable to access the buttons to attach image, just waiting for administrator to explain how in "SIMPLE's" terms. (maybe they are not activated as I am a newbie)
You have also started me on a mission, -- somewhere in my garage is a box full of happy snaps, which I am now detirmined to find and scan.
Regards
Ziggy
I have the wheel change saved as a jpeg for you, but currently unable to access the buttons to attach image, just waiting for administrator to explain how in "SIMPLE's" terms. (maybe they are not activated as I am a newbie)
You have also started me on a mission, -- somewhere in my garage is a box full of happy snaps, which I am now detirmined to find and scan.
Regards
Ziggy
Avoid imitations
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Anyone else recall the time the Harrier pilot carrying out engine runs melted the runway right through to the limestone base (actually, it was the Harrier det. commander)? It caused quite a few diversions, including the changeover VC-10 on its way from Dulles, which had to turn back.
My crewman and I witnessed it first hand as we landed just beyond it. I'll look up the date but it was just after the new year. We taxied in to join the rest of the det for a "Happy New Year from Belize" photo on the main apron. Some of the assembled throng were due to go back to RAFG on the VC-10. Try as we might, we couldn't convince them they weren't going home that day. They took it that we were trying it on with a (not uncommon) end of det wind-up.
They soon learned the truth though when they tried to check in for their flight at the station cinema....
There was also a Puma blown over on Caye Chapel in the late 70s,.
Some years later, a certain "expert" took out a set of the then new composite Puma main rotor blades, against a palm tree, in an over-enthusiastic tight turn at very low level, during what should have been a very low-key practice airfield attack recce. Judging by the damage to the blades, the crew were extremely lucky to get away with that. In a metal bladed Puma they might well not have survived. The blade noise during the run and break (I kid you not) on their formation return to APC was "impressive"
My crewman and I witnessed it first hand as we landed just beyond it. I'll look up the date but it was just after the new year. We taxied in to join the rest of the det for a "Happy New Year from Belize" photo on the main apron. Some of the assembled throng were due to go back to RAFG on the VC-10. Try as we might, we couldn't convince them they weren't going home that day. They took it that we were trying it on with a (not uncommon) end of det wind-up.
They soon learned the truth though when they tried to check in for their flight at the station cinema....
There was also a Puma blown over on Caye Chapel in the late 70s,.
Some years later, a certain "expert" took out a set of the then new composite Puma main rotor blades, against a palm tree, in an over-enthusiastic tight turn at very low level, during what should have been a very low-key practice airfield attack recce. Judging by the damage to the blades, the crew were extremely lucky to get away with that. In a metal bladed Puma they might well not have survived. The blade noise during the run and break (I kid you not) on their formation return to APC was "impressive"
Hi Red
I was there '76, in 'The Swamp'...... with Tony Bolam, CW, DMcC & DB amongst others. Flew with the immortal Lex. Handed over to our friends on XW230 (RIP). Then came back after burying them.
Great tours despite the total horror of the accident, and some great memories from both this forum & 'The Swamp'. Long before 'Rauls' it was the 'Big C', I was there the night the whole of the RAF & AAC Dets piled in (only serviceable Heli went tech so the duty Crew joined us)
We lifted the Sioux underslung off Cadenus after a 'tail slide' incident - much to the amusement of the 'Guats' - who guffawed and waved, we got our revenge when a Puma caught their 'stealth' C-47 unstealthily bimbling across Belize.
Certain AAC SNCO Pilot having enough of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Parrot and dispatching it with a squash racket.....
Had my first flight with the AAC there, in a Sioux, despite a bird overtaking us as we departed ground effect, I was smitten and transferred!!
I''ll try and put my photos on here, Paul Bolam (Tonys son) also has a copy of the Flight photo in front of XW230....... Cheers.
Great tours despite the total horror of the accident, and some great memories from both this forum & 'The Swamp'. Long before 'Rauls' it was the 'Big C', I was there the night the whole of the RAF & AAC Dets piled in (only serviceable Heli went tech so the duty Crew joined us)
We lifted the Sioux underslung off Cadenus after a 'tail slide' incident - much to the amusement of the 'Guats' - who guffawed and waved, we got our revenge when a Puma caught their 'stealth' C-47 unstealthily bimbling across Belize.
Certain AAC SNCO Pilot having enough of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Parrot and dispatching it with a squash racket.....
Had my first flight with the AAC there, in a Sioux, despite a bird overtaking us as we departed ground effect, I was smitten and transferred!!
I''ll try and put my photos on here, Paul Bolam (Tonys son) also has a copy of the Flight photo in front of XW230....... Cheers.
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Belize
I remember C130's being tech with I think brake problems in Belize. The trusty Belfast was sent with the necessary tools etc to remedy it. I was in ASCOC in 71/72. Distant memories of a very long Belfast tech stop there?? Sure someone will put us in the know.
Ferio Ferendo etc (Fcuk off Fred we're full) ASC motto
GGR
Ferio Ferendo etc (Fcuk off Fred we're full) ASC motto
GGR
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Anyone recall the C-130 departing APC that couldn't start it's fourth engine?
After trying everything including high speed taxy "bump starts" on the runway, it took off on three with one feathered and "limped" into Nassau where they went u/s..... with a single engine failure (same one).
Not sure what the AOC would have said. But I'm sure he said something as he was on board....
After trying everything including high speed taxy "bump starts" on the runway, it took off on three with one feathered and "limped" into Nassau where they went u/s..... with a single engine failure (same one).
Not sure what the AOC would have said. But I'm sure he said something as he was on board....
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I was watching that evening when the Puma brought the Souix back to APC, even bowing to the AAC group who had assembled for a BBQ.
I also remember being onboard the VC10 to go back home when it threw a turbine on rotation from APC. We didn't get very far....
I also remember being onboard the VC10 to go back home when it threw a turbine on rotation from APC. We didn't get very far....
No Suitable Hotel in Belize Then!!
Oh Yes!!!
Remember it well. Sat watching with a Belikin wondering how it would be played out.
Eventually got all four rotating, but the condensation trails from the three working engines said it all. The failed engine was feathered as the gear was still retracting, as I recall. Much better hotels in Nassau in those days.
Now, Belize is a favoured spot for honeymoons.
How times change!!
Remember it well. Sat watching with a Belikin wondering how it would be played out.
Eventually got all four rotating, but the condensation trails from the three working engines said it all. The failed engine was feathered as the gear was still retracting, as I recall. Much better hotels in Nassau in those days.
Now, Belize is a favoured spot for honeymoons.
How times change!!
Red Phos - If you want some unusual pics.............
I was leader of a pair of Harriers in, I think, Dec 75, on an FAC exercise, when No 2 - Bernie Scott - had an engine failure and ejected. I took photos of his ejection over the sea, the aircraft crashing into the sea, and Bernie in his dinghy, using the onboard F95 PFO camera. I think they made the 1(F) Sqn diary, so they should still be there, if they are of interest to your endeavours. If interested, contact 1(F) - if they haven't been made redundant or exterminated since I last looked!! The diary for that era also had some quite interesting photos from a most entertaining several months in Belize!!
RP - the underslung Sioux off Cadenus was eventually dispatched to a local Scrap Dealer. Somehow the Belize City Newspaper reported it as having crashed there!! If the Paper still exists.......ask them, they produced some B&W Phots of the 'event'.
Also - talk to Ken Mead at the Museum of Army Flying, he will have photo evidence I'm sure of the better moments in Belize (but hopefully not of the 'Big C'
), I'm back there next week so will have a chat with him as well.
Also - talk to Ken Mead at the Museum of Army Flying, he will have photo evidence I'm sure of the better moments in Belize (but hopefully not of the 'Big C'
), I'm back there next week so will have a chat with him as well.
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Salamanca Camp circa 1988 approx August.
and a typical internal load before dangerous goods regulations went mad:
..if there was an issue, they went outthe door...simples!
I have an album full of pics.
and a typical internal load before dangerous goods regulations went mad:
..if there was an issue, they went outthe door...simples!
I have an album full of pics.
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I was that Cpl who got the pilots course. Still flying helicopters, now with Bond on the NW Air Ambulance. Ziggy (or is it Iggy), I was there when you describe all that went on around 85-86, Tony ??? did the wheel change in the hover, I remember that. Mr Gibbs (RIP) had a tail strike on Chapel as well.
I went to Columbia for the disaster relief flight after the volcano went up. I reckon that I could write a book on the journey up and down. Including the burst ferry tank at 10,000' over El Salvador, the cabin was an inch deep in fuel and we did not have the option to land in 'bandit country'. Jayteeto is otherwise known as John Taylor, PM me if you remember me from back then. I am looking at the photo we did of the Columbia crews right now.
I went to Columbia for the disaster relief flight after the volcano went up. I reckon that I could write a book on the journey up and down. Including the burst ferry tank at 10,000' over El Salvador, the cabin was an inch deep in fuel and we did not have the option to land in 'bandit country'. Jayteeto is otherwise known as John Taylor, PM me if you remember me from back then. I am looking at the photo we did of the Columbia crews right now.
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Turning the VC10
Dagama/Sharpend
Didn't we have one do a little bit of ploughing once? It wasn't you was it Sharpend? Wasn't me.
Sharpend check my PM.
Didn't we have one do a little bit of ploughing once? It wasn't you was it Sharpend? Wasn't me.
Sharpend check my PM.